Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson found a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. Mike wrote, “It’s been an active Fall in terms of raptors, especially around the Garcia River. Last weekend we watched Ferruginous Hawks, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, and a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. It seemed to be hiding out away from the strong winds that preceded our rainy weather. We peered over the edge of the cliff overlooking the river, and it stared right back at us!”

These hawks are hawks of the forest. They prey on rodents, frogs and snakes. They have a rather plaintive call which you can hear at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

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

Today, Tuesday, is a lovely sunny day after a rainy day yesterday.

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Black Turnstones overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast - they breed far to our north. Mike Reinhart recently found a group foraging at a beach at The Sea Ranch. In flight you can see their beautiful markings.

Black Turnstones are shorebirds and they do turn over stones and kelp to find food. Mike photographed one standing on kelp which has washed up on the beach. The bird overturns bits of kelp to find flies and eggs and other tasty morsels.

This Turnstone has some sand on its beak!

To hear their high-pitched calls, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Turnstone/sounds

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

We had a nice storm this afternoon, Sunday. October rain is such a blessing. We have a lot of rain in our forecast too. Thank you, Mother Nature!

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Western Sandpipers have migrated into our area and photographer Ron Bolander was there with his camera as a flock of five or perhaps six took wing.

Western Sandpipers are shorebirds that nest way up in the Arctic. Some of them will overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast. Fun Fact: females are generally bigger than the males and they have longer beaks.

If you'd like to listen to their calls, you can do so at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Sandpiper/sounds

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

oh my, we are so thankful an early storm from the north arrived yesterday, Saturday. Our rain gauge showed a little over 1.5 inches of the blessed wet stuff.

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Ospreys migrated back up the coast a little early this year, and the females are sitting on eggs while the males hunt for fist. The Osprey that Neil Silverman recently photographed looks quite determined.

I love the whistling sounds of Ospreys - they often call while they are soaring through the sky. You can hear for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds#

Thanks to Neil for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Neil's photography and workshops, here is the link to his website: https://silvermansphotography.com/

Windy today...very windy! Don't bother with a special hairdo as the wind will have its way!

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Ron Bolander photographed this Snowy Plover at Manchester State Beach. The bird has four bands on its legs.

I'd be interested in learning why any bird needed four tags. Snowy Plovers are wading birds. Their numbers have been decreasing and their status is "Near Threatened." A flock of several dozen call Manchester State Beach home. Dogs are not allowed in that area to protect these birds. The Snowy Plover's call is a soft whistle. You can hear it at this link, which is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Plover/sounds

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

Today started out cloudy, then the sun broke through. But the wind picked up and it's blowing pretty hard this afternoon. Rain for tomorrow, Sunday.