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Kathy Bishop recently photographed this White-tailed Kite. Kathy wrote,

“I was watching an elegant pair of White-tailed Kites skimming a pasture near Manchester when one glided toward me and settled to take a break.”

They mostly eat small mammals. I have seen one hunting at Gualala Point Regional Park. They have the ability to hover in the air. Here is what allaboutbirds.org says about White-tailed Kites: "While hunting, the White-tailed Kite characteristically hovers up to 80 feet off the ground and then drops straight down onto prey items. This ability to hold a stationary position in midair without flapping is accomplished by facing into the wind, and is so characteristic of these birds that it has come to be called kiting. White-tailed Kites also perform ritualized courtship displays in which a male offers prey to a female prior to egg laying. In an often spectacular aerial exchange, the female flies up to meet the male, turns upside-down, and grasps the prey."

Siegfried Matull once witnessed this ritualized courtship and photographed this amazing sight as the male brought a vole to his mate.

White-tailed Kites are year round residents of the Mendonoma coast. Their call is whistle-like and you can hear it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

Thanks to Kathy and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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There have been numerous sightings of this bull Elk, most often seen near the town of Elk, appropriately enough. Paul Brewer recently spotted him south of Elk. Here the Elk is resting amidst some domestic cows.

I sure hope he doesn't think these domestic cows are his harem!

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Finally, after no rain for February, we are finally getting a little bit of the wet stuff. This morning came with beautiful rainbows. I took this photo from our deck in Anchor Bay.

Cold air came in today, and temperatures are in the forties. That's cold for the coast! oh, I can hear people living in cold climes laughing at me for saying the forties are cold.

We have more rain in our forecast. Today has been a "wait five minutes" kind of day. Brilliant sunshine, brief downpours and windy. Lots of visitors are here for the three-day holiday. They are getting quite a show.

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Even while the southward migration of Gray Whales continues, the first northward-bound Grays have been seen. These are the newly pregnant females, and they are heading fast to their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. They will be eating for two! Scott and Tree Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, saw their first northbound Gray on Tuesday around noon.

Here is a fun photo taken by Ken Bailey a while ago of what I believe are two Gray Whales, one spouting and the other diving, showing the tail.

Ken also photographed the barnacle-encrusted head of a Gray Whale.

Here is the migration map of the Gray Whales, a journey of about 5,000 miles, one way.

Pretty amazing!

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Ken's photography, including his wonderful underwater photography, here is the link: http://www.seadreams.org/

To follow the Mercers' daily posts of their sightings, here is the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mendonoma-Whale-and-Seal-Study-1421926098039236/

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Kathy Bishop caught a Great Blue Heron with its mouth wide open. Who knew this is what a GBH's mouth looked like?!

Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma coast. They can be seen hunting rodents on grassy meadows, and standing in calm water, looking for a tasty fish.

Here's a fun photo of a GBH coming in for a landing, taken by Robert Scarola.

They are quite beautiful when they lift off, as you will see in this wonderful photo by Paul Brewer.

Thanks to Kathy, Robert and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/