Sightings

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Several weeks ago many Humpback Whales passed our coast, heading north. Most were quite far out but several photographers got interesting photos. Eric Zetterholm photographed this big Humpback breaching near a fishing boat.

And Ron Bolander caught this beautiful sight.

One last great share from Shari Goforth-Eby.

Any day you see Humpbacks...or any whale!...is a good day!

Thanks to Eric, Ron and Shari for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's hot here today. Overnight temps were in the mid 70's. It got up to 93 degrees this afternoon but suddenly dropped 10 degrees - hooray! The sea breeze is trying to kick in.

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Laura Baker wrote, “Here's a photo of a Barred Owl I snapped today up here in Annapolis.  It's peeking behind a strand of Usnea lichen.  I have to admit having mixed feelings about seeing it.  On the one hand, it's a beautiful, powerful bird.  But as you probably know, the Barred Owls are driving out our local and less aggressive Northern Spotted Owls.”

This beautiful owl used to be an owl of the eastern part of the United States but in the 20th century it started to migrate towards the Pacific Northwest. For better or worse, the Barred Owl is here. These owls fly noiselessly so it's often difficult to spot them.

For comparison, here's a Northern Spotted Owl, photographed some years ago by Craig Tooley.

Thank to Laura and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

No fog today and temps are very warm when you get away from the ocean!

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Peter Baye found unique-looking Steelhead in the Gualala. He wrote, “On my list for show and tell is the return of those rare pale juvenile Steelhead that look almost silver-gold ["sub-leucistic"?] on the Wheatfield Fork. I haven't seen any in years. They stand out in dark pools where their typical dark olive-backed peers, other Steelhead parr and Gualala Roach, are well-camouflaged against the dark algae-covered cobbles and gravel."

"In past years, I have seen sub-adults with this pigmentation. More often, if I find atypical adult pigmentation, it's almost blue-black. I think the folk name is actually "blueback" steelhead. The Kingfisher predation seems to be very low this year, so I guess it's not a big hazard to glow in the dark like this! It's from a deep, dark pool with cooler water stratified -layered- at the bottom.”

Here's a photo showing young Steelhead and Gualala Roach.

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

It's sunny, breezy and warm here today!

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A Baird's Sandpiper was seen at the south end of Manchester Beach. David Presotto got this wonderful photo.

These sandpipers have long, tapered wings which help with their very long migration. They fly from the tip of South America all the way up to the Arctic to nest. And, once in a while, one of these beautiful birds will be found along the Mendonoma coast.

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

The fog is gone and it's warming up, just in time for the holiday weekend! Bonus sighting: Humpbacks were seen  few days ago.

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Mary Sue Ittner recently photographed this lovely butterfly, an Acmon Blue.

This butterfly is mainly found in California. Going by my records, it's a pretty rare sighting for our coast!

Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

The fog disappeared early this morning. Sunshine and gentle breezes rules the day!