Tag Archives: Ken Bailey

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Jack Likins took a video of the very healthy ecosystem off of The Sea Ranch, at Walk On Beach. Currently this public access is closed, but Jack took this video some time before the closures.

https://youtu.be/UvP2nVrqono

Here's a photo by photographer Ken Bailey of an Opalescent Nudibranch, a type of sea slug.

And in much happier times, when abalone diving was allowed, here are Jack and Ken over five years ago with Ken's three 10-inch Abalones. Sorry to say, there is no diving allowed  now, not because of the virus, but because the Abalones are in trouble due to the proliferation of Sea Urchins. The Urchins eat everything, including the kelp Abalones need for sustenance.

But seeing Jack's video gives me hope that the ocean can readjust and become healthy again. Look at those big Abalones! Look but don't touch. Thanks to Jack and Ken for allowing me to share the photos/video with you here.

We had a BIG storm overnight. From the back to back storms, we registered 1.70 inches in our gauge. The seasonal creek that crosses our land is back above ground and running - a glorious sight this morning.

Spring doesn't know...

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Yep, he's still hanging around the hamlet of Elk. The big male Roosevelt Elk can sometimes be seen from Highway One. Ken Bailey recently photographed him.

He looks healthy with that big rack! Hope he finds a female of his species one of these days.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see Ken's underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

Unbelievably warm here today for February - 76 degrees this afternoon. It's hard to really enjoy this dry spell when we know we need rain.

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Scott and Tree Mercer sit out on the bluffs most days looking for Gray Whales and other marine life. As of yesterday, they have seen 99 Gray Whales swimming fast to the birthing lagoons of Baja. These first whales are the pregnant females and they are intent on reaching the safety of the lagoons before giving birth.

Here is a photo Ken Bailey took a few years ago showing the spout - the exhalation of air - and the tail.

And next is a flipper of a Gray Whale, photo by Paul Brewer.

You can see this Gray Whale was in the surf break, photo taken by Frank Coster.

And here is the migration route the Gray Whales take. They travel thousands of miles, twice a year!

Today is the last sunny day for a while as three storms are lined up for the days ahead. But when there is a break, you can look for Gray Whales, as thousands more will be passing by in the days, weeks and months to come. I find it comforting to know they are just offshore, living their lives as their ancestors did.

Thanks to Ken, Paul and Frank for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To follow the Mercers whale counts, visit their Facebook page, Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study at this link: https://www.facebook.com/Mendonoma-Whale-and-Seal-Study-1421926098039236/

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Even while the southward migration of Gray Whales continues, the first northward-bound Grays have been seen. These are the newly pregnant females, and they are heading fast to their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. They will be eating for two! Scott and Tree Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, saw their first northbound Gray on Tuesday around noon.

Here is a fun photo taken by Ken Bailey a while ago of what I believe are two Gray Whales, one spouting and the other diving, showing the tail.

Ken also photographed the barnacle-encrusted head of a Gray Whale.

Here is the migration map of the Gray Whales, a journey of about 5,000 miles, one way.

Pretty amazing!

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Ken's photography, including his wonderful underwater photography, here is the link: http://www.seadreams.org/

To follow the Mercers' daily posts of their sightings, here is the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mendonoma-Whale-and-Seal-Study-1421926098039236/

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It's so wonderful to continue to see two mature Bald Eagles at the Gualala River. Ken Bailey photographed this one last week on Tuesday at the Gualala River.

One of the eagles likes to perch on a snag near the river mouth. You can see the snag from the north end of the Gualala Bluff Trail, behind Trink's Cafe.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Ken's photography, including stunning underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/