Tag Archives: Bald Eagle

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Tamir Scheinok was paddle boarding in the Gualala several weeks ago. He wrote, “I have only seen Bald Eagles from a distance. This male landed about 30 feet from me and stood in the water for about ten minutes before heading off. It’s hard to describe sharing this space with him – a truly majestic creature.”

Tamir captured the moment the Bald Eagle lifted off, a magnificent photo, and what a wonderful experience for Tamir. I must say, I'm a little jealous!

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

Fog covers the Pacific Ocean today like whipped cream, which sends cool air our way. The antidote for the heat wave inland is to head for the coast!

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The Gualala River had a soft opening this year, but it quickly closed again to the Pacific Ocean, blocked by a huge sandbar. Monday afternoon the river opened with a vengeance! The first photo shows the river flowing strongly into the ocean.

Today Rick and I found two large groups of Harbor Seals, a few in the river with most at river's edge. They were looking for Steelhead, most likely.

The river had sea foam in it, as waves were cresting the sandbar.

We even saw one of the Bald Eagles! He was staring down the Turkey Vulture on the left.

Here's a short video of the wave action this morning.

Video of Gualala River 12.19.18 by Jeanne Jackson

After such a beautiful time at the river, the fog appeared as if by magic, and enveloped the coast!

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The two Bald Eagles, presumably the two who were here last winter and spring, have returned. Mike Wilson photographed one recently by the Gualala River.

We hope this coming year that they will build a nest and start a family right here in Gualala. Bald Eagles are expanding their territory northward along the coast. In Jenner, a mated pair raised a chick last spring. A Bald Eagle has been seen to our north near Little River. It's thrilling to see them here again. Their numbers were decimated by the chemical DDT, which made the shells of their eggs so thin that they broke when the mother sat on them. With the phase out of DDT in 1972, eagles, brown pelicans, peregrine falcons and ospreys began their recovery. It took decades, but their numbers have increased. We are privileged to see all of these birds here on the Mendonoma coast.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Our skies are blue today as the smoke from the Butte County fires is going south of us. The first blue skies we've seen since one week ago.

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Eric Zetterholm spotted one of the two Bald Eagles who have been seen for months at the mouth of the Gualala River.

We didn't see any sign of nest building from the mated pair. Maybe next year. They certainly "practiced" mating a lot this spring!

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

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Frank Coster has taken some incredible photos of the two Jenner Bald Eagles. I love this one with the eagle about to catch his or her dinner.

To see more of Frank's nature photography, he shares them on his Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013869702560&fref=search

And thanks to Frank for allowing me to share this photo with you here. He took some great photos of a Gray Whale and her calf a couple of days ago. I'll be sharing them here soon.