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Terry Pfardresher found something we don’t see very often in her garden in Gualala. She wrote, “Any idea who this character is? Wings are too large for a bumblebee.” It’s a Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis, a member of the Sphinx family.

Naturalist Laura Baker identified the diurnal moth. She wrote, “When the adults emerge (eclose), they have scales on their wings, but with a few shudders, the scales fall off, leaving the wings transparent and the moth resembling a bumblebee. Caterpillars feed mainly on snowberry and honeysuckle while adults nectar on a variety of plants.”

Mother Nature is simply amazing!

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

It's cool and windy, with clouds scudding by. It actually looks like we could get some sprinkles!

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Kate Bloch has been able to watch and photograph several Harbor Seal births on beaches off The Sea Ranch. She also got this cute photo of a pup taking her first swim.

The little pup was sticking close to mom!

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

It's foggy and cool on the Mendonoma Coast today!

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There was a feeling of magic in this night sky. On the night of May 18, the Moon and Venus had a celestial meetup, a conjunction. Jupiter seemed to be watching from higher up in the sky. The Moon and Venus in the sky made them appear close together, despite being millions of miles apart in space.

Mel Smith photographed this beautiful sight from his  home in Point Arena.

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

Yesterday it was very warm. Today temps are in the low 70's with just a little breeze. Heaven!

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Marla Skibbins watched as a mated pair of Common Ravens preened each other near her home on The Sea Ranch. Then, one Raven took the other Raven's beak in his/her mouth!

I learned this is called a raven’s kiss or beak-fencing. It is a display of affection, pair bonding, and social bonding. This gentle behavior happens between life-long partners.

Marla was watching Raven love...sweet!

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

Wind, wind and more wind. It's sunny but the wind is pretty unrelenting. The ocean looks like a boiling pot of water with all the white caps. It would be nearly impossible to spot whales with this wind.

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Harbor seals continue to be born off the Mendonoma Coast. Sara Bogard watched as this Harbor Seal mother encouraged her pup to climb a pretty steep rock.

I can almost hear the mom saying, "You can do it!"

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

It was foggy this morning, but the afternoon was sunny and breezy. Temps in the low 70's, really a beautiful day!