Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

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Amaryllis belladonna, fondly called Naked Ladies, are native to South Africa. But this ornamental seems to love the Mendonoma Coast, and begins blooming this time of year. One person told me they are a reminder that Autumn is coming.

Christine Haas found some blooming at The Sea Ranch. She wrote, "These Naked Ladies in the field across the street at the intersection of Leeward and Backpack were just stunning. A clump alone in the middle of the field, almost all of them gazing west towards the sunset. The color is exquisite - much more vivid than in lower Sonoma County. It’s got to be that fresh, clean air! And maybe the magnificent views! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be one of these Naked Ladies?”

These bulbs sprout leaves in the spring but they have long died back. So the tall stem with multiple pink flowers is "naked" of leaves. And they are fragrant. I love 'em!

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

No fog today - yes, even Point Arena had sun this morning as attested by my sister, Linda Bostwick! It's sunny and very breezy, temps in the mid 70s.

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I'll let Ann tell the story. She wrote, "I was happy with today's Violet-green Swallow shots. Those were from Moonraker [on The Sea Ranch]. Catching swallows on the wing is almost hopeless, but today I happened to see a fledgling sitting atop the Moonraker Recreation Center waiting to be fed. The first feeding I caught on camera was especially fun as a series: 1) baby swallow calling to be fed

2) momma swallow flying in and feeding on the wing and in the process

3) knocking baby swallow off the ledge. Kind of like those blooper take-out moments shown during the credits after a movie.”

Whoops - sorry, junior!

Thanks to Ann for a fun series of photos.

It's warm on the coast today  - beach weather!

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Robert Goldberg photographed this Buck with a nice big rack recently. The Buck was looking at Robert through the window of his Sea Ranch home.

You will see the Buck's antlers are in velvet. Velvet is the soft membrane that nourishes the growing bones underneath. If you could touch it, you'd find it is hot!

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

It's cooler today - temps in the 70's at Rick's and my place, and no wind. Very lovely.

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Janet Flink wrote, "I have participated with Bonney Ely for the last three years in Snapshot Cal Coast, which is an annual  project through the California Academy of Sciences. Here is a link to their explanation of this event. https://www.calacademy.org/calcoast

"This year we went to four local beaches during the lowest tides of the year to gather data and take photos of their “most wanted species” and any other species we found interesting or rare. I focus on invertebrates and algae.  I post the photos and data to iNaturalist for verification by other experts.  These “BioBlitzes” help contribute to the knowledge of ranges of different species and especially any non-native or invasive species."

"The first is Hermissenda crassicornis, a gorgeous Nudibranch, about two inches long and found in a tide pool at Shell Beach.  This “sea slug” breathes through the feathery gills on its back, and has a very soft body.  It’s not common on our rocky shores, due to the heavy wave action."

This nudibranch's common name is Thick-horned Nudibranch. fyi, nudibranch is pronounced "nudibrank," Why? I dunno. Back to Janet's great sightings.

She wrote, "The second is our locally common sea star, Pisaser ochraceus, from Black Point Beach.   I just found the voluptuous pose of this one to be comical!"

These Stars, which come in various colors, are called Ochre Sea Stars. They used to be called Starfish, but they aren't fish!

Janet continues, "The third photo, taken last year at Shell beach depicts two stunningly beautiful pastel-colored Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) from different colonies fighting for territory underwater."

"They do this with special club-like white tipped tentacles that shoot barbs at the enemy.  You can see the white clubs of the individual on the left, which has turned itself sideways, attacking the one on the right, which looks as if it is cowering and pulling away even as it’s beginning to brandish it’s own clubs.  Toward the bottom of the sideways one, you can see a club from the one on the right“landing a punch”!"

How amazing to see and learn more about these fascinating inhabitants of the intertidal zone. Thanks to Janet for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Another toasty warm day, with high clouds streaming in. In Point Arena yesterday, those closer to the ocean never saw the sun, but today the sun broke through the fog mid-morning.

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Mike Petrich wrote, “Here are a few new pics of the piebald deer (and twin and parent). This morning I found them on the trail (they blocked our path) and I had the camera so I crouched down and snapped a few pics."

"The good news is that they seem to be healthy and active in the area.  They are very comfortable around me and my camera, which worries me a little, but so many deer in these parts are less skittish than other parts of the coast.”

This white fawn is considered a tow-head and will continue to color up. Live and prosper, white fawn...and your sibling!

It's warm away from the ocean, but very breezy.