Tag Archives: Gualala

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Monarch Butterflies have migrated to the coast where they feed on nectar plants before heading south for the winter. Paul Brewer photographed several in his garden in Gualala.

When Paul photographed perhaps the first Monarch to appear a while ago, the butterfly was pretty tattered. This butterfly is missing part of its wing. These migrating butterflies are the long-lived Monarchs, called the Methuselah generation. They can live up to seven months and some will travel all the way down to Mexico.

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/

It's raining here on the coast this afternoon! We have well over a half inch of the blessed wet stuff. It's nice and mild too, about 60 degrees. We go back to sunny weather after today's rain. Will there be mushrooms soon?

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Jim Garlock noticed the two juvenile Bald Eagles in a tree their parents like to perch on. These are the two eagles that were hatched this year somewhere in the Gualala River watershed. Jim also photographed one of the parents high in the tree.

 

Welcome, Bald Eagles!

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

Lots of cool, thick fog hugging the coast, with sunny skies a little ways inland.

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Rick Denniston photographed this Bald Eagle eating what looks like a large lizard. The light wasn't good for the photo, Rick said.

I sent Rick's photo to reptile expert Gary Nafis. He wrote,

"I don't know what it is. I'm not sure it's a lizard, and I don't think it's the tail end of a snake. I can't see any legs and the light thing hanging down over the branch doesn't look like one. The largest lizards in your area are alligator lizards, but if an eagle's talons are two inches long as I've read, then it's too large to be an alligator lizard. If it is a lizard, it would have to be an escaped pet. If it's a rodent, I don't think the eagle would be eating the tail end. Raptors have been seen eating salamanders, too, but the tail is also wrong for a giant salamander."
Do you have any idea what the Bald Eagle is eating?
Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Ooo, we are having wild weather - rain, hail, sunshine, more rain hail, sunshine...a wait five minutes kind of day. We had a 1/2 inch of rain this morning in a short period of time. More coming in late this afternoon.

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Teresa Denniston got this lovely photo of the sun shining on a Bald Eagle resting on a snag near her Gualala house.

Last Sunday, Eric Zetterholm got a photo of the Gualala Bald Eagle pair mating! It is in today's Independent Coast Observer, in my Mendonoma Sightings column. Eric said the two eagles were very loving towards each other. Nice to see.

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

We are between storms today. Clouds are pouring in as I write this. After tonight's storm, we are heading for what looks like a dry spell.

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Julie Hidalgo took this photo at the southern end of Gualala, showing the Vue Coastal Kitchen Restaurant and the Hotel Breakers. I entitled Julie's photo "Day is Done."

Thanks to Julie for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn more about the Vue and the Hotel Breakers, here's a link to their website: https://www.thehotelbreakers.com/menu

An unbelievably warm day for Dec. 7th, with temps in the low 70's. It's not right, it's not normal, but it's what we have for today. I actually have my windows and doors open...amazing.