Tag Archives: Gualala River

Gualala Point Regional Park is at the northernmost corner of the Sonoma coast. It's a true gem, with a beautiful beach, the Gualala River alongside, meadows and bluffs. Gaily Jackson visited and took these photos. First she found a fledgling American Robin. The young bird might have taken its first flight and then landed on the ground.

And this Great Blue Heron, so beautiful in the air.

Then she witnessed five Great Blue Herons and a Great Egret along the Gualala River. You can see the town of Gualala behind them.

Thanks to Gaily for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see more of her nature photography, here is her website: http://gailyimages.com/

It was very foggy and cold this morning, but the sun has since been revealed - at least in Anchor Bay!

This is the male Bald Eagle. He has been seen fishing for a lamprey in the Gualala River and flying upstream. Perhaps the female is at a nest? We hope so.

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Sunny and warm with just the slightest breeze.

I only have a few more days to say...spring doesn't know.

Eric Zetterholm had fun watching Caspian Terns fishing together at the Gualala River.

Here one rests in the river.

Here's what Eric observed: “There are three that seem to work together. They fly into the wind that blows up the river and allows them to move slowly as they fish. They fly up to the mouth together with a space of a hundred yards or so between them, and return in a group. It is a fun challenge to get a picture of them flying by and diving for the fish. They seem to be getting along with the few Osprey on the river, but there is a lot of chatter and calls between them all.”

Thanks to Eric for this fun sighting and for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Breezy, sunny, and warm on the Mendonoma Coast today.

Spring doesn't know...

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Many of us are enjoying watching the mated pair of Bald Eagles at the Gualala River. Eric Zetterholm witnessed an interesting encounter which featured the female Bald Eagle. He wrote, “I took a walk out to the Gualala Point Beach Wednesday morning and found very large numbers of different Gulls there. A few were chasing a fish head as it was pushed and pulled by the waves. I managed to grab it without getting too wet and took a few photos before I left it for the Gulls." Not a pretty sight, I know! We think it's the head of a Steelhead.

Eric continues, “When I had walked a few hundred yards up the beach, I got sight of a Bald Eagle coming at me from down the beach. She passed me very quickly and swiftly snatched up the fish head, carrying it off to the river."

"I decided to make the long hike back up the beach, up the pathway, over the hill, down the trail, and back up the river. The eagle was still enjoying the fish as I walked down river and I was able to get fairly close to her while keeping out of her view.”

Lots going on alongside the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean!

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

Sunny, breezy, cooler day today!

The Christmas Bird Count takes place in January here on the Mendonoma coast. During the event, a Red-tailed Hawk nest was seen at The Sea Ranch. The call went out to wildlife photographer Craig Tooley to come and photograph it. Craig got one of the Red-tails perched on the side of the nest as the other flew away. The hawks were working on reinforcing the nest. They use the same nests for some years.

Eric Zetterholm recently photographed a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, the larger female and the smaller male, near the Gualala River.

We don't know if the nest Craig photographed is their nest.

John Wall also photographed a Red-tailed Hawk, perched on a Sea Ranch road sign. John said there was a new traffic cop in town!

Thanks to Craig, Eric and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's wildlife photograph, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com