Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Craig Tooley was out between storms, photographing streams filled with abundant water, a wonderful sight after several years of subpar rain.

Here is a tributary of the Gualala River. I love the mossy rocks.

The ground is so saturated, it squishes when you walk on it. And now we have a chance to dry out. This coming weekend should be stellar here on the Mendonoma coast!

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

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On Tuesday, Craig Tooley and Shirley Mitchell, each took walks before more rain arrived. They each found Calypso Orchids, Calypso bulbosa, up. They are quite small, so it feels like you've found treasure if you spot them. Craig found a particularly large group of these orchids.

Each Calypso Orchid has one leaf which lays flat on the forest floor. Shirley managed to get a nice closeup of one. Since they are so tiny, they are hard to photograph, but Shirley manged it!

These native wildflowers grow in undisturbed forests. They are also called Fairy Slippers or Venus's slipper. Consider yourself lucky if you come across one or more of these beauties while on a forest walk.

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

We had a lot of rain overnight and it's showering today. We went over 50 inches season to date at our place in Anchor Bay, for which we are thankful!

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Mushrooms are quite beautiful, coming in so many colors and shapes. Craig Tooley photographed a Scarlet Waxy Cap. I've seen a bunch coming up on the forest floor. I think of them as flowers in the forest.

Craig also photographed a mature Parrot Waxy Cap. They have a green top when young.

Shirley Mitchell photographed some white Coral Mushrooms.

And Martin Steinpress found a group of two delicious edibles, Hedgehog Mushrooms and Black Trumpets.

Winter Chanterelles are also up in good numbers now. Gifts from the forest!

Thanks to Craig, Shirley and Martin for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a mild day - 60 degrees - with no wind. Our walk with our golden retriever, Duffy, at Gualala Point Regional Park today was wonderful. Gray Whale spouts could be seen in the calm ocean; these grays are headed north now. Big waves were crashing onto the beach. And there were surfers outside the mouth of the Gualala River, something you don't see very often.

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This would be a great time to search out the various waterfalls on the Mendonoma Coast. Amy Ruegg recently photographed one of the six waterfalls to be found at Black Point Beach on The Sea Ranch.

One year Craig Tooley photographed the waterfalls at Black Point Beach under a stormy sky. I purchased this photo as a gift for my sister.

Craig's photo also appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.

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

Brilliant sunshine on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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Jennifer Massey has a pair of these beautiful hawks coming to a tree on Sea Ranch. She recently photographed one of them in the tree.

Craig Tooley also photographed a Red-shouldered Hawk, either exercising its wings or preparing for flight.

Thanks to Jennifer and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at this link: www.ruffimage.com Jennifer is the owner of the Gualala Dance Studio. You can learn more about the classes available at this link: https://www.gualaladance.com/

It's storming on the Mendonoma coast this afternoon!