Sightings

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Michelle Melio recently found this Anna's Hummingbird feeding on Hedge Nettle.

I asked Mary Sue Ittner to take a look at the photo of the native wildflower. She wrote, "It looks like Stachys chamissonis, Chamisso's Hedge Nettle, Coastal Hedge Nettle or Bog Hedge Nettle. I like the last common name as you usually see it growing in very wet spots and in this dry year that would explain why it is still in flower and looking so well when the rigid hedge nettle that is common here is dried up in a lot of places."

Anna's Hummingbirds are year-round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Thanks to Michelle for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

It's warm, 80+ degrees, and unfortunately smoky. And there is no wind to whisk the smoke away, though perhaps by tomorrow the northwesterly winds will return.

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Rich Trissel photographed this Cooper's Hawk adult with two fledglings through a scope. What a treat it is to see this family.

Cooper's Hawks are known for their flying abilities. They hunt smaller birds. They are mostly quiet but they do have a unique cak-cak-cak call which you can hear at this link to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/sounds

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

Foggy until the early afternoon today.

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Janet Pierucci noticed this beautiful sight late one afternoon. She dubbed them Angel Wings.

Larry Riddle surmises these are altocumulus clouds. Or Angel Wings!

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

There is a high fog on the immediate coast. Temps are mild and there is no wind. A whale spout was seen this morning off Gualala in the kelp beds, probably one of the resident Gray Whales.

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Grace O'Malley was watching one Pale Swallowtail feeding on geraniums in a friend's garden. Before she knew it, another one had joined the first...and voila! Pale Swallowtails mating.

Such beautiful butterflies! Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share them with you here.

It's very foggy on the coast today!

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Mary Sue Ittner recently found this wildflower, Clarkia amoena, blooming at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. It's common name is Farewell to Spring as it usually blooms in late spring and early summer. Seems late then, doesn't it?

Mary Sue also photographed Coastal Sneezeweed, Helenium bolander. Its common name really doesn't apply as this member of the Sunflower family is pollinated by bees. It's flowers that are wind-pollinated that can cause allergies. So feel free to sniff this beautiful wildflower!

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

It's sunny and warm, but a strong breeze has picked up this afternoon.