Giant Kites filled the air last weekend at the Point Arena Lighthouse

As part of Point Arena's annual Flower Power Festival and the Wind & Whale Celebration, giant kites filled the air courtesy of Berkeley Kite Wranglers. Margaret Lindgren photographed a few of them.

It was a weekend filled with fun. And there is usually plenty of wind out on the point where the Lighthouse sits so kite flying is a perfect activity. Margaret has more photos of the kites on her blog. You can see them at her website: www.unbeatenpath.weebly.com Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her fun photos with you here.

More winning photographs from the Gualala River Sightings event

Rob Elder had made several tries to find the old-growth Redwood tree known as the McCabe Tree. On his third attempt his wife Jacquelynn Bass accompanied him. With her help he found the big tree. Jackie's photo was awarded Best alongside the river (macro). The McCabe tree is possibly the largest old-growth Redwood in Sonoma County. It measures 47 feet, eight inches in circumference. Amazing.

To be overlooking the mouth of the Gualala River when it opens for the first time in months in the fall is extremely lucky. To get a photograph is even better. Bob Rutemoeller won Best River mouth photo with this shot:

Thanks to Jackie and Bob for sharing their photos with us here.

Winning photographs from Gualala River Sightings

Last week Friends of the Gualala River and I hosted Gualala River Sightings at the Gualala Arts Center. People were invited to send in their favorite photos of our favorite wild river and its environs. Over 120 photos were sent in. I'm happy to be able to share the winning photographs with you.

Best above the river was taken by Peggy Berryhill:

Best in the river was taken by Rozann Grunig- kayaking under a full moon.

Best alongside the river (micro) was taken by Bryant Hichwa - icy morning leaves:

I will share more of the award winning photographs with you tomorrow. Many thanks to the talented photographers here

So tiny yet so exquisite - Calypso Orchids are blooming on the Mendomona Coast

John Sperry photographed the first Calypso Orchid to bloom this year and sent it along for us to enjoy.

Calypso Orchids should never be transplanted. They need a particular fungus in the soil to grow. They can be found in undisturbed forests here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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

Aerial view of Hearn Gulch - one of the jewels on the Mendocino Coast

Craig Tooley photographed more than just Gray Whales when he was up in an airplane last week. He photographed Hearn Gulch.

This is a new public access bluff and beach brought to us by the wonderful folks at Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. You can learn how they accomplished this acquisition and read about their other projects at this link: http://www.rc-lc.org/pages/proj-hearn.html To find this beach, park at mile marker 10.0 and hike north.

To see photos of a recent hike Rick and I took there, here's that link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-visit-to-hearn-gulch-is-always-treat.html The wave action there can be phenomenal.

And to see much more of Craig Tooley's photography, here is the link to his website: http://ruffimage.com/

Close up of an Anna's Hummingbird feeding

Hummingbirds are not always easy to photograph as they dart here and there feeding on flowers and on feeders that kind people set out for them.  Mark Simkins recently had one visit his feeder in Manchester.

 Four parts water to one part sugar is the ratio these tiny birds love. People must clean the feeders often to protect these living jewels. We wouldn't want to do harm while trying to help!

Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see another photo of an Anna's Hummingbird, here is the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2012/01/annas-hummingbird-beautifully.html

Lambs are being born in The Sea Ranch flock

Lambs, the essence of cuteness, are charming people on The Sea Ranch. Allen Vinson recently photographed part of the flock.

The sheep, along with a few goats, help keep the grasses munched down. They've also become a tourist attraction.

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