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!
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.
Jim Garlock noticed the two juvenile Bald Eagles in a tree their parents like to perch on. These are the two eagles that were hatched this year somewhere in the Gualala River watershed. Jim also photographed one of the parents high in the tree.
Welcome, Bald Eagles!
Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Lots of cool, thick fog hugging the coast, with sunny skies a little ways inland.
Thane Frivold put up a nectar feeder at his Sea Ranch home, expecting to see hummingbirds. Well, he did get lots of Anna's hummingbirds visiting the feeder, but he also had several Acorn Woodpeckers visit too!
This female Acorn Woodpecker is using her long tongue to get a sweet treat!
Here's a video showing some of the action.
Anna's Hummingbirds and Acorn Woodpeckers at feeder by Than Frivold
Thanks to Thane for allowing me to share his photos and video with you here.
Foggy this morning with brilliant sunshine in the afternoon. Mild temps, which is nice!
Eric Zetterholm saw this young Gray Whale very close in. He went to the Gualala Bluff Trail to photograph it. A couple was on the beach with a dog and they had quite a wonderful show! First Eric photographs the whale spyhopping. Look how close this whale is to the sandbar of the Gualala River!
Here's the whale surfaces while a [lucky] person with their dog watches.
And here's a photo of the Gray Whale's tail.
What a wonderful experience for the people on the beach...and for Eric! Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here. Another great photo, of a man watching while this whale spyhops, will be in tomorrow's Independent Coast Observer.