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Paul Brewer photographed a Gray Whale recently, catching part of the back, and the tail.

Paul captured the entire sequence as the whale dove.

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

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Location, location, location...the mantra for valuable real estate. Ospreys love to nest on the Mendonoma coast, as there are rivers and the vast Pacific Ocean. Dinner is only a successful dive away. Rick Denniston recently photographed an Osprey with a fish in its talons.

The chick in the nest that I watch is really getting big and beginning to exercise his/her wings. The parents are beginning to leave the chick alone in the nest now and then, but the father always brings a fish to the mother and chick in the early morning hours.

Here is a close-up of an Osprey taken by Jim O'Brien.

Ospreys migrate far south in the early part of autumn, but while they are here, we very much enjoy watching and hearing them.

Thanks to Rick and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Craig Tooley photographed a Black Oystercatcher feeding her chick. Can you see the tiny, well-camouflaged chick? Follow the mother's beak down to the chick's tiny beak. There is a second chick on the left side of Craig's photo.

Black Oystercatchers are so distinctive with their long orange-red beak and pink legs! They nest in rocky areas above high tide. They are being studied to see how they cope with sea level rise.

They are talkative birds. One contributor to my column described them as "chattery." You can hear their call at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's great website, allaboutbirds.org. Here's the link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Oystercatcher/sounds

Here is one of my favorite Oystercatcher photos, which was taken by Craig, a "dancing" Black Oystercatcher.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Clay Yale recently sent me this photo of a sunset. The sun reflecting through clouds seems to form a golden eagle!

It's never too late to share a beautiful photo. Thanks to Clay for allowing me to share it with you here.

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Yet another lucky coast resident had a den near her home, this time Marie De Santis. Her favorite photo of the bunch is this one of one of the kits nuzzling mom.

Marie got several other great photos of the cute kits.

The kits are getting bigger, and the family will most likely move on. But until then, Marie will surely enjoy her nature viewing!

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