Tag Archives: Cook’s Beach

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A small flock of Western Sandpipers was seen at Cook's Beach recently, running along the surf line. Tom Eckles photographed the scene, which shows kelp on the beach.

Several years ago Tom saw Sandpipers at the same place, as you will see in the photo below, looking for tasty insects in the surf and sand.

There's something quite endearing about these birds - they make me smile when I see them. If you'd like to listen to their calls, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_sandpiper/sounds

Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com

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Goose Barnacles live on hard surfaces of rock, and even flotsam, in the intertidal zone of the ocean. Peggy Berryhill recently photographed a group of them at low tide off of Cook's Beach. You can also see a handful of mussels in Peggy's photo.

Such a strange-looking creature!  The Goose Barnacles look rather like claws. They are considered a delicacy in Portugal and Spain and go by the name Percebes. Native people on the Mendonoma Coast would roast them on a fire and then eat the stem. I'm content to admire them in their natural habitat, one of the many denizens of the ocean.

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

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Joel Crockett was enjoying Cook's Beach with his dog, Argish, early one morning recently. Lucky for us Joel had his camera and took this beautiful photo.

I thank Joel for allowing me to share his photo with you here. Joel is the owner of The Four-eyed Frog bookstore in Gualala. If you'd like to support this independent bookstore - one of the friendliest places in Gualala, perhaps the world - here's the website: http://www.foureyedfrog.com/

If you'd like to discover Cook's Beach for yourself, here's a link that gives directions: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/02/12/cooks-beach-a-beautiful-pocket-beach-just-north-of-gualala/  Just make sure that when you park your tires are off the pavement to avoid a ticket. I want you to have only good memories of your visit to this special spot.

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A very large Elephant Seal occupied the south end of Cook's Beach for some days in December. Rick and I visited the beach and watched from a safe distance as he threw sand over his back.  Paula Ray Power photographed him and I have to wonder at the fellow in the photo. He's too close for comfort. Elephant Seals can move faster on sand than most humans.

Paula took this photo from the overlook. It's interesting to see the tracks made by the big fellow. Males should be headed south to Ano Nuevo State Reserve where mating has begun. Perhaps this Elephant Seal decided to forgo  all that and take a vacation on the Mendonoma Coast.

I thank Paula for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see an aerial photo of this beautiful pocket beach, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/05/24/an-aerial-view-of-cooks-beach-as-photographed-by-craig-tooley/

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Annie Mills was enjoying Cook's Beach, which is just north of the town of Gualala. She found two Whimbrels enjoying the beach too.

Migrating Whimbrels breed far to our north and they travel several thousand miles, twice each year. They can occasionally be seen feeding and resting on local beaches. Whimbrels use their long beaks to probe in the sand for tasty treats - crabs being one of their favorite food source.

To hear the call of a Whimbrel, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whimbrel/sounds

To see more about Cook's Beach and learn how to find it, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/02/12/cooks-beach-a-beautiful-pocket-beach-just-north-of-gualala/

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