A male Harlequin Duck has been spotted off Black Point Beach on The Sea Ranch. Craig Tooley got several photos of the beautiful bird.
This duck is banded but Craig can only make out three numbers. He's trying to locate it again and try for the complete number so this sighting can be reported.
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com
Last week Alan Reinke photographed Black Point Beach, seemingly missing its beautiful beach. The king tides, super high tides, had washed over it.
The next day told a different story.
We continue to have sunny, calm weather. Gray Whales have been spotted often. I saw two pods this morning, heading south. A pod of eight Killer Whales was seen today, heading north. When the ocean is calm, she reveals many wonderful sightings. We apparently have another week before our rains begin again.
Thanks to Alan for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Rick and I were enjoying the beautiful Thursday morning, looking at the wildflowers and hoping to see some Gray Whales. We were just south of Black Point Beach. There's a rock where a few Western Gulls are nesting. As we approached, a squadron of Brown Pelicans flew by, almost at eye level. It's our first sighting of them this spring.
These are adult Brown Pelicans. You can see their white heads.
At this point the Pelicans headed towards land and they gained altitude before heading off to the north.
They are air surfers! It is always thrilling to see them as they glide across the sky.
To see a close-up of an adult Brown Pelican, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/04/26/brown-pelican-splash-down-as-photographed-by-siegfried-matull/
Black Point Beach is located in The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County. It is a lovely stretch of beach with big curling waves when the surf is up. It has dangerous undertows and no lifeguard. I can't think of a beach on the Mendonoma coast that has a lifeguard! Two excellent surfers were out last Thursday. Rick and I, with Huckleberry our golden retriever, enjoyed watching them.
To see another perspective of this beach, here's a link to another post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/05/08/black-point-beach-is-one-of-the-many-treasures-of-the-sea-ranch/
And then we saw something we have never seen before - the underwater portion of a rock. Visibility here on the north coast is usually not very good, making it a challenge for abalone divers and other underwater fishermen and women. But Thursday the visibility was like a dream come true. Oh, my abalone diving friends bemoaned the fact that the season is closed for the winter but one diver friend found a 7.5 pound Rock Scallop. I will share that photo soon.
My best to you today! Jeanne Jackson, Gualala
And X-rated sighting for you today! Craig Tooley took a lovely photo of a pair of Western Gulls mating on Black Point Island. This rocky island sits just offshore of the southern edge of The Sea Ranch. Western Gulls nest there. I will post a photo of the island in the days to come. You can see this tiny island for yourself by going on the Black Point Beach public access trail of The Sea Ranch. Once you reach the bluffs and see the beautiful beach, look for a trail that winds off to the left. That will lead to the island. Approach it quietly - it is a place of beauty and serenity.
