Tag Archives: Bowling Ball Beach

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The very first Harbor Seal pup has been seen resting at Bowling Ball Beach. It is particularly important to leash your dogs and check any beach during pupping season.

Carol Cleland was one of the first to see the pup. She wrote, “I was enjoying a beautiful day on the beach when I saw this very young Harbor Seal pup tucked away napping."

"I figured the mama was out fishing and would come back for her little one. Then I wondered about who I should call to get info on what to do. I assumed I should leave it alone and move on down the beach, but I worried about its safety.”

Never try to “save” a pup. The correct thing to do if you think a pup is in distress is to call the Marine Mammal Center at 415) 289-SEAL  or 415) 289-7350. They have trained volunteers here who will assess the situation, and effect a rescue if needed. Here's a link to their website: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

Carol reported this pup was gone the next day, so we hope all is well and that the pup thrives.

The coming weeks are a great time to see new life on the Mendonoma coast. Rick and I have found twigs off our Japanese maple tree on the ground. We know what that means - birds, probably Steller's Jays, are already building their nests. Now is NOT the time to be pruning branches in trees and bushes.

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

Heavy rain in the wee hours of the morning, with clouds mixed with sunshine this afternoon.

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These rock formations are revealed at low tides. You will see why they are called bowling balls. Don Hess captured this lovely sight near sunset as a storm was arriving.

To learn more about Bowling Ball Beach, which is part of Schooner Gulch State Park, here is the link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=446

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

It's stormy here this afternoon - lots of dark clouds and some wind, but little rain yet.

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Beth Kattleman wrote,

“I went on a hike to Bowling Ball Beach with my friend, Margaret Lindgren, owner of Unbeaten Path Hiking Tours. It was Marg who pointed out this beautiful patch of Coast Buckwheat just we entered the beach from the north side.

“It was a gorgeous morning – calm sea, low tide, and puffs of lingering fog. Marg also pointed out the sandstone concretions and other geomorphic marvels as we walked the length of Bowling Ball, while she also identified the various Seaweeds that were scattered on the rocky shore.

“I’m lucky to have such a knowledgeable friend! We then hiked the bluff trail between Bowling Ball and Moat Creek, and saw a handsome Osprey perched on a precipice!”

Bowling Ball Beach is found at Schooner Gulch State Park. To learn more about one of my favorite State Parks, here is the link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=446

And to learn more about Margaret's Unbeaten Path Hiking Tours, here is the link to her website:

http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/

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

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Steve Coffee-Smith sent in a photo of an unusual fish. Steve wrote, “Our group of family and friends went to Bowling Ball Beach. We found this fish, maybe three inches long, on the newly exposed rocks in the lowering tide. We tried to scoop him up in order to return him to deeper water, but he was stuck to the rock.”

Carol Preston of NOAA knew the ID of the fish. Carol wrote, “It is a Clingfish, Gobiesox maeandricus. They use their ‘suction cup,’ which is their pelvic fins fused together, to cling to the undersides of rocks in the tidepools. They mainly eat small crustaceans and molluscs.”

Thanks to Carol for the ID, and thanks to Steve for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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As you drive north on Highway One from the busy San Francisco Bay Area, the beautiful coastline is revealed to you as you wind your way up the curvy road. One particularly spectacular view is of Bowling Ball Beach in Mendocino County. Karen Wilder recently photographed this beach at high tide.

our-beautiful-coastline-by-karen-wilderAt low tide, the rock formations for which this beach is named appear - bowling balls! This photo was taken by Terry Pfardresher.

bowling-ball-beach-2015-january-040-by-terry-boldBowling Ball Beach is part of Schooner Gulch State Beach. The pathway down to the beach has been repaired, after years of it being closed. We are thankful State Parks fixed it. To learn much more about this park, here is the link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=446

Thanks to Karen and Terry for allowing me to share their photos with you here.