Candy Cap mushrooms have made an appearance in forests on the Mendonoma Coast and a look at what the rain does to Coccoras

It's a small wild mushroom but it packs a punch. It's the Candy Cap, Lactarius fragilis. On Monday Rick and I found the first of these delicious mushrooms blooming under Tanoak and Bishop Pine. This mushroom is only found on the Pacific Coast and the Southeast so other parts of the world will have to imagine the heady aroma it has. When dried Candy Caps smell like maple syrup.

 When the gills are brushed they ooze or bleed a white milk, letting you know you've found Candy Caps. Yellow bleeding Milk Caps are to be avoided, according to David Arora.

And as promised, here's a look at what happens to a Coccora after some rain. It looks like a science project!

Here's a link to see what the Coccoras looked like before the rain caused this mold: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/11/beautiful-coccoras-and-last-nights.html

A vertical rainbow in the sky - a photo of a recent Sun Dog by Cathleen Crosby

Recently Cathleen Crosby captured a photo of a Sun Dog, which is also called a Parhelion. This Sun Dog was seen out over the Pacific Ocean. It looks like several Ravens were flying by.

A Sun Dog is a rainbow in the sky but there are no rain clouds. It is formed when light rays pass through high cirrus clouds. The ice crystals in the clouds act as prisms and, if conditions are right, you get this rare phenomenon. Thanks to Cathleen for allowing me to share it with you here!

To see another rare cloud with a rainbow phenomenon, click here to see a cloud falling out of a cloud. It's amazing!http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/05/rare-cloud-phenomenon-cloud-falling-out.html

A newborn Pinto joins the herd in Point Arena - meet Chie!

Jacqueline McAbery cares for a herd of wild Pintos south of Point Arena. They are beautiful animals and it's a treat to see them on the east side of Highway One. Polka Dot, the mom, was expected to give birth in the summer but she surprised everyone by giving birth in November. Thunder is the proud father. Here's a photo of Polka Dot with her filly, Chie.

To see more photos of the Point Arena Pintos, here's a link to Jacqueline's blog: http://pointarenapintos.blogspot.com/
And to see a photo of another filly that was born in May, click here and meet Little Lady: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/05/newborn-pinto-joins-herd-in-point-arena.html

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning and a Queen Bolete was found!

I wasn't the only one to photograph this morning's beautiful sunrise. Allen Vinson sent along a photo he took on The Sea Ranch. You can compare it with the one I took from our home in Anchor Bay, which is about seven miles north of Allen's home. First is Allen's photo.

And as if the lovely sunrise wasn't enough of a gift from Mother Nature, Rick and I found this Queen Bolete, Boletus aereus, near a path on our property. It is one of our favorite edible wild mushrooms.

Thanksgiving day brought sightings of Gray Whales

On Thursday Gray Whales were seen off the Mendonoma Coast. A few were seen headed north, but most were headed south. It is the time of the southward migration, when the mother whales head down to Mexico's Baja California to give birth in protected lagoons.

Here is a picture of a Gray Whale's tail taken by Rozann Grunig near the Point Arena Lighthouse. Noting the shape of the tail can tell you what kind of whale you are seeing.

Fun fact: The Gray Whales have the longest migration than any other migratory mammal on Earth. They travel 5000 to 6000 miles, twice a year!

Here's a fun web site to learn more about these magnificent creatures:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/gwhale/AnnualFall.html

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

Young Bobcat photographed by coastal photographer Craig Tooley

Craig Tooley saw this young Bobcat in a stand-off with a Buck. The Bobcat seemed to be calling the Buck's bluff and that's the moment Craig captured this photograph. But the Bobcat's bravado was in vain. All it took was one step forward by the Buck and the Bobcat thought better of the situation. It quickly disappeared into the brush. Sometimes retreat is the best option!

Craig has five other photos posted of this Bobcat on his web site. Here is the link: http://ruffimage.smugmug.com/Nature/bobcat/20081541_L39Gkt#1583984126_2H4nQFD

And to see Drew Fagan's photo of a leaping Bobcat, click here: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/06/bobcat-caught-in-mid-air-by-drew-fagan.html

And to see a Bobcat walking a labyrinth photographed by Emily Nelson, click here: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/04/bobcat-walking-labyrinth-amazing-sight.html

Shrimp Russula has appeared on the edge of our forest in Anchor Bay

On a mushroom forage with David Arora several weeks ago, he introduced us to the Shrimp Russula, Russula xerampelina. When David visited us the next day he immediately spotted a nice big one growing on the edge of our forest.

The first thing to look for is the dark red cap. This is substantial mushroom, unlike some of the inedible russulas. Next look for a rosy blush on the stem. Then scratch the stem and see if it turns yellow. For a final test you can do what Bev Vogt taught me. Take a tiny bite, chew and then spit it out. If its peppery it is NOT the Shrimp Russula.

Arora writes in Mushrooms Demystified, "(they are) edible and unforgettable - one of the least appreciated of our edible fungi."

I have a new edible mushroom to add to all the others I have learned to love.

To see more of the Arora mushroom forage, click here: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/11/mushroom-forage-with-author-david-arora.htmlveTo