Sightings

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Ken Bailey spotted this young, pre-adult, Gray Whale feeding off the Mendonoma Coast. It has quite a load of barnacles on its head.

Pre-adult Gray Whale with a load of barnacles by Ken Bailey A Pre-adult Gray Whale spouts by Ken Bailey The barnacled head of a pre-adult Gray Whale by Ken Bailey

Whale expert Scott Mercer took a look at these photos. He said the size of the whale's head tells him it is around three years old.

It's great to see this young whale. Gray whales don't become mature - sexually active - until they are at least eight years old.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ken's wildlife photography, in particular his underwater photography, here is a link to his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

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I love seeing butterflies dipping and darting through my garden. Swallowtails are here, and Monarchs are just beginning their autumn migration. Drew Fagan photographed an Anise Swallowtail and a Monarch on his lavender patch.

Anise Swallowtail and a Monarch Butterfly by Drew Fagan An Anise Swallowtail nectaring on Lavender by Drew Fagan

I can almost smell the wonderful lavender.

Thanks to Drew for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see Drew's artwork, here is the link to his website: www.drewfagan.com

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Peter Baye noticed this yellow Crab Spider on a King's Gentian, Gentiana Sceptrum.

Crab spider on Gentiana sceptrum by Peter Baye

Crab Spiders can change their color to match their hiding place, at least from yellow to white. But they can't match the vivid blue of the Gentian!

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

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Richard Kuehn recently photographed several species of shorebirds, including Whimbrels. This particular Whimbrel reminded Rich of "King of the Mountain."

King of the Mountain, a Whimbrel by Richard Kuehn

Whimbrels are large sandpipers and they eat insects. You can see the bill is curved downward. They nest far to our north in the Tundra.

To hear their twittering call, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whimbrel/sounds

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

 

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We share the coast with Black-tailed Deer. They love to eat pretty much anything that grows, even when it is "suppose" to be deer resistant. Betty Bailey found this lovely Doe with a mouthful of her agapanthus.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

 

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