We have a mated pair of Bald Eagles at the Gualala River. Michael Reinhart found this one on the northern cliff overlooking the river and the Pacific Ocean.
She just looks so darn majestic!
Thanks to Michael for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Our warm weather looks to be leaving us. The wind picked up today and there are some clouds rolling in. We're ready for more rain, that's for sure!
Kate Bloch wrote, "Yesterday morning, my husband noticed a small crowd gathering near the post office and learned that a Bald Eagle was perched in the trees nearby. When I first observed the lone eagle, it was largely a silhouette, shrouded in fog, high in a tree. Shortly thereafter, it flew north, and a second eagle appeared to join it. Both then landed in a tall tree covered in lichen. Neil and Susan Silverman also spied the eagles, and we enjoyed an extended sighting opportunity as we watched the eagles interact and become the subjects of a vigorous confrontation with a peregrine falcon. It felt like such a gift to observe and listen to the remarkable avian life around us!"
Kate's photo shows the Peregrine approaching. On the left is a younger Bald Eagle, perhaps 3 1/2 years old. The Bald Eagle on the right is an adult, and I believe she is the Gualala River Bald Eagle.
In this next photo, the two Eagles aren't very happy!
I wondered why the Falcon was trying to drive off the Bald Eagles, especially because this isn’t yet nesting season. I learned that it could be due to intense territoriality, or protecting valuable winter food/roosting spots. Or maybe that smaller Falcon just doesn’t like Bald Eagles! I'll share one of Susan and Neil's photos next.
Thanks to Kate for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
We survived another vigorous storm last night. Rain totals since Dec. 19th are 10.10 inches. Some seasonal creeks are now making beautiful waterfalls as they cascade off of bluffs. After the showers of this afternoon, we have clear weather for five days or so.
Eric Zetterholm was down near the Gualala River when he spotted these two Bald Eagles. The sub-adult eagles is on the left. I believe he/she is about 3 1/2 years old. The eagle on the right is an adult.
Here Eric got another view and the young eagle is stretching its wings.
Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
On Friday, at Gualala Arts' Festival of Trees, a Bald Eagle flew over the arts center, delighting visiting family members.
It's sunny and mild today with some clouds - another beautiful day here on the Mendonoma Coast!
This past week or so, Brown Pelicans have been seen in breeding plumage. Their heads are dusted in yellow and their gular pouch - their throat pouch - has turned orange/red. Kate Bloch got this photo of a Brown Pelican in the Gualala River, which shows you this transition.
These breeders will head south to their traditional breeding grounds, which are West Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands. Birders wonder if they will expand their breeding grounds northward, perhaps even the Mendonoma Coast. We’ll be watching!
Thanks to Kate for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Since Nov. 16th we've had 2.74 inches of rain and the season to date is 12.74. Mushrooms are popping up seemingly everywhere! We've had a nice wet start this year. But now we take a pause and the forecast is clear of any storms through Thanksgiving. This afternoon is bright sunshine after some residual cloud, though it's on the cool side in the mid 50's.
A BIG sandbar has closed the Gualala River to the Pacific Ocean for months. Of course the river seeps through the sandbar, but much of the water backs up in the lagoon. Steelhead and other fish that were trapped in the river can now enter their next stage of life. I went by to check the river Thursday around noon and this is what I saw - a closed but very full river!
Others reported the river breached the sandbar at 4:45 p.m. and I went early on Friday to check it out. Here's what I saw.
A friend joined me, Vicki Robinson, and she asked, "Is that a Bald Eagle?" Sure enough, an adult Bald Eagle was on the sandbar to the left of the new opening - was she watching the newly opened river? ha, she was probably looking for a tasty fish.
Here's a video I took:
Open Gualala River 11.14.25 by Jeanne A Jackson
It was a gentle opening this year. Here's what Dave Jordan wrote on Friends of Gualala River's website: "The river mouth started to breach around at 5 pm Thursday, on a rising high tide, which equalizes tide and lagoon water levels quickly, minimizing the gradient and energy . . . quiet breach conditions. It’s the low tide breaches that are like dramatic dam bursts. Surely the fish were satisfied with the relatively low-turbulence but turbid breach."
To learn much more about the Gualala River, here is the website for FoGR: https://gualalariver.org/
On their website home page is an up-to-date weather report, a feature that might come in handy for some of you.
It's sunny and warm today - 74 degrees - but the barometer is low and falling. Another storm is headed our way for tomorrow.