Sightings

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Nancy Feehan was the first to spot a very early Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, in late January. It was close to Fort Ross School. Recently Julia Larke found her first one in bloom. You can see the single leaf on the forest duff.

Then Peter Baye found a group in the Annapolis area.

These orchids are quite tiny so don't let these photos fool you! Theses flowers are also called Fairy Slippers.

Thanks to Peter and Julia for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today, Saturday, was magnificent on the coast. No wind so the ocean was calm, and Gray Whale spouts were seen. Temps in the low 70's - we know it won't last but for now, we are enjoying the sun and the warmth.

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Michael Reinhart saw this Great Blue Heron strutting along the bluff recently.

This looks like a Heron with an attitude!

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

The rains are gone for now, though we had a lot of cloud cover. Temps were in the low 60s. This weekend could be stellar!

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Bonny Dunn is a licensed drone pilot. After last week's storm, she took these two photos from the Fish Rock area, just north of Anchor Bay.

Aren't they beautiful? I love the perspective these photos display. Another of Bonny's photos will be in tomorrow's Independent Coast Observer. What? You don't have a membership, which gives you the print and the online edition? You can donate here: https://mendonoma.com/memberpay.html

Thanks to Bonny for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see much more of Bonny's photography, here is the link to her website: https://bonnydunn.com/

We had downpours this morning interspersed with rainbows. This afternoon we have sun mixed with beautiful clouds. What a storm! 4.62 inches, 43.92 season to date at Rick's and my place.

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Yesterday we had the first storm, which brought 1.94 inches of rain. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the color in the sky. I don't believe I've seen the sky look quite like this before.

The colors intensified for a minute as the sun began to sink below the horizon. I saw a green flash for a second or two. I caught a hint of it in the photo below.

At 4 pm on Sunday, we've had a little over 0.90 inches and it's still raining. My season to date roared past 41 inches yesterday. 50 inches is a "normal" wet winter at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Hooray!

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Sara Bogard saw this rare visitor to our coast off the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula. It's a Harlequin Duck.

When talking to each other, Harlequin Ducks make un-duck-like squeaks, which gives them another common name, Sea Mouse.

A week or so earlier, in the same area, Sara had watched while two Common Ravens attempted to chase off a Red-tailed Hawk.

Can't we all just get along?

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

Saturday's storm was suppose to be the smaller of the storms but it's really pouring here. 1.60 inches so far. Yikes!