To keep your mind off the news, here are three beautiful birds photographed recently by Sara Bogard at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands bluffs. First, a Western Bluebird.
Then a Western Meadowlark perched on a post for Sara.
And finally this handsome Surf Scoter.
So, if you are troubled by today's events, think of these birds who are thriving.
Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Fog blankets the ocean, but Gualala was sunny today. Changes to come!
Michelle Rossich was celebrating her birthday by taking a walk on the Lands. This beautiful Great Blue Heron took flight quite close to her, a real gift.
Michelle found more gifts in the tide pools. First a beautiful Sea Anemone.
And a healthy Ochre Sea Star.
Birthday gifts courtesy of Mother Nature!
Thanks to Michelle for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Sunny, breezy, so-not-winter, here today. Perhaps some rain by the weekend...we hope!
Sara Bogard was at the bluffs of the Point Arena Lighthouse and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands counting Harbor Seals, as she usually does once a week. Citizen science at it's best! She saw this American Kestrel.
These Kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America. They are fierce hunters, though, of insects and small prey. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says their numbers are declining and you can help them by putting up a nesting box. You can learn about how to do so at this link: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/?__hstc=75100365.3ba4c962035e2b46bef5a13526048f2b.1532470093277.1578698034623.1579993283940.72&__hssc=75100365.2.1579993283940&__hsfp=942012614#_ga=2.46727719.1805588219.1579993283-500012005.1532470093
American Kestrels have a distinctive call that can help you identify them. You can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/sounds
Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Bonus sighting - a pod of Orcas, Killer Whales, was seen off our coast yesterday!
As I type this at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, it has begun to pour!
Scott and Tree Mercer, of the Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, sit out on the bluffs near the Point Arena Lighthouse most days, looking for Gray Whales and other marine life. The beginning of the southward bound Gray Whale migration was late this year, which caused concern. But yesterday, and again today, Gray Whales are passing by in big numbers. Yesterday the Mercers spotted 63 Grays Whales, and today by 2:00 p.m. they have seen 42. Here's an aerial photo of three migrating Gray Whales taken by Craig Tooley several years ago.
Here's a panoramic view of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands taken by Peggy Berryhill. It's a great place to whale watch!
Thanks to Craig and Peggy for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com
You can follow the Mercer's daily posts on their Facebook page, which is: https://www.facebook.com/Mendonoma-Whale-and-Seal-Study-1421926098039236/
Quite cloudy today, temps in the low 50s. Rain coming late tomorrow.
Last Saturday we received some blessed rain, a quarter of an inch. Of course it came during the nature walk at the Discover the Lands even on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. Justine Rosenthal and Janine Johnson took the walk from Point Arena City Hall to the Mendocino College Field Station. It was near the Field Station in a group of Bishop Pines when they found this beauty, one of the choice edible mushroom here on the coast - a Boletus edulis, King Bolete. That yellow plate is a dinner plate!
It's what's for dinner!
Thanks to Justine and Janine for allowing me to share their photo with you here.
No more mushrooms until we receive some rain. It's too dry now. We are waiting for our power to be turned off in advance of the high wrong-way winds forecast for tonight. I may not be able to post for a while. I can tell you that today is absolutely lovely here. May that continue hold true.