Sightings

•

Anchor Bay Village is often host to swallow nests. This year Karen Scott, owner of Banana Belt Realty, watched as a pair patiently built a nest, mud pellet by mud pellet. Three chicks were hatched. Karen dubbed this photo "Feed me Trio,"as a parent arrived with a tasty bug.

feed-me-trio-barn-swallows-by-karen-scottTwo days after Karen took this photo, the chicks fledged. One flew to the windshield wipers of a car. Successful flight! The young swallow looks rather proud of itself.

first-flight-a-barn-swallow-fledges-by-karen-scottThese swallows will be leaving soon, if they haven't already. They fly many miles to our south to overwinter.

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

•

Jackie Gardener knows how to appreciate the beauty of the Mendonoma Coast.

friday-night-at-the-beach-by-jackie-gardenerLast Friday night she headed to the beach and was prepared to watch the sunset in style. This Friday begins with fog, but we hope it will clear later this afternoon. Perhaps you will be watching the sunset in style too!

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

•

A trip to the town of Mendocino is always fun. The shopping and the restaurants are fine indeed. But don't miss a hike on the Mendocino Headlands, a State Park, as they are spectacular! Ron LeValley captured some of the scene.

mendocino-headlands-by-ron-levalley mendocino-headlands-by-ron-levalleyTo learn more about Mendocino Headlands State Park, here is the link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=442

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

•

I'll let Diane Hichwa tell the story:

"We rescued and released an injured owl. This small Northern Pygmy-Owl flew into a window.” Diane, experienced in bird rescue, went to the site where the little owl was standing, stunned. “I put the owl on a heating pad overnight for observation and could hear him clacking his beak at me – a good sign.

Northern Pygmy-Owl by Diane Hichwa

“After grabbing my finger a few times the next morning, I felt the little guy was good to go! He flew off strongly into the shrubby vegetation he calls home. He left a nice little owl pellet in the box. Pygmy-owls weigh about four ounces, and are four inches tall, but they are fierce hunters of birds!”

A happy ending! Thanks to Diane for allowing me to share her photo with you here. Diane is trained in bird rescue. Would you like to take the training? Here's the link to the Bird Rescue Center of Santa Rosa: https://www.birdrescuecenter.org/

•

Fringed Corn Lilies are extra special because they are found in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and no where else in the world. Roberta Chan found this one blooming by Gualala Point Regional Campground, in the Gualala River floodplain.

Fringed Corn Lily by Roberta Chan Fringed Corn Lilies by Roberta ChanIn the spring, the huge leaves of this lily come up. They are so beautiful to behold. The blooms come months after the leaves appear. This photo was taken by Frank Drouillard near the end of the month of February.

Fringed Corn Lily leaves by Frank Drouillard (Large)Fringed Corn Lilies thrive in wetlands, and they are to be cherished.

Thanks to Roberta and Frank for allowing me to share their photos with you here.