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Will Ericson has been exploring the Wheatfield fork of the Gualala River and some of its tributaries. He found these rare beauties, a colony of California Fawn Lilies, Erythronium californicum.

Will also found a stand of old-growth Redwood trees in his wanderings.

And while he was there, he startled a Spotted Owl from its roosting place, a thrilling sighting of this endangered little owl.

Thanks to Will for allowing me to shared his photos with you here!

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Ron LeValley captured this photo sight. Look through the opening in the rocks and you will see a mother Harbor Seal with her pup.

Harbor Seal pups have been weaned from their mothers, much to their dismay. They now are fishing for themselves. Tide Pool beach at The Sea Ranch, which is closed during pupping, is now back open.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

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It's been downright hot if you get a little ways away from the bluffs and beaches, though today it cooled off a bit. Butterflies have been flitting through, delighting our senses. Recently Mary Hunter photographed a Pale Swallowtail Butterfly.

This beautiful butterfly was feeding - nectaring - on Mary's lavender blossoms. Pretty as a picture!

A close relative is a Western Tiger Swallowtail, with similar markings. This butterfly is feeding on a native wildflower, Leopard Lily, and was taken by Peter Baye.

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Thanks to Mary and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Our Marine Sanctuaries, protected from oil extraction, are under attack. The current administration has called for a public comment period where YOU can tell our government how and why our National Marine Sanctuaries are important - important to locals, to visitors, to the health of our ocean and all who dwell within it. Here is the link to Save Our Marine Sanctuaries.org

http://saveourmarinesanctuaries.org/

Click on the red "Save our Sanctuaries" button to see a sample letter and the link to NOAA for public comment. If you'd like to go directly to the public comment site, here is the link:

https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2017-0066

The upwelling that takes place off of Point Arena ignites the whole food chain in the Pacific Ocean. It is a priceless occurrence off our coast that needs and deserves protection. The finite amount of oil that could be extracted isn't worth the disaster that an oil spill would bring.

Please take a moment and post your public comment. There are only a few weeks left to do so.

Here are some reasons why our coastline deserves this protection.

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I thank Beth, Paul, Roger, Allen, Jackie, Amy, Grace and Craig for allowing me to show you ten reasons why this coastline should be protected.

Please comment today!

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Ken and Martha Fischer wrote, “Here is a California Red-sided Gartersnake, a real handsome fellow! We encountered him, or her, while hiking near the Hot Spot on The Sea Ranch.”

A nonvenomous snake of the coast, these Gartersnakes are usually found near water, particularly the sag ponds of the San Andreas fault.

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