On a hike with a friend yesterday Rick and I saw a lone Douglas Iris, Iris douglasiana, blooming in a sunny patch of land. Yes, it is early for this wildflower to bloom but there was no denying its beautiful presence.
And today a small pod of Gray Whales were seen headed south. All in all, a beautiful day on the Mendonoma Coast!
David Wayne Floyd captured a beautiful wave approaching Anchor Bay Beach in Mendocino County. Storms to our north are generating big waves. Our weather is soon to change as those storms begin hitting the Mendonoma Coast by Wednesday morning. Today we bask in the sun but we look forward to some nice big storms real soon.
Thanks to David for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
To see David's beautiful sunset pictures at Anchor Bay Beach, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/18/a-great-place-to-watch-the-sunset-is-anchor-bay-beach/
and to learn more about Anchor Bay Beach, here is their web site: http://www.abcamp.com/
And before the weather closes down our view of the ocean, I want to tell you that Gray Whales have been seen most days migrating south. What a string of calm, clear weather days we've had to observe the great migration!
Anchor Bay Beach is a wonderful place to watch the sun begin to set. David Wayne Floyd did just that recently and look at what he saw. Beautiful! Thanks to David for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Yesterday was a day full of happiness. One of the main reasons is that Al - or Alice, we don't really know - returned to the waters off of the Point Arena Pier for its 19 season. The Laysan Albatross arrived around 1 pm yesterday, Dec. 5th, and the news quickly spread. Al was late arriving this year so we were worried. But our worries were in vain, as this unique bird with a fondness for surfers has blessed us once again with its presence.
Mel Smith took this photograph of Al and I thank him for allowing me to share it with you here.
As if Al's arrival wasn't enough, we had a beautiful green flash last night. And a pod of Gray Whales was seen off Gualala yesterday headed south. Lots of exciting sightings here on the Mendonoma Coast!
On Thursday Gray Whales were seen off the Mendonoma Coast. A few were seen headed north, but most were headed south. It is the time of the southward migration, when the mother whales head down to Mexico's Baja California to give birth in protected lagoons.
Here is a picture of a Gray Whale's tail taken by Rozann Grunig near the Point Arena Lighthouse. Noting the shape of the tail can tell you what kind of whale you are seeing.
Fun fact: The Gray Whales have the longest migration than any other migratory mammal on Earth. They travel 5000 to 6000 miles, twice a year!
Here's a fun web site to learn more about these magnificent creatures:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/gwhale/AnnualFall.html
Thanks to Rozann for allowing me to share her photo here with you.