Tag Archives: Ron LeValley

•

A group Pygmy Nuthatches has been arriving at dusk, and leaving at dawn, from a birdhouse outside Rick's and my home in Anchor Bay. They have been doing so for two or so months. There were eight to start, and then seven for some weeks. Last week there were eight again, and yesterday there were seven. Here's a close-up of Pygmy Nuthatch for you to see, taken some years ago by the late Ron LeValley. Ron was always so generous sharing his photos with us.

This morning they were very late in leaving. I set my iPhone up on a tripod and video through the window, so the quality isn't great, that's for sure. But you still can get a feeling for what it's like to see them exit every morning. But it was raining hard this morn, and the wind was fierce. Being in the open wasn't very appealing as this video shows.

IMG_1045 (1)

As I reported in my other post, we have received a little over four fabulous inches of early rain, a real blessing. Tomorrow I will report on the status of the seasonal creek that crosses our land. Perhaps it came to life???

•

Scott and Tree Mercer saw three Gray Whales swimming southward this past weekend, most likely pregnant females headed for the birthing lagoons off Baja. Many thousands to follow over the next two months.

Shari Goforth-Eby put together this visual on the most helpful way to photograph Gray Whales for possible identification. She would appreciate receiving any Gray Whale photos you may take in the weeks and months ahead. She is chronicling the resident Gray Whales.

Here's one of my favorite Gray Whale photos - a magnificent photo taken some years ago by Ron LeValley of a Gray Whale breaching.

Thanks to Shari and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To sent Shari your sightings, here is her email: go4thegrays@gmail.com To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/

It's stormy and cold on the Mendonoma Coast today!

•

I have never seen a young Western Gray Squirrel but Steve Bennett recently captured one with his camera. Cute little guy or gal!

Gray Squirrels are tree squirrels, and they are known to be shy. When you see one, most likely it will run up a tree! Here's a photo of a mature Gray Squirrel taken by Ron LeValley.

We have these handsome squirrels living in the area where we live.

Thanks to Steve and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. You can see much more of Ron's nature photography at this link: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

The heat wave ended, the marine layer pushed in and smoke overhead made for an eerie, cool day.

• 2 Comments

•

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.

•

Ron LeValley was on a pelagic trip out of Fort Bragg when he spotted a Blue Whale. In the first photo the Blue Whale is surfacing.

Here you see the tiny dorsal fin. Since the Blue Whale is believed to be the largest animal ever to live on earth, it's rather ironic that the dorsal fin is so small.

The tail is big though!

What a thrill this must have been to be so close to this huge Blue Whale!

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with  you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/