Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

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John and Nicole Forte went tide pooling off Navigtor's Beach on The Sea Ranch. They spotted this small octopus, who's common name is Ruby Octopus or Pacific Red Octopus.

The Ruby Octopus is thought to be very intelligent, like most octopuses. They have distinctive personalities. Like all octopuses, they can change color and texture. What an amazing little octopus John and Nicole found.

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

We are having minus tides in the afternoon now, a perfect time to find a tide pool to explore!

Today we are having the calm after the storm. It's cool but absolutely beautiful. Tree Mercer tells me she and Scott are seeing lots of Gray Whales swimming northward today.

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Michael Reinhart checked the bluffs on The Sea Ranch and found several Pelagic Cormorants paired up and already building nests. This is very early, experts agree.

Here is a cormorant with nesting materials in its mouth.

And here is a Pelagic Cormorant in flight. Beautiful, don't you think? The white patch on this seabird's flank shows it is in breeding plumage.

Pelagic Cormorants are mostly silent but they do make some sounds, including groans, when breeding. You can listen here, a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pelagic_Cormorant/sounds

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Today the weather story is WIND! It's sunny but the wind is howling. It's no fun to be out on the bluffs today!

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We had a vigorous storm overnight. Our rain gauge showed 1.39 inches. Allen Vinson went to Stengel Beach at The Sea Ranch today to see if the waterfall was going. It was!

This means our seasonal creeks have come to life after the dry months of summer and fall. There are many waterfalls to discover now, a fun adventure.

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

The sun has appeared this afternoon, but it's chilly out and showers are still possible. It's a fun time to be on the Mendonoma Coast.

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The Pacific Ocean has been loud and mighty lately. Huge waves have crashed against sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. Janet Burch was out on the bluffs at The Sea Ranch when she saw this awesome sight.

Grace O'Malley photographed these waves called Rooster Tails off of Timber Cove.

And Bob Rutemoeller witnessed this roiled-up ocean off the Gualala Bluff Trail.

Shirley Mitchell photographed the action off of Gualala Point.

Such power and such beauty - we need to respect the Pacific Ocean and stay well back when she is flexing her awesome power.

Thanks to Janet, Grace, Bob and Shirley for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today it is raining - hooray! A half-inch so far but the bulk of the storm is due in a bit later.

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We usually see many Monarchs in the autumn here on the Mendonoma Coast. But sightings this year have been few and far between - not good news for these beautiful butterflies. However, Molly McKusick found this one at The Sea Ranch.

And Grace O'Malley photographed this one in Timber Cove.

I saw a large orange butterfly this morning from my house, but it was too far to confirm if it was a Monarch, but I'd like to believe it was!

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

Another clear, dry day, with mild temperatures. Thank goodness we had those two storms before this high pressure system moved back in. Last night there was a green flash at sunset, and conditions for one tonight look very promising.