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Last month Jerry Rudy photographed this Village Weaver in Timber Cove. His daughter, Susan Rudy, wrote, "For the second year in a row we’ve had a beautiful male, non-native bird - Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver at Stillwater Cove - foraging around our buildings. This species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa."

"Last year it appeared alone, and seemed to be feeding on spiders on windows.  This year, it came through with a flock of mixed blackbirds: Red-Wing and Brewer's.   It appeared to be moving north with the group.  It is a brilliant yellow bird, with a black cowl and a bright red eye.  It is not particularly wary of people, so I assume it’s an escapee from someone’s aviary.  Keep an eye out."

I did not receive another sighting of this bird, but perhaps you will see him!

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

We got a little rain today, Saturday, not much, but rain is always welcome. It's quite balmy and still.

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A beautiful hummingbird was seen on October 2 and 3 at The Sea Ranch. John Batchelder’s daughter, Marianne, was the first to see it and identify it.

BBIH @TSR 100220

Diane Hichwa wrote, “There is a rare bird staying for a few days at Sea Ranch - a Broad-billed Hummingbird. It has been seen on two other occasions in Sonoma County.  It SHOULD be in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico, but not here. But it is.”

Several other photographers got wonderful photos of the colorful hummer, including Craig Tooley.  Craig wrote, “It is spectacular. Also, it makes a very different sound than our local Hummers.” Here is a link to hear their calls, which are quite different! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-billed_Hummingbird/sounds

Karen Wilkinson also photographed the beautiful hummingbird.

Why this little bird was so far from its normal territory is a puzzle, but we know how to appreciate beauty when we see it. Welcome to the Mendonoma Coast, little hummer!

Thanks to John, Craig and Karen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a oh-so-lovely autumn day today. Perhaps a little rain tomorrow, please rain gods and goddesses!

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Sara Bogard photographed a very contented-looking juvenile Harbor Seal with his/her mother looking on.

Life is good when you can relax on a rocky shelf in the ocean with your mother keeping you safe!

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

We are  having a lovely autumn day, with fog on the immediate coast but sunshine just a little bit away. We are hoping for some rain over the weekend - that would be a wonderful gift.

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Judy Pfeifer has been seeing whales, including one made of foliage and wearing a large white mask. She wrote, “A Whale practicing social distancing and masking up against the Covid 19 virus was spotted hanging out in the garden of Shannon Wilson in Gualala.”

Mark Crawford photographed a statue wearing a mask at Stewarts Point on a terribly smoky day recently. I asked Arch Richardson if the statue was Bigfoot. He wrote, “Yep, that's Stewarts Point version of Bigfoot.  He looks pretty good with the mask and the flag.”

So, even foliage whales and Bigfoot are wearing a mask these days! Thanks to Judy and Mark for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Fortunately the smoke is gone and we are having a beautiful autumn day today. Whale watcher, Scott Mercer, saw four Fin Whales today, an awesome sighting!

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Young Bucks can be seen practicing jousting. Michael Reinhart photographed such an occasion.

Pretty soon this fighting will be for real as the mating season of the Black-tailed Deer will soon be upon us.

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

Fog in Point Arena, sunny in Gualala, hot when you get a little away from the immediate coast. No smoke - hooray! Something for everybody today.