Craig Tooley named these Black Oystercatchers Fred and Ginger.
It does look like they are dancing! A fun photo for you today.
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://www.ruffimage.com
Sunny and warm today and only a gentle breeze. Perfect weather!
It's an exciting time of year when we see the first mother/calf pairs of Gray Whales. On Monday, several pairs were seen quite close in at Black Point Beach off The Sea Ranch. A friend called Craig Tooley and he got this great photo of a calf.
You can tell this a calf born earlier this year because of his or her stubby nose/mouth area and there are no barnacles yet! Of course the size compared to his/her mom is another clue.
Karen Wilkinson is the friend who called Craig and she got some incredible photos too. I hope to post some of hers soon.
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
oh, today is such a lovely day. Warm - low 70's - and no wind.
GREATER FARALLONES NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SEEKS BEACH SURVEYORS
NOAA’s Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and Greater Farallones Association are seeking community scientists to help collect data on the condition of our sanctuary shores in north-central California. For 30 years, Beach Watch has monitored the presence of bird, marine mammal, oil and human uses on the California coast with the help of community volunteers.
Beach Watch volunteers receive training and monitor an assigned beach segment, collecting data to support the conservation and management of sanctuary wildlife, habitats, and ecosystem. Volunteers identify, count, and photo-document living and dead birds and marine mammals; document human uses of the coast in partnership with MPA Watch; and document and collect oil pollution samples as evidence.
Interested in Becoming a Beach Watch Volunteer? Here's How:
People of all backgrounds and life experiences are welcome and encouraged to apply.
***Visit https://beachwatch.farallones.org/get-involved/ to learn more and register for an Orientation. ***
I added the photos and they are all by the fabulous photographer Craig Tooley. Thanks as always to Craig for allowing me to share his photos. See much more at his website: http://www.ruffimage.com
I hope some of you will become Beach Watch volunteers - you are sure to learn a lot and contribute to science while doing so!
It is storming here this afternoon, Sunday Feb. 4th. There are many power outages including at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. I'm thankful for the generator! It's very windy to go along with the drenching rain, and it's coming from a different direction than normal. That causes a lot of trees to fall. Many of the coast's roads are closed. It's a day to stay home and off the roads. May we all come through this river-of[rain event in good shape! I will report on the rain totals soon.
This unusual bird, a Crested Caracara, has been seen near the P'da Hau, aka the Garcia River for several days. Rancher Larry Stornetta was the first to report its presence. Photographers Craig Tooley and Ron Bolander went looking for it Saturday, Jan. 27, and found it near the mouth of the river, hanging out with several resident Turkey Vultures. Here are some of Craig's photos of this very rare visitor here.
I had never heard of this bird before, but they are residents of Mexico and points south. Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about them:
"The Crested Caracara looks like a hawk with its sharp beak and talons, behaves like a vulture, and is technically a large tropical black-and-white falcon. It is instantly recognizable standing tall on long yellow-orange legs with a sharp black cap set against a white neck and yellow-orange face. The Crested Caracara is a bird of open country and reaches only a few states in the southern U.S. It flies low on flat wings, and routinely walks on the ground."
I read that these birds are mostly quiet but will give out a call if disturbed. Here is a link to hear the call of this bird: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Crested_Caracara/sounds
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is a link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com Craig and I made a beautiful book together, "Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year."
Craig Tooley recently spent some time photographing the birds on an offshore rock at The Sea Ranch. He found some Brown Pelicans in breeding plumage - yellow on the top of their white heads, and red skin on their throat patch. It certainly does seem early!
Those black birds are Brandt's Cormorants, and the dark brown bird is a juvenile Brandt's. At the very top of Craig's photo looks to be the bottom parts of a Western Gull. Nice to see everybody getting along!
Below is a video Craig took showing the pelicans preening themselves. They are resting on the journey southward.
I will miss their comings and goings during the winter months, and look forward to seeing them again in late spring.
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo and video with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com
A beautiful cool day here today. Fog rolled in over the ocean this afternoon and it's a sea of white. A storm is arriving early tomorrow.