Tag Archives: Garcia River

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The storms have abated and left us with a sunny day. This morning's cloud show was fun to watch. Then Rick called out, "Rainbow!"

I hope you can see the small rainbow spilling out of the cloud. It was more vibrant to the naked eye!

The earthquake that hit around 5:30 am on the 21st was 2.9 on the Richter scale. Not a big earthquake by any means, but the epicenter was HERE. Here is a photo from UC Berkeley Seismology Department showing the epicenter.

That wavy line on the right is the Garcia River. And, yes, the San Andreas Fault crosses the river. To learn more, here is the post on the USGS website: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc72766286#dyfi

All is quiet here on the coast, except the cold north wind that is blowing. And it's a cold wind!

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Molly Scaramella noticed this Great Blue Heron watching the flooding Garcia River. Of all the birds here on the Mendonoma coast, the Great Blue Herons seem to be unfazed by the wild and wet weather.

Molly got a photo of perhaps the same Heron on a different day, perched in a tree.

Great Blue Herons have a rather squawking sound that you can hear at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/sounds

They wade into the water to fish, and they hunt for rodents, insects, and even birds on land. And they can hunt in the daytime and nighttime due to photoreceptors in their eyes. They are year round residents of the Mendonoma coast.

Thanks to Molly for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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Peter Baye wrote, “I found a new rare plant at the Stornetta Lands along the P’da Hau [Garcia] River estuary last week, Humboldt Bay owl’s clover, Castilleja ambigua, subspecies humboldtiensis.”

Humboldt Bay owl's-clover, Castilleja ambigua humboldtiensis, by Peter Baye

This plant is found in tidal marsh locations and was originally thought to be endemic to Humboldt Bay, hence its common name. But it’s been found in Mendocino County at Big River. And now it’s been found at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.

Peter wrote further, “The surprises of the Stornetta Land’s varied habitats have only been open to botanical exploration for a few years. Perhaps more botanical gems await discovery!”

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here. I look forward to new discoveries in the special Stornetta-Point Arena Lands.

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Terry Bold was hiking near the Garcia River when she came across the print of a Black Bear.

Soon thereafter she found scat. No actual sighting of the Bear though. Below are two photos Terry took of the river.

Thanks to Terry for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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We had a male and female Bald Eagle at the Gualala River for several weeks. They have been spotted elsewhere. Jerry Anon photographed them at Anchor Bay Beach.

And Beth and Jeff Petit saw one at the mouth of the Garcia River.

We hope they built a nest somewhere here on the Mendonoma Coast. It has been quite exciting to see these majestic birds. I hope to have new sightings of these eagles soon!

Thanks to Jerry, Beth and Jeff for allowing me to share their photos with you here.