Tag Archives: Point Arena

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On Sunday Mel Smith found this Monarch nectaring on a butterfly bush in Point Arena.

And Chris Pechal found two Monarchs at The Sea Ranch. In the photo on the left, you can tell it's a male Monarch because of the two black dots on its lower wings. He is nectaring on thistle. In the other photo, the beautiful Monarch is nectaring on Coyote Bush.

These Monarchs come to the coast to feed before their journey to their overwintering sites. They live approximately seven months, and are called the Methuselah generation. We hope to see many more Monarchs in the days ahead.

Thanks to Mel and Chris for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Warm today - no fog at all. It's a spectacular autumn day!

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The Northern Lights began to appear around 11 pm last Friday. Molly Scaramella got a series of photos in Point Arena. Here is one of them.

Alan Reinke got this photo around 11:15 pm from The Sea Ranch.

We were hoping for more of this beauty Saturday and Sunday, but the fog rolled in, pulling the curtain on any more Northern Lights. What a treat, though! It's very rare to see them here.

Thanks to Molly and Alan for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Foggy this morning, but it has pulled back a bit. It's cool too, not even 60 degrees.

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Sara Bogard does a regular count of Harbor Seals at the PA Lighthouse Peninsula and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. She also notices and photographs other wildlife. The first bird is a Surf Scoter. This is a female and she is overwintering on the Mendonoma Coast. These sea ducks nest in far Northern Canada and Alaska.

Next Sara photographed a Belted Kingfisher. Males have one blue band across their white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band. I can't see any chestnut, so I think this is a male. They are year round residents here. And then Sara found this Harbor Seal catching a Rockfish for its meal.

There is a LOT to see when you take the time to observe as Sara does!

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It was cool overnight, 40 degrees in the early morning. There are high clouds, which gave us a beautiful sunrise and, hopefully, a beautiful sunset!

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Mel Smith saw this Bobcat near his home in Point Arena. He took the photo with his phone through a spotting scope.

Bobcats are often seen in the daylight hours here on the Mendonoma Coast. They are supposed to be nocturnal but perhaps they have evolved. I receive many sightings of Bobcats during the day.

Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's a beautiful autumn day here, mid-sixties, with no wind. We've had 1.60 inches of rain so far. Mushroomers are wondering if this is enough rain to get the boletus edulis, the porcini, going in the days ahead, but that's an unknown at this point.

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On Monday clouds started to arrive from the north. Yes, we had an early rainstorm coming in! Linda Bostwick photographed the advancing storm clouds from her Point Arena home above the harbor.

With the sun behind the clouds, Linda caught some magic with her photo - just lovely! The storm arrived later Monday evening and by Tuesday morning there was 0.60 inches in my rain gauge. Early rains are a blessing here on the Mendonoma Coast.

Today is warm, in the low 70's, with some clouds and a breeze. It's a beautiful Autumn day here today.