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Black Phoebes are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Craig Tooley recently photographed one perched on a branch.

I had one perch on the railing of our deck recently, giving its distinctive chirp. You can listen to its calls here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Phoebe/sounds

Black Phoebes are flycatchers, so you shouldn't be surprised that they eat insects that they catch in the air. Here's a fun fact from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website:

"The male Black Phoebe gives the female a tour of potential nest sites, hovering in front of each likely spot for 5 to 10 seconds. But it’s the female who makes the final decision and does all the nest construction."

Of course it's the female who makes the final decision!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, including his Pics O Joy during the pandemic, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Another sparkling, spectacular day today. Cold, windy and even wet weather is predicted beginning Friday. Bring it on, Mother Nature!

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Sara Bogard noticed this Great Blue Heron posing at the Point Arena Lighthouse. They are such beautiful birds!

One of my all-time favorite photos of a Great Blue Heron was taken by Paul Brewer. Paul photographed the heron as he/she was taking flight.

Another favorite photo is by Gordon Stitt - a Great Blue Heron and the Point Arena Lighthouse, along with crashing waves.

Thanks to Sara, Paul and Gordon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The Pacific Ocean has been crashing today, perhaps telling us of changes ahead. For now, the weather has been spectacular.

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Peter Baye was tide pooling recently when he saw this Opalescent Nudibranch.

Nudibranchs are mollusks in the class Gastropoda, which includes snails, slugs, limpets, and sea hairs. Their common name is Sea Slugs, which doesn't do justice to their beauty. John Thompson photographed a Clown Dorid Nudibranch some time ago.

And Loren Adrian photographed a Hopkin's Rose Nudibranch. This particular nudibranch was previously found to our south, but over the past several years, we've had sightings of a few off our coast.

Just a small sample of the beautiful life that lives in the ocean.

Thanks to Peter, John and Loren for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Sunny, mild weather, though I see the fog low on the ocean. The full moon setting early this morning was quite wonderful to see. Happy Halloween!

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I didn't get a photo of it, but there was a emerald green flash at sunset last night, and it was particularly meaningful to me. I thought I'd share several photos of the green flash sent in to me over the years.

Jim Grant captured a double green flash, an amazing photo. Green flashes are photographable mirages.

This one was taken by Allen Vinson. Allen almost specializes in green flashes.

Here's Allen with a green flash cocktail. Nice!

Thanks to Jim and Allen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Sunny, mild, clear weather today.

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It's peaceful  to see this Doe and her offspring drinking in the Gualala River. Gaily Jackson recently photographed this charming sight. I love how their reflection shows in the tranquil river.

Thanks to Gaily for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see much more of Gaily's nature photography, here is her website: http://gailyimages.com/

Cold and foggy today!