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Roberta Chan spotted this CA Red-legged frog while closing the gates at Gualala Point Regional Park recently.

This frog is listed as threatened and is federally protected by the Endangered Species Act. That they live next to the Gualala River, in its floodplain, is wonderful. I would suggest that any Gualala River floodplain logging plans should be rejected, for many reasons, including the existence of this threatened frog.

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

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Bettye Winters photographed the iconic Point Arena Lighthouse last Saturday during a beautiful sunset. There was a green flash that night, which Bettye admits she missed. (Full disclosure, I missed photographing it too!) But Bettye said, "At least I caught the light of the Lighthouse!"

I love this photo and I thank Bettye for allowing me to share it with you here.

Tomorrow, Thursday, many of us celebrate Thanksgiving. If you do, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Marilyn Green noticed Jellyfish washed up on the beach on Saturday. She wrote, “There were at least 50 on Pebble Beach on The Sea Ranch. Some were in the water and looked healthy to me!” I sent Marilyn’s photo to Robert Van Syoc and he identified it as a Moon Jelly, Aurelia aurita. Marilyn’s photo shows the four pink reproductive glands.

These Jellyfish are capable of very little motion and are dependent on where the tides take them. For the 50 or so on the beach, the tides took them the wrong way.

This third photo shows a Moon Jellyfish safe in the water.

Thanks to Marilyn for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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It's always an exciting event when the Gualala River breaks through the sandbar for the first time in months. This is what the river looked like today. It's full and flooding into its floodplain. The beach where kayaks are launched was underwater.

This is a place where the sandbar might be breached.

Or perhaps here, at the northern most point.

Here's what the river looked like yesterday, Thursday, as the storm was lifting.

Compare this photo with my first photo to see how much more water came down the river in just one day.

So we are on river watch! To be there when the river opens is very exciting. I hope to be watching when it happens this year.

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Fringed Corn Lilies, Veratrum fimbriatum, are blooming alongside creeks and in wetlands. Frank Drouillard photographed this one blooming on his land in Anchor Bay.

This native wildflower is endemic to Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Knowing that it is found nowhere else makes it even more special. You can see Fringed Corn Lilies on the path down to Cooks Beach, on the left-hand side. They are also seen just east of Gualala Point Regional Campground.

Here's a photo of their big leaves, which appear in the spring. It takes many months before we see these beautiful white blossoms. By the time the blossoms appear, these leaves are riddled with insect holes. Native plants feed native insects!

Thanks to Frank for allowing me to share his photos with you here.