Peter Baye was visiting friends whose deck overlooks a tributary of Fuller Creek. There he saw several large, adult Steelhead.
Steelhead are Rainbow Trout, an ocean-going fish. They are compelled to spawn in fresh water, including the reaches of the Gualala River. Native to the tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, this fish has been introduced in many other parts of the world, sometimes to negative effects. Here on the Mendonoma Coast we celebrate their appearance.
Sue Tara was cleaning up her land in Gualala last week when this big guy crawled out from under her deck.
These big Salamanders - they can be more than a foot long - can actually vocalize. If disturbed they give a throaty call that sounds a lot like a dog bark. They start out life in the water and need unpolluted waterways to thrive. Logging is their other threat. What a unique and wonderfully bizarre creature we see once in a great while on the Mendonoma Coast!
Thanks to Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Star Lilies bloom in late spring and early summer on the Mendonoma Coast. Their Latin name has recently been changed from Zigadenus fremontii to Toxicoscordion fremontii. All parts of this plant are deadly, hence its other name, Death Camas. Richard Hansen recently photographed one.
This California native often grows alongside roads. It's a perennial herb. Knowing of its toxicity, we just admire this plant from a distance.
Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Siegfried and Gretel Matull were parked at Jenner, overlooking the mouth of the Russian River. They were watching the Harbor Seals lounging alongside the river bank when a large bird flew by. Gretel thought it was an Osprey but it turned out to be a Bald Eagle.
What a thrilling sight to see this beautiful bird, which is an adult. We continue to hope that a pair will soon nest on the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
After two years of closures and last year's sub par year, it's a joy to report that the fishing for King Salmon has been great off our coast. Jack Likins and Charles Zinser fished out of Arena Cove in Point Arena and look at the big one that didn't get away - 27.5 pounds of beautiful Salmon.
You will see that the two men went out in a Zodiac. And that's sure a happy smile on Charles' face.
Thanks to Jack for allowing me to share his photo with you here.