Rick and I found a nice string of Matsutakes yesterday. We have sandy soil and that's what this prized edible mushroom wants to grow in. Below are three of them peaking out from pine needles and next to Salal, a plant they are associated with. Tan-Oak, Douglas-Fir and wild Rhododendrons are also close by.
You must make sure of your identification of this aromatic mushroom. It's important to get the complete stem to make sure there is no volva, a cup-like structure, at the bottom. Just looking at these photos brings the unique fragrance of these mushrooms to me.
The Matsutakes that grow in the Pacific Northwest are also called White Matsutakes. They do not turn brown like Matsutakes do in other parts of the world. Below is a photo of the first Bellybutton Hedgehog we've seen this season. It's just a baby but it will grow in the days to come.
And we had wild weather today. Below is a photo of the storms clouds we saw from our deck in Anchor Bay this morning. I call these days "wait five minutes days" because it can be raining one moment and then brilliant sunshine the next.
My best to you today!
The storm door is open and one storm after another is lined up. Today started out with rain but this afternoon there is brilliant sunshine. Cloud watching - and photographing - is a Coast tradition. Andrew Duhl was hiking on the Stornetta Public Lands recently and got this beautiful photo.
In between storms we have a chance to see Gray Whales migrating south. We also can discover what new mushrooms might have appeared. This morning Rick and I found a fresh string of Matsutakes and the first Bellybutton Hedgehog. It's just a baby and we'll let it grow. I will share photos of these tomorrow.
Thanks to Andrew for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Two big Jays call the Mendonoma Coast home. Robert Scarola had one of each species land on his fence recently. First is the distinctive Steller's Jay.
And below is a Western Scrub Jay. Both jays love black sunflower seeds so it is easy to attract them to your bird feeder. For the past three years we have had a Steller's Jay nest in a big bush of Laurel. By the time the babies emerge, they are nearly the size of the adults.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to show you the two common Jays of the Coast.
Two little Western Screech Owls, each believed to be hit by a car, were rescued and taken to the Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa. One was found in October and it had a broken bone in its wing. The other was rescued in November. The two Owls were put together. Diane Hichwa was given the charge of picking them up, driving them up windy Highway One and then ten miles up Mountain View Road where one of the owls was found. She invited Rick and me to join her and her husband, Bryant. And what an experience it was! Here is one of the little owls waiting to be set free.
Below Diane is taking one of the owls out of its travel box. I am nervously standing by, wearing gloves to protect my hands.
It was so awesome to hold this little owl. They only weigh eight ounces. The one I was holding was quiet in my hands.
Below Diane has the second owl out and we are prepared to let them go. We let them look at each other before setting them free.
Diane released her Owl first and it flew off into the trees. I followed a few seconds later and the second Owl followed the first one. Here's hoping they thrive in the future.
Everyone involved with these owls can be proud of a job very well done. It was thrilling for me to be a part of their release.
Bryant Hichwa took these photos and I thank him for allowing me to share them with you here.