Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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A few weeks ago Craig Tooley photographed this sight of Cliff Swallows working on their new nests.

They fly several thousand miles to get here and then they immediately get to work building or rebuilding their nests of mud. By now the nests are complete and nesting is taking place. Soon hungry mouths will appear at the nest opening!

Cliff Swallows like to build nests together in a colony. They eat many insects every day!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Today has been lovely. Warm on the ridge, breezy near the ocean, fog in some places - a beautiful late spring day on the Mendonoma Coast.

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There was an appealing nesting box as this male violet-green swallow and female Western bluebird were each trying to check it out. Craig Tooley photographed the kerfluffle.  No blows were exchanged, in fact nary a feather was displaced. Who won out? That is yet to be determined. Craig will be watching!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photographs, here is his website: http://ruffimage.com

It was hot again yesterday, Friday. Wind picked up overnight and it was very windy this morning. Now the wind has died down and we have another warm day.

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Craig Tooley was at Del Mar beach on Sea Ranch when he found these Brown Pelicans hanging out together on a rock. And another photo where one is in flight.

There are hundreds of Brown Pelicans on the Mendonoma coast now. Mostly they are beginning to fly southward now.

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://ruffimage.com

It's cloudy and cool with the occasional raindrop! Could be a beautiful sunset tonight.

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Craig Tooley went tide pooling at a recent low tide. He wrote, “I got this picture in one of the tide pools near Green Cove. So fun to see them anytime, but having the little hitchhiker hermit crab added just a little extra smile to my face.” Craig photographed a new-to-me nudibranch, also called a sea slug. They come in many different colors and shapes. Jan Roletto of NOAA confirmed that Craig’s photo shows a San Diego Dorid, Diaulula sandiegensiss.

They have irregular dark rings or spots arranged in two rows on their backs. They are an uncommon find this far north and they feed on sponges. To see a tiny hermit crab on this nudibranch is a treat.

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

No fog today, though there are some wispy clouds overhead. It's pretty darn warm - close to 90 degrees.

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I hear the calls of Wilson's Warblers most days in the forest at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. They are beautiful birds, with their vibrant yellow color. Craig Tooley got this photo recently of a male - the black cap on top of his head is definitive.

You can see he is singing! To hear the calls of this warbler, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/sounds

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

Foggy this morning near the coast, but warm away from the ocean.