Tag Archives: headed south

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Brown pelicans are so much fun to watch. They ride the wind currents over the bluffs and rocky islands in the ocean. Steve Woolson recently photographed these pelicans headed south.

Jon Shiu photographed many brown pelicans resting on the bluffs and rocks at the Mendocino Headlands.

Through my spotting scope, I can see a hundred of more brown pelicans resting overnight on Fish Rocks off Anchor Bay. And the Gualala River, with its big sandbar, plays host to hundreds every day recently.

They will soon head south to their breeding grounds and I will miss them until they return in the spring.

Thanks to Steve and Jon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Yesterday we had a storm rumbled through. 1.18 inches at Rick's and my place. 3.41 inches season to date. Today it is cool - mid 50's - with some showers. The sunset could be amazing!

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We have a lovely bush growing against the house called abelia. It flowers for months. Bees love it, as do hummingbirds. And the Monarchs love it too. I saw a Monarch fly to it earlier today.

Monarch Butterfly nectaring on abelia by Jeanne Jackson

Monarchs are migrating through our area now, heading south. These are the long-lived generation, the Methusalah generation.

Here is a close-up of a Monarch, taken by Clay Yale.

First Monarch of the season by Clay Yale

To track the migration of Monarchs, here is the link to Journey North: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/  This is a citizen science website where people like me and you can share our sightings. They track many creatures, including hummingbirds and gray whales. Join in the fun!

Thanks to Clay for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Brown Pelicans are headed south and some of the males are in breeding plumage. Shirley Arora photographed one such Brown Pelican down by the Point Arena Pier.

To hear the call of this bird, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/id

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