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Craig Tooley saw three juvenile Acorn Woodpeckers, all demanding to be fed. He photographed one of the young woodpeckers, and then got all three lined up in a vertical row.

I've seen these young woodpeckers chase their parents around, flying from tree to tree. It must be nice for the adults when they learn to feed themselves!

Acorn woodpeckers have such a distinctive call. You can hear it at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker/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 the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

This morning was clear and calm, but the wind picked up in the afternoon. Temps are nice and mild.

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Shouqin Huo was welcomed to the coast by visits from a Bobcat. Shouqin wrote, “We recently became part-time residents of Irish Beach. During our last stay, we noticed almost daily a Bobcat hunting for gophers in the grass area between our neighbors’ houses. I would like to share a couple of photos.”

I was amazed at the Bobcat’s beautiful eyes, a light green or hazel. I learned Bobcat kits under four weeks old have bright blue eyes, which then change to green or hazel.

Thanks to Shouqin for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

Rain yesterday (0.15 inches), brilliant sunshine today, Sunday. Lots of folks at Art in the Redwoods at the Gualala Arts Center today. If you didn't make it this weekend, stop by to see the fabulous art displayed throughout the Arts Center. And check out the Best Mendonoma Sightings winner, a beautiful photo of a Great Egret by Paul Brewer!

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Here's what Connie King had to say about her sighting:

"Another special moment in the season of fawns … twins taking a respite in our meadow, giving us front-row seats to their cuteness!"

So sweet to see! Thanks to Connie for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Sunny and quite breezy today, temps in the mid 70's at Rick's and my place.

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The Osprey chicks I watch in Anchor Bay have recently fledged, but here is a look at an active nest in Gualala. Terry Pfardresher photographed the chick in the nest with a parent perched on the edge of the nest. It's most likely the mother Osprey waiting for her mate to bring back a tasty fish.

When the male Osprey brings a fish, the mother will tear off pieces of the fish to feed to her offspring. She will also take some for herself.

Ospreys usually leave the Mendonoma Coast around the first days of autumn, migrating southward. Once in a while, one or perhaps two will stay and overwinter here.

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

Fog in places today, but sunny and quite breezy just a little ways away from the ocean.

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I'll let Amy Ruegg tell the story.

Amy wrote, “Saturday night 7/27/24 while we were watching the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, at about 10:15 or so, Sydney [the dog] barked loudly twice in a way she hadn't before and jumped to the balcony railing with a growl. We brought our brightest flashlights out and there were four sets of glowing reflective eyes shining back at us. Eric's flash photography revealed the mother Mountain Lion - huge and muscular - and three Cubs about the size of Bobcats with spots still on their coats. The lions were not fearful. They remained for maybe 15 minutes or so. We think they may have been getting a drink from the spring behind our house.

“The next morning, a gathering of Turkey Vultures was assembled on trees and ground nearby, possibly indicating the site of a kill from the night before. We think the mother Mountain Lion may have made a kill, perhaps a Fawn or other animal, then led her Cubs to the water for a drink. After several minutes, she moved leisurely on into the night.”

Amy said the Deer were absent the next day, but returned on Monday. Amy wrote further, “If you watch nature very closely, you will see these subtle clues. With the Deer back in the neighborhood, I am pretty certain the Mountain Lion family has moved on."

Amazing! Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here and to Amy for telling the story.

Warm and breezy today! No fog.