Tag Archives: Gualala River

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I attended the Women's March in Gualala this morning. While there, many people came up to me and asked if I had seen the big ocean waves, and if I had seen what had happened to the sandbar of the Gualala River. This is what the sandbar looked like on Thursday when Rick and I walked the Gualala Bluff Trail with our golden, Sunny.

And this is what it looked like today.

This doesn't happen very often! I was told that earlier this morning an ocean wave came completely over the river to the bank near where I was standing when I took this photo. And with more rain coming in later today, it will be interesting and fascinating to see what happens to the estuary of our favorite river.

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Chris Beach recently photographed two adult Bald Eagles sitting on snags in the Gualala River.

two-bald-eagles-in-the-gualala-river-by-chris-beach Around the same time, a young Bald Eagle, was seen near the river mouth.

young-bald-eagle-stretches-its-wings-by-chris-beachyoung-bald-eagle-by-chris-beachPerhaps by next year this Bald Eagle will be a mature with a totally white head.

A mature Bald Eagle was seen flying over the river this Friday, and we are encouraged by all these sightings. Our hope is that a pair will mate in the watershed of the Gualala River.

Thanks to Chris for allowing me to share his photos with you here. It is a spectacular day on the Mendonoma Coast today. Gray Whales have been seen to add grace to this day.

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Ken Bailey caught this action near the Gualala River. The bird on the left is an adult Peregrine Falcon and the bird on the right is a juvenile. Perhaps the adult is teaching the younger bird some important lesson.

adult-peregrine-falcon-on-the-left-reprimanding-a-juvenile-by-ken-baileyIt seems like the younger bird is thinking, "YIKES!"

We had two nests of Peregrine Falcons successfully breed here this year. Here's a photo taken by Michael Beattie of the two chicks in a nest off the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.

two-downy-peregrine-falcon-chicks-by-michael-beattie

Thanks to Ken and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Ken's photography, especially his underwater photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

 

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Besides the juvenile Bald Eagle, which I showed you last week, two adult Bald Eagles have been seen near the mouth of the Gualala River. Ken Bailey photographed one of them in flight last Thursday.

adult-bald-eagle-by-ken-baileyWhat a thrill it is to see this majestic eagle! We hope a mated pair will decide to build a nest in the watershed of the Gualala River.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Ken's photography, including his wonderful underwater photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

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With our delicious early rains, the Gualala River opened on October 26th this year. Yes, the big sandbar that had closed the river off to the Pacific Ocean was finally breached. Eric and Annie Mills watched as it opened. But this year, for a while, it opened in two places, a very unusual occurrence.

First, let me show you what the river looked like just before it opened, as photographed by Bob Rutemoeller. It was full and flooding into its floodplain.

before-the-gualala-river-opened-by-bob-rutemoellerEric noticed the river breach the sandbar at the north end, just a tiny rivulet.

gualala-river-beginning-to-open-by-eric-millsAnd then it opened a little to the south, a much bigger opening.

gualala-river-breaks-through-a-little-south-of-the-north-end-by-eric-millsWithin a few minutes the pent up river was pouring out to the ocean. Steelhead that had been trapped in luxury in the river were sent into their briny destiny. Snags and branches shot out the opening. It was quite a spectacle.

gualala-river-opening-to-the-pacific-ocean-by-eric-millsThis year the river opened on a sunny day, another unusual occurrence! It's usually raining when it opens.

Here's the after photo, taken by Bob Rutemoeller.

after-the-gualala-river-opened-by-bob-rutemoellerWe've had more rain, so the river isn't this low now.

Thanks to Eric and Bob for allowing me to share their photos with you here.