•

I haven't had a sighting of the two Bald Eagles for over a week, so I was glad to hear they were both seen this morning at the Gualala River. Eric Zetterholm photographed them several weeks ago perched on a tangle of branches and dead trees in the river.

We didn't seen any signs of nest building or nesting this year, but they certainly mated a lot! Hopefully next year they will find the perfect spot in the watershed of the Gualala River to nest and raise a chick. We'll be wishing and hoping!

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

•

Kathryn Arnold wrote, “I found this stunning flowering plant clinging to the bluff at Shell Beach. Do you know what it is?” It was new to me so I queried Peter Baye and he wrote, “It’s Seashore Dock [or Willow Leaved Dock] in the Buckwheat family. Those are mostly immature fruits. The fruits mature into corky, floating structures for water dispersal.”

A beautiful and rather unusual native plant for you today. Thanks to Kathryn for allowing me to share her photo with  you here.

We are having thunder and lightning and spatterings of rain, quite unusual for the Mendonoma coast in July!

• 2 Comments

•

Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, are back, recovered from the wasting disease that decimated their numbers. Cece Case recently photographed three Ochre Stars off Cooks Beach in Gualala.

Peter Fimrite, of the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote about their miraculous recovery. He wrote, "The colorful invertebrates have undergone a remarkable genetic adaptation that is protecting them from the deadly pathogen, a new study has found." You can read Peter's entire article at this link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/Starfish-on-California-coast-nearly-wiped-out-by-13018262.php

It truly is wonderful news. With the Sea Stars absence, Sea Urchins proliferated, decimating the kelp beds. This led to Abalones starving. It is hoped...and expected...that with the Stars recovery, the intertidal zone of the Pacific Ocean will be more in balance.

Thanks to Cece for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

•

Cathleen Crosby looked out her window and found this Buck grazing. He lifted his head, with greens hanging out of his mouth, and perfectly posed for this photo.

His antlers nicely frame the suncatcher, don't they?!

Thanks to Cathleen for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

•

John Batchelder managed to photograph one of the fast, little CA Quail chicks he saw recently.

Quail families are being seen now. Several years ago George Anderson captured these newly hatched chicks.

And Clay Yale had two perch on saucer with water.

Here's a cute photo taken by Jon Loveless of the chicks following their mother.

The chicks are very vulnerable now, as they cannot yet fly. The number one predator of these chicks is the domestic house cat.

Thanks to John, George, Clay and Jon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.