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Betty Spence of New Mexico was visiting The Sea Ranch with friends when she saw this beautiful rainbow several weeks ago.

I love how it frames the Cypress Tree. I never get tired of seeing rainbows - how about you?

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

What a beautiful day here on Monday, Dec. 9th. Sunny and warm and no wind. The ocean was calm and surfers headed out with the boards. But it turned cold late this afternoon. It's going to be cold overnight. Rain is in our forecast in a few days. Bonus sighting: Scott and Tree Mercer saw their first Gray Whales headed southward yesterday.!

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The first photo shows a beautiful White-tailed Kite. The second photo...a tangled kite!

I love White-tailed Kites. Here is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology writes about them: "Grasslands and savannas are great places to fly a kite and that's exactly where you will find the White-tailed Kite, flying as if it were attached to a kite string. With its body turned toward the wind and wings gently flapping, it hovers above the ground, a behavior that’s so distinctive it’s become known as kiting. From above it tips its head down to look for small mammals moving in the grass below. Its white underparts, gleaming white tail, and black shoulder patches are its other marks of distinction."

To hear the call of this kite, here is the link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

Thanks to Karen Wilkinson for two fun photos and for allowing me to share them with you here.

Today started off sunny, but clouds moved it. It's been drizzly today, with the bricks in our courtyard damp. More mushrooms are up - matsutakes and cocorra. King and Queen boletes, and yellow Chanterelles are also being found. I found several Zeller's Boletes today.

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Eric Zetterholm took this photo at the Gualala River. I wonder what the two Bald Eagles are thinking! They have interesting looks on their faces.

If you can think of a good title, post here or send an email to: mendonomasightings@gmail.com.

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

Another sunny, windless day on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast. There was a green flash at sunset last night and there could be another tonight!

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Great Egrets are residents of the Mendonoma Coast and it’s always interesting watching them hunt for dinner. Barbara Gemmill-Herren wrote, “My daughter-in-law Ashley Anderson took this video of an egret spearing and eating a gopher on the bluff trail in Sea Ranch.” I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Great Egret speared a Vole rather than the much larger Gopher.

What a beautiful place to find dinner! To see a short video of this Great Egret taken by Ashley, here is the link:

Thanks to Ashley for allowing me to share her photo and video with you here, and thanks to Barbara for sending them along to me.

Another beautiful, calm day today, temps in the mid 60's. Here's a bonus photo of last night's extraordinary sunset, taken by me.

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Paul Kozal wrote, "Here is the photo of Shell Beach [off The Sea Ranch] and Comet. In the middle of the photo is Venus setting with its reflection in the water. The photo was taken on 10/19/24 at 8:50pm."

Paul didn't even mention the Milky Way! And I love the reflection of Venus on the ocean. Yes, Paul is a professional! His studio, Studio 391, is in Gualala, in the Cypress Center. Here is a link to Paul's website: https://www.paulkozal.com/

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share this photo with you here.

Lots of overhead clouds are giving us beautiful sunrises and sunsets! Temps around 60. Lots of mushrooms are up!