Tag Archives: Diane Hichwa

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This unusual cloud formation was seen in the late morning on Feb. 1st over Gualala and The Sea Ranch. It had been cold that day. Perhaps that’s why a rare phenomenon appeared in the sky. It was seen and photographed by quite a few coast residents. Janet Pierucci was the first to send in photos of a Fallstreak Hole. She wrote, “My husband, James Adrian Adams, and I both took pictures of the Fallstreak Hole which appeared around noon. So exciting to see.”

John Mills photographed the unusual cloud too.

Diane Hichwa also photographed it. She wrote, “I was driving on Highway 1, looked up and went. ‘WOW, how odd??? I watched it for a half mile and decided I should pull over and get a photo. It persisted for quite a while.”

Janet kindly sent a link regarding this cloud formation, which is also called a cavum, hole punch cloud, punch hold cloud, skypunch and more. It’s a large gap, usually circular or elliptical, that can appear in cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds. A Fallstreak Hole is formed when the water temperature in the clouds is below freezing, but the water has not yet frozen. It’s amazing to learn about this cloud.

Thanks to Jane, James, John and Diane for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Our unseasonable warm weather came to a screeching halt today, as a cold fog greeted us at daybreak.

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A rare bird was seen the week after the Christmas Bird Count in January. Diane Hichwa wrote, “Last Wednesday Bill and Paget Lenarz, who had come up to help with the Bird Count, were still watching for birds. They noticed at Pebble Beach a very light gull on the sand below. Not wanting to disturb it, they stayed on the bluff trail. They called me, and I phoned Craig Tooley to get photos. This was just what was needed to document the bird!”

Diane sent Craig’s photos to Dan Nelson, a Sonoma County expert on gulls, and he confirmed the sighting. He wrote, “A classic first winter Glaucous Gull. Nice!!” The Audubon Guide describes this gull as “a big, pale, ghostly gull of the far north.”

It's easy to take gulls for granted, but they can travel great distances, and have a story to tell. Glaucous Gulls are the second-largest gulls in the world! You can hear their calls at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/sounds

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: www.ruffimage.com

The wind arrived during the night. Today the ocean is whipped up into a froth and it's sunny, but chilly.

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It was a mystery. About three or four weeks ago Mary Heibel was hiking at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, near the Field Station. She found approximately 12 broken shells right near the bluff edge. She brought one to me. It’s bigger than a chicken egg, tan with gray and dark brown splotches, almost as if an artist had thrown paint at the shell. Osprey eggs comes closest in looks, but 12 eggs? There was no discernable nest according to Mary. I wondered what birds might produce a dozen eggs and an egg quite large. Wild Turkey eggs were not a match.

Diane Hichwa provided the first clue. She theorized that the spot was an eating place rather than a nesting spot. Dave Jensen suggested looking at Western Gull and Common Murre eggs as a reference. Dave suggested Common Ravens could have been egg thieves. He wrote, “They often work in pairs, one to distract and the other to snatch. Their increasing population proves the point.”

The eggs were a match for Western Gulls. Doug Forsell had more insights. He wrote, “For at least four years now a pair of Ravens have been taking the eggs from the Cormorant colonies along the cliffs and on the island near the Field Station. Last year, during the Discover the Coast event, I watched the ravens taking both Pelagic Cormorant and Western Gull eggs.”

Ravens also steal Common Murre eggs. Ron LeValley sent along a photo of a raven flying with one in its beak.

Seabirds are shy in comparison with ravens. Doug shared a video where a raven flew to a Pelagic Cormorant’s nest and pushed the nesting mother off the nest. The raven the stole the lone egg. https://youtu.be/Upw4D0OamEc

Common Ravens eat everything, including carrion. We have an overabundance of ravens here and one of the reasons is that we humans are feeding them. For the sake of the seabirds, we must stop.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you. Quite a mystery tour this ended up to be. I appreciate everyone who helped solve it.

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There are many good reasons not to leave a rope, or any kind of line, dangling in a tree or bush. Birds can get entangled. Several weeks ago Gary Hopkins photographed a beautiful Great-horned Owl hanging by a wing in a tree, ensnarled in a rope.

Diane Hichwa tells the story. “Gary Hopkins had family visiting. They saw the owl fly past Friday night. Saturday afternoon as they drove on Moonraker Road on The Sea Ranch they saw a Great-horned Owl caught by a rope in a tree! They got a ladder, gloves, blanket and headed down the steep hill. It took a while to get the rope and the bird down. Then it took a long while to unwrap the multiple wraps of rope around the owl’s wrists.”

Diane [center], Gary Hopkins [front] and Rick Hansen [rear] helped with the rescue. This photo was taken by Bryant Hichwa

The owl was transported to Bird Rescue in Santa Rosa, where she was described as “feisty.” The theory about the rope is that ropes were being used to pull power lines just below the tree. One obviously was left behind. The area was thoroughly checked to make sure no rope was left behind to endanger wildlife. Thanks to everyone who helped this owl!

Thanks to Gary and Bryant for allowing  me to share their photos with you here.

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I'll let Diane Hichwa tell the story:

"We rescued and released an injured owl. This small Northern Pygmy-Owl flew into a window.” Diane, experienced in bird rescue, went to the site where the little owl was standing, stunned. “I put the owl on a heating pad overnight for observation and could hear him clacking his beak at me – a good sign.

Northern Pygmy-Owl by Diane Hichwa

“After grabbing my finger a few times the next morning, I felt the little guy was good to go! He flew off strongly into the shrubby vegetation he calls home. He left a nice little owl pellet in the box. Pygmy-owls weigh about four ounces, and are four inches tall, but they are fierce hunters of birds!”

A happy ending! Thanks to Diane for allowing me to share her photo with you here. Diane is trained in bird rescue. Would you like to take the training? Here's the link to the Bird Rescue Center of Santa Rosa: https://www.birdrescuecenter.org/