Sightings

•

This year there are two nests in southern Mendocino county that I know of. Each has three white puffballs, chicks, in the nests. Michael Beattie watches one of the nests with his long lens. Here the mother has fed her chicks and is flying away to hunt for her family.

It will be fun to watch the chicks mature. That opening in the rocks looks to be a safe place for the Peregrines.

Fun Fact: A Peregrine can reach speeds of up to 200 mph when diving down on its prey, which are medium-sized birds. To hear the "kak, kak, kak" call of a Peregrine, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/sounds

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

The heavy, wet fog of this morning has lifted, bringing us sunshine this afternoon.

• 2 Comments

•

The B Bryan Preserve in Point Arena is a private preserve dedicated to the breeding and preservation of African hoof Stock, which includes several species of antelopes, zebras and giraffes. Today I'm happy to show you Teeny, a young Greater Kudu Antelope.

Judy Mello, co-owner of the B Bryan Preserve, wrote, “This is a young Greater Kudu named Teeny. He is small for his age because he was sick. He has been isolated while he gets better. Mary Little, grandmother of our Keeper Genna Little, painted this cute picture of him and they hung it over his barn.”

It’s like seeing double, Teeny under his painting. To learn more about this fabulous Preserve, here is a link to their website: https://www.bbryanpreserve.com/

You can book a tour and even stay in a cute cabin on the preserve, something I'd like to do sometime soon! Thanks to Judy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Fog is hugging the coastline today, but brilliant sunshine a bit away from the coast. Happy first day of June!

• 2 Comments

•

During the May rainstorms, Charles Zinser photographed this very wet Red-tailed Hawk.

This hawk has since had time to dry out, along with the rest of us!

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

There's a pretty big fog bank over the ocean but it's sunny in most places on the Mendonoma coast today.

•

Here's a photo Mary Sue Ittner took of Lupine, Goldfields, Lasthenia californica, and Johnny Tuck, Triphysaria eriantha, all native wildflowers.

Peter Baye found Hoffman's Jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus.

And Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia sparsiflora,

Many, many more species are blooming now, a feast for the eyes.

Thanks to Mary Sue and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Beautiful sunny, breezy, warm weather today!

•

Gail Jackson noticed this beautiful hawk perched on top of a tree, perfectly posing for her.

Red-shouldered Hawks are found where there are tall trees and water - in other words, the Mendonoma coast! To hear their "kee-ah" calls, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

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