Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Karen Wilkinson wrote, “I get excited over all shorebirds, but the Killdeer are such fun little birds with some rather peculiar behaviors.  The injured wing defense is the one most birders talk about, but their ‘dancing in the sand or ‘fishing with their feet’ are my official favorites.

I'm wondering what's really going on when they're doing this. I was 'belly in the sand' trying not to spook them after they flew in above me, as I was focused on watching a Spotted Sandpiper. It took a while, but I could hardly believe my luck as they started coming straight towards me.

I'm still going through the 1200 plus photos I took, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the video, just looking back on it cracks me up!” I too wonder what this Killdeer is doing with  his feet. Maybe you know?

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos and video with  you here.

brrr, it's cold and cloudy with rain due to arrive mid-afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be very stormy, another river-of-rain event. Bring it, Mother Nature!

 

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Several weeks ago, the weather was clear with just a few scattered clouds, giving photographer Rozanne Rapozo a perfect opportunity to photograph the full Moon setting over Galleons' Arch Rock off The Sea Ranch.

I love the stairway of light from the Moon. Some call this the stairway to heaven.

Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

We had nearly three inches of rain from the last storm, and several more are moving in. I've had over 21 inches so far this season, a cause for celebration! More rain beginning around 8 pm tonight. Temps are in the low fifties.

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Eric Zetterholm leaves work for his lunch break and he often heads to the Gualala River. This past week he spotted this adult Bald Eagle.

A few days earlier he photographed this Bald Eagle (the same one?) and the eagle nabbed a Lamprey, an eel-like fish, for its meal.

A little after this sighting, the adult Bald Eagle flew off. And, to Eric's wonderment, a juvenile Bald Eagle flew in and posed for him.

It's always a thrill to see a Bald Eagle!

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

It rained last night (.20 inches) and it's lightly raining this afternoon. It's suppose to dry up for the holiday weekend, and then watch out! Lots of rain predicted for next week, a river of rain event.

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I am seeing lots of these beautiful Fly Amanitas these days. Wayne Smith found a nice grouping of them recently.

When they come up, they are bright red but they do lighten as shown by nine-year-old Damien Baker's photo.

I learned from mushroom expert, David Arora, that these mushrooms can be prepared to be edible. It involves parboiling twice, throwing out the water between boilings. I prefer just to watch them evolve in the forest!

Thanks to Wayne and Damien for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It was cloudy today with a few sprinkles. Temps in the mid-50's. Happy full day of Winter!

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American Robins seem to like spending the winter here. While they are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast and much of the United States, there seems to be more of them here during the winter months. Jon Shiu recently photographed one of these beautiful birds.

It looks like the setting sun is reflecting on the reddish chest feathers - beautiful!

In the spring, Robins have a beautiful call. You can listen to it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds Listen to the West Virginia recording below the photo. That is close to what we hear on the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Clouds moved in today, and it feels like it could sprinkle a bit. It's pretty cold too, as it didn't reach 50 degrees today. I know, I know...but it's cold for the Mendonoma coast!