Once again, life is good when you are a Harbor Seal. Just look at this stretch that Sara Bogard photographed recently out on the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs.
This Harbor Seal looks to be leading a stress-free life!
Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Foggy right on the coast but sunny just a little bit away, and very mild temps.
California Red-legged Frogs are a treat to see. Their numbers are down and they are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Chris Pechal, on a biotic survey on The Sea Ranch, photographed one of these frogs in Salal Creek.
It's good to see this frog is thriving at Salal Creek!
Thanks to Chris for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Oh my, the day started off HOT, with the thermometer moving past 90 degrees by 9 am! But the wind picked up early this afternoon and the temp went down to 80, thank goodness. The ocean was flat calm this morning. Here's a photo from our deck taken at dawn this morning. There's the full moon low in the sky. The fog is AWOL!
Connie King wrote, “I thought you might enjoy seeing this shot of pollen-laden bees feasting on a Matijilla Poppy from our yard today. Can you believe those bright yellow thighs!?! Or maybe that’s what the ‘bees knees’ is all about.”
I checked with entomologist Mary Lou Flint. She wrote, “Definitely Honey Bees. Nice shot of their well-filled pollen baskets! It’s amazing how much pollen, and nectar, they can carry in their ‘saddle bags,’ apparently up to 30% of their weight.”
Honey Bees are not native here but they are used to pollinate many crops. As several people on the Mendonoma Coast have hives of these bees, they are often seen in our gardens, feeding on flowers. I am also seeing them at the small waterfall in our courtyard. They are coming for water!
Here is one of our native bees, a Yellow-faced Bumblebee, photographed by Paul Brewer.
Thanks to Connie and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Good news! Several Monarch Butterflies were seen today, one in Timber Cove and another in Gualala. Fingers crossed that we see many more in the days and weeks ahead. Today is a spectacular day of blue skies and warm temps. The fog is AWOL and the air is clear from Saturday's wonderful rain.
Western Sandpipers have migrated into our area and photographer Ron Bolander was there with his camera as a flock of five or perhaps six took wing.
Western Sandpipers are shorebirds that nest way up in the Arctic. Some of them will overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast. Fun Fact: females are generally bigger than the males and they have longer beaks.
If you'd like to listen to their calls, you can do so at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Sandpiper/sounds
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
oh my, we are so thankful an early storm from the north arrived yesterday, Saturday. Our rain gauge showed a little over 1.5 inches of the blessed wet stuff.
Storms to our north or south may very well bring clouds to the Mendonoma Coast this time of year. And when they do, a beautiful sunset might be seen. Paul Brewer recently photographed this sunset, which is reflected in the Pacific Ocean. Three Western Gulls fly over the kelp beds. Yes, the kelp forests have recovered and are back, for which we are thankful.
Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
It's been cool and foggy all day. And we have a chance of some wet stuff - RAIN! - tomorrow, Saturday.