Thane Frivold sent in the first photo of Douglas Iris in bloom, always a happy sighting.
On a trip down Highway One yesterday, I saw many California Poppies beginning their long bloom.
Thanks to Thane for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We have rain late Friday. It's been a while since we've seen the wet stuff, so it is very welcome.
Wayne Smith photographed this beauty, which we believe is a Giant Puffball.
Barbara Thrush photographed a Short-stemmed Russula.
There is beauty in the fungus that appears after some rain. It's been too dry this past week for many mushrooms to appear, but that looks to be changing, starting Friday.
Thanks to Wayne and Barbara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Today is sunny and mild. Last night's sunset was so beautiful. Okay, bonus photo! Taken by me last night.
A tiny duck with a big head, meet this beautiful male Bufflehead. Ron Bolander found this duck flying over the Gualala River.
Buffleheads nest in woodpecker cavities, especially those made by Northern Flickers. Smart! To hear their quiet calls, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead/sounds
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We are having a sunny, calm day. Rain is moving back into the picture beginning on Friday, thank goodness, but for now the living is easy on the Mendonoma Coast.
Michael Reinhart checked the bluffs on The Sea Ranch and found several Pelagic Cormorants paired up and already building nests. This is very early, experts agree.
Here is a cormorant with nesting materials in its mouth.
And here is a Pelagic Cormorant in flight. Beautiful, don't you think? The white patch on this seabird's flank shows it is in breeding plumage.
Pelagic Cormorants are mostly silent but they do make some sounds, including groans, when breeding. You can listen here, a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pelagic_Cormorant/sounds
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Today the weather story is WIND! It's sunny but the wind is howling. It's no fun to be out on the bluffs today!
Joining Slink Pod in blooming in winter, Western Trilliums are up. Frank Lalle sent in this photo of one.
The white flower will turn pink after some days, and then purple. Promise me you'll never pick this wildflower! At the very least, it would set the plant back years, and at the worst, picking it might kill it.
The first Milk Maids, aka Spring Beauty, are up too. I saw a group of them at Gualala Point Regional park, by the steps from the parking area that lead to the Visitors' Center. Here's a photo taken by Amy Ruegg.
The first Bracken Ferns have poked through the ground. And the first Douglas Iris have bloomed in a sunny meadow.
Thanks to Frank and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
It sure feels like Spring today. Temps are warm, and there is very little breeze. It's a magnificent day on the Mendonoma Coast.