Sightings

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Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum, are having a wonderful bloom this year. Mary Sue Ittner enjoyed seeing one with a Bumblebee sleeping inside of it.

This particular flower is pale compared to others seen. Here are Coast Lilies as photographed by Beth Roland, blooming on the Gualala Ridge.

And Amy Ruegg photographed these beauties on The Sea Ranch.

They are taller than usual this year, possible due to the ample rains after several years of drought. The wildflowers seem to be celebrating by blooming as big and bountiful as they can.

Thanks to Mary Sue, Beth and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The fog was cool and drippy this morning, as fog is wont to be. But it has pulled back and warm weather has poured in. It should be sunny for the holiday weekend here on the Mendonoma Coast.

 

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Perry Hoffman wrote, “I caught this American Goldfinch eating thistle today at Mill Bend.”

American Goldfinches breed later than most birds, waiting to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which they weave into their nests, and also feed their young.

Fun Fact: American Goldfinches are considered some of the strictest vegetarians in the bird world. They may swallow the occasional insect but it’s apparently inadvertent.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Perry's nature photography, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/

Fog out over the ocean, and perhaps the immediate coast in places, mid-70's and sunny at my place in Anchor Bay.

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Merten's Coralroot, Corallorhiza mertensiana, is a treat to find. It's one of the native orchids and it is leafless. This plant receives its  nutrients from fungi. Craig Tooley recently photographed a clump of these beauties.

They like moist areas with dappled sunlight. Craig's close-up shows the exquisite blossoms.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

The June gloom continues in the mornings, with sun appearing most afternoons. Temps are quite mild.

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Humpback Whales, some with their calves, slowly travel northward this time of year in search of food. A few weeks ago, Shari Goforth-Eby found a young Humpback Whale off Saunders Reef.

Shari wrote, "I saw one Humpback close to the reef - it appears to be a sub-adult foraging on bluff side and south side of the reef. This is the second young Humpback Whale seen in our area exhibiting Gray Whale-type behavior in the shallower waters. Humpbacks and Gray Whales are baleen whales; they strain their food through a network of keratin plates similar to hair. But Gray Whales feed from the bottom and get small shrimp up in the kelp. Humpbacks feed on schools of krill and bait fish. It is unusual for us to see Humpbacks in shallow areas for any reason."

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

Yep, the fog rolled in overnight, giving those of us near the ocean a foggy start to our day. Sunlight began to break through around noon in places on this first full day of Summer!

 

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Somewhere on the Mendonoma Coast, there is a Barn Owl family. Paul Brewer, sworn to secrecy about the location, was invited to photograph the chicks. He shared this photo with Sightings.

Looking closely at Paul’s photo, you can see bits of down, white fluff, on its head and shoulders, but the owlet has a heart-shaped face and its flight feathers can be seen. I think he/she is about seven weeks old. At this age, the owlet will be flapping its wings to get ready to take its first flight soon.

Barn Owls don't hoot - they scream. If you'd like to hear their call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds If you have pets, keep the volume low!

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. When you are in Gualala, stop in at The Dolphin, which is across from Trink's. Many of Paul's nature photographs are on display there.

oh my, it's a lovely day here today. No wind and mild temps. There is a fog bank forming over the ocean, so perhaps this warm weather won't last long.