Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Western Sandpipers have migrated into our area and photographer Ron Bolander was there with his camera as a flock of five or perhaps six took wing.

Western Sandpipers are shorebirds that nest way up in the Arctic. Some of them will overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast. Fun Fact: females are generally bigger than the males and they have longer beaks.

If you'd like to listen to their calls, you can do so at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Sandpiper/sounds

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

oh my, we are so thankful an early storm from the north arrived yesterday, Saturday. Our rain gauge showed a little over 1.5 inches of the blessed wet stuff.

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Storms to our north or south may very well bring clouds to the Mendonoma Coast this time of year. And when they do, a beautiful sunset might be seen. Paul Brewer recently photographed this sunset, which is reflected in the Pacific Ocean. Three Western Gulls fly over the kelp beds. Yes, the kelp forests have recovered and are back, for which we are thankful.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with  you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

It's been cool and foggy all day. And we have a chance of some wet stuff - RAIN! - tomorrow, Saturday.

 

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Here is King's Gentian, Gentiana sceptrum, a wildflower that grows in moist areas. Craig recently checked an area where he had found this wildflower before and there they were, despite the drought.

Their color is so vibrant! It's a real treat to see this. Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Today, Wednesday, the fog has been persistent all day. The ocean is making some noise [ie crashing waves!] , which is always nice to hear. And we might have the first storm of the season by Friday night or Saturday. What a blessing that would be for Northern California.

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Mike Reinhard went to Mill Bend, the newly acquired land along the Gualala River this past week. He was visited by an adult Bald Eagle with its offspring. It's just a wonderful photo of these hawks!

Then Mike saw this group of ducks. I asked birder Tim Bray if Mike had photographed Mallards. Tim wrote, “It's ‘Brown Duck Season!’ More scientifically known as ‘eclipse plumage,’ the cryptic Summer phase when all the drakes look like hens. Thankfully that only lasts about a month and happens before they leave the breeding grounds. Some of them start migrating before they have grown breeding plumage and give us a few weeks of confusion. Most of these are indeed Mallards, the big ones with the yellowish bills, and you can see the drakes are already beginning to molt into breeding plumage. There appears to be two smaller ducks with dark bills that I can't identify. Most likely Green-winged Teal but it's hard to be sure.”

Mike also photographed Red-necked Phalaropes. These shorebirds have very thin beaks. They breed far to our north, in the Arctic tundra, and are migrating southward now.

Nice day at the Gualala River, Mike!

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

It's foggy today, Sunday, right at the bluffs, but sunny just a few yards inland.

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Craig Tooley found this small songbird recently, a Common Yellowthroat.

Notice the black "mask" across this bird's eyes. That tells you it is a male. The call of the male Common Yellowthroat is described as "witchety-witchety-witchety."

You can hear the call for yourself at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Yellowthroat/sounds It is quite a distinctive call!

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

After some tropical moisture came in late yesterday, we had some light rain and flashes lightning. All is sunny and fresh today.