Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Several coast photographers have photographed Belted Kingfishers lately. Eric Zetterholm caught one just taking flight.

Here Ron Bolander photographs one flying.

And Craig Tooley found one resting on a branch.

Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has to say about these birds:

"With its top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle, the Belted Kingfisher seems to have an air of self-importance as it patrols up and down rivers and shorelines. It nests in burrows along earthen banks and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey, diving to catch fish and crayfish with its heavy, straight bill. These ragged-crested birds are a powdery blue-gray; males have one blue band across the white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band."

So Craig's photo shows a female, as does Eric.

Here is a link to their rattling calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/sounds

Thanks to Eric, Ron and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The rain is over though everything is nice and damp from the deluge. Sunny skies have returned. I checked the lagoon of the Gualala River yesterday and it has filled up from the rain - nice!

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Laura Baker wrote, “Here's a photo of a Barred Owl I snapped today up here in Annapolis.  It's peeking behind a strand of Usnea lichen.  I have to admit having mixed feelings about seeing it.  On the one hand, it's a beautiful, powerful bird.  But as you probably know, the Barred Owls are driving out our local and less aggressive Northern Spotted Owls.”

This beautiful owl used to be an owl of the eastern part of the United States but in the 20th century it started to migrate towards the Pacific Northwest. For better or worse, the Barred Owl is here. These owls fly noiselessly so it's often difficult to spot them.

For comparison, here's a Northern Spotted Owl, photographed some years ago by Craig Tooley.

Thank to Laura and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

No fog today and temps are very warm when you get away from the ocean!

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Brown Pelicans use offshore rocks to rest overnight on their travels. So it's not surprising to see hundreds roosting on Gualala Point Island. Craig Tooley photographed the sight.

GPI is off the north end of The Sea Ranch.

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

Heavy fog this morning, with sun this afternoon/

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Craig Tooley recently found one of my favorite birds, the Pileated Woodpecker. I heard one calling in the Anchor Bay area this morning.

These prehistoric-looking birds are quite large - their wingspan can be 29 inches. The red streak on the woodpecker's cheek tell us this is a male. They have a very unique call, which you can hear at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/sounds

The folks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have created a fabulous, free app that you can upload to your smart phone. It's called the Merlin Bird ID  app, and I've been having so much fun with it! You hold your phone up to birdsong and the app identifies the bird, showing you a photo along with the name. You can find it at this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673

The Merlin app is brilliant and sure to be a hit with youngsters too!

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 is simply lovely here on the Mendonoma Coast. Clear skies and a gentle breeze. Two Finback Whales were seen yesterday morning, which means there is a lot of feed - anchovies! - in the ocean. We're hoping to see our first Blue Whale of the season any day.

 

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Mirka Knaster wrote, “Mother and kits were living under the ramp of my studio and playing like kittens, apparently without fear of me. I even had a ‘conversation’ with mama fox."

"They’re gone now but such fun when they were here.”

I must say that I'm jealous. I wish a Gray Fox family would be under one of my decks! I love Gray Fox kits so much that I picked a photo of one, taken by Craig Tooley, for our beautiful books, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.

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

Our short but intense heatwave is over, thank goodness. Cool breezes came with the dawn. It's just about perfect today. The Mendonoma Coast is calling you!