Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Loch Michie photographed this adult Brown Pelican as it lifted off from the water.

Adult Brown Pelicans have white heads and brown tummies. Brown Pelicans are so graceful when flying, but they can be comically clumsy when coming in for a landing in water.

These prehistoric-looking birds were severely impacted by the pesticide DDT. It got in waterways where fish ingested it. Birds like the Brown Pelicans ate the fish, and the pesticide residue caused their eggshells to thin. When the mother bird stood (yes, Brown Pelicans incubate their eggs with the skin on their feet) on her eggs, they broke. Their numbers went into a steep decline and we almost lost them. DDT was banned, and these beautiful creatures have recovered in the years since. I think a good rule for we humans would be: Do No Harm.

Thanks to Loch for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Fog over the Pacific Ocean, with warm temps away from the ocean.

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Patricia Bacchetti had a Hairy Woodpecker land on a nearby tree and seemingly pose for her.

This is a small woodpecker, but very powerful. It has a look alike, the Downy Woodpecker. One big difference between the two is the beak. In a Hairy, the beak is much longer. Below is a photo of a Downy for comparison, photo taken by Michael Reinhart. See how small the beak of the Downy is?

Hairy Woodpeckers eat insects that they search for on trunks and large branches of trees. They have a short "peek" call, which you can listen to at this link from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/sounds Scroll down to "Calls, Pacific."

Guess what? The Downy Woodpecker has a similar call. Mother Nature sure has a sense of humor at times!

Thanks to Patricia and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Very foggy at the coast but sunny just a short ways away. Very mild and lovely today.

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A family of North American River Otters makes the Gualala River area their home. Rozanne Rapozo recently photographed the mother with her three offspring, called pups or kittens.

The pups will stay with their mom for about a year, or until she has another litter.

Here is a close-up of the mother.

River Otters are deemed semi-aquatic. They are equally comfortable in the water and on the land. For fun, here's a photo Catherine Miller took of River Otter prints, the prints with five claws.

Thanks to Rozanne and Catherine for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The fog has been persistent over the ocean today, keeping temps down. No wind today, a lovely day here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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Young Fawns are being seen, proving that the birthing season of the Black-tailed Deer lasts a long time. The first Fawns usually appear around Mother's Day in early May. Jon Loveless saw this small family recently at The Sea Ranch.

Larain Matheson had a sighting of a mother Doe and her Fawn north of Gualala.

It's a good reminder to slow down while driving. Watch for a Doe crossing the road, and wait to see if a Fawn, or two or even three, might be following.

Thanks to Jon and Larain for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Fog over the ocean, but sunny at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Breezy too, with temps in the 70's. Huckleberries are beginning to ripen up!

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Pelagic Cormorants attache their nests to bluff faces, using their own guano as glue. Rozanne Rapozo recently photographed several nests.

Michael Reinhart found Pigeon Guillemots. They use openings in rocks for their hidden nests, much safer than the Pelagic Cormorant nests. This is a rather rare photo of a chick being fed.

Here are two Pigeon Guillemots on the water. It looks like they are talking to each other. Note the orange-red mouth!

Pelagic Cormorants are mostly silent, but Pigeon Guillemots have a whistling call that  you can hear on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guillemot/sounds

Thanks to Rozanne and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It was very foggy this morning, with the sun finally breaking through mid-afternoon, a lovely cool day on the Mendonoma Coast!