Sightings

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Pelagic Cormorants, seabirds, nest on bluff faces on the Mendonoma Coast. Karen Wilkinson photographed a pair at their nest, and when she looked at her photo on her computer, she found two tiny chicks.

You can see an eggshell (or possibly an unhatched egg!) and two chicks that look as if they just hatched! The father Pelagic Cormorant is leaving the nest in Karen's photo. He brings food back to his mate and now for his offspring. It's quite magical to watch these nests. They are very quiet and it's almost mystical to be in the moment and be quiet too.

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

Another hot day, but it feels like it is breaking. Yep, the weather is changing again, maybe even some rain for the weekend.

Spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley has sent his "Pic O JOY" photo and it's a beautiful native wildflower, Inside-out Flower, Vancouveria planipetala. These delicate flowers usually bloom near Redwood trees, so they are flowers of the forest.

This unusual spring-blooming wildflower is a member of the Barberry family. Its scientific name refers to explorer Captain George Vancouver. He explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1790's.

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

oh boy, it's downright HOT today! I'm writing this close to 4 pm and our outside temperature here in Anchor Bay at the 600+ foot level is 92 degrees! Too HOT - I must lodge a complaint!

And spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley photographed this Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly.

Laura Baker ID'd this butterfly, which was originally thought to be a California Sister. I couldn't get the ID to match because the orange on the upper wing of this butterfly goes all the way to the edge.  Laura wrote, "Lourquin's admiral is frequently confused with California sister.  You're right that one of the distinguishing  characteristics is that the California sister's wings are tipped in black beyond the orange spots.  Lorquin's admiral has orange all along the edge of the forewings.  Lorquin's admirals are associated with willows and alders while sisters are usually associated with oaks.  But we have tons of sisters and they seem to love our fruit trees, so go figure!"

Here's a California Sister for comparison. This photo was taken by Wendy Bailey.

Thanks to Laura for the ID, and to Wendy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with  you here. Craig's photo is one of his daily Pic-O-JOY photos. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at his website: www.ruffimage.com

We're having a heat wave! Well, it's over 80 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay. We tend to start melting when it goes over 80.

Spring doesn't know...

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John Wall and his dog, Dash, confirmed that there was no walking on Walk On Beach at The Sea Ranch recently.

Dash doesn't understand why he can't go down and run on his favorite beach. But for now, you can only enjoy this beach from the bluffs. Walk On Beach is one of the public access trails and beaches usually accessible on Sea Ranch. We look forward to the day when it, and others, can be reopened.

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

It's heating up on the Mendonoma coast! I call this tomato weather, as in good weather for growing tomatoes. Today, for the first time, I saw through our spotting scope two scrawny Osprey chicks in their nest. The father Osprey had brought fish back to the nest and the mother Osprey was feeding them. It was a happy sighting for me this morning.

Spring doesn't know...

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I love this native wildflower, Blue Eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum. Craig Tooley recently photographed three of these small flowers.

Blue Eyed Grass is a member of the Iris family. They love sunny meadows.

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 to his website: www.ruffimage.com

Sunny and breezy today. I've heard that a lot of tourists have driven here as the beaches in Mendocino County were opened a few days ago. But there are no bathrooms or other services! And there is no place to stay, as all lodging is still closed. All Sonoma County coastal parks remain closed. It's really too early to visit the Mendonoma Coast. I hope my posts will help a bit while we figure this virus out.

Spring doesn't know...