Tag Archives: Gualala Point Regional Park

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To see a beautiful Monarch Butterfly in winter means we have a few overwintering Monarchs here, which is very good news. Judith Fisher recently spotted this Monarch at Gualala Point Regional Park.

And in Timber Cove Grace O'Malley had this Monarch feeding on her Pride of Madeira bush.

Monarch Butterflies used to overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast but their numbers have been in a tailspin...until this past autumn/winter, where Monarchs have been seen in much larger numbers. Fingers crossed and recrossed that these beauties will thrive in the future.

Thanks to Judith and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Unseasonably warm here today. 73 degrees this afternoon with low humidity. This isn't January weather...is it? Scott and Tree Mercer are seeing lots of Gray Whales headed south. They are a ways out, two to four miles, so binoculars are very helpful.

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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.

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The Pacific Ocean sure is loud today. I went to Gualala Point Regional Park to check out the wave action and I wasn't disappointed. Suzi Chapler recently photographed big waves seen off the park.

Suzi also took a fun photo of a Gull coming in for a landing at the Vue Restaurant in Gualala

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

The weather is calm today after all the rain. It's cool with passing clouds, a lovely autumn day. We have received 20.4 inches of rain season to date, which is amazing. Last year we had about the same amount for the entire so-called wet season. Hopefully the rains come regularly this year. But for now, the ground is saturated, rivers are full and seasonal creeks are bubbling merrily to the sea.

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I went to check on the Gualala River yesterday, Friday. We have had 6.8 inches of rain and I knew the river would be a big beneficiary of the wet stuff. I drove in to Gualala Point Regional Park and parked at the iconic bend in the river site. Here's what I saw.

It is already raining here on the Mendonoma Coast today. I believe the Gualala River could open with this big rainstorm. A large - maybe the largest ever - sandbar has the river "closed" to the Pacific Ocean. When the river opens to the ocean for the first time in many months, bursting through the sandbar, it can be a spectacular event. The best place to watch it is from the Gualala Bluff Trail. Be safe and stay off of the sandbar - we don't want to lose anybody!

The weather today is WET! I also checked Quinliven Creek yesterday, a seasonal creek that crosses our property. It was running in the upper reaches but not the lower part. I'm sure that's going to change today. To have this early rain is such a blessing. Thank you, Mother Nature.