Tag Archives: Mendonoma coast

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One of the most photographed birds on the Mendonoma Coast is the Great Blue Heron. Allen Vinson recently spotted one. They have a stateliness to them but they can move FAST when they spot prey.

Allen photographed a different Great Blue Heron a while back. This photo is entitled, "And we have liftoff!"

To hear the calls of a Great Blue Heron, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/sounds

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

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David and C'Anna Bergman-Hill were visiting relatives recently. They noticed a beautiful, vibrant rainbow just over the Point Arena Pintos.

 C'Anna took the photo below. The cliffs reflect the setting sun.

Jacqueline McAbery has taken on the endeavor of caring for the Pintos. A calendar is available showcasing these beautiful horses.

You can purchase this calendar at The Four-Eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala or from Jacqueline's blog at: http://pointarenapintos.blogspot.com/

Thanks to C'Anna and David for allowing me to share their photos with you here. It's a magnificent day on the coast. Large swells are creating white water and it's the first day in a long while when it has warmed up. As I type this my sliding glass door is open and the temp is 65 degrees! We're singing a happy tune today on the Mendonoma Coast.

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The past several nights the sunsets on the Mendonoma Coast have been exquisite. Here are three different nights.

I love it when the sun shines like a spotlight through the clouds. It reminds me of the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

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One of the juvenile Gray Whales returned to the waters off the Point Arena Pier on Saturday, Jan. 5th. A surfer was just coming in when he saw the whale. Deborah Heatherstone was there once again and photographed the event.

 
A small pod of young Gray Whales has spent the summer, autumn, and now winter off the Mendonoma Coast. They are called subadults. It is a new phenomenon for us that Grays didn't migrate. The vast majority do migrate north in March and April and then south in December and January. But these whales decided to stay put. They have more white on them, I am told, because they swim slower and stay in less turbulent water. It must have been thrilling for that surfer to be so close to this whale.

Once again I thank Deborah for allowing me to share her photos. Another of her photos is featured in today's Independent Coast Observer. You can see Sightings photos on the ICO's website at www.mendonoma.com. There's an on-line subscription available if you'd like to read my weekly Mendonoma Sightings column and keep up to date on the goings of our beautiful Coast.

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A very large Elephant Seal occupied the south end of Cook's Beach for some days in December. Rick and I visited the beach and watched from a safe distance as he threw sand over his back.  Paula Ray Power photographed him and I have to wonder at the fellow in the photo. He's too close for comfort. Elephant Seals can move faster on sand than most humans.

Paula took this photo from the overlook. It's interesting to see the tracks made by the big fellow. Males should be headed south to Ano Nuevo State Reserve where mating has begun. Perhaps this Elephant Seal decided to forgo  all that and take a vacation on the Mendonoma Coast.

I thank Paula for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see an aerial photo of this beautiful pocket beach, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/05/24/an-aerial-view-of-cooks-beach-as-photographed-by-craig-tooley/