Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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We spotted this juvenile California Toad (Anaxyrus boreas halophilus).  We admired how beautiful its camouflage. It was hard to keep track of it as it moved among the rocks because it so perfectly blended in among the river stones.”

California Toads are a subspecies of Western Toads. This camouflaged toad is one of the many reasons why you should never drive in a river.

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

It's raining cats and dogs and toads today, over 4 inches at our place in Anchor Bay!

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Ron Bolander used the new Merlin bird ID app to try and identify a shorebird but it steered him wrong. Ron wrote, “While I was on the beach, mid Tuesday afternoon, I got some pictures, that "Merlin" identified as Semipalmated Sandpipers.  Checking on the Cornell site for information, these are not supposed to be here.  They migrate from the Arctic to South America, but the migration is east of the Rocky Mountains.”

I sent Ron’s photos to Diane Hichwa, who in turn sent them to a shorebird expert, Lisa Hug, who wrote, “It is a Least Sandpiper - yellowish legs, dark streaking on chest.” Diane commented, “Shorebirds are SELDOM easy, and in transitions from breeding plumage to winter plumage, they are even more challenging.”

Ron also photographed a Western Sandpiper.

Such beautiful birds plying our beaches! Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

The weather is changing! We actually have some rain headed our way beginning Saturday evening.  Today it is windy and mild. It feels very good to know rain is in our near future!

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Allen Vinson timed it just right to catch the morning sunbeams at Black Point Beach on The Sea Ranch.

An award winning (or should be) photo!

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

It's sunny, breezy and mild on the Mendonoma Coast today - feels like Autumn!

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American Goldfinches nest later in the year than most birds as their favorite food source, thistle seeds, appears later. Rozanne Rapozo recently captured this beautiful photo of a young Goldfinch in flight. "Look, Ma...I'm flying!"

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

Clouds drifted up from the hurricane far to our north. A few raindrops gently fell this morning. Sunshine is peeking out between clouds this afternoon and it's very mild, near 70 degrees.

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Laura Baker photographed cute Chipmunks recently.

She wrote, “I got a kick out of watching these Yellow-cheeked Chipmunks through my window today.  They were feeding on Himalayan blackberries.  They're often too shy to see, but we can hear their two-note call.  As the summer's gone on, they've gotten bolder and have shown themselves more.”

These blackberries are abundant this year, and delicious!

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

Today we celebrate that the heatwave is over. Temps are mild with just a slight breeze. Nice!