Tag Archives: Gray Whales

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After Saturday night's/Sunday morning's wild storm, Rick and I checked our forest this morning for wind damage. We found surprisingly little though neighbors have big trees down and power is out for many of us still. I saw the first green tips of several Red Clintonias, one of my favorite wildflowers. It doesn't usually bloom until the first of May but seeing the first shoots brings the picture of its lovely blooms to my mind's eye. Along a shady path on a dead Tan Oak we stopped to admire a beautiful group of Turkey Tail mushrooms. This wild mushroom is being studied by scientists for its medicinal qualities. We might have a wonder drug growing wild in the forest! My wonder drug was seeing a large pod of Gray Whales late yesterday afternoon with at least two calves headed north.

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It all started with last Friday's tsunami, which was followed by a big storm. Early this morning the Mendonoma Coast was buffeted with lightning and thunder and heavy downpours. Yes, Mother Nature has been a drama queen lately. A certain golden retriever expects his morning walk and the rain swollen creek was magnificent with cascades. Clouds lifted briefly, giving me an opportunity to scan the Pacific Ocean with my binoculars. Sweet success! A pod of five Gray Whales, one of which was a calf, was seen headed north. I am not ashamed to admit I always get chills when I see whales.

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A wet and wild storm is hitting the Mendonoma Coast today. Our seasonal creek is doing its best impression of a mighty river and still the rain comes down. The many creeks of the Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts are emptying into the Pacific Ocean where Gray Whales with the calves are currently headed north. This picture shows one of the many cascades on Quinliven Creek. You can almost hear it roar...