Monthly Archives: June 2011

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Once again Craig Tooley has the magic. He recently photographed a pair of Pelagic Cormorants on their cliff-side nest. I thought these birds were black with a white patch on their flank when breeding but Craig's photo shows a multitude of colors.

Do you wonder how they get their nest to stay on that precarious spot? I wondered too. They use their own guano to help cement it to the ledge. Amazing! The nest always faces the sea. Pelagics, also called Baird's Cormorants, feed on fish. They dive from the surface and chase their prey underwater. Another example of some of the wonderful creatures sharing our beautiful Mendonoma Coast.

To see more of Craig's photos, here's his link:

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Self Heal, Prunella vulgaris, is blooming in sunny spots on the Mendonoma Coast. There are several of these interesting wildflowers growing on our property in Anchor Bay. Last year Frank Drouillard took a very close up photo of one and was startled to see what looks like an alien face. It startled me too!

Self Heal has amazing qualities. First, its leaves are edible. They are mildly bitter greens. But its medicinal qualities set it apart from other wildflowers who might be considered "just pretty faces." It is an antiseptic and has an antibacterial effect. It's believed to be effective in cases of food poisoning. Native peoples used it to treat cuts and inflammation. It's a wonder plant!

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Sometimes a big wave will hit a group of Harbor Seals and it's fun to watch them try and hold onto their places. Betty Bailey took a photo right when a wave hit and was kind enough to allow me to share it here.

Harbor Seals are year-round residents of the nearshore waters of the Mendonoma Coast. They are curious animals and often lift their heads out of the water to look around. If Harbor Seals thrive it's an indication that their entire ecosystem is doing well as they feed at the top of the food chain. We are lucky to have pristine waters off our beautiful coast.

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The first day of summer was preceded by one of hottest days I can remember. The Pacific Ocean usually works as our air conditioner but Mother Nature had something else in mind. Huckleberry, our Golden Retriever, headed for one of the deepest ponds on the creek that cuts through our property. He knows how to cool off! Happy first day of summer to those in the Northern Hemisphere!

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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.