Jon Shiu photographed a Chestnut-backed Chickadee singing, very possibly for a mate. Male birds also sing to establish their territories. But this is Spring so I'm going with singing for a mate.
You can here this bird's call at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/sounds
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Boy, oh, boy, is it ever windy here today. Sunny with gusts of wind!
Ron Bolander photographed this Canada Goose family last week. There is just one gosling but he/she is cute and photogenic.
The Mendonoma Coast isn't normally where Canada Geese breed, but occasionally we see them nest here. They have to contend with Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and River Otters, to name a few predators. Tim Bray told me the adult geese are ferocious defenders of their chicks. The remaining chick, with his/her head tilted, seems to be looking at Ron, wondering just what the heck it was seeing!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
It's sunny and breezy today, with some high clouds drifting by. It's quite lovely.
Shari Goforth-Eby recently photographed two Gray Whales swimming very close together. She thought she might have a mother/calf pair.
Scott Mercer took a look at Shari's photo and determined these are two adults swimming unusually close together. Here is what a mother/calf pair looks like. The calf, with its stubby head, is partially breaching next to its mother. This photo was taken by Paul Brewer a few years ago.
Scott and Tree Mercer have seen four mother/calf pairs so far this past week. More are headed our way. This weekend could be the perfect time to see if you can spot a pair. A sighting of a mother and her calf is sure to warm your heart - guaranteed!
Thanks to Shari and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
It's sunny, calm and beautiful on the Mendonoma Coast today!
Peter Baye found this beauty, which is endemic to the Mendocino Coast, Mendocino Coast Paintbrush, Castilleja mendocinensis. It grows in coastal sage scrub habitat.
This native wildflower is considered rare, and it's a treat to see it.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We've had a pretty darn big rainstorm. Our rain gauge had 1.80 inches when it was all said and done. Total season to date is 48.40 inches, and 50 inches is a "normal" year here. Today the Pacific Ocean is riled up, with big breakers crashing into bluffs and on sandy beaches. It's LOUD! Skies are blue, as the storm clouds have left. It should be a lovely weekend here on the Mendonoma Coast!
Betsy Anderson came across this unusual Douglas Iris a few weeks ago. I never seen an Iris with four petals.
Amy Ruegg took a look at Betsy's photo and wrote, “This Iris looks to me to be a deformed Douglas Iris with extra tepals. In horticulture, cultivating for more petals than normal in a flower is desirable. I have seen this happen in other species on occasion. I have also seen an unusual trillium with four leaves. Perhaps it’s the four leaf clover of the Iris blossom!”
Here's a look at a "normal" Douglas Iris, taken by Craig Tooley.
It's possible the warm weather we had this past winter might have prompted this anomaly. Here's a look at the Trillium Amy mentioned.
Sometimes Mother Nature is just having fun! Thanks to Betsy, Amy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Clouds are pouring in as another storm is headed our way. Precursor showers arrived late this afternoon. My season to date rain total is 46.60 inches. A "normal" year is 50 inches so things are looking good here on the Mendonoma Coast.