Sightings

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I'll let Shari tell the story. She wrote, “On Monday [of last week], Scott Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, told me that during his survey he had seen two Gray Whales foraging near the Point Arena Lighthouse, and they were there when he left just 30 minutes before. I drove to the Lighthouse, watched, and saw a blow.  A whale was still there."

“The whale was close enough that, though I had to crop my photos heavily to increase the size, they were sharp enough to see detail, so I texted them to Scott. I was surprised when he texted back that he had sent them to a researcher in Washington, who replied immediately.  The whale is somebody!  It’s CRC-6, first photographed in the Straits of Juan De Fuca in 1986.

“That makes it older than 34 years old [they can live 40-60 years]; it escaped a boat collision, but sustained boat propeller injuries on its left side, and has rope scars on its right side where it escaped entanglement in fishing gear.  It apparently has not migrated, since most Gray Whales should be in Alaskan waters feeding and storing resources for the winter migration to Mexican lagoons.  CRC-6 may be a ‘resident,’ a local Gray Whale, at least for a while.”

Scott later learned this whale is a female. She's been seen with a calf in the past. What stories she could tell us if we only knew her language!

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

The morning fog quickly gave way to a sunny, mild day.

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Several people have sent in photos of CA Quail chicks. One is Craig Tooley.

And Jon Loveless saw a family too. I count 11 balls of feathers. Jon said there were 13 in all.

Here's a close-up of a male by Michael Reinhart. Such beautiful birds...

Thanks to Craig, Jon and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Drippy fog this morning has evolved into brilliant sunshine this afternoon. Summer on the Mendonoma Coast!

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Karen Wilkinson heard a River Otter pup calling for its mother. When Karen carefully scooted over to the bluff edge to take a look, this River Otter looked back up at her.

What do you think this little one is saying to Karen?

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

Another foggy day, though the fog is high this afternoon, and 62 degrees. It's calming!

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Eric Zetterholm noticed a bird sitting on the back of a Black-tailed Deer, a Doe. The bird was identified as a female Cowbird.

This is something you just don't see! A hitchhiking Cowbird...amazing.

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

Foggy yet mild on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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The other day I showed you a photo of a Coast Lily, which bloomed several weeks ago. Today you will see a group of Leopard Lilies blooming inside a hydrangea bush. Pat Maxwell has this beautiful sight in her garden.

Here is a close-up of Leopard Lilies, Lilium pardalinum, taken by Mary Sue Ittner.

For comparison, here is a look at the Coast Lily, previously shared here, and taken by Craig Tooley.

Thanks to Pat, Mary Sue and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Fog hugs the immediate coast but it's sunny when you move just a bit inland.