Tag Archives: Point Arena – Stornetta Lands

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A juvenile Bald Eagle was spotted in Point Arena and this one is banded with the number 92. Beth Petit wrote, “On Tuesday, Mike Weaver, the caretaker at the Loran Station, called Jeff and me to help identify a large bird there, a juvenile Bald Eagle. With the help of Doug Forsell, local biologist, we were able to get more information from Maria Dominquez at the Institute for Wildlife Studies.”

Liberty, a tagged juvenile Bald Eagle by Jeff Petit Liberty, a juv. Bald Eagle by Jeff Petit

Maria responded that this bird is a male hatched on Santa Cruz Island of the California Channel Islands. It fledged in July. He was named “Liberty” by one of their members. His parents have been nesting there since 2005.

Jeff Petit took these photos and I thank him for allowing me to share them with you here.

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Margaret Lindgren leads hikes here on the Mendonoma Coast. On a hike last month she discovered a rare and endangered wildflower, Supple Daisy, Erigeron Supplex. She found it on The Sea Ranch and I understand there are more of these flowers on the Point Arena/Stornetta Lands.

Supple Daisy by Margaret LindgrenClose-up of Supple Daisy by Margaret Lindgren

I haven't seen this native wildflower yet but hope to see it next year.

Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To learn about the various hikes Margaret offers, here is her website: www.unbeatenpath.weebly.com

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The Cypress Abbey addition to the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands can be accessed behind Point Arena City Hall. There are new lands to explore and are they ever beautiful! Paula Power took several photos of these lands recently.

Here are some of the rock formations. In the far distance you can see the white Lighthouse.

Rock formations at the PA - Stornetta Lands by Paula Power

And here is a glimpse at low tide.

Low tide at the Point Arena - Stornetta Lands by Paula Power

And here is a photo of Surfgrass, Phyllospadix. It’s a submerged aquatic plant that pollinates underwater. The leaves are tough as leather and highly flexible.

Surfgrass, Phyllospadix, at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands by Paula Power

The rare and endangered Supple Daisy has been seen here, as has King Gentian. I'm sure we'll be discovering more wildflowers and other treasures as we explore this land in the future.

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

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We feel so fortunate that these lands are now in the public domain. Allen Vinson recently hiked part of the lands and took these photos.

The Point Arena-Stornetta Lands by Allen VinsonOffshore rocks of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands by Allen VinsonSinkhole at the PA-Stornetta Lands by Allen VinsonThe Point Arena - Stornetta Lands with the Lighthouse in the distance by Allen Vinson

This last photo shows the Point Arena Lighthouse in the distance. What a beautiful place!
Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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John Sperry recently photographed a field of Zigadenes, Zigadenus fremontii.

Cece Case captured a Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa.

And on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands Rozann Grunig found this lovely wildflower with the unlovely name of Western Skunk Cabbage, Lysichiton americanus.

This plant loves water and is one of the few native species in the arum family. The plant is called skunk cabbage because of the distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits when it blooms. The odor of the blooms attracts its pollinators, scavenging flies and beetles.

Many more wildflowers will be blooming in the days to come as we have had the perfect equation for them to bloom.

Thanks to John, Cece and Rozann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.