Sarah Wagner was at the Navarro River when she captured this magical sight.
The Milky Way, in all its glory, is shining brightly in the night sky.
Thanks to Sarah for allowing me to share her photo with you here. Sarah took another photo of the Milky Way while on a night kayak trip on Big River. The stars are reflected in the river. That photo will be in this week's Independent Coast Observer. Don't miss it! Here's the ICO's website: www.mendonoma.com
A storm out over the ocean is predicted to bring high surf and dangerous riptides beginning tonight. You know you should never turn your back on the ocean, right? Once in a while, a sneaker wave can come way in and surprise you. Don't be that person!
Anne Mary Schaefer captured a beautiful photo of the ocean and what she calls a "roiling sunset surf."
Anne Mary photographed this at Manchester Beach. Time will tell if the high surf warnings bring us a roiling ocean. Perhaps Anne Mary will be out with her camera to document it.
Thanks to Anne Mary for allowing me to share her photo with you here. She is also a talented pet photographer. She photographed our rescue golden retriever, Sunny. To see her website, here is the link: http://www.pawpawrazzipetphotography.com/
Here's a photo of Sunny taken by Anne Mary. An action photo taken at Schooner Gulch Beach. I love it!
Harm Wilkinson photographed four Barn Swallow chicks in a nest above the front door of the Point Arena dental clinic.
They are patiently waiting to be fed by their parents. Kudos to everyone for allowing this nest to stay. Swallows eat as many as 1,000 insects in a day!
Thanks to Harm for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Peter Baye recently shared several photos he recently took of native wildflowers. The first is Purple Owls-Clover, Castilleja Exserta Latifolia.
This beautiful, small wildflower has medicinal qualities, used for rheumatism and as an astringent.
Peter also photographed Dune Tansy, Tanacetum camphoratum.
As you might suspect, this wildflower grows in sand dunes. It's a member of the Aster family and has a camphor-like smell.
And here is Western Water-Hemlock, Cicuta douglasii.
This is an extremely poisonous plant which needs water to thrive.
Lastly is Mendocino Paintbrush, Castilleja mendocinensis, a plant only found on the Mendocino coast.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
June Wilson watched as these two Western Bluebirds chicks left the nest.
These pretty birds are found near coastal bluffs. I am 1/2 mile back from the ocean, and I never see Western Bluebirds at my place.
Here is a photo taken by Steve Wilcox showing an adult male on the left and the adult female on the right.
Steve also photographed the male at a nesting box, showing his beautiful blue feathers. He has a bug in his beak, about to feed one of his chicks. Yes, Western Bluebirds are cavity nesters. If you are in the right location, putting up a nesting box might tempt a pair to raise their family near you!
Thanks to June and Steve for allowing me to share their photos with you here.