Anchor Bay Beach at low tide allows Michelle Schubert to find treasures

Tide pooling is a Coast tradition. One of the places to tide pool is at Anchor Bay Beach, which is accessed through Anchor Bay Campground. Anchor Bay Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand. And at low tide, there are treasures to be found and photographed, as Michelle Schubert discovered.

Below is an Ochre Sea Star. You can see the star in the middle.

 And here is a Sunflower Sea Star. It looks like it lost one of its arms.

 And a translucent green Jellyfish.

 I love how the Sea Stars, also fondly called Starfish, are draped on the rocks.

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

To see another photo of a Sunflower Sea Star, this one seen at the Stornetta Public Lands, and learn a little more about them, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2012/03/sunflower-seastar-found-at-stornetta.html

And to see a beautiful wave at AB Beach, here's that link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2012/01/pacific-ocean-is-dancing-at-anchor-bay.html

Pacific Tree Frogs, now called Sierran Tree Frogs, are always a fun sightings

These little frogs, usually colored green, show up in the strangest places. Susan Gonzalez photographed one on a wire structure over her pond. The wire protects her fish from Great Blue Herons and other critters after an easy meal. The Tree Frog looks a little precarious up on the wire.

Thanks to Susan for sharing her photo with us. To see a Tree Frog with an attitude, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2012/02/pacific-tree-frog-with-attitude-as.html

Bobcat, as photographed by Rick Wilson

Endlessly fascinating, Bobcats are seen hunting rodents in grassy meadows. It is wonderful that a wild creature such as a Bobcat is free to coexist with us. Rick Wilson photographed one on The Sea Ranch.

Thanks to Rick for sharing his photo with us. To see another great Bobcat photo, this one by Drew Fagan, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/06/bobcat-caught-in-mid-air-by-drew-fagan.html He photographed the Bobcat leaping in mid-air.

Barn Owl babies have been seen and are they ever cute!

Yes, Barn Owl babies have been seen in a nest recently. Jim Garlock photographed two adults, which you will see below.

Vita photographed the babies you see below a few weeks ago. They are in her barn and I understand they are VERY noisy. But the heart-shaped faces will steal your heart.

Thanks to Jim and Vita for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see a photo of a Great Horned Owl and a link to a site to hear Owl calls, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/09/owl-calls-and-very-startled-golden.html There's a funny story of how I scared my golden retriever, Huckleberry, when I played an Owl call.

Great Blue Heron - so graceful in flight

Great Blue Herons are seen frequently on the Mendonoma Coat. There is an elegance to them that draws the eye. Allen Vinson photographed one and caught the moment of lift-off.

 And the striking Heron is ready for its close-up. Sometimes beautiful women are known for their long necks, but they will never beat this feathered creature.

Great Blue Herons are common in North America but are rare visitors to Europe. They are also found in Central America, the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. We see them hunting rodents and small fish, which are usually swallowed whole.

Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see another photo of a Great Blue Heron taking wing, here's the link; http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/09/great-blue-heron-photographed-just-as.html

California Tiger Lilies are blooming on the Mendonoma Coast

Also called Leopard Lilies, California Tiger Lilies are gracing us with their presence. Lilium pardalinum is their Latin name. They are native to California and southern Oregon. They grow near water, loving boggy conditions.

Here a Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is feeding on a Tiger Lily. I saw one of these butterflies today, flitting through my garden.

In my original post I identified this butterfly as an Anise Swallowtail. Ron LeValley kindly gave me the correct identification and sent this link, which shows both butterflies, side-by-side: http://levalleyphoto.com/gallery/viewphoto.php?id=37  Thanks, Ron!

The Gualala River Lagoon

On a recent walk on the Gualala Bluff Trail the Gualala River looked particularly beautiful. Frequent readers know that the river has been closed by a massive sandbar. The wintertime estuary is now a lagoon. To the right of the sandbar is the Pacific Ocean. Lovely, don't  you agree?

It's the fourth of July here in the United States, the day we celebrate our independence. The festivities in our area will be held this coming weekend. Fireworks Saturday night in Point Arena, followed by the annual parade on Sunday. Yes, the Golden Retriever Love Brigade will make another appearance - an only in Point Arena sighting!

To see photos of the Love Brigade, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/07/golden-retriever-love-brigade-point.html