Tag Archives: Grace O’Malley

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This morning Rick and I, along with friends Pam and Eric Ryan, saw a large group of Brown Pelicans on the sandbar of the Gualala River. We were walking the Gualala Bluff Trail when we saw them, a true delight!

Grace O'Malley was at the Bodega Bay Harbor recently when she saw these two Brown Pelicans coming in for a landing. They look like they are tippy-toeing across the surface of the water.

Then, with Grace watching, the two pelicans face-planted into the water. It's enough to make one laugh out loud!

As graceful as Brown Pelicans are in flight, they can be quite clumsy in landing. Ah, we love the Brown Pelicans, graceful or not! They have recently dispersed along the coast - a large group was recently seen resting of Gualala Point Island.

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

The weather here changed dramatically today. This morning it was warm and still. When we walked the Bluff Trail it was probably in the mid-70s. Then around noon the fog formed up. The temps dropped 15 degrees. Amazing...

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Grace O'Malley found this downed wood, which had been turned into a work of art by wood borers, or perhaps wood worms.

Wood borers, worms, beetles, termites, even fungi have a role in decomposing dead wood in the forest. This particular tree really has a tremendous amount of carvings.

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

Yesterday, at 1 pm, the first mother/calf Gray Whale pair was seen by whale watchers Scott and Tree Mercer at the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula! Many more to come in the days and weeks to come.

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Grace O'Malley noticed this young Red-tailed Hawk perched on a tattered "No Trespassing" sign. Looks like an enforcer was in town!

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

Another sunny, breezy day here on the Mendonoma coast. It actually feels more like Spring than Autumn. Come on, rain, come on down from the north!

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Grace O'Malley photographed this Song Sparrow perched on a rock, singing.

We had warm, dry weather for December. Perhaps this sparrow thought it was spring and time to sing for a mate! He will be hunkered down today as we have some much needed rain.

These sparrows have a sweet call, which you can listen to at this site: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/sounds

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

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Grace O'Malley spotted this Hummingbird Moth, Hyles lineata, in her garden near Timber Cove. In Grace's first photo you can see the very long tongue of this moth.

Grace wrote,“A Hummingbird Moth appeared in my garden, hovering around and sipping nectar from the Giant Impatiens.  The U.S. Forest Service advises ‘like most moths, they have a very long tongue which they carry rolled under their chins’ and unfurl to reach the nectar of the long-necked flowers they prefer."

These spectacular moths are most often seen around dusk. Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

The Mendonoma coast is free of smoke from the terrible fires. Many evacuees have come here and their stories are heartbreaking. Rain is in our forecast for next Wednesday. We hope it will come sooner than that and put out all the fires.