Sightings

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Ospreys arrive on the Mendonoma Coast around the first day of spring. This year they arrived early and they quickly got to work on their nests. Rick Denniston noticed this Osprey perched on a snag, and he also photographed Western Gulls below on the sandbar and in the Gualala River.

Ospreys make nests of sticks at the top of tall trees. Females are sitting on nests now, and perhaps there are chicks inside. Until the chicks' heads can be seen above the edge of the nests, we just don't know for sure what's going on!

I have some dramatic photos of an Osprey fishing taken by Gaily Jackson, which I will be sharing here soon.

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

We are having a beautiful day here today, sunny, warm and a slight breeze. Lots of visitors are arriving for the Memorial Day long weekend.

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The Mendocino Headlands were alive with wildflowers when Peggy Berryhill took this photo.

The cloud show is nice too! To learn more about the Mendocino Headlands State Park where there are lots of great hiking trails, here is the link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=442

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

Sunny and breezy - typical spring day on the Mendonoma Coast!

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Craig Tooley recently photographed an Inside-out Flower, a member of the Barberry Family.

 

I see there is an insect on the exquisite tiny flower! I was recently shown the foliage of this flower, and I took this photo. They are found in Redwood forests and their Scientific name is Vancouveria planipetala.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link: http://www.ruffimage.com

This morning was so lovely, though there was a fog bank over the Pacific Ocean. The spring wind kicked up this afternoon, and high clouds are streaming by.

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Phil Lewenthal wrote, "This is a long exposure photo of a Harbor Seal basking on the rocks at Sea Ranch that I came across on a walk along the bluff.”

I love this photo - it could be a painting.

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

It's a lovely, breezy day on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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Paul and Monique Cooper were the first to spot this Bald Eagle who is missing his or her left eye. The eagle visited their area in Irish Beach for several days.

I sent Paul's photo to several experienced birders, asking if they had seen this bird before. No one had. In my Mendonoma Sightings column I asked people to be on the lookout for this Bald Eagle and see if they could get a closer photo. Eric Zetterholm came through, as he often does.

I was told this Bald Eagle has two indentations in the back of his or her head. I would guess that this eagle was attacked, perhaps by a Great Horned Owl. Using up one of his or her lives, this Bald Eagle has completely healed and was seen by Eric eating a fish. Hooray!

Thanks to Paul and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Wind and more wind is the story today. This is suppose to be the last day of the strong wind. May it be so!