Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Craig Tooley is sheltering in place at the Mendonoma Coast. He has decided to try to take a photo every day that spreads JOY. I am the lucky recipient of many of Craig's photos and I'm privileged to be able to share them with you here. First is one of our native orchids, Spotted Coralroot, Corallorrhiza maculata, including a close-up of the exquisite blossom. Feeling the JOY yet?

Craig also photographed Wood Anemone, also called Windflower.

This native is in the Buttercup family and its scientific name is Anemone oregana. Rick and I have this wildflower growing on our property too. The flower is very delicate. In fact, if you touch it, it might fall apart. Suffice to say, the bloom doesn't last long, which can be a reminder to stay in present time so you don't miss it!

Thanks to Craig for the JOY! To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

Weather report: Foggy and cloudy this morning...brrr! But the sun has prevailed this afternoon. Some high clouds might make for a beautiful sunset tonight.

Spring doesn't know...

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They are just so beautiful and jaunty, blooming on coastal meadows. Cream Cups, Platystemon californicus, are a treat to see. Craig Tooley recently photographed some for us to enjoy with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.

Cream Cups are members of the Poppy family. Here's a closeup of two of them, taken by Mary Sue Ittner last year.

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

Clouds this morning with a couple of drops of rain, followed by sun breaks this afternoon.

Spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley wrote, "This Little possum is one of those creatures I don't often get the opportunity to see and even less of an opportunity to photograph. Some people don't care for them, but as I was brought up on Dr. Seuss it reminds me of characters of my childhood. I managed to get a few pictures of it as it was foraging around some landscape lighting, much to my delight!

Opossums are marsupials and they quite beneficial in the environment. They prey on cockroaches, rats, and mice, and...THEY EAT TICKS! One Opossum can eat 5,000 ticks a season. You can read about their role to play at this link to the National Wildlife Foundation: https://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/opossums-unsung-heroes-in-the-fight-against-ticks-and-lyme-disease/

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 

Craig's photos are featured in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, which is available at the Four-eyed Frog Books  https://www.foureyedfrog.com/ or on the homepage of this website. It's a beautiful book that will bring you visually to the Mendonoma Coast.

ooo, today is just a beautiful day. The birdsong this morning was a balm. We are at 75 degrees, light breeze and nothing but sunshine today.

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Craig Tooley recently photographed a Barred Owl, a large owl native to Eastern North America. It has, however,  made its way to the Pacific Northwest in recent years.

There is concern that Barred Owls will negatively affect the native Spotted Owls. The Barred Owl’s hooting call is described as, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” You can hear it for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds

To compare a Barred with a Spotted Owl, here is a look at a Spotted that Craig photographed some time ago.

I love owls, I admit it. I heard the hooting of a Great Horned Owl a few nights ago and it brought me comfort!

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

It's sunny today with a northwest wind - more upwelling in the ocean! Rain coming in for the weekend.

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Craig Tooley spotted this beautiful hawk recently. We first thought it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk but it turns out the experts agree it's a Cooper's Hawk.

Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about these hawks:

"Among the bird world’s most skillful fliers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower seeds)." Yes, they eat smaller birds.

To hear their call, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/sounds

It's not a musical call, is it?  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

Feels like a storm is coming in this afternoon!