Sightings

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I think Gray Fox kits are some of the cutest youngsters on the Mendonoma Coast. Sara Bogard recently photographed these two kits piled on top of each other.

I love Gray Fox kits so much that I chose one for the cover of my book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. It was taken by Craig Tooley, the excellent photographer who's work is featured in this book.

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

Same forecast as yesterday, fog on the immediate coast, sunny a little ways away. Just lovely weather!

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Monday evening Mike Petrich saw a blow, the exhalation of a whale, out on the Pacific Ocean. He had his camera and captured this series of a Humpback Whale breaching, just magnificent!

Scott Mercer was told by a fisherman that anchovies are off the Mendonoma Coast in vast numbers. That fact is going to bring more whales and other marine mammals to our area. Get your binoculars out!

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

Fog on the immediate coast, sunny away from the coast - hey, it must be summer!

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There is a nest of Purple Martin chicks near the Gualala River. Craig Tooley watched as one of the parents caught an insect to bring to the hungry chicks. I just took a closer look at Craig's photo, and I believe the Purple Martin has a dragonfly in its beak!

Late in June Mike Petrich photographed a fledgling Purple Martin being fed.Purple Martins here on the West Coast usually nest in woodpecker holes. They are the largest swallows. You can hear their chirpy calls at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Martin/sounds I read there that the male sings his loudest song at dawn.

Thanks to Craig and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Lots of cool, moist fog for our Sunday morning, though it is pulling back this afternoon, with wind-free sunshine.

 

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I love the liquid sound of California Quail calls, and I've been hearing them at our place in Anchor Bay. John Batchelder photographed several chicks recently.

Bob Marton spotted what looks like two coveys of Quail chicks - 24 in all! That's a lotta chicks.

Thanks to John and Bob for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To hear the calls of these beautiful birds, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Quail/sounds

Today, Friday, is sunny with a hint of coolness in the air - quite nice!

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These treefrogs are quite small but the bright green color should give this one away. The Sierran Treefrog enjoys hiding under a decorative mushroom in Carolyn Andre's flowerpot.

Charles Mills went to clean out his hot tub and found one of these frogs inside. But this Sierran Treefrog had changed colors to match the color of the hot tub cover.

This beige-for-now treefrog had to find a new home! I imagine he/she will begin transforming into its green color.

Thanks to Carolyn and Charles for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today, Tuesday, there is thick fog over the Pacific Ocean. But if you get away from the immediate coast, it's toasty warm and the wind picked up this afternoon.