Tag Archives: Gualala River

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Paul Brewer has a knack for taking beautiful photos. Here are two photos of a recent sunset. The first shows the Serge, a ceremonial hitching post, with the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Sunset and the Serge 8-10-2015 by Paul Brewer Sunset and the Gualala River 8-10-2015 by Paul Brewer

The second photo shows the Gualala River, which is currently blocked off from the Pacific Ocean by a big sandbar. It won't open until enough rain has fallen, usually sometime in the fall.

To learn more about this wonderful park, and about the Serge, here is the link: http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Get_Outdoors/Parks/Gualala_Point_Regional_Park.aspx

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

 

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Peter Baye noticed a group of Steelhead in the Gualala River. One of them was nearly white - a leucistic Steelhead.

Leucistic steelhead with normal colored Steelhead by Peter Baye

That's not something you see every day! Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Peggy Berryhill and Susan Ruschmeyer attended the Gualala River event a few weeks ago. They saw thousands of tiny toads, which turned out to be Western Toads. There are four in the first photo - can you spot them?

Four tiny newly-hatched Western toads by Peggy Berryhill
In the second photo Susan has one of the little toads in her hand. They hatched early this year.

Tiny Western toad by Peggy Berryhill

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

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Western Pond Turtles can occasionally be seen along the Gualala River. They are quite shy so often the only sighting is the ring of circles where the turtle just disappeared in the water. Will Ericson recently saw and photographed one.

Western Pond Turtle by Will Ericson A Western Pond Turtle by Will EricsonThese turtles are only found on the West Coast of the United States and Mexico, from Washington State to northern Baja California. They eat a wide variety of food, including plants, insects, and fish.

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

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Today in America we celebrate Independence Day. As the Bald Eagle was chosen in 1782 as the emblem of our country, I thought the 4th of July would be a perfect time to show you a few photos of mature Bald Eagles. Here is a recent photo taken by Kris Rose near Stewart's Point.

Bald Eagle near Stewart's Point by Kris Rose

And here is a photo taken last year of a Bald Eagle that perched on a snag in the Gualala River. It was taken by Phil Wendt.

A Bald Eagle on a snag in the Gualala River by Phil Wendt

Here is what www.baldeagle info.com says about why the Bald Eagle was picked to represent America:

"The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent.  The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond."

Happy 4th of July! Thanks to Kris and Phil for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Phil's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.philwendt.org/