• 2 Comments

•

Paul Brewer went to Hearn Gulch recently, knowing the ocean was very active. He got two wonderful photos.

On the left side there is a sea tunnel. Paul got the setting sun shinning through the tunnel just as the blowhole went off on the right side. Just magnificent!

A little earlier Paul got the blowhole in action. Can you hear the "WHOMP!" sound?

Hearn Gulch is just north of Iversen Road in Mendocino County. You can park at mile marker 10.00. What a wonderful addition to the Mendonoma Coast, thanks to the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy and other partners. You can find out more of our newer open spaces at RCLC's website a : http://www.rc-lc.org/

To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/ I thank him for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

•

Rick and I are fortunate to have trails weaving their way into a mixed forest. Huckleberry, our golden retriever, demands two walks a day, rain or shine. So we hike the forest every day. It's wonderful to see the light slanting through the trees.

Craig Tooley recently captured a beautiful photo that speaks to the serenity and beauty of a forest.

I'd certainly take this path...would you?

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

•

The Point Arena Lighthouse is on a strip of land that is the closest land on the continental United States to the Hawaiian Islands. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides. Kris Paden recently visited and took this photo of the lighthouse.

If you climb to the top of the lighthouse, you can look down on an interesting crater, called Devil's Punchbowl. Carolyn André recently took this photo.

This was once a small sinkhole that has steadily been enlarged by weather and the surging tides over the years.

The lighthouse is a great place to whale watch, see birds and other wildlife. To learn more about the lighthouse, here is a link to their website: http://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/index.html

Thanks to Kris and Carolyn for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

•

I have to admit it - I love owls. Richard Kuehn recently saw and photographed a Burrowing Owl on the north end of The Sea Ranch, the first one he has seen there in five years.

This little owl can be seen hunting for insects in the day and night. It's a smart owl too. Burrowing Owls put dung from other critters around the outside of their nests. That attracts dung beetles, which they love to eat.

To hear the call of this owl, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds

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

To see several photos of another little owl that landed on our deck railing, a Northern Pygmy Owl, here's the link to that post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/20/a-northern-pygmy-owl-paid-us-a-visit-in-anchor-bay-earlier-this-week/

•

The Pacific Ocean is roaring again today. This morning the ocean looked like corduroy, with big swells spaced evenly apart. Tom Eckles recently photographed the dramatic scene.

You can almost hear the ocean and feel the salt spray by looking at Tom's photo.

Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com