Sara Bogard spotted this River Otter in the Pacific Ocean off the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.
Yes, North American River Otters swim in the ocean, in rivers and creeks, and can walk on land. Here's a photo of of River Otter tracks taken by Catherine Miller - five toes!
And a favorite photo taken by Rich Kuehn of a River Otter eating octopus.
Thanks to Sara, Catherine and Rich for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Every winter, beginning around Christmas, Rick and I look for Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii, also called Fetid Adder's Tongue. This year we found our first one mid-January.
They can be very hard to spot, as they are quite tiny. They are members of the Lily family and the two leaves you can see just peeking up through the forest duff, will grow in the weeks ahead to be quite large. These leaves are oblong and mottled and if you see them later in the year, then next winter look for the tiny orchid-like bloom in the same spot.
Amy Ruegg found the first blooming Douglas Iris, Iris douglasiana.
Now that does seem early! I am looking for Milkmaids, Cardamine californica. The first leaf has appeared in spots but no sign of the flower stalk yet.
Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Another dose of rain overnight, along with a few showers today. Coastal streams are full, creating beautiful waterfalls when they spill over bluffs. The weather forecast calls for sunny, warm days. Pretending to be spring?
Sara Bogard was at the bluffs of the Point Arena Lighthouse and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands counting Harbor Seals, as she usually does once a week. Citizen science at it's best! She saw this American Kestrel.
These Kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America. They are fierce hunters, though, of insects and small prey. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says their numbers are declining and you can help them by putting up a nesting box. You can learn about how to do so at this link: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/?__hstc=75100365.3ba4c962035e2b46bef5a13526048f2b.1532470093277.1578698034623.1579993283940.72&__hssc=75100365.2.1579993283940&__hsfp=942012614#_ga=2.46727719.1805588219.1579993283-500012005.1532470093
American Kestrels have a distinctive call that can help you identify them. You can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/sounds
Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Bonus sighting - a pod of Orcas, Killer Whales, was seen off our coast yesterday!
As I type this at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, it has begun to pour!
The Christmas Bird Count takes place in January here on the Mendonoma coast. During the event, a Red-tailed Hawk nest was seen at The Sea Ranch. The call went out to wildlife photographer Craig Tooley to come and photograph it. Craig got one of the Red-tails perched on the side of the nest as the other flew away. The hawks were working on reinforcing the nest. They use the same nests for some years.
Eric Zetterholm recently photographed a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, the larger female and the smaller male, near the Gualala River.
We don't know if the nest Craig photographed is their nest.
John Wall also photographed a Red-tailed Hawk, perched on a Sea Ranch road sign. John said there was a new traffic cop in town!
Thanks to Craig, Eric and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's wildlife photograph, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com
A big Buck visited the property of Richard and Barbara Dong. Richard wrote, “We spotted this Buck in our yard enjoying a meal. He decided to take a nap after his breakfast.”
It’s interesting to see that the Buck still has his antlers. It’s about time for Bucks to shed their antlers, which they do every year in January or early February. The Dongs might be lucky to find an antler or a pair of antlers left behind by this sleepy Buck.
Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Looks like we have a string of clear weather days. With warmer temps, the mushrooms will be popping! The first candy caps are up.