Tag Archives: Gualala Point Regional Park

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Rozanne Rapozo photographed a pair of Double-crested Cormorants, saying she was surprised to find them on the rocks at the park where she usually only sees Pelagic Cormorants. I was amazed by how beautiful the feathers were, etched in a darker color. She wrote, “Looks like [the one on the right] is ready for Spring, and aren’t we all!! A special treat to get one at the start of breeding plumage.”

Tim Bray took a look at this photo and determined the bird on the left is an immature and the bird of the right is an adult coming into breeding plumage.

I asked Diane Hichwa about this sighting. She wrote, “We don't have as many Double-cresteds.  A few nest on Fish Rock Islands. The Pelagic Cormorants nest on the cliff sides at discreet spots up and down the coast. And the Brandt's Cormorants need lots of flatter space so they nest on Gualala Point Island and on Fish Rock Islands."

Notice the "s" shape of their necks. And if you could see inside their mouths, you'd find bright blue mouths!

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

Very breezy, cool with high puffy clouds passing by today.

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Gail Jackson was at Gualala Point Regional Park at sunrise when she spotted this Coyote on Monday, October 17.

Four weeks ago, Eric Zetterholm photographed theses two Coyotes above Reef Campground, near Fort Ross. I wonder if one of these two might have traveled up the coast to GPRP.

We don't see Coyotes very often here on the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Gail and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's a beautiful Autumn day here today, temps in the 60s with some high clouds passing by, and a nice breeze. Humpbacks were seen yesterday!

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On Sunday Sept 18, we had a vigorous storm that dumped quite a bit of rain on the Mendonoma Coast. I've previously written that we got 4.55 inches at our place in Anchor Bay. Last Tuesday morning I drove down to the iconic spot at Gualala Point Regional Park to take this photo of the mouth of the Gualala River. This part of the river is called Mill Bend.

The river had been quite diminished so it's wonderful to see it so nice and full. You can see the big sandbar at the mouth that "closes" the river to the Pacific Ocean. With enough rain, this sandbar will be breached, always an exciting event. But for now, the river is still "closed."

I hope you enjoy one of my photos for a change.

Heavy, drippy fog along the coast for much of the day, though the ridge had blue skies.

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Rozanne Rapozo was at Gualala Point Regional Park when she noticed this young Peregrine Falcon landing on the log. Looks like this fledgling has just begun his/her flying lessons.

There were two more fledgling falcons that were "play" fighting.

Welcome, young Peregrine Falcons!

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

We had more blessed rain this morning. The total from Monday and this morning's rain is 0.34 inches, so a nice third of an inch. As I type this at 3:21 pm, the fog is rolling in. You never know what the weather is going to be like! The forecast is for sunny and warmer days ahead.

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Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is a treat to find. Judith Fisher found this beauty at Gualala Point Regional Park recently.

This wildflower's scientific name is interesting. Formosa means "beautiful." Wildflower.org's website states this: "The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila which means eagle and refers to the spurred petals that many believe resemble an eagle's talons." Fascinating! Look for Western Columbine in moist areas.

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

Today is an "in between" day. Yesterday morning at 7, I found 0.40 inches of rain in our gauge. Another 0.15 fell during the day. Today we have beautiful clouds scudding across the sky, pushed by strong breezes. Heck, it's downright windy this afternoon! Tomorrow we have some rain coming in. Thank you, Mother Nature!