Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Yellow-rumped Warblers are arriving on the Mendonoma coast to spend the winter here. Their song can be heard from trees. I learned on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website that they are the only warbler that can digest the wax of the berries of Wax Myrtle and Bayberries.

Here's a link to their site where you can hear their sweet call.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

Craig Tooley has photographed this small songbird several times and has kindly allowed me to share them with you here.

To see more of Craig's work, here is a link to his website: http://web.me.com/theruffians1

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Thunderstorms followed the storm. Early this morning lightning lit up the sky. As the thunder rumbled overhead, hail bounced off our skylights. Then a downpour, nearly an inch in less than a half hour, left us with a flooded garage. The sky was beautiful at sunset yesterday evening, with showers marching down the Pacific Ocean.

Yesterday the Department of Fish and Game closed the abalone fishing season off the Sonoma Coast. The Red Tide isn't to blame for the abalone die-off. The theory is a lack of oxygen caused it but studies are on-going. On a trip down and then back up the coast today the Red Tide was still evident, as the photo below shows.

To see another photo of the Red Tide taken by Craig Tooley, click on this link:
http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/09/red-tide-seen-off-of-the-sea-ranch/

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An oh-so-lovely blue wildflower was recently photographed by Craig Tooley. Its name is Gentiana affinis var. ovata. Due to its rarity, Craig is keeping the exact location secret. But I can safely say it was photographed on the Sonoma Coast. It is a California native; a perennial herb. I thank Craig for allowing me to show it to you, in all its glory, here!

To see more of Craig's work, here's a link to his web site:http://web.me.com/theruffians1

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It doesn't seem to matter what subject Craig Tooley photographs, he always captures beauty. In this photo Craig has caught the fog droplets refracting sunlight, creating a dance of rainbow colors - a gift of beauty for you today from the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo. You can see much more of Craig's work at: http://ruffimage.com/

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On Sept. 3rd, Rozann Grunig found a shocking sight at Shell Beach on The Sea Ranch. The beach was littered with dead Sea Urchins. She also saw a Chiton, a type of sea mollusk, just barely alive. The Chiton was put back into the Pacific Ocean in the hopes it might survive.

Abalones have been found upside down off the Sonoma Coast - there has been much coverage of this event. A Red Tide plus a quiet ocean caused a loss of oxygen in these critters habitat. It is believed by local ocean watchers that this is a natural occurrence. It has happened before and will happen again. Tests are being done to see if something else is happening here. Divers and fishermen tell me while they have seen some dead abalones, there are thousands upon thousands out there and doing fine. The Mendocino Coast looks like it avoided this phenomenon.

I thank Rozann for allowing me to share her photos here.

To see Craig Tooley's photo of the Red Tide, you can see it on this link here on Mendonoma Sightings: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/09/red-tide-seen-off-of-the-sea-ranch/