Sightings

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After listening to the news early Monday morning, my heart was heavy. I went over to the spotting scope that is trained on an Osprey nest. I was so happy to see the mated pair of Ospreys had returned. Since Monday, they have been diligently rebuilding the reinforcing the nest. Today, while taking a walk on our property, the sounds of Osprey calls filled the air. There were four Ospreys wheeling in the air, a delightful way to start the first day of Spring.

Yes, these photos are not as good as I usually post, right? Because I took them! Here's a close-up of an Osprey, taken by photographer Paul Brewer in a previous year.

I find comfort that the Ospreys have returned to the Mendonoma Coast where they find tall trees for their nests, and abundant fish to feed themselves and their future chicks. Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

To hear the whistling calls of Ospreys, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds

You can see from my two photos that today is sunny. It's also warmer, 62 degrees this afternoon.

Spring doesn't know...

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The beauty of nature will help us get through this time. Here is a photo of the Gualala River, the sandbar currently blocking the river mouth, and the Pacific Ocean. The clouds are reflected in the river in this photo taken by Shari Goforth-Eby.

From a friend in Europe. Translated from Italian:
It was March 2020...
The streets were empty, stores were closed, people couldn't go out anymore.
But spring didn't know, and the flowers began to bloom, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, swallows would soon arrive, the sky was blue, morning was coming early.
It was March 2020...
Young people had to study online, and work from home, people couldn't shop anymore, or go to the hairdresser. Soon there would be no room in hospitals, and people continued to get sick.
But spring didn't know, it was time to go to the garden, the grass was growing.
It was March 2020...
People were put on lock down to protect grandparents, families and children. No more reunions or eating out or family parties. Fear had become real and the days all looked alike.
But spring didn't know. Apple trees, cherry trees and others grew; the leaves grew.
People started reading, playing with family, learning a language, singing on the balcony and inviting neighbors to do the same; they learned a new language, became supportive and focused on other values.
People realized the importance of health and of the suffering, of this world that had stopped, of the economy that fell down.
But spring didn't know. The flowers left their place for fruits, the birds made their nests, swallows arrived.
Then release day came, people saw it on TV, the virus had lost, people went down the street, sang, crying, kissing their neighbors, without masks or gloves.
And that's when summer came, because spring didn't know. She continued to be there despite everything, despite the virus, fear and death. Because spring didn't know, she taught people the power of life.
Everything will be alright, stay home, protect yourself, and you will enjoy life.
Thanks to Drew Fagan for sending me this moving essay and thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Mendocino County was put on lock down, shelter in place, today. Tomorrow is the first day of spring. We will get through this.

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Michael Reinhart was photographing Pacific Wrens last week. I often hear them but rarely see these tiny birds. Mike's first photo here made me laugh - the male has his mouth open wide, like an opera singer!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes their songs thusly: "Their song is a sweet series of tumbling, trilling notes with a staccato quality. Pacific Wrens have a large catalog of complex songs. Males sing for 5 to 10 seconds, stringing together as many as 50 different phrases." You can listen to their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

In these days when we are filled with worry, it's good to remember that life goes on, and that male Pacific Wrens are singing for mates.

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

We are having a "wait five minutes" type of day. Sometimes brilliant sunshine, sometimes a little rain, with dramatic clouds drifting in. It's quite lovely.

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Gray Whales are one of the oldest species of mammals. They have been swimming in the Earth's oceans for nearly 30 million years, according to Science Daily. To contemplate their awesome twice-yearly migration is to fill you with wonder. Scott and Tree Mercer watch for whales and other marine sightings on the bluffs near the Point Arena Lighthouse. This past week they have counted 133 northbound Gray Whales.

Paul Brewer has a front row seat to view the ocean. Over the years he has photographed Gray Whales. Here is one spouting, where the whale is exhaling.

The Mercers have seen their first  mother/calf pair, which is very early this year. Another pair was seen by Diane Hichwa off of Bodega Bay. Calves seem to enjoy breaching, as Paul captured. The baby whale is beside his/her mother.

Calves have stubby heads as Paul's photo shows.

And here's a look at two Gray Whale tails, perhaps mother/calf.

And here's an x-rated sighting of a male's member, which is nicknamed the Pink Floyd.

Males on the northbound migration can have mating on their minds, but the females aren't interested. We have seen this action several times in the past week off the Mendonoma Coast.

I hope you will take comfort in these trying days that the Gray Whale migration continues as it has for millennia. I wish for all of us the best of health.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his wonderful photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here  is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Meet Sunny, the rescue Golden Retriever who came all the way from Taiwan to the Mendonoma coast. He is thrilled to learn all about nature. The books are Sunny Loves Spring on the California Coast and Sunny Loves Summer on the California Coast. They are 44 pages each and have coloring pages in the back. Here are a couple of pages from Spring.

And these from Summer.

Sunny has his own Golden Rules!

There are coloring pages in the back. And a page for your own nature sightings.

I would be happy to scan the coloring pages and email them to anyone who could use something fun to do during this difficult time. Email me at mendonomasightings@gmail.com

Also, on Sunny's website there are links to fun and creative nature sites - www.sunnylovesnature.com. You can purchase my books on this website or at various retail outlets on the coast, including the Four-eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala. https://www.foureyedfrog.com/