Surfing is popular off of Arena Cove in Point Arena. Recently Michelle Schubert photographed someone enjoying the waves.
It's necessary to wear a wet suit as the water is always cold off the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Michelle for sharing her photo with us here. To see a photo of surfing off of Black Point Beach on The Sea Ranch, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/14/surfing-at-black-point-beach-and-a-day-of-unusual-visibility-in-the-pacific-ocean/
Heermann's Gulls are migrating along the Mendonoma Coast, right, along with Brown Pelicans. These medium-sized Gulls, when adults, have white heads and gray bodies. Their backs are darker gray. Paul Brewer recently photographed one that stopped on a bluff near Gualala.
Just look at that red bill - used to steal fish from Brown Pelicans. They've actually been seen going into a Pelican's pouch to steal its catch.
Here you can see the three shades of this striking Gull.
These Gulls are rarely found inland. They breed in Mexico and then fly north up to the southern portion of British Columbia. They are found nowhere else in the world.
Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Paul's beautiful photographs, here is his web site: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
Paul's photos will also be featured at the Dolphin in Gualala for the month of August.
To see a photo of a Heermann's Gull trying to steal a fish, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/08/heermanns-gulls-trying-to-steal-a-brown-pelicans-fish-off-the-mendonoma-coast/
Rick and I were coming up our driveway from our afternoon hike with Huckleberry the other day when I looked up at the birdhouse on a Bishop Pine tree about 12 feet off the ground. I said to Rick, "Something has turned the birdhouse around!" On a closer look, the outside of the birdhouse had been papered over in beautiful scallops. The hole had been reduced to a very small opening, where Paper Wasps were coming and going.
The metal roof is untouched and a small amount of the white birdhouse can be seen at the bottom. What a strange sight! The best advice I could find was to leave them alone until the winter, when the males will die off and the female can more easily be removed. They have built a nest inside this small birdhouse, where no birds nested this year.
Paper Wasps have their beneficial role to play in nature so we will just enjoy their artistry - home decorating Paper Wasp-style.
It's a beautiful day here on the Mendonoma Coast and you never know just what you might see!
As promised, here's the photo of a Blue Whale Craig Tooley took from an airplane last year.
And here's another Blue Whale Craig photographed several years ago.
The world's largest creature, Blue Whales are a rare sighting. They have been seen off the Mendonoma Coast this year, which is early. It signifies the abundance of food for these giants of the sea.
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share these photos here. You can see more whale photography on Craig's web site: http://ruffimage.com/
Bucks in velvet have been appearing on the Mendonoma Coast. Each year they lose their antler and need to regrow them in the spring and summer. Velvet is a membrane that nourishes the new antlers. If you could touch the velvet, you would find it is hot.
Siegfried Matull recently photographed this big boy and has kindly allowed me to share it with you here.
Using the Western count, this is a four point Buck. Siegfried said the Buck was very curious about him and came quite close before ambling off.