John Harmon spotted this sweet sight, a Doe nuzzling her Fawn in the early morning light.
John captured a beautiful moment here on the Mendonoma Coast. I thank him for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Smoke from the wildfires arrived yesterday but it has abated some this afternoon. I just received the most welcome news that Highway One has reopened to our south this afternoon!
John Harmon was at Sea Pine Beach at low tide on The Sea Ranch when he saw all these healthy Stars. They look to be feeding on a bed of Mussels.
These are Ochre Stars and they also eat clams and oysters. I do know one creature that eats Sea Stars and that is a Western Gull. Here's a photo of this gull taken by Allen Vinson. The food chain in action!
Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
A heat wave has enveloped the western part of the United States. If you travel inland from the coast just a bit, you hit very high temps. Here on the Mendonoma Coast, there is no fog, just a gentle breeze and warm temps today.
A big Buck was out on the tide pools at The Sea Ranch. John Harmon wrote, “Jill and I happened across a security person while walking the bluff near the Marine Preserve between Post 14 and 15. She was looking at this Buck.
“As the tide was turning to come in, and because we had planned to go tide pool gazing, we ventured down to the rocks to circle around and flush him back up to the bluff. He was having none of it. Several others tried in vain. We continued on our walk and returned to find the Buck now laying down with a growing entourage of onlookers. We don’t know how this tale ended.”
John wondered if the Buck might be eating Kelp, but I learned Kelp is not nutritious for Black-tailed Deer. It’s a mystery why the Buck was out there, but he wasn’t in danger from the incoming tide. Deer are very good swimmers.
Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We are getting some much needed rain today.