Tag Archives: Pacific Ocean

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Thunderstorms followed the storm. Early this morning lightning lit up the sky. As the thunder rumbled overhead, hail bounced off our skylights. Then a downpour, nearly an inch in less than a half hour, left us with a flooded garage. The sky was beautiful at sunset yesterday evening, with showers marching down the Pacific Ocean.

Yesterday the Department of Fish and Game closed the abalone fishing season off the Sonoma Coast. The Red Tide isn't to blame for the abalone die-off. The theory is a lack of oxygen caused it but studies are on-going. On a trip down and then back up the coast today the Red Tide was still evident, as the photo below shows.

To see another photo of the Red Tide taken by Craig Tooley, click on this link:
http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/09/red-tide-seen-off-of-the-sea-ranch/

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Allen Vinson usually has his camera with him as he wanders the Mendonoma Coast. He recently took of photo of the Sonoma coastline on The Sea Ranch. You can see a beautiful tide pool on the right and a few people up on the top of the bluff with the backdrop of a turbulent Pacific Ocean. Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are coming into our most beautiful weather here on the coast. The light is golden now as autumn approaches. It's one of my favorite times of the year.

My best to you! Jeanne Jackson

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On a trip to Fort Bragg this week Rick and I noticed a new sign - The Peg and John Frankel Public Trail. It's just north Elk. We pulled over to explore. The views of the Pacific Ocean are spectacular there and I'm happy to share a photo here.

The trail just opened last month under the auspices of the Mendocino Land Trust, Coastal Conservancy and the CA Coastal Commission. It's only .3 mile long but it is a new portion of the CA Coastal Trail. It's called a lateral trail, which is west of Highway One, giving non-motorized traffic a safe buffer from the highway.

Piece by piece we are building the CA Coastal Trail. Here's a link to the Mendocino Land Trust to see what else they are accomplishing: http://www.mendocinolandtrust.org/?Home

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   Nudibranchs are very colorful Sea Slugs. You won't believe your eyes when you see Ken's photographs! They look like alien beings. Living on the Mendonoma Coast, I look out over the ocean. I never dreamed these creatures were hidden beneath the water. Thanks to underwater photographer Ken Bailey for allowing me to share his photos here. Also thanks to writer David Behrens for the ID of these beautiful Nudibranchs.
                                                     Clown Dorid - Triopha catalinae
                                          

Spanish Shawl - Flabellina iodinea
Porter's Chromodorid - Chromodoris porterae

David says this last one is rare and isn't seen north of Monterey. Ken told me he may have photographed it down there or "maybe he's a good swimmer."

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Adrian Bennett recently photographed the world of nature outside her window. A Doe and her Fawn graze amongst her many bird feeders and perches. The meadows of The Sea Ranch are just behind and the Pacific Ocean frames the shot. It looks so peaceful and idyllic that it makes me sigh in relaxation. Thanks to Adrian for allowing me to share this photo.