Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Adrian Bennett recently photographed this beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly feeding in her garden at The Sea Ranch.

Here is a close up of this butterfly taken by Drew Fagan.

And several years ago Laura Baker photographed the caterpillar of an Anise.

It's always lovely to see a butterfly, don't you agree?

Thanks to Adrian, Drew and Laura for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a spectacular day on the Mendonoma coast. Nothing but blue skies and a gently breeze. Tonight might bring a green flash at sunset as the horizon is clear.

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Wendy Van Dyck recently photographed a Praying Mantis in its tan coloration. Great camouflage!

Larry Jacobs also photographed a Praying Mantis; this one is green. Once again, the mantis blends wonderfully with the surroundings.

A Praying Mantis can also be seen as totally white as Tony Green once photographed. This happens right after a molt.

Siegfried Matull got this amazing photo of a mantis with its wings outstretched.

Thanks to Wendy, Larry, Tony and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Oh, it's so lovely here today - warm with a gentle breeze. This time of year can be the best time to see a green flash. Rick and I saw one this week, and tonight's sunset might give us another green flash.

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Eric Zetterholm photographed this Gray Whale very close to the surf break at the sandbar by the Gualala River. Two beach walkers had an up-close-and-personal experience that day!

Here's a second look.

Whale expert, Scott Mercer, says this is a subadult Gray Whale. We have a small group of young Gray Whales that did not migrate, and we are know seeing them 12 months of the year.

Yesterday, Scott and Tree Mercer saw two Blue Whales, and I may have seen those Blues later in the afternoon. I saw a super tall spout quite a ways out, and the spout lingered. Sounds like a Blue Whale to me. Closer in there was a pod of at least four whales, perhaps Humpbacks. Lots of wonderful whale sightings lately.

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

Breeze picked up today, making whale spouts almost impossible to see! Warmer weather ahead.

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Ron LeValley photographed the leucistic Black Oystercatcher. The bird fledged from the Mendocino Headlands, and Ron found it on a nearby mussel bed.

We've seen other instances of this. Last year,  Roger Adamson photographed this leusictic Black Oystercatcher chick.

And here's a leucistic American Robin, photographed some years ago by Susan Gonzales.

And a leusictic Dark-eyed Junco, photographed by Barbara Pratt.

It's always startling to see! Thanks to Ron, Susan, Roger and Barbara for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

Sunny, mild day on the Mendonoma coast. Might be a chance to see a green flash at sunset tonight!

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John Wall and his dog, Dash, were walking at Gualala Point Regional Park when they came across this scene.

John and Dash found an Oregon Gartersnake nabbing an Alligator Lizard. That's a pretty big meal for the Gartersnake. Here's another angle.

Did you know gartersnakes are beneficial in your garden? They eat slugs and bugs, along with snails. No need to be afraid of them...unless you are an alligator lizard like the one in John's photo!

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

Much cooler now and it really feels like autumn. Strong breezes today too.