The Mendonoma Coast has been enveloped in fog the past two days. It quiets down the sound of the barking Sea Lions on Fish Rocks. Karen Tracy photographed the early morning fog drifting up below her home in Anchor Bay.
Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
To see a photo of another beautiful sunrise, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/24/beautiful-sunrise-photographed-by-coastal-photographer-craig-tooley/
Two photos of strangely colored Jays came in. One, photographed by Hal Fogel in The Sea Ranch, is of a Western Scrub Jay. The second is a Steller's Jay that Fred Leif photographed in Timber Cove. It is thought these two are partially leucistic, a birding term for albinism.
Both birds were shunned and even chased away by others of its kind. I think there is great value in being "one of a kind."
Thanks to Hal and Fred for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
A Gray Fox paid a visit to Rozann Grunig's The Sea Ranch home. It turned and posed so Rozann could get this photo. These Foxes are great rodent hunters. TSR seems to have a great abundance of Gophers so this small hunter is a welcome sight.
Thanks to Rozann for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see a photo of Fox Kits, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/31/two-photos-of-gray-fox-kits-by-coastal-photographer-craig-tooley/
Jean Brown recently photographed this Great Blue Heron. It was eating a Praying Mantis.
Great Blue Herons eat a wide variety of food. They have been seen fishing for fish, frogs and salamanders. They also eat small mammals, insects like this hapless Praying Mantis and even greens.
Thanks to Jean for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see a Praying Mantis in happier times, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/10/07/two-photos-of-a-praying-mantis-from-coastal-photographer-siegfried-matull/
And to see the graceful Heron in flight, here is one of my favorite photos taken by Allen Vinson: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/07/06/great-blue-heron-so-graceful-in-flight/
Nothing beats a bird's eye view! Craig Tooley took to the air to photograph the nesting seabirds on Gualala Point Island and Fish Rocks. He also photographed the town of Gualala, which you can see in the bottom half of the photo. You can also see the Gualala River, which is currently closed to the Pacific Ocean by its summertime sandbar.
The Gualala River is the dividing line between Mendocino County and Sonoma County. The Sea Ranch stretches along the northern Sonoma Coast at the top of Craig's photo. It's a beautiful part of the world, don't you agree?
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see Craig's wildlife and aerial photography, here is the link to his web site: http://ruffimage.com/