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Joanne Angerame found her first Boletus edulis, with the help of her golden retriever, Riley. It's obvious Riley approves!

Even thought it's quite warm and dry right now, another edible mushroom is up - Coccora.

These mushrooms are in the Amanita family, and they are not for beginning foragers. They have a deadly look-a-like. You need to learn all three identification of this mushroom. Personally, I would never eat one I hadn't picked. One of their identifiers is their creamy top.

This morning Rick and I saw the first Fly Amanita up, always a fun sighting.

It's not an edible unless you parboil it twice, as David Arora showed a group of us one year on a mushroom forage. I prefer to watch them evolve, as they change shape quite dramatically.

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

Sunny skies with passing clouds is the order of the day.

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Sometimes you almost can't believe your eyes - the sunset is that beautiful. Tricia Schuster photographed a recent sunset with the sky turning the most amazing colors.

Her husband, Jon Loveless, also photographed a beauty.

These sunbeams shining through the clouds are sometimes called God's rays. It's quite dramatic to see them.

And now we head into November. We are experiencing warm, Indian Summer days right now. Even though the weather is sublime, we know changes are ahead.

Thanks to Tricia and Jon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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This time of year you are more likely to see a beautiful Cooper's Hawk. Craig Tooley recently spotted a young one, a juvenile, flying over The Sea Ranch, and Craig always has his camera at the ready!

Cooper's Hawks are amazing fliers. They prey on medium-sized birds, so sometimes one will perch near a bird feeder. If that happens to you, take the bird feeder down for a day or two. The male Cooper's Hawk is smaller than the female, which can work to his disadvantage if he resembles a medium-sized bird!

Their call is a "cak-cak-cak" which you can listen to at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/sounds

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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Susan Sandoval noticed the surf line at Jenner had formed a heart.

Did you know a Gray Whale's spout is heart-shaped? Carol Bogovich photographed one.

I photographed a heart sunset once.

And Kate Gelles photographed a heart-shaped cave.

Lastly, heart-shaped rocks, beautifully painted by Jann Littleton.

Are you feeling the love?

Thanks to Susan, Carol, Kate and Jann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

 

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It's hard not to watch in wonder as you see a Buck with a big set of antlers. Even John Walls' dog, Dash, was impressed. That's one healthy-looking Buck!

This is the time of year for the rut, the mating season of the Deer here on the coast. As the Does aren't always receptive, there is a lot of chasing involved. It can be a dangerous time to drive, so keep watch.

Here is a photo former coast resident, Sharon Albert, took several years ago of a five-point Buck. Here in the West we just count the prongs on one antler.

Thanks to John and Sharon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.