Richard Kuehn watched a River Otter bring its catch to some rocks off of The Sea Ranch this week.
It didn't take long before a Western Gull arrived with larceny in its heart.
The River Otter backed off the Gull with a hearty snarl. "It's mine...get your own."
Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share these photos with you here.
Rozann Grunig has the magic - Bobcat magic! She had this beauty saunter across the front of her property and turn around and look back at her, as if posing. Rozann got several great photos. I thank her for sharing this one with us here.
Bobcats have great hearing and vision and a good sense of smell. They usually avoid water but will swim if they have to. Climbing is where they excel. The gray in Rozann's photo is a road on The Sea Ranch!
Calypso Orchids began blooming the last few days of February and are continuing through March and into April. These tiny wildflowers are always a treat to find. Reneé Jardine found this one blooming on The Sea Ranch and has kindly allowed me to share her photo with you here.
And in the photo below John Sperry has photographed a dozen of these orchids. These were blooming on a neighbor's property in Timber Cove. This photo shows you how tiny they are! Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Calypso Orchids should never be dug up and transplanted as they need a fungus in the soil to grow. Just leave them be and enjoy their beauty.
Gorilla Rock is found on The Sea Ranch near the White Barn. Rozann Grunig recently photographed this unique stone structure with a Gull sitting on top. I thank her for allowing me to share her fun photo with you here.
I sincerely hope nobody is out trying to abalone dive today on the first day of the season. Huge swells and high winds make the ocean very treacherous. Local diver Eric Anderson already proclaimed today unsafe. No abalone is worth a life. Check out Eric's web site if you need an abalone fix today: https://sites.google.com/site/abaloneten/ It's the best web site for all things abalone.
After a long winter off Abalone season finally opens tomorrow. Whether conditions allow for safe diving is another matter.
April 1st also is the start of watching for the first Harbor Seal pups born on beaches of the Mendonoma Coast. They are very vulnerable, especially to unleashed dogs and well-meaning people who think the pups need to rescued when they don't see the mother. The pups are fine. The mother has gone to feed. If you truly think a pup is in distress, call the Marine Mammal Center at 415) 289-7350. They will send a trained local volunteer to assess the situation.
Mark Hancock recently photographed some of the year round residents off Tide Pool Beach on The Sea Ranch and I thank him for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
To see a sweet photo of a Harbor Seal pup with its mom, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/07/27/sweet-photo-of-a-harbor-seal-pup-with-its-mom-taken-by-craig-tooley/
And to whet your appetite for abalone season, here's a link to a successful abalone hunt: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/28/ken-bailey-dove-for-abalone-off-the-mendonoma-coast-and-came-home-with-a-hubcap-size-beauty/