Tag Archives: Mel Smith

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Mel Smith recently counted 121 Tundra Swans near the Garcia River. He took this photo through his spotting scope. You will see Canada Geese too.

Tundra Swans and Canada Geese by Mel Smith

Martin Steinpress also saw and photographed Tundra Swans recently.

Three Tundra Swans and Mallards by Martin Steinpress Tundra Swans by Martin Steinpress

The past four years, during the drought, only a few Tundra Swans returned to overwinter on the Mendonoma coast. So we're happy to see more than a hundred, though that is still a small number compared to the numbers we used to see.

Here is a close-up look at these beautiful swans in flight, taken by Steve Wilcox.

Tundra Swans by Steve Wilcox

Thanks to Steve, Martin and Mel for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Christmas morning dawned cold, yet exquisitely beautiful. This mushroom, the Fly Amanita, has been featured in holiday cards and thought to bring good luck. They are abundant now and so lovely to see and photograph. Mel Smith got this lovely photo.

Fly Amanita by Mel Smith (Large)Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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There has been a pretty good bloom of Sweet Tooth Hedgehogs mushrooms, Hydnum repandum. The ones found have been big and meaty. Lita Gitt shows her bounty of Hedgehogs and a lone Chanterelle on the right.

Sweet Tooth Hedgehog and a lone Chanterelle by Lita GittRandy Jones found the biggest Sweet Tooth Hedgehog he's ever seen. Mel Smith photographed him with his find.

The largest Sweet tooth Hedgehog Randy Jones has found by Mel SmithThese are considered beginners mushrooms - easy to identify, no bad look-alike, and bugs leave them alone. They have a mild flavor so it's best to let them shine. I often put them on top an omelet.

Thanks to Lita and Mel for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Don Phillips regularly patrols the beach at Manchester State Park, picking up trash tossed up by the ocean. Occasionally he finds a treasure. He believes these bones are the humerus, radius, and ulna of a whale.

Don Phillips with a Whale bone by Mel Smith (Large) Possible Whale bone by Mel Smith

Don is planning on offering this find to a nearby college for further study. Mel Smith took these photos and I thank him for allowing me to share them here.

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This wild river is closed to the Pacific Ocean by a big sandbar across the mouth. It closes every year and will reopen with enough rain. With our drought conditions, the river was looking very dry and kayaking it meant you had to get out and carry your kayak in spots. But we have had two rainstorms and the Gualala is looking so much better. Linda Bostwick and Mel Smith recently kayaked there.

Kayaking on the Gualala River by Linda Bostwick

It looks quite idyllic, doesn't it? The clouds are reflected in the still water.

Thanks to Linda for allowing me to share her photo with you here.