Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

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Gualala Point Island is a large, rocky island sitting off the northernmost end of The Sea Ranch. It is a haven for many birds and pinnipeds and many of us enjoy watching them from the bluffs. But on the far side, where we landlubbers cannot see, there is a large colony of Brandt's Cormorants currently nesting.

TSR are Stewards of the rocks and islands off their stretch of the coast, which are part of the California Coastal National Monument. They have formed a Task Force to monitor the seabirds. Recently their aerial photographer Craig Tooley went up with pilot Tom Osborne as part of their 5th year of monitoring and captured this photo. There are also some Common Murres in the photo, a cause for excitement. There is hope they may be prospecting for nests. And one lone Gull at the top, hoping for a free meal.

This is the big reason why fireworks over the 4th of July weekend in Gualala are a bad idea. We are fortunate to have nesting seabirds here. Don't feel sorry for us! We have fireworks in Point Arena 11 miles to the north.

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You wouldn't know it right now but a winter-like storm is due to hit the Mendonoma Coast tomorrow. It's very unusual for us to get a storm from the Gulf of Alaska in the summer. But every good photographer knows that a storm brings a chance for good cloud photography. Carolyn André sent me several dramatic photographs she took of clouds over The Sea Ranch and I'm happy to be able to share one of them with you here.

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Maureen Simons sent in a photo she took on June 4th of a beautiful waterfall on the Salal Trail on The Sea Ranch. Her daughter calls this special place the "Lord of the Rings place" and you can see why when you look at Maureen's photo. It's magical! With the late rains we had, the creek is running high and strong.

The Salal Trail is on the north end of TSR. Maureen advises, "If you park on Grey Whale, just off of Leeward, then head north on Leeward about a block, you'll see an opening for the trail on the left. The trail runs all the way to the bluff trail." This is private property though so you need a parking pass to park there. But if you are staying at TSR or own property here, you can find this magic place for yourself.

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Several large Rosey Russulas - Russula rosacea - were found by Rozann and  George Grunig on The Sea Ranch this past week. This is not the time of year for these mushrooms to fruit but the late rains must have confused them. They aren't edible. If you tasted a little bit of the cap, it would be hot and you would have to quickly spit it out. But they are beautiful to look at and to photograph. And look! Rozann photographed them on top of the Independent Coast Observer. That's where my Mendonoma Sightings column can be found each and every week. mendonoma.com

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Siegfried Matull manages to get some of the most fantastic photographs of Western Bluebirds on the Mendonoma Coast. How does he do it? I've learned his camera is set on a tri-pod and pre-focused on the birdhouse currently occupied by two Western Bluebirds. With his camera that can take nine shots per second, he sits next to his camera with a remote control cable in one hand and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the other. That's taking pictures, Mendonoma Coast style!