Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Karen Wilkinson was the first to spot them early last Wednesday morning. She called Craig Tooley, who showed up with his camera and his talent soon thereafter. Here are a couple of photos taken by Craig.

The seabirds in the first photo are Surf Scoters. I love the photo showing so many dolphins surfing a wave together - the original surfers!

Researcher and scientist Bill Keener was able to identify six of the eleven dolphins, and one was our old friend, Sakura. Sakura was photographed off the Mendonoma Coast in 2018 and in 2020 she was seen with her calf. Here is the study of this group of Bottlenose Dolphins by Bill, just click on the link below.

Bottlenose Dolphins 2022 Jan 12 CT Bill Keener

I plan to share some of Karen's photos and videos of these dolphins soon.

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

Another lovely, clear day on the Mendonoma Coast today. 68 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay this afternoon.

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On Christmas day, Mel Smith spotted and photographed perhaps the first appearing Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii.

This wildflower is a member of the Lily family. Its distinctive leaves are just barely showing. But they will grow in the weeks ahead. They are mottled, so if you see them in the spring, long after these exquisite flowers, then remember where they are so you can look for them next winter. Here's a photo of the leaves, taken by Craig Tooley a few years ago.

Thanks to Mel and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Clouds are pouring in and the surface water of the ocean is  now flowing northward - all signs that a storm is on the way!

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Brown Pelicans continue to be seen in large numbers. Paul Brewer recently photographed a flock flying north.

The white-headed pelicans are the adults and the brown-headed pelicans are the juveniles. I just received the first photo of a brown pelican in breeding plumage, and that male's head is yellow. Here's an example from a previous  year, photographed by Craig Tooley. These males are now heading south.

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

We had another vigorous storm today. We sailed past 17 inches season to date, a marvelous amount of rain by the first day of November!

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Here is King's Gentian, Gentiana sceptrum, a wildflower that grows in moist areas. Craig recently checked an area where he had found this wildflower before and there they were, despite the drought.

Their color is so vibrant! It's a real treat to see this. 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

Today, Wednesday, the fog has been persistent all day. The ocean is making some noise [ie crashing waves!] , which is always nice to hear. And we might have the first storm of the season by Friday night or Saturday. What a blessing that would be for Northern California.

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Craig Tooley found this small songbird recently, a Common Yellowthroat.

Notice the black "mask" across this bird's eyes. That tells you it is a male. The call of the male Common Yellowthroat is described as "witchety-witchety-witchety."

You can hear the call for yourself at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Yellowthroat/sounds It is quite a distinctive call!

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

After some tropical moisture came in late yesterday, we had some light rain and flashes lightning. All is sunny and fresh today.