Tag Archives: Garcia River

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Members of the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians are trying to have the Garcia River renamed to the original Pomo name, which is P'da Hau. Since Rafael Garcia had a land grant in the mid-1800s and didn't even stay in the area long, it seems like a good idea to give the river back its original name. Rick and I were recently out on the northern portion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and looked down from the bluff on the P'da Hau, watching it flow out into the ocean. Manchester Beach is to the north of the river.

Looking up river, we saw a River Otter come out of the river.

The Otter then proceeded to roll in the sand! Perhaps it was taking a sand bath.

After rolling several times, the River Otter headed back to the river, as if to say, "Okay, I'm done."

We also saw a family of Canada Geese, with young goslings, strolling alongside the river bank.

There is always something to see here on the Mendonoma coast!

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The storms have abated and left us with a sunny day. This morning's cloud show was fun to watch. Then Rick called out, "Rainbow!"

I hope you can see the small rainbow spilling out of the cloud. It was more vibrant to the naked eye!

The earthquake that hit around 5:30 am on the 21st was 2.9 on the Richter scale. Not a big earthquake by any means, but the epicenter was HERE. Here is a photo from UC Berkeley Seismology Department showing the epicenter.

That wavy line on the right is the Garcia River. And, yes, the San Andreas Fault crosses the river. To learn more, here is the post on the USGS website: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc72766286#dyfi

All is quiet here on the coast, except the cold north wind that is blowing. And it's a cold wind!

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Molly Scaramella noticed this Great Blue Heron watching the flooding Garcia River. Of all the birds here on the Mendonoma coast, the Great Blue Herons seem to be unfazed by the wild and wet weather.

Molly got a photo of perhaps the same Heron on a different day, perched in a tree.

Great Blue Herons have a rather squawking sound that you can hear at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/sounds

They wade into the water to fish, and they hunt for rodents, insects, and even birds on land. And they can hunt in the daytime and nighttime due to photoreceptors in their eyes. They are year round residents of the Mendonoma coast.

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

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Peter Baye wrote, “I found a new rare plant at the Stornetta Lands along the P’da Hau [Garcia] River estuary last week, Humboldt Bay owl’s clover, Castilleja ambigua, subspecies humboldtiensis.”

Humboldt Bay owl's-clover, Castilleja ambigua humboldtiensis, by Peter Baye

This plant is found in tidal marsh locations and was originally thought to be endemic to Humboldt Bay, hence its common name. But it’s been found in Mendocino County at Big River. And now it’s been found at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.

Peter wrote further, “The surprises of the Stornetta Land’s varied habitats have only been open to botanical exploration for a few years. Perhaps more botanical gems await discovery!”

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here. I look forward to new discoveries in the special Stornetta-Point Arena Lands.

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Terry Bold was hiking near the Garcia River when she came across the print of a Black Bear.

Soon thereafter she found scat. No actual sighting of the Bear though. Below are two photos Terry took of the river.

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