Roberta Chan spotted this CA Red-legged frog while closing the gates at Gualala Point Regional Park recently.
This frog is listed as threatened and is federally protected by the Endangered Species Act. That they live next to the Gualala River, in its floodplain, is wonderful. I would suggest that any Gualala River floodplain logging plans should be rejected, for many reasons, including the existence of this threatened frog.
Thanks to Roberta for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Beth Kattleman photographed rocks covered in Anemones. I found out the name for these animals is Aggregating Anemones.
They look like flowers, don't you think? Here's an interesting photo taken by Roberta Chan of one of these Anemones that got lucky in a tide pool when a By-the-Wind-Sailor, Velella velella, was washed up. The hapless Sailor was apparently a very tasty treat.
Observing the creatures that live in tide pools is always fascinating. All you have to do is go at low tide.
Thanks to Beth and Roberta for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Fringed Corn Lilies are extra special because they are found in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and no where else in the world. Roberta Chan found this one blooming by Gualala Point Regional Campground, in the Gualala River floodplain.
In the spring, the huge leaves of this lily come up. They are so beautiful to behold. The blooms come months after the leaves appear. This photo was taken by Frank Drouillard near the end of the month of February.
Fringed Corn Lilies thrive in wetlands, and they are to be cherished.
Thanks to Roberta and Frank for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
These reddish frogs are on the endangered species list. Roberta Chan spotted one at the campground at Gualala Point Regional Park on July 30th. The campground is near the banks of the Gualala River.
Roberta previously photographed one in the same area in January of this year in the gravel bank of the Gualala River.
This rare frog is found almost entirely in California. To learn more about this frog, here is a link to an interesting article: http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/california-red-legged-frog.aspx
Thanks to Roberta for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
By-the-Wind Sailors, Velella velella, have been washing up on beaches recently. They are a relative of Jellyfish and are quite beautiful. Roberta Chan noticed one that still had life so she picked it up and carried it to a tide pool. Unfortunately for the Sailor, the wind slowly drove it directly to a hungry Sea Anemone.
It just wasn't that Sailor's day.
Thanks to Roberta for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see a photo of a Velella velella and to learn more about them, here is the link to a previous post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2014/08/26/velella-velella-by-the-wind-sailors/