Sightings

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Harbor Seal pups are being born at several locations on the Mendonoma Coast. Kate Bloch was on the bluffs overlooking the rookery off The Sea Ranch when she witnessed an actual birth...and she photographed it for us to see.

Here the pup is being born.

And here the mother is looking to see how it's going! Two Western Gulls stand at the ready to eat the afterbirth.

Here the pup is breaking out of the amniotic sac.

And here is the first bonding of mother and newborn. They touch noses.

Below the pup begins to nurse. And then his/her mom leads the way to the ocean for the first swim.

Many thanks to Kate for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

When Harbor Seals are thriving, the ecosystem is doing well. Live long and prosper, little pup!

Foggy this morning but then brilliant sunshine broke out.

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Rozanne Rapozo sent in this photo and asked if I could see the dog. After looking at it for a while, I did indeed see it. Can you? Now I can't un-see it.

Rozanne took this photo of a sea tunnel off The Sea Ranch.

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

brrrr! Foggy and cold, only mid-50s this afternoon. But late this afternoon the fog has pulled back and I can actually see an ocean out there!

I will be on Peggy's Place tomorrow, Thursday April 16, from 9 to 10 taking nature sightings. The radio station, KGUA 88.3, live streams so if you are so inclined, you could listen in. Here's the link: https://www.kgua.org/  Click on "listen live" on the upper left.

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Carol Escajeda had a great flyover by a large blue and gray bird. She wrote, “I was in the backyard when I spotted a large bird flying downhill towards me. I quickly snapped a photo with my iPhone before it landed in a pine tree next to me. It’s my ‘totally lucky Great Blue Heron photo!’”

Lucky us that we get to see it too.

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

It was sunny and warm this morning...and then...and then...the fog appeared as if by magic!

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Ron Bolander wrote, “At Gualala Point Regional Park, on Saturday morning, there seemed to be a little more bird activity.  Between Western Bluebirds, Pygmy Nuthatches and Yellow-rumpled Warblers, there were some better photo opportunities. I was able to get this picture of a ‘Butter Butt’ just as it grabbed this insect, in midair.”

To hear their warbling call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his great photo with you here!

It's a beautiful spring day here today, though breezy. Northwest winds in the spring? They bring UPWELLING in the ocean, which ignites the entire food chain.

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Drew Fagan saw this cloud - an animal howling at the moon!

Drew thinks it looks like a dog. I think it looks like a bear. What do you think?

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

There are a lot of clouds today, with some strong winds. No sign of rain though.