Tag Archives: Gualala River

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The Gualala River had a soft opening this year, but it quickly closed again to the Pacific Ocean, blocked by a huge sandbar. Monday afternoon the river opened with a vengeance! The first photo shows the river flowing strongly into the ocean.

Today Rick and I found two large groups of Harbor Seals, a few in the river with most at river's edge. They were looking for Steelhead, most likely.

The river had sea foam in it, as waves were cresting the sandbar.

We even saw one of the Bald Eagles! He was staring down the Turkey Vulture on the left.

Here's a short video of the wave action this morning.

Video of Gualala River 12.19.18 by Jeanne Jackson

After such a beautiful time at the river, the fog appeared as if by magic, and enveloped the coast!

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It looks like the mated pair of Bald Eagles is back at the Gualala River. Gail Jackson recently photographed them.

It looks like the smaller male is perched on the higher branch. Below you will see a photo taken by Jim Garlock. The Bald Eagle could be perched on the same tree branch as in Gail's photo.

 

Seve Cardosi was surprised when she saw a Bald Eagle snatch a Western Gull out of the air and proceed to eat it. Again, this was by the Gualala River.

We hope they will build a nest in the watershed of the Gualala River this year.

Thanks to Gail, Jim and Seve for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We have a rainstorm coming in late tonight!

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Amy Ruegg wrote, “I thought you might enjoy seeing my amphibian friends found at the Hot Spot! A juvenile Western Toad was hopping enthusiastically over the rounded river stones and was so challenging to photograph." The Hot Spot is on The Sea Ranch, a sunny place along the Gualala River.

Amy continues, "A Rough-skinned Newt was squirming quickly into the fallen leaves at river’s edge. They are so cute and surprisingly bright orange underneath I am wishing for rain while I enjoy autumn’s abundance!”

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

The smoke is much less today and the humidity is higher. With a series of three storms headed our way, we are (literally) breathing easier.

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The two Bald Eagles, presumably the two who were here last winter and spring, have returned. Mike Wilson photographed one recently by the Gualala River.

We hope this coming year that they will build a nest and start a family right here in Gualala. Bald Eagles are expanding their territory northward along the coast. In Jenner, a mated pair raised a chick last spring. A Bald Eagle has been seen to our north near Little River. It's thrilling to see them here again. Their numbers were decimated by the chemical DDT, which made the shells of their eggs so thin that they broke when the mother sat on them. With the phase out of DDT in 1972, eagles, brown pelicans, peregrine falcons and ospreys began their recovery. It took decades, but their numbers have increased. We are privileged to see all of these birds here on the Mendonoma coast.

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

Our skies are blue today as the smoke from the Butte County fires is going south of us. The first blue skies we've seen since one week ago.

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Eric Zetterholm noticed the larger Great Egret and the much smaller Snowy Egret perched on the same snag in the Gualala River. It's a rare sighting to see these two egrets perched together.

Other than their size, the way to tell them apart is Great Egrets have yellow beaks and black feet. Snowy Egrets have black beaks with bright yellow feet!

Here's a close-up of a Great Egret taken by Rozann Grunig.

And here's a photo of a Snowy Egret in flight by Beth Petit, showing those yellow feet.

Thanks to Eric, Rozann and Beth for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Fog over the Pacific Ocean is keeping the Mendonoma coast nice and cool today!