Roland Coombs was taking a walk on The Sea Ranch when he saw a family of Gray Foxes.
Look at the kit closest to the mother - the little one is trying to nurse! Roland advises people to always take a camera when you take a walk. Good advice, which I always take.
Thanks to Roland for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Another very warm day on the Mendonoma Coast! But there's a hint of coolness in the gentle breeze, just a hint.
Spring doesn't know...
Neil Silverman recently photographed a Rough-skinned Newt. Looks like this newt was ready for his or her close-up!
You shouldn't touch this newt because they have a neurotoxin in their skin. It's called tetrodotoxin, the same neurotoxin in pufferfish. Gartersnakes can handle this toxin and they prey on these newts. Rick and I often see them in our forest, along side the seasonal creek. They flash their orange underparts as they cross the trail.
Thanks to Neil for allowing me to share his photo with you here. Neil, along with his wife, Susan, teach photography workshops. You can find out more at this link: https://silvermansphotography.com/
The temps went up, up, up today - another heat wave. The horizon is clear so perhaps there will be a green flash at sunset.
Spring doesn't know...
Richard Custer was enjoying the fine weather we had last week. Here's his photo of an Osprey.
Perhaps this Osprey has spotted a fish in the ocean and is ready to dive for it.
The Osprey nest we watch through a spotting scope in Anchor Bay has two chicks in it. They are getting bigger with the fish their father brings back to the nest. The mother tears the fish into small bites and then feeds her chicks. The parents are so devoted, it's quite wonderful to observe.
Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Lovely weather today, the air feels as soft as a down pillow.
Spring doesn't know...
Kathryn Arnold and Michael Kleeman sent in a fascinating video of three Yellow-faced Bumblebees. She wrote, “Michael and I came across some bees behaving mysteriously. There is one large bee and two smaller ones. They appear to be the same species. Are the two smaller ones attacking the larger one? Trying to mate? Hitching a ride? Thanks for helping us solve the mystery!”
I sent Kathryn’s video to Peter Baye and he shared it with entomologist Will Ericson. Peter wrote, “That’s was a Bombus vosnesenskii – Yellow-faced Bumblebee - queen copulating with two males. Will said he’d never seen the actual act before!”
Here's the video:
Thanks to Kathryn for allowing me to share her photo and video with you here.
Cloudy and cool-ish today, quite nice for a walk.
Spring doesn't know...
It's comforting to witness the normalcy of Nature. In late spring, the male Black-tailed Deer begin sprouting new antlers. They are covered in velvet, a membrane that nourished the growing antlers. Cherle Clark had this handsome fellow pay her a visit recently.
Fawns continue to be born. John Batchelder photographed a newborn that was still wet! So very cute.
Thanks to Cheryl and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Wow, we had a lightning and thunderstorm overnight! Lightning on the Northern California coast doesn't happen very often. We received a little rain too - .16 of an inch at our place in Anchor Bay. Not much, but always welcome.
Spring doesn't know...