Tag Archives: Mendonoma coast

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Lichens grow where there is little or no air pollution so it's no wonder many different kinds of lichen can be found growing on the Mendonoma Coast. Many people think lichen is detrimental to trees, like mistletoe, but they are mistaken. Lichen is actually beneficial. A fun place to learn about lichen can be found via this link: http://ocid.nacse.org/lichenland/ You will learn lichen is not just one organism but two and in some cases three. Amazing!

This photo is of fruticose lichen, which fell out of a tree on Kathy DiMaio's property on the Gualala ridge. Isn't it a thing of beauty?

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You wouldn't know it right now but a winter-like storm is due to hit the Mendonoma Coast tomorrow. It's very unusual for us to get a storm from the Gulf of Alaska in the summer. But every good photographer knows that a storm brings a chance for good cloud photography. Carolyn André sent me several dramatic photographs she took of clouds over The Sea Ranch and I'm happy to be able to share one of them with you here.

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Once again Craig Tooley has the magic. He recently photographed a pair of Pelagic Cormorants on their cliff-side nest. I thought these birds were black with a white patch on their flank when breeding but Craig's photo shows a multitude of colors.

Do you wonder how they get their nest to stay on that precarious spot? I wondered too. They use their own guano to help cement it to the ledge. Amazing! The nest always faces the sea. Pelagics, also called Baird's Cormorants, feed on fish. They dive from the surface and chase their prey underwater. Another example of some of the wonderful creatures sharing our beautiful Mendonoma Coast.

To see more of Craig's photos, here's his link:

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Sometimes a big wave will hit a group of Harbor Seals and it's fun to watch them try and hold onto their places. Betty Bailey took a photo right when a wave hit and was kind enough to allow me to share it here.

Harbor Seals are year-round residents of the nearshore waters of the Mendonoma Coast. They are curious animals and often lift their heads out of the water to look around. If Harbor Seals thrive it's an indication that their entire ecosystem is doing well as they feed at the top of the food chain. We are lucky to have pristine waters off our beautiful coast.

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The first day of summer was preceded by one of hottest days I can remember. The Pacific Ocean usually works as our air conditioner but Mother Nature had something else in mind. Huckleberry, our Golden Retriever, headed for one of the deepest ponds on the creek that cuts through our property. He knows how to cool off! Happy first day of summer to those in the Northern Hemisphere!