Before dusk yesterday, the Gualala River was full nearly to the brim. It looked like it could open at any time. This morning the river was open and Rozanne Rapozo photographed it. Notice the Bald Eagle on the north side of the sandbar.
Those Steelhead I showed you yesterday have surely exited the river, entering their next journey in the Pacific Ocean. Hooray!
Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Another storm is forecast for tonight. Bring it, Mother Nature!
What a great photo! Rozanne Rapozo was at the Gualala River estuary when she saw this Bald Eagle, the male of the mated pair that call the Gualala area their home.
The pair have been seen mating this past week! X-rated sightings for you today.
Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Fog at the immediate coast, sunny elsewhere. Kind of sounds like spring, rather than winter.
Ron Bolander was at Gualala Point Regional Park photographing birds between storms. He found this gorgeous male American Kestrel. I love how one feather is lifted by the wind.
Ron also found a Bald Eagle soaring through the air.
ah, to be able to fly!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Today is very cold...brrr....and lightly raining. We added another .20 inch of rain yesterday for a season to date total of 33.85 inches. After tonight's rain, we are suppose to get a break until late Sunday. With the King Tides this weekend, and New Year's Eve, this weekend would be a great time to be here on the Mendonoma Coast.
Several weeks ago Ron Bolander was out photographing birds, fortunately for us! He spotted this Bald Eagle soaring, a lovely photo of the majestic bird.
Ron also spotted a Long-billed Dowitcher.
And then this pair.
These shorebirds nest far to our north, in the Arctic.
Finally, Ron photographed Red-necked Phalaropes, this one in breeding plumage.
Nice day for great bird sightings for Ron! Thanks to him for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
We did have rain overnight and it was so wonderful. Over 1/3rd of an inch at our place in Anchor Bay. This morning it was quite humid and warm. There are lots of visitors here this weekend, enjoying the beauty that surrounds us on the Mendonoma Coast.
Paul and Monique Cooper were the first to spot this Bald Eagle who is missing his or her left eye. The eagle visited their area in Irish Beach for several days.
I sent Paul's photo to several experienced birders, asking if they had seen this bird before. No one had. In my Mendonoma Sightings column I asked people to be on the lookout for this Bald Eagle and see if they could get a closer photo. Eric Zetterholm came through, as he often does.
I was told this Bald Eagle has two indentations in the back of his or her head. I would guess that this eagle was attacked, perhaps by a Great Horned Owl. Using up one of his or her lives, this Bald Eagle has completely healed and was seen by Eric eating a fish. Hooray!
Thanks to Paul and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Wind and more wind is the story today. This is suppose to be the last day of the strong wind. May it be so!