Banana slugs often eat mushrooms in the forest. Bill Clark photographed one in the act.
All sizes of Banana slugs are appearing now in the forest. We have to be careful where we step because we really, really, really do not want to step on one.
Thanks to Bill for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Gray Foxes are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. John Batchelder recently photographed one showing off its beautiful long tail.
Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
The vanguard of the mother/calf Gray Whale migration has arrived. Pairs have been spotted every day this week. Paul Brewer photographed a calf breaching. There are three photos in this sequence.
Robert Scarola noticed a mother/calf pair very close to shore and got this photo of one saying "hello".
It is heartwarming to see these CA Gray Whales passing by. Look for a big spout closely followed by a smaller one. It is sure to make you smile.
Thanks to Robert and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
This happened last year too. Ferne Fedeli watched as a Common Raven hopped on the back of her donkey, Jack, and sheared off hair for its nest. Jack doesn't seem to mind this at all.
Perhaps it feels good, like being groomed!
Thanks to Ferne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Ann Beckett had a fun sighting. She wrote, “Jerry and I came across this [bug] outside the Mendocino Market in Mendocino Friday. He’s huge: 2 ½ inches plus long. He flies like a berserk helicopter, a herky, jerky flurry of yellow wings taking him a few feet. We thought it might be a beetle, cicada or even a roach, but it’s a Giant Water Bug.”
Giant Water Bugs are members of the order Hemiptera, true bugs, and they are the largest true bug in the US. They usually are found in water. Ann points out there is a pond at the Kelley House, which is likely its home. There are many fascinating facts about this big bug. One of them is it has breathing tubes at the end of its abdomen that act as snorkels.
Ann writes further, “It could have been a model for a Star Wars creature or an inspiration for the design of an armored military vehicle.”
Thanks to Ann for allowing me to share her photo with you here.