Sightings

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We are seeing Brown Pelicans flying north and south. Near Schooner Gulch, Loch Michie got a photo of a young one that puzzled me. He/she had the white tummy of a juvenile, but the feathers on the head looked to be turning white.

I sent Loch’s photo to ornithologist Peter Pyle. Peter wrote, “ That's actually a juvenile, the white still being natal down! So a precocious one. I don't see this often. So far I've gotten 40-50% juveniles this summer which indicates another excellent breeding season for them.”

I sent Loch Peter’s comments and he wrote, “Great info. Thanks so much. That ‘precocious’ bird was cruising like his Granddad’s Cadillac.”

How fun is that?

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

The fog hung around all day, though I had sunshine at  my elevation, 640 feet. Temps are deliciously cool, in the sixties.

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With the warmer weather, butterflies and dragonflies have appeared. But one species of butterflies seems to handle last week’s fog, which grounds most other butterflies. Laura Baker wrote, “[I saw] a pair of Acmon Blue Butterflies which may be mating; I don't know for sure because of the angle."

"We see a lot of these butterflies every year [in Annapolis,] and even though it's been foggy and cool, they seem to be able to be out and about by midday since they fly very close to the ground and don't need to gain altitude like some of the high fliers that have been grounded.”

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

There was fog over the ocean this morning, but it's going to be quite warm today. Overnight temperature here was 68 degrees!

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Brown Pelicans land in the Gualala River, which is a hoot to watch. As graceful as they are in the air, they can be quite clumsy coming in for a river landing. Mike Reinhart was recently at the river when he saw this Brown Pelican taking quite a bath.

The freshwater of the river is perfect for getting each feather clean!

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

Today is warm and rather muggy. Some clouds poured in this morning but all that remains are wispy clouds now.

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It’s that time of year when California Quail chicks can be seen, a charming sight indeed. John Batchelder wrote, “In the last couple of weeks Janice and I have started to see lots of  Quail moving though our yard in coveys with up to 14 chicks. They are very systematic about the way they move around, never staying anywhere long; parents very attentive and alert. Dads often on lookout up on top of a bush; mom tending the ‘kids’ that are usually kept between the parents. Mom appears to do most of the teaching, while dad is responsible for security…a real team. They’re fascinating to watch, and great entertainment!"

An interesting fact about Quail chicks is that they are hatched in an advanced state and able to feed themselves and move independently almost immediately. It’s called precocial.

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

For the first day of August, foggy in places, sunny here in Anchor Bay, and breezy. Temps in the 70's.

 

 

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I love watching Ospreys fish, with their talons ready to grab one.  But in this case an ocean wave tossed this fish onto the sand and all the Osprey had to do was pick it up!

Ron wrote, "When the wave receded this fish must have offered itself to the Osprey. This was photographed on the bluff opposite Gualala Point Island."

Gualala Point Island is off the north end of The Sea Ranch. You can view it by the public access trail that begins at the southwest corner of Gualala Point Regional Park. There are lots of nesting seabirds on the island!

Thanks to Ron for a great photo and for allowing me to share it with you here.

Big fog bank over the ocean, and foggy in places. Sunny by mid-morning in Anchor Bay, temps in the mid 70's. Bonus sighting - two adult Gray Whales were seen yesterday in the approximate area the Blue Whale was seen the day before.