Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Craig Tooley got a good look at a small bird that can be hard to photograph. This Golden-crowed Kinglet took two good looks right back at Craig!

The second photo, where the kinglet is looking back at Craig makes me laugh!

Golden-crowned Kinglets are birds of the forest and they eat insects. They are not much bigger than a hummingbird! Their call is quite high pitched. You can hear their call at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet/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

We've had a lot of wind this week, but this morning was calm. But the wind returned this afternoon. It must be spring! Temps in the low 70's today.

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Perry Hoffman wrote, "I saw these birds cawing and pursuing each other and wondered if it was a mating ritual... turn out I was correct. I did a composite photo to show them in action

I've read that Pigeon Guillemots are socially monogamous and keep their pair bonds for many  breeding seasons. In spring, pairs return to the breeding grounds, like here off the Mendonoma Coast, and begin courtship near the nest site. The male often chases or circles the female at sea, calling, and sometimes pursues her underwater. And that's what Perry saw and photographed.

On land, the male circles or even jumps over the female, pointing his bill downward and raising his red feet conspicuously as he marches. The female, suitably impressed, circles the male, and then indicates her acceptance.

To hear their very high-pitched calls, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guillemot/sounds

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

Sunny and warm today with a gentler breeze than yesterday!

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Ron Bolander wrote, “At Gualala Point Regional Park, on Saturday morning, there seemed to be a little more bird activity.  Between Western Bluebirds, Pygmy Nuthatches and Yellow-rumpled Warblers, there were some better photo opportunities. I was able to get this picture of a ‘Butter Butt’ just as it grabbed this insect, in midair.”

To hear their warbling call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

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

It's a beautiful spring day here today, though breezy. Northwest winds in the spring? They bring UPWELLING in the ocean, which ignites the entire food chain.

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Shouqin Huo wrote, "The songs of the white-crowned sparrows have imprinted on me during my very first visit to the Mendonoma coast and over the years I have learned to associate the their songs with the area. I was happy to find this one in my garden singing without interruption while I moved close enough for a portrait"

"Of course, it took off when I got too close."

To hear the song of a White-crowned Sparrow, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

It's almost always the male doing the singing. Nice calls, Mr. W-c Sparrow!

Great photos! Thanks to Shouqin for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

The storms have left us with puffy clouds, lots of delicious sun, and some wind. Rain totals season to date - 60.93 inches! 50 inches is a nice, wet season, so we're doing great.

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Michael Reinhart found this very small wren and took this great photo.

This is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website has to say about these birds, which I have near me in Anchor Bay:

"Pacific Wrens are tiny brown wrens with a song much larger than themselves. One researcher deemed them a “pinnacle of song complexity.” This tinkling, bubbly songster is more often heard than seen within the dark understory of old-growth evergreen forests where they live. When Pacific Wrens sing they hold their tail upright and their entire body shakes with sound. They move like mice through the forest understory, hopping along logs and upturned roots."

To hear their tinkling song, you can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

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

We've had a cold, tumultuous storm which appears to be nearly over. It's a wait-five-minutes kind of day - sunny for a bit, and then hey! it's hailing! Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, we are expected to have dry, warmer weather through the weekend. Rain report: 60.75 inches season to date! Rivers and seasonal creeks are roaring now.