Sightings

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It would seem very late for a nest, but American Goldfinches do nest later than most birds. And this bird could be contemplating a second clutch. In any case, Craig Tooley watched this goldfinch working on her nest.

It's just a glimpse, for sure, but a sweet photo to see. Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share it with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Foggy at the beaches, sunny just a bit inland, mild weather with gentle breezes - nice!

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Karen Wilkinson had spotted a Killdeer nest in July. The mother bird had laid her eggs in the gravel and rocks alongside the Gualala River. When Karen checked recently, she saw three Killdeer chicks.

Here's a photo of one of the parents.

These beautiful birds are plovers. They are quite graceful, I think!

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

It's kind of a strange weather day. The fog seems to be battling with the sun. Round 1 went to the fog, round 2 to the sun, and on it goes.

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There is a nest at Gualala Point Regional Park with several newly-hatched White-crowned Sparrows. Craig Tooley didn't want to disturb the nest, but he did find one of the parents bringing an insect back to the nest.

Park ranger Roberta Chan cordoned off the area where the nest is. The chicks should fledge soon but in the meantime, don't disturb the little ones in their nest! Karen Wilkinson took the photo of the nest area.

Thanks to Craig and Karen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's a sunny, warm, breezy day here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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Jackie Sones was out very early a few days ago and was rewarded with a sighting of this Barn Owl, Tyto Alba. Doesn't it look like this owl is scattered with diamonds?

Jackie then watched the owl fly off into the fog. She wrote: "There was dense fog at the coast, so you could see moisture in the owl's feathers. As the owl flew off into the fog, it looked like an apparition, making us wonder if it had really been there or not."

Thanks to Jackie for allowing me to share her photos with you here. Jackie has a wonderful nature blog that you can find here: https://bodegahead.blogspot.com/

It's warm, breezy, sunny today...but a fog bank is forming up over the Pacific Ocean.

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You might have a chance to see a spectacle at Gualala Point Island this weekend. Common Murres, seabirds, nest on the island. When the chicks are ready to fledge, they have to take a leap of faith off the island and into the water where their fathers wait, calling up to them with encouragement. As of Friday, July 31st, the chicks were still on the island but they could fledge at any time now.

Sara Bogard was at the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs when she saw a Common Murre chick in the water following its father, so this chick fledged earlier than the ones on GPI.

Once the chicks are in the water with dad, the mother birds are free from child rearing, something other bird mothers must be jealous of!

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