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I found my first Matsutake a day after the recent rains. We received 3.79 inches from the two storms. Many more matsies to come, I hope, in the days ahead.

Chanterelles were found by Catherine Miller. She said they were in deep forest duff. The next couple of days could be great for those who love to forage for edible mushrooms!

A sunny, stunning day on the Mendonoma coast today.

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Mark Hancock wrote, “Last week when Laverne, Tasi – our new rescue dog from Redwood Coast Humane Society – and I were traveling to the Bay Area. We stopped to take Tasi take for a walk.

“Upon returning to the truck we noticed a Burrowing Owl perched in some rocks. Its coloring makes it blend in perfectly. He/she was quite content to let me take come pictures, looking right at me with its piercing golden eyes. What a treat!”

 

Burrowing Owls are small owls with long legs. If they are disturbed, which the one Mark photographed obviously wasn’t, they bob up and down in a “deep knee-bend” movement. They have a wingspan of 21 inches, but only weigh five ounces. If you are fortunate enough to see one, keep your distance so you don’t disturb this owl.

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

 

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Karen Wilkinson found a White-tailed Kite hunting for its meal. She photographed the beautiful bird at the moment he/she spots a rodent.

Success! The kite has its meal while perched on a tree.

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

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Craig Tooley trained his camera on a beautiful Anna's Hummingbird recently. How beautiful is this?

Craig then headed for the beach where he found a Black Turnstone.

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: www.ruffimage.com

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John and Janice Batchelder had a wonderful sighting of Humpback Whales a couple of weeks ago. Seen off of The Sea Ranch, it was quite a spectacle. Here a Humpback is breaching. Humpbacks are among the most acrobatic of whales.

Below you will see one of the Humpback's long flippers.

The Humpbacks were following their food source, forage fish like huge schools of anchovies. Along with the whales, Gulls and Brown Pelicans were feasting too.

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photos with you here.