A Purple Martin feeding chicks, as photographed by Craig Tooley and Mike Petrich.

There is a nest of Purple Martin chicks near the Gualala River. Craig Tooley watched as one of the parents caught an insect to bring to the hungry chicks. I just took a closer look at Craig's photo, and I believe the Purple Martin has a dragonfly in its beak!

Late in June Mike Petrich photographed a fledgling Purple Martin being fed.Purple Martins here on the West Coast usually nest in woodpecker holes. They are the largest swallows. You can hear their chirpy calls at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Martin/sounds I read there that the male sings his loudest song at dawn.

Thanks to Craig and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Lots of cool, moist fog for our Sunday morning, though it is pulling back this afternoon, with wind-free sunshine.