We had a family Thanksgiving Nov. 22-27 in a delightful rented house on Rock Point Drive in Jenner, at the mouth of the Russian River. Much holiday feasting and family time, but I also photographed common birds of the chaparral while walking the Rock Point-Willig-Hereford loop: Wrentit, Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, Fox and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Bewick's Wren. American Robins and Anna's Hummingbirds were attracted by plantings of berry bushes and lavender by local residents. I also photographed a Say's Phoebe in the grassland of Jenner Highlands, and a Red-tailed Hawk and a juvenile BALD EAGLE overhead, plus a few of the numerous Turkey Vultures both overhead and perched.

From a pull-out just north of town on Hwy 1 I was lucky to photograph an adult BALD EAGLE perched on a rock by the surf.

At Goat Rock State Beach south of town, I photographed BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and BLACK TURNSTONES from the Rock parking lot; and common coastal gulls plus a single MEW GULL, the first one I'd seen this season, on the beach.

On a more somber note, Thanksgiving morning we witnessed a tragedy barely averted on Goat Rock Beach. An admirably quick response by park rangers and a lifeguard saved three members of a family from mortal peril in the dangerous waters off Goat Rock Beach: something to be most thankful for.