Tag Archives: Deborah Heatherstone

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The Coyote was on the west side of Highway One near Fort Ross State Historic Park. Deborah Heatherstone was there with her camera.

Can you see the Coyote in the photo below? The tall grasses make good camouflage for this Coyote. In the background you can see a few of the restored buildings from the Russian settlement at Fort Ross.

Thanks to Deborah for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To learn more at Fort Ross State Historic Park, here are several links: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/07/16/fort-ross-the-southern-most-russian-settlement-in-the-united-states/   and  http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/07/18/interiors-of-fort-ross-and-the-last-two-fruit-trees-planted-200-years-ago-by-russian-settlers/

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One of the juvenile Gray Whales returned to the waters off the Point Arena Pier on Saturday, Jan. 5th. A surfer was just coming in when he saw the whale. Deborah Heatherstone was there once again and photographed the event.

 
A small pod of young Gray Whales has spent the summer, autumn, and now winter off the Mendonoma Coast. They are called subadults. It is a new phenomenon for us that Grays didn't migrate. The vast majority do migrate north in March and April and then south in December and January. But these whales decided to stay put. They have more white on them, I am told, because they swim slower and stay in less turbulent water. It must have been thrilling for that surfer to be so close to this whale.

Once again I thank Deborah for allowing me to share her photos. Another of her photos is featured in today's Independent Coast Observer. You can see Sightings photos on the ICO's website at www.mendonoma.com. There's an on-line subscription available if you'd like to read my weekly Mendonoma Sightings column and keep up to date on the goings of our beautiful Coast.

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Really, the return of Al, the Laysan Albatross, to the waters off the Point Arena Pier was exciting enough. But the excitement levels rose when two juvenile Gray Whales swam in close to the pier on New Year's Day. Deborah Heatherstone was there to witness the event.

You can see a buoy in the second photo. This whale was very close in. Tomorrow I will share a photo of a surfer and one of these whales. And I will tell you more about this group of Gray Whales that didn't migrate. It's a fascinating new phenomenon.

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