Tag Archives: Bald Eagles

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Here is Eric Zetterholm's story from Feb. 26.

“I saw Chris Beach pointing his camera at the river as I came into Gualala for work in the morning. I turned around and pulled in next to him to see the two adult Bald Eagles on the logging structure in the river. We said hello and he said that the eagles had been just sitting there and he was waiting for one to take off and fly. I walked up the highway a bit to get a different angle and took a few pictures of the adult eagles together. I zoomed in for some close up shots and then out again to watch for one taking flight. It was then I spotted the young Eagle sitting just below the parents.”

Eric walked back to his car and found several people now watching the Bald Eagles from the riverside.  Eric wrote further, “I mentioned the little one being so hard to see hidden in plain sight, its color blending in with the logs and shadows. No one had seen the young one there, just focusing on the two white-headed adults. I went back up the road and was surprised again to see the adults start mating with the youth having a front row seat."

"Soon after, the male adult gathered up some nesting materials and flew off up river."

"I missed seeing the female adult fly away and left for work with the juvenile still sitting there perplexed. Parents can be so embarrassing.”

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Eric Zetterholm recently found the Bald Eagles near the mouth of the Gualala River on a cloudy day. In this first photo, the smaller male seems to be "singing" to his mate. Could it be a love song, eagle-style?

Apparently she approved, as the male was allowed to  mate with her.

And in the last photo, the deed is done. hmmm, she doesn't seem very happy...

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

Another big storm is headed our way tonight and tomorrow, Sunday. The Gualala River is already full from the previous river-of-rain event. It will be majestic to see when the storm leaves. Batten down the hatches!

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All the storms have brought a great deal of rain to the creeks and rivers of the Mendonoma Coast. When the Gualala River opened this autumn with the first rains, it breached the sandbar at the far north end. But after the recent rains, take a look at the new opening of the river. Rick Denniston photographed it for us to see.

When I zoom in on the right side of the sand spit, there are the two Bald Eagles, standing very close to each other, perhaps looking for a Lamprey, one of their favorite meals.

Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photos with you here. The Gualala River is always changing, always fascinating, and so worthy of protecting.

Yesterday's storm has blown through. I received 0.80 inches from the last storm. We had hail and downpours and brilliant sunshine between. It was a wait-five-minutes kind of day! Today is sunny and warmer. And that is the forecast for the rest of this week!

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Rozanne Rapozo found the mated pair of Bald Eagles near the Gualala River recently. Just look at the beautiful photo she took of the two landing in a tree.

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

It's cool on the Mendonoma Coast today, with clouds this afternoon. The sunset should be quite beautiful tonight!

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The Bald Eagles seemingly went their own ways after successfully raising a chick earlier this year. But in recent weeks, they have paired up again. Mike Reinhart recently photographed the Gualala Bald Eagles.

We're not sure why the one Bald Eagle, the female, has her wings extended. Maybe she was just stretching. Then they jointly preened themselves.

It's a lot of fun watching for these eagles! The best place to spot them is behind Trinks Cafe in Gualala and at the north end of the Gualala Bluff Trail. There is a dead tree, a snag, to the north that they like to perch in.

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

We are waiting for another "river of rain" event that comes late afternoon/early evening today, Saturday. Our stretch of warm, dry weather is over...for now. Bring it, Mother Nature!