Tag Archives: MacKerricher State Park

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Lisa Walker-Roseman was up at MacKerricher State Park when she had an aerial show. She wrote, “I was standing on Ten Mile Beach, watching the Pelicans and Gulls as they alternately fed on fish and returned to shore to rest. A woman and little girl were walking along the shore, the little girl chasing the birds, when my friend Shannon, who is volunteering with State Parks for the "Share the Beach" program, went over to speak to them about chasing the birds. Then I saw a flash of white and dark brown and knew I was seeing a Bald Eagle. So, I reached for my camera with its 800mm lens and started shooting the drama that unfolded in front of me"

"The eagle was chasing the Osprey, trying to get it to drop its prize - what appeared to be a Salmon."

"After about ten minutes (!), the Osprey dropped its catch into the surf"

"The eagle did dive down to try and grab it, but was left empty-taloned. After a few circles above where the fish fell, the eagle, panting, flew off over the dunes and towards Ten Mile River, defeated."

The Osprey returned and caught a fish.”

Lisa's photos and commentary tell quite a story! I thank her for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see much more of Lisa's nature photos, here is the link to her Facebook account, Feather's Fotos: https://www.facebook.com/PhotographyByFeather/

Another lovely day with mild temps and no wind. Just about perfect here on the Mendonoma Coast!

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On Sunday May 8th, Jeff Goll was at MacKerricher State Park during the most recent rains. He got this beautiful and unusual photo of a Western Gull in flight. Jeff calls this a hooded gull.

He then spotted a Western Gull - perhaps the same Gull? - nab a Shrimp for its meal.

Rain showers coming in!

Followed by a rainbow.

MacKerricher State Park  is located three miles north of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. It has nine miles of coastline to explore. You can learn more about this wonderful park at this link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=436

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

It's sunny, but there is fog hovering over the ocean, which keeps the temperature nice and cool. It's springtime breezy too!

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A Snow Bunting was seen for over a week at Virgin Creek Beach in MacKerricher State Park. Ron LeValley was one of many who got a peek at this bird and he got this wonderful photo.

Snow Bunting by Ron LeValley

Snow Buntings are birds of the high arctic and snowy winter fields. They are sometimes affectionately called "Snowflakes." What this bird was doing on the temperate Mendonoma Coast is a mystery.

To hear the call of this bird, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snow_bunting/sounds

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website:

http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/

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Susan Bechtel recently visited Glass Beach in Fort Bragg and took a photo of the of the sparkling sea glass.

Glass Beach by Susan Bechtel (Large)

There are actually three glass beaches in Fort Bragg, all former trash dump sites. Up until 1967 most trash was thrown over the cliffs into the ocean, a common practice of seaside residents for centuries.

The Pacific Ocean took the multi-colored glass bottles and, over the years, tumbled them into small pieces of sea glass. The rock formations at Fort Bragg create wave patterns that kept glass on the beach. The tides and the sand worked together to smooth and round the glass.

The Glass Beach at MacKerricher State Park is easy to visit. Turn left on Elm Street and park at the end. Susan warns there is a stand of poison oak at the beginning of the trail. The trail, she says, is easy. Leave the glass for others to enjoy.

Thanks to Susan for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn more about MacKerricher State Park, here is the link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=436

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Baby Blue Eyes, Nemophila menziesii, are blooming in sunny spots on the Coast. A great place to see them is in the meadows at the Stornetta Public Lands. Ron LeValley recently photographed a lovely group of them near Fort Bragg at MacKerricher State Park, obviously another great place to see them.

 And here is a close-up of this wildflower. In Reny Parker's book, Wildflowers of Northern California's Wine Country & North Coast Ranges, she writes, "Baby Blue Eyes...the spring sky smiling up at itself."

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's beautiful photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/