Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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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.

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Walt Rush found this little owl on his deck in Irish Beach - a Northern Pygmy-Owl.

I love these little owls. They can be seen in the daytime hours hunting small birds.  Their calls are interesting, a slow, measured hoot. You can hear it for yourself at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/sounds

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

Lots of clouds from a tropical disturbance to the south. Maybe some rain tonight? But, please, no dry lightning!

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Kathy Grace had this Pale Swallowtail land on a blooming dahlia, a beautiful sight to behold.

And Paul Brewer photographed a Painted Lady feeding on a flower in his Gualala garden.

I love butterflies and I will stop what I'm doing to watch them as they travel from flower to flower.

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

It's a beach day on the Mendonoma Coast! The fog pulled back and if you get a little bit away from the coastline, it's hot! There are beautiful clouds in the sky today, which might bring us a spectacular sunset. Yes, sunset season looks to be here.