Sightings

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Though there are quite a few overhead clouds this Sunday, the sun has shone through for most of the day. Harbor Seals are known for sleeping on rocks in the sun. Ben Angwin found something unusual a few weeks ago - two Harbor Seals molting!

I sent Ben’s photo to Jan Roletto, marine mammal expert for NOAA. She wrote, “Yes, that's a molting in harbor seal. The seal looks like a very healthy animal but is molting a couple of months later than most. Harbor seals molt June - July, just after pups are weaned. This is a ‘shedding’ of fur but will look a little ‘patchy with older duller fur mixed with new shiny fur with brilliant spots. This is what I see in the photo.”

When I look close at Ben’s photo, both Harbor Seals appear to be molting. It’s a mystery as to why they are doing so this late in the year.

Sara Bogard did her census of the Harbor Seals at the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula and adjacent Point Arena-Stornetta Lands a few days before Christmas. She found 125 Harbor Seals. Harbor Seals are apex animals. If they are doing well, the ecosystem is doing well too.

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

It's sunny and cool. We are promised at least a week without rain. My season to date rain total is 40.73 inches, which is amazing. 50 inches is a normal wet winter at Rick's and my place.

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Nikki and Jack Smith, along with their children, went to Bowling Ball Beach after one of the recent big storms. This is what they found - iridescent Abalone shells, treasure on the beach!

Thanks to Nikki for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

One last storm has plastered us with rain, including a thundercloud with hail and lightning this afternoon. Sun is now breaking through and we have a pause from the rain for perhaps a week. Over 40 inches of rain at Rick's and my place so far this season. Last year at this time, it was 18.75 inches.

Happy New Year, everyone!

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The storms have been rearranging the sandbar of the Gualala River. Theresa Slaman photographed the very full Gualala River flowing into the Pacific Ocean under a stormy sky. The sandbar has been flattened out - at least for a while!

Thanks to Theresa for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Today was sunny but quite cool. The temp early this morning was 38 degrees - that's cold for the coast! Okay, I can hear some of you laughing at me. 38 might be warm for some of you!

On this New Year's Eve, I send you my best wishes for a wonderful 2025. May these Nature sightings continue to bring us joy.

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I love this photo Perry Hoffman took of a Snowy Egret in a pond at The Sea Ranch Golf Links.

Just beautiful!

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see more of Perry's photography and artwork, plus the beautiful calendar he created for 2025, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/

The rain has moved out and we have a sunny, cool day here today. 39.15 inches so far, which is pretty amazing!

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I found the first Slinkpod, Scoliopus bigelovii, blooming on a sunny spot on the forest floor a few days before Christmas.

This diminutive member of the Lily family is our earliest blooming wildflower. It stands only about an inch and a half high. See the emerging leaves cupping the stem? There are two leaves, and by the time they are full grown, they can be six to twelve inches long with mottled spots!

If you have never found this wildflower, look for these mottled leaves in the spring. They will tell you where these exquisite little flowers come up. You should start looking around Christmas.

We had another rip roaring storm last night. 2.23 inches in Rick's and my rain gauge. Season to date is 38.97 inches. 50 inches is a normal wet winter here. Boy, are we well on our way! Now we have some days to dry out.