Sara Bogard spotted this River Otter in the Pacific Ocean off the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.
Yes, North American River Otters swim in the ocean, in rivers and creeks, and can walk on land. Here's a photo of of River Otter tracks taken by Catherine Miller - five toes!
And a favorite photo taken by Rich Kuehn of a River Otter eating octopus.
Thanks to Sara, Catherine and Rich for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Last week there were several green flashes at sunset. Michael Reinhart was ready with his camera and he got this photo of the optical illusion. See the green on top of the clouds? And then again on the horizon - a double green flash!
Here's a green flash taken a few years ago by Rich Kuehn. The sun appears to narrow and then pinch off at the middle. This is a perfect example of that phenomenon beginning to occur.
And Jim Grant got this amazing photo of a double green flash.
Green flashes come in various guises. To watch the sunset is always wonderful, but if you also get to see a green flash, consider yourself blessed!
Thanks to Michael, Rich and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
The fog pulled back this afternoon and the Pacific Ocean is sparkling in the sun.
Green flashes are photographable mirages. While you can see one at sunrise, I'm told, here on the Mendonoma coast most of us watch for a green flash as sunset. Over the years, coast photographers have captured green flashes. I thought I'd share some with you today.
Here is a photo taken by Don Spear. The green flash only lasts for a brief moment. If you blink, you will miss it!
Jim Grant's photo shows a double green flash. When I look at Jim's photo in full screen, I can see he also captured a green flash morphing into a blue flash, which you will see in Allen's photo below.
And here Rich Kuehn has photographed the classic green flash just beginning. The setting sun appears to narrow, becoming hour-glass shaped. What happens next is the top part appears to pinch off and it becomes a vibrant green flash.
On very rare occasions you might see a green flash morph into a blue flash, as photographed by Allen Vinson.
And the rarest of all was photographed by Ron LeValley - a green flash, no, a blue flash, no a violet flash!
Thanks to Don, Jim, Rich, Allen and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. If you are interesting in purchasing Ron's photo, as Rick and I did, you can find it on Ron's website at this link:
Last week Richard Kuehn took Rick and me to a very special spot on The Sea Ranch. We were told to be quiet as we made our way out to a point where we could observe the nesting Pelagic Cormorants on the protected bluff face. Below is a female sitting on eggs with her mate next to her.
And a resettling of the female allowed Rich to get a photo of her eggs. It looks like four eggs are in the nest.
There were perhaps a dozen or so nests and the males were coming and going, bringing food to the nesting females. It was magical to observe them and not disturb them in any way.
To hear their calls, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pelagic_cormorant/sounds
Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photos and for showing Rick and me this spot. I will share a few more photos of this place soon.
Bonus sighting - the first Wild Rhododendrons have begun their bloom. Rick and I saw the first bloom yesterday, Thursday, April 25.
Rick and I live a half mile back from the Pacific Ocean yet the sound of the crashing waves can be heard - and felt - inside our house. The ocean is in full voice and there is no denying its presence. Rich Kuehn photographed waves hitting Gualala Point Island yesterday from his home at The Sea Ranch.
There is an amazing amount of power in this photo. I thank Rich for allowing me to share it with you here. To learn more about this special island, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/05/05/gualala-point-island-a-rocky-island-off-the-sonoma-coast/