Sightings

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Finding a bird’s nest is a lucky sighting. Paul Brewer wrote, “Brenda and Erik Draaijer located an Acorn woodpecker nest and were kind enough to point it out to me so I could photograph it. The baby sure is cute, and I owe this opportunity to two wonderful friends.”

Male Acorn woodpecker feeds its offspring by Paul Brewer

Sharing a sighting doubles the excitement, and in this case reaps two beautiful photos by Paul of the male Acorn woodpecker feeding its offspring.

Open wide - an Acorn woodpecker chick being fed by Paul BrewerThanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Allan Hogle found this caterpillar feeding on a flowering fennel head. He wondered just what it was.

Anise Swallowtail caterpillar by Allen HogleIt's an Anise Swallowtail caterpillar. Their host plants are dill, parsley...and fennel!  Here is what it will turn into, a Anise Swallowtail butterfly. Such a beautiful butterfly. This photo taken by Drew Fagan,An Anise Swallowtail nectaring on Lavender by Drew FaganI just acquired an excellent booklet for identifying butterflies and caterpillars, titled “Butterflies of Central and Northern California” by Jim Brock. The Four-eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala will be carrying it. http://www.foureyedfrog.com/

Thanks to Allan and Drew for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

 

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Nancy Padgett noticed her cat, Oscar, watching something very intently through the window. This is what Oscar was looking at - two baby Skunks hurrying along.

Two baby Skunks by Nancy PadgettThe two young ones traveled up the road and then disappeared.

Thanks to Nancy for allowing me to share her photo with you today.

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Steve Wilcox was the lucky person who had a pair of Western Bluebirds build a nest in his birdhouse. Here are the parents, with the male on the left.

Western Bluebird male and female by Steve WilcoxHere the father brings a tasty bug to his offspring.

Western Bluebird dad with a bug by Steve WilcoxAnd finally Steve got a photo of the newly fledged chick

Western Bluebird chick by Steve WilcoxWestern Bluebirds are thrushes.  When they aren't breeding they like to travel in flocks, being very social birds! To hear their calls, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/sounds

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

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Mike Nelson trained his camera on the Point Arena Lighthouse as the sun was setting.

The Point Arena Lighthouse as dusk by Mike NelsonAnd then Mike photographed it in the after-glow of the setting sun.

The Point Arena Lighthouse at night by Mike NelsonBeautiful photos of one of the most visited places on the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To learn more about the Lighthouse, here's their website: http://pointarenalighthouse.com/