Tag Archives: Fish Rocks

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A big, wet fogbank rolled in two weeks ago, dropped a lot of moisture, and then pulled back. When it pulled back, a beautiful, huge fogbow appeared just north of Fish Rocks. I rushed outside to take a few photos, as I knew it wouldn’t last long.

Fogbow by Jeanne Jackson

Fogbows are also called white rainbows, but this one actually had some color to it. Not vibrant like a rainbow, but definitely there was color. At one point it arched all the way across sky, rainbow-like, but I couldn’t capture it all with my camera. But it is stored in my memory.

Here is a photo of the first fogbow I had ever seen. It was much smaller than the one above.

Fogbow 8.27.13 by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

Fogbows are rare, so I was thrilled to see another one.

 

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The ocean temperature has been warmer than usual, nearly four degrees above normal. That is surely the reason an unusual fish appeared off our coast near Anchor Bay. Richard Lewis saw it from his boat about 50 yards off the front of Fish Rocks. It was cruising north on the current.

Mola mola by Richard Lewis

This disc-shaped fish is also called a Sunfish and their favorite food is Jellyfish. On average they weigh two thousand pounds! Several days later a juvenile Mola mola washed up on the beach at Cooks Beach. That had me wondering if this was a pregnant female. But no, I'm told. Mola mola females lay eggs, millions of them. Then the male fertilizes the eggs. Less than one percent of the eggs survive. So it must have been coincidence that a juvenile was also seen.

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

 

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Barry Richman was helping a friend out - I believe the feeding of a cat was involved - when he saw the early morning sun light up Fish Rocks.

The early morning sun hits Fish Rocks by Barry Richman

The rocks glowed in the sunlight for about two minutes, a lovely sight to behold.

Fish Rocks is off of Anchor Bay and part of the California Coastal National Monument [CCNM]. There is an active colony of male Sea Lions there and seabirds nest on the west side.

To learn more about the CCNM, here is the link to the Bureau of Land Management: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/ca/en/prog/blm_special_areas/nm/ccnm.html

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

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Sea Lions are fun to watch. They are a common sighting off the Mendonoma Coast. They are noisy, barking often. Killer Whales hunt them. Richard Kuehn got a photo of Sea Lions swimming hard and fast. Perhaps there was an Orca or two after them.

Sea Lions swimming hard and fast by Richard Kuehn

Sea Lions can look like porpoises, because when they swim fast they "porpoise" through the water. Jon Loveless photographed this action.

Sea Lions porpoising by Jon Loveless

They also gather together in rafts, which is what Rozann Grunig photographed.

Sea Lions rafting off of TSR by Rozann Grunig

It is thought they raft together for protection. They hold a flipper up in the air to either warm up or cool down - thermoregulation.

And lastly, Sea Lions are very curious. Craig Tooley was out kayaking when a group came in close to check him out.

Sea Lions seen from a kayak JUNE by Craig Tooley

Thanks to Rich, Jon, Rozann 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 To see Rozann's nature photography, here is her website: www.highway1designs.com

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We get spoiled in the autumn here on the Mendonoma Coast. The weather can be magnificent. That is what is happening now. Craig Tooley recently photographed this beautiful scene.

As I write this, the sky is clear. Waves are crashing and the Sea Lions on Fish Rocks are barking. Autumn on the Coast is like a dream come true.

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