Bill Budge was in the right place with his camera and he got this Humpback Whale breaching.

The power of this big whale hurling itself out of the ocean is amazing to see!

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

Very warm here again today, but it's supposed to be much cooler tomorrow. Maybe some wet stuff next week!

We get some fabulous cloud displays in autumn here on the Mendonoma Coast. Eric Zetterholm recently photographed an interesting sunset.

Yes, I can see a city - this is could almost be a Fata Morgana mirage, but they are usually just above the horizon or floating on the horizon. Whatever this is, it is beautiful and intriguing!

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

It was very cool overnight but today turning into a lovely warm and sunny day with no wind. Hooray for Autumn!

Perry Hoffman had good luck two weeks ago, seeing a Bobcat. He wrote, “Driving back from Santa Rosa, I was cruising through Bodega when I spied another photographer with a big lens, looking into a field. I pulled over and joined him to find the Bobcat. After a few minutes had passed the Bobcat decided to head south. I noticed a lane going up to a farm where the Bobcat was headed. So, I ran back to my car and went to the lane and parked. Jumped out and saw the Bobcat coming towards me... maybe only 20 to 15 feet away. Lucky me.”

Bobcats are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They love hunting for gophers and such in grassy meadows.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Perry's photography, here is a link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/

I looked at the barometer this morning and it was very low - 29.37 inches. But there is no storm here. Skies are blue and it's breezy, temps in the 60's. It's really a lovely autumn day!

Ron Bolander was at the Gualala River lagoon recently when he spotted this River Otter. And the otter IS looking right at Ron. It would be so very interesting to know what this River Otter was thinking!

A family of River Otters makes their home at the Gualala River. It's a testament to how clean the waters are as River Otters can't tolerate pollution.

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

It's sunny, breezy and cool on the Mendonoma Coast today! Bonus sighting: Perhaps the first of the Aleutian Cackling Geese were heard and then seen flying southward yesterday. They are usually on the move ahead of stormy weather. When will we get our first autumn storm? TBD!

Shari Goforth recently went on a pelagic trip out of Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. She got some great looks at Humpback Whales. I love this first one where the water is streaming off the big whale's tail.

There has been so much food for these whales and other marine animals - and the food of choice is anchovies. Brown Pelicans eat them too, as do Gulls and many other birds.

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

We've had a lot of fog right on the coast, though it's sunny just a little ways east. It's helped to cool things off a bit, and more cooling is predicted for the days ahead.

The rut - the mating season - of the Black-tailed Deer has commenced. John Meyer got this beautiful photo of a Doe running with the ocean in the background. She very well could be running from a randy Buck.

Eric Zetterholm watched and photographed as a Buck approached a more willing Doe.

Eric told me the Buck did mount the Doe. It's time to drive a little more carefully while these big Bucks only have one thing on their minds!

Thanks to John and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here!

Warm and muggy this morning with overhead clouds. Hot this afternoon as the clouds have disappeared for the most part.

At the Point Arena Pier recently this CA Sea Lion decided to use the ramp at the pier to check things out. Surely the big fellow gave a bark of approval before heading back to sea.

There is a large colony of male Sea Lions on Fish Rocks off Anchor Bay. They bark at each other - talking, I assume - pretty much all the time. One of the oceanfront estates there is called "Barking Rocks."

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

The fog returned overnight and really cooled things off today. Warmer weather coming in, especially for Saturday!

Craig Tooley was at Gualala Point Regional Park when he saw this sight.

I believe that's a Lingcod that the Harbor Seal caught for its dinner.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

oooo, warm - no, HOT weather has moved in and the fog is AWOL. Our annual autumn heatwave has begun. It gives you the chance to see a green flash if you are lucky enough to be on the Mendonoma Coast!

Don't you think this is the most perfect photo? Perry Hoffman caught magic when he photographed this oh-so-graceful Great Blue Heron flying low along the Gualala River.

Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share this beautiful photo with you here!

There have been a lot of clouds today, keeping the temps mild, in the 60's. No wind, though!

Yes, Bottlenose Dolphins have been seen off our coast. They include the matriarch, Sakura! Shari Goforth got photos last week.

This pod was seen again a few days ago off the Point Arena Lighthouse and headed south. Both Shari and Sara Bogard got photos, which I hope to share soon.

In Shari's photo above there appears to be a young one!

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

It's beautiful here today, low 70's.

There is something about the look in this adult Brown Pelican's eyes. Doesn't he look serious to  you?

There are multitudes of Brown Pelicans on the Mendonoma Coast now. There is obviously a lot of fish for them, particularly anchovies.

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

ooo, it was downright HOT here today. It reached 90 degrees at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Even down in the forest was toasty. A bit cooler tomorrow, and way cooler Friday. YAY!

On the Mendonoma Coast we see Brown Pelicans, lots and lots of them, especially this year. American White Pelicans are found inland but they disperse to the coast for winter. Paul Brewer found these non-breeders floating together on the Russian River.

It's rare for these glorious birds to come further north up the coast, but there have been a few over the years. Whenever I see them, my breath catches at their beauty.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link: https://paulbrewer.smugmug.com/

oooo, it warmed up today. It's downright hot this afternoon, at least hot for here! 85 degrees. The next two days are going to be hot also.

Rich Kuehn and Dean Schuler were walking at The Sea Ranch when they saw this Gray Fox. Rich framed his photo with two branches - brilliant!

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

Today there is nothing but blue skies! It is windy and temps are in the low 70's. We did have rain earlier this week. 0.69 inches at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Early rain is always a blessing.

Evelyn Schofield caught the dramatic sunset reflected in the Gualala River from The Hotel Breakers, a hotel at the south end of Gualala, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Gualala River.

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

To learn more at the hotel, here is the link: https://www.thehotelbreakers.com/ And the restaurant there, The Vue Coastal Kitchen, is one of my favorites!

Today has been cloudy and muggy. There is a chance of light showers tonight. And real rain is predicted for late tomorrow night, Wednesday, and into Thursday morning. Early rain is a blessing!

Michael Coustier recently photographed this young Bald Eagle. Birder Diane Hichwa took a look at Michael's photo, saying it looks good for a two and a half year old.

We so fortunate to have Bald Eagles back here on the Mendonoma Coast. They are a joy to observe.

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

Get just a bit away from the immediate coast and it's darn right toasty today!

Kate Bloch was fortunate enough to have a Flame Skimmer Dragonfly land on a branch and pose for her. Kate has the magic!

Here are two fun facts about this dragonfly:

Their massive compound eyes contain up to 30,000 lenses, allowing them to see in nearly 360 degrees. And they can fly backward, upside down, hover in place, and accelerate to top speed instantly.

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

Very little fog this morning and a sunny and warm afternoon was the result. Temp around 72 degrees...near perfection!

Eric photographed two dear deer - fawns in this case - looking at him.

I wonder what these fawns are thinking!

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

Lots of cool, moist fog recently. Sometimes it clears in the afternoon. Here on the Mendonoma Coast August is known as Fogust.

These small Sierran Treefrogs are good at hiding in plain sight. They can change color from green (the most common color) to tan or brown. In this case the treefrog needed to be green to match the cactus he/she was hiding in at Richey Wasserman's garden.

Here John Sheafe photographed one of these frogs changing color.

I love these tiny treefrogs. In the spring, the male has a very big voice!

Thanks to Richey and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Foggy this morning, sunny this afternoon though fog is covering the ocean. Nice and cool in the mid-60's.

These are two great photos by Craig Tooley. The parent is approaching the nest hole in the first one with the chick's mouth open wide. In the second photo the parent puts an insect in that wide open mouth!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://ruffimage.com

I had a nest of these beautiful swallows in a nesting box. I miss the sight and sounds of them!

It was foggy this morning but the fog has pulled back this afternoon, temps in the low 70's. Looks like a very nice weekend ahead!

Tamir Scheinok was overlooking the Gualala River when he saw this big Bald Eagle lift off. Her talons are scraping the surface of the water.

I believe this is the female Gualala Bald eagle as she has some dark feathers on her head. Most mature Bald Eagles are completely white-headed, as is her mate.

Thanks to Tamir for allowing me to share his photo with you here. Tamir is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Further Reach. Further Reach brings high speed internet to the Mendonoma Coast...and beyond. To learn more, here is their website: https://furtherreach.net

Another toasty day with light breezes. Highway One reopened late last night at Timber Cover (closed for two days because of a scary fire).