Mary Sue Ittner and her husband, Bob Rutemoeller, were exploring Salt Point State Park last week. They came across two wonderful finds of rare wildflowers. The first is Nuttall's Milkvetch, Astragulus nuttallii, var. virgatus. There are a few white flowers left, but you are mostly looking at are the large inflated seed pods.
And the second one is Pleated Gentian, Gentiana affinis, var. ovata.
Great finds and wonderful to see! Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Bob Rutemoeller found this beautiful wildflower on the Point Arena - Stornetta Lands recently. It's Coastal Onion, also called Magenta Wild Onion, Allium dichlamydeum.
This wildflower is a member of the Lily family. The flower head has many small flowers and the stem is quite thick. They grow about 3 to 5 inches tall on coastal bluffs. And, yes, they do have an onion smell!
Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Rob Elder had made several tries to find the old-growth Redwood tree known as the McCabe Tree. On his third attempt his wife Jacquelynn Bass accompanied him. With her help he found the big tree. Jackie's photo was awarded Best alongside the river (macro). The McCabe tree is possibly the largest old-growth Redwood in Sonoma County. It measures 47 feet, eight inches in circumference. Amazing.
To be overlooking the mouth of the Gualala River when it opens for the first time in months in the fall is extremely lucky. To get a photograph is even better. Bob Rutemoeller won Best River mouth photo with this shot:
Thanks to Jackie and Bob for sharing their photos with us here.
Bob Rutemoeller was walking on the Gualala Bluff Trail this past week when he saw two River Otters swimming in the river. They came up onto the banks of the river and gave Bob a chance to photograph them.
These creatures are comfortable in the water and on land. They can only thrive where the water is unpolluted. They eat fish, octopus, amphibians and even small mammals and birds. One was seen swimming under an unsuspecting Gull and grabbing it for a meal. Sometimes life on the Gualala River can be dangerous.
Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photo with you. Before this photo I did not know they groomed each other. I love learning new information about our wildlife. To see a River Otter and her pup, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/19/river-otters-seen-in-the-gualala-river/
A walk along the Gualala Bluff Trail brings wonderful sightings. Recently Bob Rutemoeller was doing his docent duties along the trail when he saw this group of Common Mergansers on the river.
Common Mergansers are large Ducks and they are found in Europe, Asia and North America. These fish-eating ducks have serrated edges on their bills, giving them the nickname "sawbills."
I love the wakes they made in the calm Gualala River. Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photo with you here.