Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Rozanne Rapozo found these two birds flying together and hanging out on the beach together. She dubbed them "Best Friends."

The Whimbrel is facing left, with its long downward curving beak. Whimbrels are migrating southward now. This shorebird has a piping call that you can listen to at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whimbrel/sounds

Look at the Marbled Godwit's beak - it's two-toned, very long and slightly turns up. This shorebird might spend the winter here on the Mendonoma Coast. They have a very funny call that made me laugh when I heard it - it almost sounds like these birds are laughing...and perhaps they are! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marbled_Godwit/sounds

Here is a photo of these two birds in flight, with another bird, perhaps a Sandpiper, in the distance.

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

We had sprinkles overnight but the clouds are now gone, and it's a beautiful autumn day here on the Mendondoma Coast. The forecast is for sunny and warmer temps next week. Head for the coast!

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Eric Zetterholm wrote, "Amy had her daughter Aurora here on the 7th and we all came across Diane Hichwa on a walk to see the sunset. Diane said there was an owl in the area and we followed her a little further down the street to have a look. At the south end of the airstrip at The Sea Ranch, we had a Great Horned Owl land in a tree just above our heads"

This is the owl that hoots. You can hear their call at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/sounds

There are young Great Horned Owls calling for food now - and it's not the hooting call, it's a screaming call! Young owls have been seen and heard at Stewart's Point and at Sea Ranch.

I love owls! Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

A mild day with no wind. White clouds are drifting by and just a wisp of fog over the ocean. Highs in the low 70's. Pretty wonderful.

 

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Perry Hoffman found Red-breasted Sapsuckers at the Gualala River.

They are striking birds. Sapsuckers got their name because they drill rows of shallow indentations, called sapwells, in shrubs and trees. When these indentations fill with sap, the woodpecker laps it up with its tongue. Sapsuckers have an important part to play in Nature, because many insects, birds, and mammals use the sapwells for nourishment.

Red-breasted Sapsuckers have quite a few calls. You can listen to them at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Sapsucker/sounds They also can be heard drumming with their large and sturdy beak.

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

The weather is sublime now - temps in the mid 70s and a gently breeze. Come to the coast!

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Somewhere on the Mendonoma Coast, there is a Barn Owl family. Paul Brewer, sworn to secrecy about the location, was invited to photograph the chicks. He shared this photo with Sightings.

Looking closely at Paul’s photo, you can see bits of down, white fluff, on its head and shoulders, but the owlet has a heart-shaped face and its flight feathers can be seen. I think he/she is about seven weeks old. At this age, the owlet will be flapping its wings to get ready to take its first flight soon.

Barn Owls don't hoot - they scream. If you'd like to hear their call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds If you have pets, keep the volume low!

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. When you are in Gualala, stop in at The Dolphin, which is across from Trink's. Many of Paul's nature photographs are on display there.

oh my, it's a lovely day here today. No wind and mild temps. There is a fog bank forming over the ocean, so perhaps this warm weather won't last long.

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The largest woodpecker on the Mendonoma Coast is the Pileated Woodpecker and Eric Zetterholm recently had one visit his The Sea Ranch home.  Eric wrote, “The fallen trees around our neighborhood from the January storms have attracted a Pileated Woodpecker to hang around a bit. Most often we can only hear it in the morning along with the Acorn Woodpeckers and Quail that are in greater numbers this spring. I had two chances to get pictures of  the Pileated in the last week during the evening sunset lighting that just gets through the thinned-out trees.”

These big woodpeckers have a very distinctive call. You can hear it at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/sounds

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

There is a high fog here today, but the temps are mild.