Tag Archives: John Batchelder

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Any day you see dolphins is a good day, right? Mike Reinhart saw them first, off the southern end of The Sea Ranch. As the pod of Risso's Dolphins, Grampus griseus, swam northward, John Batchelder got photos of them.

 

Here are two close-ups of Risso's Dolphins taken by Ron LeValley some years ago.

They are also called Gray Dolphins and they travel in large pods. They can dive at least 1,000 feet and can hold their breath for thirty minutes.

Thanks to John and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. John will have another photo he took in this week's Independent Coast Observe to go with my Mendonoma Sightings column. The ICO has print and on-line subscriptions. Why don't you join in the fun? http://www.mendonoma.com/

To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

We are having a showery day today. My best to you as we realize Spring doesn't know.

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I love these beautiful birds. White-tailed Kites are a joy to see. John Batchelder recently photographed an adult hovering in the air, listening for its prey in the meadow below. Watch out, Voles!

Steve Stewart got this great close up of a juvenile White-tailed Kite resting on a branch.

Their calls are a quiet chirp. You can listen for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

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

We are having a lovely autumn day on the coast today. Cool and calm, just the way we like it!

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Humpbacks have been seen off our portion of the coast, always a treat. John Batchelder photographed this Humpback off the coast of The Sea Ranch. Just look at all those Brown Pelicans flying by.

Here are a few photos of Humpback Whales that John took last year - a tail, a breach and a flipper.

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

Today it is HOT on the Mendonoma coast! Have I ever mentioned I'm not a fan of  hot weather? Bring back our ocean breezes! Oddly enough, but most welcome, we have rain in our forecast for Monday. Rain would be such a blessing.

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John Batchelder saw a pod of between eight and ten Humpback Whales yesterday from his home on The Sea Ranch. He photographed this adult Humpback breaching.

We think it's a female because right behind her was this calf, also breaching.

Humpback Whale Juvenile

After John took these photos more rain moved in. Today, however, is sunny, giving us a chance to dry out a bit!

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

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John and Janice Batchelder had a wonderful sighting of Humpback Whales a couple of weeks ago. Seen off of The Sea Ranch, it was quite a spectacle. Here a Humpback is breaching. Humpbacks are among the most acrobatic of whales.

Below you will see one of the Humpback's long flippers.

The Humpbacks were following their food source, forage fish like huge schools of anchovies. Along with the whales, Gulls and Brown Pelicans were feasting too.

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