Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Craig Tooley recently photographed an Inside-out Flower, a member of the Barberry Family.

 

I see there is an insect on the exquisite tiny flower! I was recently shown the foliage of this flower, and I took this photo. They are found in Redwood forests and their Scientific name is Vancouveria planipetala.

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: http://www.ruffimage.com

This morning was so lovely, though there was a fog bank over the Pacific Ocean. The spring wind kicked up this afternoon, and high clouds are streaming by.

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Red-shouldered Hawks are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast, and it's always a treat to see and hear one. Craig Tooley recently photographed one of these beautiful hawks at the moment it took flight near the Gualala River.

Heidi Horvitz photographed a Red-shouldered Hawk that makes its home in the Timber Cove area. She said this hawk is very vocal!

To hear the calls of a Red-shouldered Hawk, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Craig and Heidi for allowing me to share their 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 received 1.2 inches of rain overnight Friday, a nice soaking. Today, Sunday, is sunny and breezy, a beautiful day. More rain coming in tomorrow. Wildflower alert: The first Calypso Orchids are up!

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Here's the Mendonoma Coast's largest woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker. Craig Tooley photographed a male looking for bugs on a tree.

Here is a short video showing how the woodpecker uses his very strong beak to hammer away at a snag, looking for his favorite meal, carpenter ants.

The call of these woodpeckers is quite distinctive and you can listen to it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/sounds

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

An overnight storm brought nearly an inch of rain, and it's showery this afternoon. It's suppose to clear up for a few days, with another storm coming in late Thursday. Keep the rain coming, Mother Nature!

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Every winter Rick and I look for the first tiny Slink Pod flowers. They come up in coastal forests. They were late this year, but they are up. Craig Tooley wove together three photos of one just about to bloom, a close-up of the exquisite bloom, and the continuing bloom.

 

Slink Pods have multiple blooms, but each one doesn't last very long. The flower quickly forms a pod, which falls onto the ground, hence its common name Slink Pod. They are also called Fetid Adder's Tongue because they supposedly don't smell good, but I've never noticed a bad odor coming from them. I want a new common name for these beautiful flowers!

Later in the spring, the long, mottled leaves will be quite noticeable. If you note their spots, then you can look for the flowers in the winter months. Here's what the leaves look like, photographed by Craig in a previous year.

Scoliopus bigelovii is a member of the Lily family. They are a joy to find.

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

The rain has moved on, and we are blessed with a sunny, breezy, clear day today with temperatures in the high 60s! Our daffodils are beginning to bloom, as is their wont here on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast.