Tag Archives: Gualala Point Island

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Rozanne Rapozo goes the extra mile to get her photo of the Supermoon. She wrote, "I’ve been watching the movement of the Moon over the last month hoping when it was full, it would line up with either Gualala Point Island or Fish Rock.  Never got past 297 degrees so I thought the best chance to get the shot would be GPI. Got up around 4:15am and set out to meet Chris Beach at the north end of Sea Ranch to wait for the Moon to set.  Almost got the shot we both had  envisioned but the billowy clouds had a different idea! They moved in just as the Moon was beginning to set."

"Oh well, to steal a line from an old movie maybe we’ll try it the ‘same time next year.’”

I love Rozanne's photo and I bet you will enjoy it too. Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Are you ready for this rain report? The storm began a little after midnight on Wednesday Nov. 20th. It's rained steadily since then. At Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay, 640 feet elevation, by 2:40 pm Thursday Nov. 21st, we've received 12.51 inches. Yes, over a foot of rain and IT'S STILL RAINING! The Gualala River burst through the sandbar and was flowing into the Pacific Ocean this morning. Early this afternoon the Garcia River flooded Highway One. It's pretty wild here - a good day to stay home!

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A Mendonoma sunset is something to be savored. This is what John Wall saw from his Sea Ranch home last week. Isn't beautiful?

I asked John if those were Brown Pelicans resting on the island and he said yes! Brown Pelicans are now headed southward. They are being seen here in very large numbers.

Bonus photo from John! Dash, the dog, points out a vole or gopher. What a dog!

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Smoke from fires far to our north drifted in overnight...ugh. And it's quite warm, over 80 degrees at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Cooler weather is predicted and even a chance of sprinkles on Friday. So, hopefully the smoke will be fleeting.

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Gualala Point Island is found off the far north end of The Sea Ranch. It is an important rookery for nesting seabirds. So it shouldn't be a surprise that the island gets a covering of white guano.

Steve Woolson took a photo of the island after the January storms, and he found it all washed clean.

Thanks to Steve for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

There is a big, thick fog bank over the ocean today but it pulled back, showing me some of the Pacific Ocean. Then I noticed a black line on the calm ocean. An anomaly on the ocean means a feeding frenzy could be going on. And that was the case. Gulls and Brown Pelicans were diving in what I think was a huge group of Anchovies. At the front of the southward moving line, I saw spouts which could have been dolphins! Hopefully someone closer to the ocean was able to identify them.

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Pam Ryan was out last Sunday to observe bird life at Gualala Point Island, which is found off the north end of The Sea Ranch. The public access trail from Gualala Point Regional Park gives you an up close view. The one Western Gull is sitting on her nest while her mate is standing close by. They don't seem to be bothered by the young Brown Pelicans.

 

These pelicans have brown heads and white tummies, signifying they are juveniles. Born off the Santa Barbara coast, they have arrived a little earlier than usual this year. Perhaps their food source to our south has become too scarce. In any case, it's wonderful to see them.

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

It's a cool day today. The fog has pushed inland, and there are high clouds too.

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Brown Pelicans use offshore rocks to rest overnight on their travels. So it's not surprising to see hundreds roosting on Gualala Point Island. Craig Tooley photographed the sight.

GPI is off the north end of The Sea Ranch.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Heavy fog this morning, with sun this afternoon/