Deloras Jones photographed Lupine in bloom at The Sea Ranch. It's a happy sight, don't you agree?
The wildflowers are pretty amazing this spring. Thanks to Deloras for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Today couldn't be lovelier - sunny with a nice breeze. And spring doesn't know...
Jon Loveless captured this beautiful sight, the nearly-full Moon shining low in the night sky.
Jon took this photo from The Sea Ranch. Just lovely. Doesn't it make you relax just to see it?
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Sunny and warm temps are what we are experiencing today. Last Saturday over 100 Risso's Dolphins swam by. They were seen by whale watchers Scott and Tree Mercer, a fun and exciting sighting.
Spring doesn't know...
Our access to parks and beaches continues to be restricted, but Roxanne Holmes knows how to make lemonade at Shell Beach on The Sea Ranch. She wrote, “For years, I have loved going down to the beach every evening to enjoy the close-up view of the waves crashing, seals bobbing, adults imbibing, kids shrieking, and dogs cavorting. Now the beach is closed. That is sad, but it has caused me to find vantage points to look at the beach from spots that are more remote, elevated, and unvisited.When I did that recently, I saw the beach, for the first time, without any footprints at all. There is a unique beauty in that"
"And twelve hours later, the same beach was covered in footprints – but they were made by cavorting deer. Perhaps the deer are happy to have the beach to themselves!”
Thanks to Roxanne for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Today is a most spectacular day - sunshine to warm us when we could use a little warmth. No sign of the Easter Bunny.
Spring doesn't know...
Jack Likins took a video of the very healthy ecosystem off of The Sea Ranch, at Walk On Beach. Currently this public access is closed, but Jack took this video some time before the closures.
Here's a photo by photographer Ken Bailey of an Opalescent Nudibranch, a type of sea slug.
And in much happier times, when abalone diving was allowed, here are Jack and Ken over five years ago with Ken's three 10-inch Abalones. Sorry to say, there is no diving allowed now, not because of the virus, but because the Abalones are in trouble due to the proliferation of Sea Urchins. The Urchins eat everything, including the kelp Abalones need for sustenance.
But seeing Jack's video gives me hope that the ocean can readjust and become healthy again. Look at those big Abalones! Look but don't touch. Thanks to Jack and Ken for allowing me to share the photos/video with you here.
We had a BIG storm overnight. From the back to back storms, we registered 1.70 inches in our gauge. The seasonal creek that crosses our land is back above ground and running - a glorious sight this morning.
Spring doesn't know...
Any day you see dolphins is a good day, right? Mike Reinhart saw them first, off the southern end of The Sea Ranch. As the pod of Risso's Dolphins, Grampus griseus, swam northward, John Batchelder got photos of them.
Here are two close-ups of Risso's Dolphins taken by Ron LeValley some years ago.
They are also called Gray Dolphins and they travel in large pods. They can dive at least 1,000 feet and can hold their breath for thirty minutes.
Thanks to John and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. John will have another photo he took in this week's Independent Coast Observe to go with my Mendonoma Sightings column. The ICO has print and on-line subscriptions. Why don't you join in the fun? http://www.mendonoma.com/
To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/
We are having a showery day today. My best to you as we realize Spring doesn't know.