Tag Archives: Jim O’Brien

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Location, location, location...the mantra for valuable real estate. Ospreys love to nest on the Mendonoma coast, as there are rivers and the vast Pacific Ocean. Dinner is only a successful dive away. Rick Denniston recently photographed an Osprey with a fish in its talons.

The chick in the nest that I watch is really getting big and beginning to exercise his/her wings. The parents are beginning to leave the chick alone in the nest now and then, but the father always brings a fish to the mother and chick in the early morning hours.

Here is a close-up of an Osprey taken by Jim O'Brien.

Ospreys migrate far south in the early part of autumn, but while they are here, we very much enjoy watching and hearing them.

Thanks to Rick and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Hal Fogel had this big Buck visit his property recently. What a healthy-looking Buck!

Buck by Hal FogelJim O'Brien was also visited by one. This one's rack appears to still be in velvet, the membrane that nourished the bone underneath.

Big Buck by Jim O'BrienAnd, finally, Paul Batchelder watched this Buck use his antlers to pull away the fencing designed to keep him out!

What fence, a Buck prevails by Paul BatchelderMales moving into our area means the rut, the mating of the Black-tailed Deer, will begin soon. It usually occurs in October, so we'll be watching to see if the rut is early this year. There are signs we could have an early winter, such as acorns already on the ground. To be determined!

Thanks to Hal, Jim, and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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If you are fortunate to be able to watch an Osprey nest, you will get many chances to see the chicks exercising their wings. Jim O'Brien photographed a chick doing just that with one of its parents nearby.

Osprey with her chick by Jim O'Brien

It's fun to watch the young Ospreys learning how to fly. They seem to do fine until they have to turn in the wind, then their flying is not as smooth.

We did have a very unusual, unhappy occurrence last week just north of Anchor Bay - a young Osprey was hit by a car and taken to Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa. Kudos to the volunteers who saved that bird and others in need.

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

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Barn Owls are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Jim O'Brien got up early one morning and was surprised to see this Barn Owl asleep in a tree.

Sleeping Barn Owl by Jim O'BrienJim's photo looks like a beautiful painting. Barn Owls are nocturnal; they find a secluded place to roost during the day. This particular owl woke up when Jim took the photo and flew away.

They hunt at night, using their excellent hearing to find rodents. Barn Owls don't hoot like many other owls. They have a raspy call. You can hear it at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds

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