Tag Archives: Highway One

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Last month Mark Hancock was driving along Highway One when the sun was about to set. He pulled over and took a series of photos. This one looks just like a golden tornado, don't you agree?

I mentioned to Mark that these are the conditions to look for to see the green flash. He said there was a green flash that night but he missed getting the photograph. I can relate.

To see a green flash that occurred earlier this month, here's the link to Tom Eckle's photo: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/03/08/the-green-flash-as-photographed-by-tom-eckles/

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On a trip back up Highway One last week, the moon, in all its autumnal glory, was just making an appearance over the ridge near the Jenner Grade in Sonoma County. It was dusk when Rick pulled over so I could take this photo. Yes, the rest of our drive home was in the dark but the beautiful moon was a silent companion.

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On Friday a Sandhill Crane was seen by Mel Smith just off Highway One by the Garcia River flats. Last year about this time two Sandhill Cranes danced in the air in front of my Anchor Bay home. I don't think people would have believed me, as I'm not the most experienced birder, except I got several pictures. Sandhill Cranes are rare visitors to the coast.

I felt very fortunate to see and hear them - a wonderful gift from Mother Nature!

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Kenny Gentile was driving on Highway One just north of Elk on June 29th. There on the west side of the highway, perched on a tree, sat this beautiful, mature Bald Eagle. Kenny took over 50 photos while the big eagle watched him. One photo is on the Independent Coast Observer's web site at http://www.mendonoma.com/. Kenny kindly allowed me to post a different one here. Bald Eagles are a rare sighting on the Mendonoma Coast but two have been seen this spring and summer in the Albion area, which is not too far from Elk as the Eagle flies. We are wishing and hoping they will nest here.

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On a trip down Highway One this week Rick and I passed a blaze of color in a snag on the west side. "Was that a...Peacock?" I asked Rick, doubting my own eyes. He turned the car around and there it was, shining like an iridescent ornament in the fog. We were just north of Stillwater Cove County Park, which is in Sonoma County.

It turns out that Stillwater Cove Ranch is nearby and, yes, they have Peacocks. Apparently one of them caught the wandering bug - at least for a day. Every drive down the coast brings a bit of wonder.