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From the storms that began Sunday morning through today, Wednesday, there is 6.35 inches in my rain gauge. Sometime during the night on Monday or early Tuesday, the Gualala River breached the big sandbar and the yearly ritual occurred. Today, Wednesday, I went to the river to check it out. It's runny muddy and strong!

Steelhead, who were trapped in luxury by the sandbar, were swept out to sea to begin their life in the saltwater. Now other steelhead will enter the river to spawn. It's wonderful to be able to watch this river. The first photo was taken from the Gualala Bluff Trail - there are Harbor Seal on the right side sandbar.  The second was taken from Gualala Point Regional Park. The town of Gualala is on the right.

What a series of storms - it just poured. We are lucky that this particular river doesn't have development in its floodplain. I was told the river was very high Monday morning.

Now we have clear weather predicted through Christmas. I'm looking forward to checking the seasonal creek that crosses Rick's and my land and looking for edible mushrooms!

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Nancy Padgett photographed what she calls an alligator cloud. Do you agree? I can see it!

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

Lots and lots of rain, sometimes drenching rain. I'll give a rain total report when it's done, which should be by Wednesday morning.

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Tricia Schuster found this Black-tailed Deer near her Sea Ranch home. He sure is handsome! And it turns out he likes birdseed.

The mating season of these Deer is over and this Buck will lose his impressive antlers in the weeks ahead. New and possibly even more impressive ones will grow next spring.

Thanks to Tricia for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Temps in the mid 60s today with a gentle breeze. Rain headed our way starting on Sunday!

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Carolyn Andre photographed  the sunset from her home on The Sea Ranch.

And look at Sunday's sunrise - it was glorious too. Roxanne Holmes took the photo on the left, and Rozanne Rapozo took the one on the right.

Thanks to Carolyn, Roxanne and Rozanne for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today has been cool with some fog along the immediate coast. Sunshine this afternoon!

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Sara Bogard does a regular count of Harbor Seals at the PA Lighthouse Peninsula and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. She also notices and photographs other wildlife. The first bird is a Surf Scoter. This is a female and she is overwintering on the Mendonoma Coast. These sea ducks nest in far Northern Canada and Alaska.

Next Sara photographed a Belted Kingfisher. Males have one blue band across their white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band. I can't see any chestnut, so I think this is a male. They are year round residents here. And then Sara found this Harbor Seal catching a Rockfish for its meal.

There is a LOT to see when you take the time to observe as Sara does!

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It was cool overnight, 40 degrees in the early morning. There are high clouds, which gave us a beautiful sunrise and, hopefully, a beautiful sunset!