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Karen Wilkinson had a rare sighting. Experts confirmed she had photographed a Sage Thrasher, a rare bird sighting here. She wrote, “It was a delightful but windy morning on the bluff and this sighting had me puzzling over an ID.  As I watched it for a while, its posture, behavior, and field marks sort of reminded me of three different birds (hermit thrush, mockingbird, rock wren), but none were right in the moment. I was stumped. After coming home and reviewing photos I'm fairly confident that I was looking at a Sage Thrasher - but I would really appreciate confirmation on this one, since I've certainly never seen one here on the coast.”

I sent Karen’s photos to Peter Pyle and Robert Keiffer who agreed with Karen’s ID. Robert wrote, “Yes, Sage Thrasher!  One of my nemesis species for Mendocino County, so the records are few and far-between for the county.  You cannot see the white wingbars, but the profile, mandible shape, light yellow eye, white tail tips evident, streaked breast, grayish-brown overall are all fitting characteristics. Do you enter your records on eBird?  You definitely should for this observation. Great find!” Karen’s sighting was in Sonoma County, where Diane Hichwa tells me there have been very few recorded sightings over the years. And Karen did post her sighting.

To hear the complex song of a male Sage Thrasher, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sage_Thrasher/sounds

I read on their website that one male was recorded singing for 22 minutes straight!

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

Fog over the ocean kept the immediate coast cool, but it heated up just a little ways away. Low 80's at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay today!

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California Milkwort, Polygala californica, is a perennial herb. Perry Hoffman photographed a nice group with fog droplets on them.

California Milkwort attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies and supports various wildlife. Historically, it has been used in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory properties.

I have a nice group of them blooming on Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay now.

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

It's another sunny day, though fog was in at Point Arena early this morning. This afternoon the wind has picked up.

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Perhaps this Osprey just wanted to get a drink of water. Perry Hoffman was there to get this great photo.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Perry's photography and art, here is his website: https://magentaraven.com/

The fog has retreated and the winds have picked up. It's a breezy warm day on the Mendonoma Coast today!

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Brown Pelicans heading northward can be seen now in large flocks. I find it thrilling to see them. Even more exciting is to see one getting read to nab a fish, their preferred food source. Paul Brewer got this photo of a Brown Pelican making his move.

Brown Pelican plunge dive, beak first, to catch a fish. This is an adult pelican with its white head.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: https://paulbrewer.smugmug.com/

The fog has pulled back over the ocean and it's a sunny, warm day today!

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Allen's Hummingbirds nest here on the Mendonoma Coast. Rozanne Rapozo puts out material to aid in their nest building. Here is an Allen's collecting materials for her nest.

I asked Rozanne about the material. She wrote, “I use Songbird Essentials Hummer Helper Nesting Material. Other birds (Chickadees, Nuthatches) help themselves to it also.  It feels sort of like I imagine picked cotton feels.  Light and fluffy with some substance to it.  I use the recommended hanger.”

Allen’s Hummingbirds begin nesting in Mid-February and can continue through late June, and beyond. Anna’s Hummingbirds nest even earlier, from December through early June. If you have to prune tree branches, be very careful to check first for a tiny hummingbird nest, which is about the size of half a walnut shell.

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

June gloom! Lots of cool fog with a little clearing in the afternoon.