Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Bill Retzer may have seen the first Gray Fox kit of Spring several weeks ago.

Bill wrote, "It was a little after nine and, because of occasional visiting Raccoons, I’ve a habit of taking the hummingbird feeder in for the evening. I stepped out on the deck and this little guy was swinging the feeder back and forth and then licking off the sugar water that slopped out. The kit seemed quite content.”

I received another sighting of Gray Fox kits, a family of five little ones. I'll share the photo soon.

Clouds, fog, much cooler temperatures, and some rain on the way!

Spring doesn't know...

 

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Marilyn Green noticed this gorgeous grasshopper, which was identified as a Painted Meadow Grasshopper.

Very elegant with the pink markings!

Thanks to Marilyn for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Rare bird alert! Gail Jackson (no relation!) photographed what we think is a Parasitic Jaeger which she saw at Gualala Point Regional Park. This type of seabird is rarely seen from land. The bird was headed north. I'll share photos soon.

Our heatwave broke early this morning as billowing fog moved onto the land. As I write this on Thursday afternoon, the ocean and bluffs are shrouded with fog but we are in sun here in Anchor Bay. It's about 20 degrees cooler today - hooray!

Spring doesn't know...

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Pelagic Cormorants, seabirds, nest on bluff faces on the Mendonoma Coast. Karen Wilkinson photographed a pair at their nest, and when she looked at her photo on her computer, she found two tiny chicks.

You can see an eggshell (or possibly an unhatched egg!) and two chicks that look as if they just hatched! The father Pelagic Cormorant is leaving the nest in Karen's photo. He brings food back to his mate and now for his offspring. It's quite magical to watch these nests. They are very quiet and it's almost mystical to be in the moment and be quiet too.

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Another hot day, but it feels like it is breaking. Yep, the weather is changing again, maybe even some rain for the weekend.

Spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley has sent his "Pic O JOY" photo and it's a beautiful native wildflower, Inside-out Flower, Vancouveria planipetala. These delicate flowers usually bloom near Redwood trees, so they are flowers of the forest.

This unusual spring-blooming wildflower is a member of the Barberry family. Its scientific name refers to explorer Captain George Vancouver. He explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1790's.

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

oh boy, it's downright HOT today! I'm writing this close to 4 pm and our outside temperature here in Anchor Bay at the 600+ foot level is 92 degrees! Too HOT - I must lodge a complaint!

And spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley photographed this Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly.

Laura Baker ID'd this butterfly, which was originally thought to be a California Sister. I couldn't get the ID to match because the orange on the upper wing of this butterfly goes all the way to the edge.  Laura wrote, "Lourquin's admiral is frequently confused with California sister.  You're right that one of the distinguishing  characteristics is that the California sister's wings are tipped in black beyond the orange spots.  Lorquin's admiral has orange all along the edge of the forewings.  Lorquin's admirals are associated with willows and alders while sisters are usually associated with oaks.  But we have tons of sisters and they seem to love our fruit trees, so go figure!"

Here's a California Sister for comparison. This photo was taken by Wendy Bailey.

Thanks to Laura for the ID, and to Wendy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with  you here. Craig's photo is one of his daily Pic-O-JOY photos. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at his website: www.ruffimage.com

We're having a heat wave! Well, it's over 80 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay. We tend to start melting when it goes over 80.

Spring doesn't know...