Robert and Nancy Scarola were visited by a Gray Fox family. The mother went off to hunt for a gopher and left her three kits on a flat rock to wait for her.
She returned with a gopher in her mouth and the three kits were then free to play in the Scarola's garden. A photo of what happened next will be in Thursday's edition of the Independent Coast Observer. It shows why Gray Foxes are also called Tree Foxes!
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
It's always a special moment when we see Monarch Butterflies appear. This is the long-lived generation, the Methuselah generation. They have migrated many miles and the females will soon migrate inland to lay their eggs on native milkweed. Here on the Coast, where milkweed isn't native, these beautiful butterflies are feeding on other native plants, such as Manzanitas.
Nancy Scarola noticed one in her Sea Ranch garden last week and her husband, Robert, photographed it. Notice its tattered wings from the many miles it has traveled.
I saw one in my garden today - my first one of the year. Journey North tracks these butterflies. If you would like to participate in this citizen science project, or just see the sightings that other people have posted, here is their link: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/Maps.html You will see they track many other migrations, including Gray Whales.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Robert and Nancy Scarola were fortunate to have several fawns born at their Sea Ranch property. Here is a recent photo of two fawns that were born earlier this year. They have lost their spots. They also seem to be posing just for Robert.
Below is a photo of these two fawns just after they were born. They love to play with each other.
Black-tailed Deer are a wonderful part of the landscape that is the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Robert and Nancy Scarola came across this Buck recently. Robert said it was the most beautiful one he's ever seen. And he was tempted to try and kiss its nose! Reason prevailed and Robert wrote, "He just stood and watched us. We stood and contemplated the meaning of it all with him for a while."
To see a photo of a five point Buck, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/11/04/five-point-buck-photographed-by-drew-fagan/
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his magnificent Buck photo with you here.
Robert and Nancy Scarola recently witnessed several Cliff Swallows building nests in a tunnel on The Sea Ranch Golf Links. There was, of course, a muddy area nearby.
Here's one of the Swallows with a bit of mud, headed back to the nesting area. These Swallows fly so fast it was difficult for Robert to get this photo.
It looks like several nests are complete and occupied, as Robert's photo shows below.
Birds have to be among the most hard-working creatures on earth. Many migrate, some thousands of miles, twice every year. Then comes nest building, which in the case of these Swallows is a bit of mud, one bit after the other until the job is complete. Then they have to feed their young, tirelessly bringing insects back to the nest. It's easy to take them for granted but they are inspiring. Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
If you have Swallows build a nest in an inconvenient spot - say over your front door - please don't destroy the nest. Tack up a cardboard box so it will catch the waste. No mess for you below and a guarantee of a fun sighting in the weeks to come.