Tag Archives: Bald Eagle

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A BIG sandbar has closed the Gualala River to the Pacific Ocean for months. Of course the river seeps through the sandbar, but much of the water backs up in the lagoon. Steelhead and other fish that were trapped in the river can now enter their next stage of life. I went by to check the river Thursday around noon and this is what I saw - a closed but very full river!

Others reported the river breached the sandbar at 4:45 p.m. and I went early on Friday to check it out. Here's what I saw.

A friend joined me, Vicki Robinson, and she asked, "Is that a Bald Eagle?" Sure enough, an adult Bald Eagle was on the sandbar to the left of the new opening - was she watching the newly opened river? ha, she was probably looking for a tasty fish.

Here's a video I took:

Open Gualala River 11.14.25 by Jeanne A Jackson

It was a gentle opening this year. Here's what Dave Jordan wrote on Friends of Gualala River's website: "The river mouth started to breach around at 5 pm Thursday, on a rising high tide, which equalizes tide and lagoon water levels quickly, minimizing the gradient and energy . . . quiet breach conditions. It’s the low tide breaches that are like dramatic dam bursts. Surely the fish were satisfied with the relatively low-turbulence but turbid breach."

To learn much more about the Gualala River, here is the website for FoGR: https://gualalariver.org/

On their website home page is an up-to-date weather report, a feature that might come in handy for some of you.

It's sunny and warm today - 74 degrees - but the barometer is low and falling. Another storm is headed our way for tomorrow.

 

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Shari Goforth found this bald eagle hunting. She saw all the gulls take flight but the brown pelicans stayed in place. It's very rare for a bald eagle to take a much bigger brown pelican, but gulls are much easier pickings.

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

The past weekend and today, Monday, have been warm with very little wind - perfect autumn days!

 

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Michael Reinhart has a real talent for photographing birds. He got this young Bald Eagle flying by recently. I believe this bird is 1 and 1/2 years old, so last year's young.

Bald Eagles go through many changes in their appearance during the first five years. Here's a link to Avian Report that shows the evolving feathers, beak and even the eyes of a developing Bald Eagle: https://avianreport.com/age-and-identify-a-juvenile-and-sub-adult-bald-eagle/

At five and a half they have their mature coloration and they won't change in the years ahead. Males and females look alike, but the female is about one third bigger than her mate.

Here is a recent photo of an adult Bald Eagle near the Gualala River, taken by Jim Garlock.

 

Thanks to Michael and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's lovely here today, high 60's, and a gentle breeze. Huckleberries are ripe and ready for picking. Yum!

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Rick and Teresa Denniston saw this Bald Eagle perched on a branch from their home in Gualala, Serendipity. I presume this is the male, as the female should be tending to her nest and eggs now. Perhaps her eggs have hatched! We wish we knew, but the nest is somewhere in the Gualala River watershed. You might need wings to get to it!

Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photo with you here. The Denniston's beautiful home overlooking the Gualala River and Pacific Ocean is available for rental via Coasting Homes. Here's the website to see Serendipity: https://www.coastinghome.com/rns/vacation-rental/gualala/ca/serendipity  When I had a major power outage (11 days!) several years ago, and I ran out of propane for my generator, they offered to let me stay at their place. It was such a gift, in more ways the one.

We are having a stormy period. Today, Friday, was filled with downpours, bright sunshine, lightning and thunder, and more downpours. As of this morning, we received 2.41 inches, bringing the season total to 56.73. A good, wet winter!

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Perry Hoffman was at the Gualala River when he saw this beautiful Bald Eagle right near the river's edge.

Then the Bald Eagle - I think this is the female of the Gualala River pair - bent over for a drink.

What a treat it is to have Bald Eagles back on the Mendonoma Coast. And they continue to expand their territory northward.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Perry's artwork, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/

Clouds have been pouring in. A big storm is expected, especially overnight. Batten down the hatches!