Sightings

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Craig Tooley recently photographed a juvenile Brown Pelican. They do look rather prehistoric, don't you think?

You can tell the young Brown Pelican from an adult because she has a brown head and white underparts. Adults have white heads and dark underparts. Now you can amaze your friends with that fun fact!

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

It is very warm on the Mendonoma coast today.

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Susan Ruschmeyer and Peggy Berryhill noticed this colorful bird in their garden in Anchor Bay. Susan took the photo.

It's an adult Wilson's Warbler with a bug in its mouth. Perhaps there is a nest of chicks nearby. This warbler has a black "cap" on his head. You can listen to their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/sounds

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

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On a recent bluff walk on The Sea Ranch with Rick and friends, I spotted this blissful Harbor Seal stretched out on the rocks.

I took this photo with my super zoom, but the seal obviously heard us.

Hello, relaxed Harbor Seal! We sure didn't mean to disturb your rest.

Here's a fun fact: A Harbor Seal can dive 300 feet deep, and stay underwater up to 28 minutes!

It's sunny and quite warm today. There was a thin layer of smoke visible above the horizon during last night's sunset. But no discernible smoke from the inland fires today. Nothing but blue skies, at least in Anchor Bay and Gualala today.  ***UPDATE: 5:15 pm. Several hours ago smoke began to flow over the Mendonoma coast. We hope the winds will shift direction but for now it is hot and smoky here.

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Three species of swallows migrate to the Mendonoma coast to nest - Violet-green Swallows, Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows. Mark Simkins had a pair of Barn Swallows build a mud nest outside his home in Manchester this year. The parents are busy feeding their hungry chicks.

Here is a close-up of Barn Swallow chicks taken by Harm Wilkinson. Aren't they cute?

Thanks to Mark and Harm for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's a beautiful day on the coast. The morning fog pulled back and sunshine abounds. We have no smoke from the terrible inland fires. Here's hoping cooler temperatures will allow the firefighters to get the upper hand.

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On the Mendocino Headlands, a white Black Oystercatcher chick was hard to miss. Normally the chicks are camouflaged in gray and black. This little chick is white. Roger Adamson located the chick with one of its parents and got several photos.

The chick isn't albino - note the orange beak and normal-colored eye. The term for this coloring is leucistic.

I am told this white chick has a normal-colored sibling. We hope this cute chick survives and is able to fledge. Then we will be watching as it most likely colors up.

I love their calls, a whistling "wheep." You can hear their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Oystercatcher/sounds

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