Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Black Turnstones overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast - they breed far to our north. Mike Reinhart recently found a group foraging at a beach at The Sea Ranch. In flight you can see their beautiful markings.

Black Turnstones are shorebirds and they do turn over stones and kelp to find food. Mike photographed one standing on kelp which has washed up on the beach. The bird overturns bits of kelp to find flies and eggs and other tasty morsels.

This Turnstone has some sand on its beak!

To hear their high-pitched calls, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Turnstone/sounds

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

We had a nice storm this afternoon, Sunday. October rain is such a blessing. We have a lot of rain in our forecast too. Thank you, Mother Nature!

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Eric Zetterholm noticed this Bobcat sitting in a meadow at The Sea Ranch.

Suddenly the Bobcat rose up and began staring at Gopher holes. Eric watched the cat with the tufted ears try to get a tasty rodent, but this time the Bobcat was unsuccessful. Just look at the intensity in the Bobcat's face!

 

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

Saturday is a spectacular day, warm with no wind. Last night, watching with friends, we saw a beautiful green flash at sunset. There is blessed rain in our forecast!

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Rozanne Rapozo visited the lagoon of the Gualala River a few weeks and she found dragonflies. For many of us, dragonflies are difficult to photograph because they move so fast. But Rozanne got a wonderful photo of what I thought were mating dragonflies. You will see they are reflected in the river.

I sent Rozanne’s photo to Kathy Biggs. Kathy wrote the book Common Dragonflies of California. She wrote, “Beautiful image of ovipositing Variegated Meadowhawks. They have already mated and now he is tandem guarding her as she lays their eggs. If he didn’t stay guarding her, another male might grab her and remove his sperm, so they stay in tandem. This is a migratory species but these two look pretty fresh still. SUCH a gorgeous photo!"

Rozanne got another photo of these two beauties.

Isn't this fascinating? Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

We had a little misting rain this morning, but blue skies are now the order of the day!

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Bob Rutemoeller wrote, “I first thought this might be a Whimbrel but after looking up info online, I think it is a Long-billed Curlew. We had walked from Kinney Road along the beach to the Garcia River. There are lots of Kelp piles on the beach, and also lots of Jellyfish.”

Diane Hichwa confirmed the ID of this big shorebird. Just look at that long thin beak!

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

oh my, it's terribly windy here today, Monday. I hope it calms down soon.

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We've had several small storms that brought enough moisture for the first King Boletes to appear. Amy Ruegg found what might have been the very first one.

Several others have found porcini too. And CeCe Case found a Chanterelle. They are being found in moist areas. The spots I find them have not seen any appear...yet!

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with  you here. It's always a good time of year when the first edible mushrooms appear.

A smattering of rain was heard last night while I, and others, celebrated the SF Giants baseball win. Today is beautiful, sunny and breezy. The horizon is clear so if you are on the coast, look for a possible green flash at sunset. Below is a photo taken by Peter Cracknell of a green flash. It only lasts for a second, so don't blink!