Ron Bolander found a Western Bluebird couple. The male is the more brightly-colored bird on the left.
Here is a photo of the male. Yes, he's quite handsome!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
It's a lovely day on the Mendonoma Coast. Fog is out over the ocean, but away from the bluff edge, it's sunny with gently breezes. It's in the 70's this afternoon.
Michael Reinhart spotted this young Buck, a Black-tailed Deer, looking at him. It sure looks like the Buck is smiling!
Thanks to Mike for his fun photo and for allowing me to share it here with you.
We had clouds this morning, but they have disappeared, leaving behind sunny skies with strong breezes. And it's a chilly breeze! Wildflowers are amazing now. But watch out for ticks. A friend told me she picked eight of them off of her after a walk through grasses at Manchester State Park this morning. And I found one on me after a hike today. Yikes!
Joanne Abramson wrote, "This was my first time photographing a Bald Eagle and I was so surprised to find him/her in a Cypress grove above Ten Mile River. May 4th was a foggy/hazy morning, and the fog drifted in and out between the eagle and me. It was a challenge to photograph him in the shadows of the tree."
"I waited two hours for him to fly over the ocean. It was worth the wait. They are magnificent birds."
To see these beautiful birds continue to recover in numbers and expand their territories is a joy. Thanks to Joanne for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Looks like the wet weather has left for now. Beautiful cumulus clouds are moving over the ocean, southward. It's breezy, sunny with a big dose of loveliness.
This photograph exudes bliss! Michael Reinhart found a Harbor Seal pup nursing while his/her mother rests with her eyes closed.
It's a peaceful moment that Michael chronicled. Thanks to Michael for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
This morning we had some serious downpours! There was a good half inch of rain in our gauge when I checked this morning at 7. And it's chilly! It was 41 degrees at dawn with a breeze. Dark and white clouds seem to chasing each other across the sky this afternoon. A shower could happen any time but between showers we are having brilliant sunshine. A wait-five-minutes kind of day.
Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is a treat to find. Judith Fisher found this beauty at Gualala Point Regional Park recently.
This wildflower's scientific name is interesting. Formosa means "beautiful." Wildflower.org's website states this: "The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila which means eagle and refers to the spurred petals that many believe resemble an eagle's talons." Fascinating! Look for Western Columbine in moist areas.
Thanks to Judith for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Today is an "in between" day. Yesterday morning at 7, I found 0.40 inches of rain in our gauge. Another 0.15 fell during the day. Today we have beautiful clouds scudding across the sky, pushed by strong breezes. Heck, it's downright windy this afternoon! Tomorrow we have some rain coming in. Thank you, Mother Nature!