Tag Archives: Gualala River

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With the Serge, a ceremonial hitching post structure, in the foreground, the sunset is beautifully framed behind it. Paul Brewer captured this lovely sight.

Gualala Point Regional Park is such a treasure. The Gualala River is just to the north of the park, and the town of Gualala just north of the river.

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

It's a beautiful, cool day here today, with lots of visitors celebrating the Labor Day holiday.

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Hundreds of young Brown Pelicans have been migrating northward. These hatched-this-year pelicans have brown heads and white underparts. They are accompanied by a few older pelicans. The adult pelicans have white heads and brown underparts. They are also accompanied by dark gulls, Heermann’s Gulls. These smart gulls let the pelicans find fish for them, sometimes even stealing it out of a pelican’s mouth.

When there is forage fish in the water, many birds feast. Craig Tooley photographed a feeding frenzy by Gualala Point Island with Brown Pelicans and several types of Gulls. Brown Pelicans plunge dive, beak first, for fish. It’s quite a sight.

Brown Pelicans also rest in rivers and on offshore rocks. Paul Brewer wrote, “There was a congregation of Brown Pelicans behind Breaker’s Inn having a spa day [on the Gualala River.] I got a few interesting shots from the Gualala Bluff Trail when they all decided to fly at once. They did that twice while I was there. They enjoyed their spa day, but all headed north about 6:30 pm.”

We almost lost Brown Pelicans due to the pesticide DDT, which made their eggshells so thin that they broke when the mothers sat on them. Since DDT was banned, the pelicans have recovered in numbers. To see them flying just over the bluffs is a thrilling sight.

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

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Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner were the ones who spotted the well-camouflaged Green Heron by the Gualala River. Bob wrote, “We were skipping flat rocks across the Gualala River when a Green Heron flushed and landed on a tree that is leaning over the river. It blends in so well it was hard to see through the camera on full zoom."

As seen by Bob and Mary Sue, they can be spotted by water, often hidden behind foliage. They use the awesome beak you can see in Bob's photo to stab fish for their meals.

Fun Fact: Green Herons are one of just a few bird species that actually use tools to tempt fish to come their way. They create their own fishing lures using insects, feathers and even bread crumbs. They lay their lure on the water to entice small fish - pretty clever, don't you think?

To hear some of the calls of this small heron, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/sounds

Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photos with you here!

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I haven't had a sighting of the two Bald Eagles for over a week, so I was glad to hear they were both seen this morning at the Gualala River. Eric Zetterholm photographed them several weeks ago perched on a tangle of branches and dead trees in the river.

We didn't seen any signs of nest building or nesting this year, but they certainly mated a lot! Hopefully next year they will find the perfect spot in the watershed of the Gualala River to nest and raise a chick. We'll be wishing and hoping!

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

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River Otters have been spotted at the Gualala River mouth. They are also found in other creeks and rivers on the Mendonoma coast. Gail Jackson photographed two River Otters looking at her. I wonder what the otters are thinking!

Here is a close up of a River Otter, taken by Dard Hunter, eating an octopus.

A year ago I watched one emerge from the Garcia River and proceed to roll in the sand.

The otter rolled with gusto for several minutes, and then was done.

River Otters can't abide pollution, so it's a testament to the clean waterways here on the coast.

Thanks to Gail and Dard for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Warm weather forecast for the weekend!