Tag Archives: Grace O’Malley

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The long-lived generation of Monarch Butterflies has arrived on the Mendonoma Coast. These are the butterflies that migrate south, living up to seven months, and they are known as the Methuselah generation. They are looking for plants on which to feed. So nectar plants, particularly native nectar plants, are very important to them here on the coast. Here are some recent photos of these large, beautiful butterflies.

These photos were taken in different locations and the Monarchs are feeding on different flowers. The photos were taken by, starting with the top -  Tempra Board, Craig Tooley, Eric Zetterholm, and Grace O'Malley.

I thank all these photographers for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The best way to report your sightings of Monarch Butterflies in the autumn is to either send them to me and/or post your sighting on iNaturalist. The experts monitor Monarch sightings on iNaturalist. You will be contributing to their study of these butterflies that have struggled mightily in recent years. Here's hoping this will be a good year for the Monarchs.

Once again, the day started off gray and cold, with a moist fog bank greeting the dawn. It pulled back somewhat but it is still over the Pacific Ocean and may well in on the immediate coast in places. Temps in the low 60's.

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Grace O'Malley noticed this Doe standing quietly in the grasses, looking at her.

What a beautiful sight, with the Pacific Ocean in the background!

This is the time of year for the rut - the mating season - of the Black-tailed Deer. Bucks have been seen chasing Does, so the game is afoot!

Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

There is a big fog bank at the immediate coast. I can see fog drifting up Fish Rock canyon at times. The temps are in the low 60's today with no wind. Happy Autumn day to you!

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Paul Brewer photographed the sunrise off his Gualala home, showing some of the Douglas Iris in bloom on the bluff.

And Grace O'Malley photographed the sunset  in Timber Cove. Just looks at those luscious colors!

Good morning and good night!

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

Today is cloudy and chilly, with a chance of some of that wet stuff we've been missing so much.

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To see a beautiful Monarch Butterfly in winter means we have a few overwintering Monarchs here, which is very good news. Judith Fisher recently spotted this Monarch at Gualala Point Regional Park.

And in Timber Cove Grace O'Malley had this Monarch feeding on her Pride of Madeira bush.

Monarch Butterflies used to overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast but their numbers have been in a tailspin...until this past autumn/winter, where Monarchs have been seen in much larger numbers. Fingers crossed and recrossed that these beauties will thrive in the future.

Thanks to Judith and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Unseasonably warm here today. 73 degrees this afternoon with low humidity. This isn't January weather...is it? Scott and Tree Mercer are seeing lots of Gray Whales headed south. They are a ways out, two to four miles, so binoculars are very helpful.

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Grace O'Malley was watching one Pale Swallowtail feeding on geraniums in a friend's garden. Before she knew it, another one had joined the first...and voila! Pale Swallowtails mating.

Such beautiful butterflies! Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share them with you here.

It's very foggy on the coast today!