Tag Archives: John Wall

•

The trouble-making thunderstorms California experienced last month brought an unusual cloud formation over the Pacific Ocean. Ned Alpers called it a “cloud-island.”

Jim Garlock saw it in Gualala and wrote, “I just looked outside and thought a new land mass had sprung out of the ocean. It was a cloud that has now disappeared, but it was certainly a strange view.”

John Wall saw it too. He wrote, “I saw this really interesting and unusual cloud formation as I was driving south by Stewart’s Point. It was worth pulling over to take a pic even though it got me stuck behind a Winnebago that wouldn’t pull over! [The cloud formation] made me want to dial up “Islands In the Sky.’ What an amazing place we live in!”

Scott Gasparian took a look at the photos and sent me several links that explained this rare phenomenon. It was a type of Arcus cloud called a Roll cloud, or a Morning Glory cloud. They can be created by downdrafts of thunderstorms.

Thanks to John, Jim and Ned for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Heat wave on the Mendonoma Coast! Might I tell you I do not like the heat? It's nearly 30 degrees hotter today than yesterday. At our home in Anchor Bay we are at 90 degrees this afternoon.

•

John Wall and his dog, Dash, confirmed that there was no walking on Walk On Beach at The Sea Ranch recently.

Dash doesn't understand why he can't go down and run on his favorite beach. But for now, you can only enjoy this beach from the bluffs. Walk On Beach is one of the public access trails and beaches usually accessible on Sea Ranch. We look forward to the day when it, and others, can be reopened.

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

It's heating up on the Mendonoma coast! I call this tomato weather, as in good weather for growing tomatoes. Today, for the first time, I saw through our spotting scope two scrawny Osprey chicks in their nest. The father Osprey had brought fish back to the nest and the mother Osprey was feeding them. It was a happy sighting for me this morning.

Spring doesn't know...

•

The Christmas Bird Count takes place in January here on the Mendonoma coast. During the event, a Red-tailed Hawk nest was seen at The Sea Ranch. The call went out to wildlife photographer Craig Tooley to come and photograph it. Craig got one of the Red-tails perched on the side of the nest as the other flew away. The hawks were working on reinforcing the nest. They use the same nests for some years.

Eric Zetterholm recently photographed a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, the larger female and the smaller male, near the Gualala River.

We don't know if the nest Craig photographed is their nest.

John Wall also photographed a Red-tailed Hawk, perched on a Sea Ranch road sign. John said there was a new traffic cop in town!

Thanks to Craig, Eric and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's wildlife photograph, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

• 2 Comments

•

John Wall and his dog, Dash, were walking at Gualala Point Regional Park when they came across this scene.

John and Dash found an Oregon Gartersnake nabbing an Alligator Lizard. That's a pretty big meal for the Gartersnake. Here's another angle.

Did you know gartersnakes are beneficial in your garden? They eat slugs and bugs, along with snails. No need to be afraid of them...unless you are an alligator lizard like the one in John's photo!

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

Much cooler now and it really feels like autumn. Strong breezes today too.

•

Over the past weekend, we had many, many showers followed by brilliant sunshine. That's a great recipe for rainbows. John Wall photographed this one through a window in his home on The Sea Ranch.

Then it started really pouring and John photographed the rainbow through a sleeting rain.

Today we have nothing but pure sunshine and a chance to dry out a bit.

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