Tag Archives: Shari GoForth-Eby

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Harbor Seal pups are being born on secluded beaches off the Mendonoma Coast. Shari Goforth-Eby, using her long lens, photographed some of the action. The first photo shows the newborn with his/her mom, already in the water.

And in the second photo the young harbor seal rests on the sand. Perhaps the mother has gone into the ocean to feed. Not to worry! She will be back to nurse her sweet pup. Please keep your distance during this important time. If a harbor seal looks up at you, you are too close to the bluff edge.

Here is a link to my most recent Sightings interview with KGUA's Peggy Berryhill on April 15. For the first time it was videotaped live on YouTube, unbeknownst to me until the end! Fast forward the first five minutes or so. https://youtu.be/oWO_8O7UX6E

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

We had a nice rainstorm early this morning. There was .55 inches in our gauge. Any rain is welcome during this drought year! The rain clouds have gone and it's a beautiful afternoon.

 

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What a beautiful sight, this magnificent Sun Halo. Shari Goforth-Eby photographed in on Nov. 18th.

Here is the definition of a Sun Halo: "A Sun halo is caused by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light through ice particles suspended within thin, wispy, high altitude cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. As light passes through these hexagon-shaped ice crystals, it is bent at a 22° angle, creating a circular halo around the Sun."

Sun Halos are often predictors of rain, and sure enough, we had rain the next day.

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Cool, sunny weather today, with enough breeze to knock leaves out of our Dogwood tree.

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Shair Goforth-Eby noticed this Bald Eagle handing tight onto a branch during a windy day.

Just look at the feathers on the eagle's head! I have to tell you there is such good news about the Gualala Bald Eagles. The news will be in the Independent Coast Observer tomorrow. What? You don't subscribe? You can get an email subscription at http://www.mendonoma.com

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Drippy fog this morning has given way to warm sunshine this afternoon. Looks like the weather for the upcoming weekend will be sunny and warm.

 

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I'll let Shari tell the story. She wrote, “On Monday [of last week], Scott Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, told me that during his survey he had seen two Gray Whales foraging near the Point Arena Lighthouse, and they were there when he left just 30 minutes before. I drove to the Lighthouse, watched, and saw a blow.  A whale was still there."

“The whale was close enough that, though I had to crop my photos heavily to increase the size, they were sharp enough to see detail, so I texted them to Scott. I was surprised when he texted back that he had sent them to a researcher in Washington, who replied immediately.  The whale is somebody!  It’s CRC-6, first photographed in the Straits of Juan De Fuca in 1986.

“That makes it older than 34 years old [they can live 40-60 years]; it escaped a boat collision, but sustained boat propeller injuries on its left side, and has rope scars on its right side where it escaped entanglement in fishing gear.  It apparently has not migrated, since most Gray Whales should be in Alaskan waters feeding and storing resources for the winter migration to Mexican lagoons.  CRC-6 may be a ‘resident,’ a local Gray Whale, at least for a while.”

Scott later learned this whale is a female. She's been seen with a calf in the past. What stories she could tell us if we only knew her language!

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

The morning fog quickly gave way to a sunny, mild day.

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The beauty of nature will help us get through this time. Here is a photo of the Gualala River, the sandbar currently blocking the river mouth, and the Pacific Ocean. The clouds are reflected in the river in this photo taken by Shari Goforth-Eby.

From a friend in Europe. Translated from Italian:
It was March 2020...
The streets were empty, stores were closed, people couldn't go out anymore.
But spring didn't know, and the flowers began to bloom, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, swallows would soon arrive, the sky was blue, morning was coming early.
It was March 2020...
Young people had to study online, and work from home, people couldn't shop anymore, or go to the hairdresser. Soon there would be no room in hospitals, and people continued to get sick.
But spring didn't know, it was time to go to the garden, the grass was growing.
It was March 2020...
People were put on lock down to protect grandparents, families and children. No more reunions or eating out or family parties. Fear had become real and the days all looked alike.
But spring didn't know. Apple trees, cherry trees and others grew; the leaves grew.
People started reading, playing with family, learning a language, singing on the balcony and inviting neighbors to do the same; they learned a new language, became supportive and focused on other values.
People realized the importance of health and of the suffering, of this world that had stopped, of the economy that fell down.
But spring didn't know. The flowers left their place for fruits, the birds made their nests, swallows arrived.
Then release day came, people saw it on TV, the virus had lost, people went down the street, sang, crying, kissing their neighbors, without masks or gloves.
And that's when summer came, because spring didn't know. She continued to be there despite everything, despite the virus, fear and death. Because spring didn't know, she taught people the power of life.
Everything will be alright, stay home, protect yourself, and you will enjoy life.
Thanks to Drew Fagan for sending me this moving essay and thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Mendocino County was put on lock down, shelter in place, today. Tomorrow is the first day of spring. We will get through this.