Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

• 2 Comments

•

Paul and Monique Cooper were the first to spot this Bald Eagle who is missing his or her left eye. The eagle visited their area in Irish Beach for several days.

I sent Paul's photo to several experienced birders, asking if they had seen this bird before. No one had. In my Mendonoma Sightings column I asked people to be on the lookout for this Bald Eagle and see if they could get a closer photo. Eric Zetterholm came through, as he often does.

I was told this Bald Eagle has two indentations in the back of his or her head. I would guess that this eagle was attacked, perhaps by a Great Horned Owl. Using up one of his or her lives, this Bald Eagle has completely healed and was seen by Eric eating a fish. Hooray!

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

Wind and more wind is the story today. This is suppose to be the last day of the strong wind. May it be so!

•

Black-necked Stilts, with their long pink legs, are an uncommon sighting here on the Mendonoma Coast. But Eric Zetterholm spotted one on a beach at The Sea Ranch, along with three Whimbrels. Eric photographed the elegant Stilt and one of the Whimbrels.

It's interesting to see how this bird flies, with its loooong legs stretched out behind its body. A very nice sighting! A close-up photo of this bird will be in Thursday's Independent Coast Observer in my Mendonoma Sightings column.

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Sunny and breezy and warm today!

•

Eric Zetterholm was at the bluffs overlooking Tidepool Beach at The Sea Ranch last Saturday when he saw perhaps the very first Harbor Seal pup appear. This little one headed for the water rather than resting on the sand.

And while in the water, the pup touches noses with his or her mother, a sweet bonding moment.

Docents are out on The Sea Ranch bluffs to make sure people are quiet and that they, and their dogs, stay away from the peaceful scene below. The beach is for the Harbor Seals now.

And a word of caution - many mothers leave their newborn pups on the beach while they go into the ocean to find food. The pups do NOT need to be rescued. If you believe a seal is in distress, call the Marine Mammal Center at 415 289-7325 [SEAL]. They will send a trained volunteer to assess the situation. Rarely does a pup need to be rescued. The mother returns to her sweet pup and all is well.

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Fog is shrouding the immediate coast, but it is sunny a little ways away. I am looking out at a sea of white today; it's covering the Pacific Ocean. No wind today, which is nice.

•

Ron Champoux photographed a beautiful rainbow over The Sea Ranch after the last storm.

There is sure to be a pot of gold on those rocks!

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

ooo, it's windy today. Real windy. It's the kind of day you don't bother worrying about your hair. A friend calls this "egg beater hair."

•

John and Nicole Forte went tide pooling off Navigtor's Beach on The Sea Ranch. They spotted this small octopus, who's common name is Ruby Octopus or Pacific Red Octopus.

The Ruby Octopus is thought to be very intelligent, like most octopuses. They have distinctive personalities. Like all octopuses, they can change color and texture. What an amazing little octopus John and Nicole found.

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are having minus tides in the afternoon now, a perfect time to find a tide pool to explore!

Today we are having the calm after the storm. It's cool but absolutely beautiful. Tree Mercer tells me she and Scott are seeing lots of Gray Whales swimming northward today.