Sightings

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This time of year you are more likely to see a beautiful Cooper's Hawk. Craig Tooley recently spotted a young one, a juvenile, flying over The Sea Ranch, and Craig always has his camera at the ready!

Cooper's Hawks are amazing fliers. They prey on medium-sized birds, so sometimes one will perch near a bird feeder. If that happens to you, take the bird feeder down for a day or two. The male Cooper's Hawk is smaller than the female, which can work to his disadvantage if he resembles a medium-sized bird!

Their call is a "cak-cak-cak" which you can listen to at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/sounds

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

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Susan Sandoval noticed the surf line at Jenner had formed a heart.

Did you know a Gray Whale's spout is heart-shaped? Carol Bogovich photographed one.

I photographed a heart sunset once.

And Kate Gelles photographed a heart-shaped cave.

Lastly, heart-shaped rocks, beautifully painted by Jann Littleton.

Are you feeling the love?

Thanks to Susan, Carol, Kate and Jann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

 

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It's hard not to watch in wonder as you see a Buck with a big set of antlers. Even John Walls' dog, Dash, was impressed. That's one healthy-looking Buck!

This is the time of year for the rut, the mating season of the Deer here on the coast. As the Does aren't always receptive, there is a lot of chasing involved. It can be a dangerous time to drive, so keep watch.

Here is a photo former coast resident, Sharon Albert, took several years ago of a five-point Buck. Here in the West we just count the prongs on one antler.

Thanks to John and Sharon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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The weather has turned warm and calm, a good prescription for seeing butterflies. In this case, Craig Tooley photographed the king of butterflies, a Monarch.

I reported Craig's sighting to Journey North, a citizen science website where they track the migrations of various animals, including Monarchs. You can participate at this link: https://journeynorth.org/monarchs

To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Paul and Jackie Brewer have a front row seat to watch for whales from their Gualala home. Last week a pod of Humpback Whales was seen feeding. Here you can see the spouts of three Humpbacks.

And here is the tail of a Humpback Whale.

In this next photo you can see another tail photo but there's a line of what Paul thought might be fish. Upon closer examination, whale expert Scott Mercer determined they were "many, many California Sea Lions." There must have been a LOT of forage fish in the ocean.

More whales were seen yesterday, including two spouts seen by me as Rick and I drove home from Santa Rosa. The spouts were seen south of Fort Ross. It never gets old see a whale...never.

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