Tag Archives: Kate Bloch

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This past week or so, Brown Pelicans have been seen in breeding plumage. Their heads are dusted in yellow and their gular pouch - their throat pouch - has turned orange/red. Kate Bloch got this photo of a Brown Pelican in the Gualala River, which shows you this transition.

These breeders will head south to their traditional breeding grounds, which are West Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands. Birders wonder if they will expand their breeding grounds northward, perhaps even the Mendonoma Coast. We’ll be watching!

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

Since Nov. 16th we've had 2.74 inches of rain and the season to date is 12.74. Mushrooms are popping up seemingly everywhere! We've had a nice wet start this year. But now we take a pause and the forecast is clear of any storms through Thanksgiving. This afternoon is bright sunshine after some residual cloud, though it's on the cool side in the mid 50's.

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Earlier this month Kate Bloch wrote,

"I was just about to email you two photos of wildlife I saw earlier this afternoon as sunset approached. Because it looked like the fog bank was a slim bank across the horizon, it seemed prudent to wait for any end-of-daylight pyrotechnics, and today certainly came to a close with a beautiful sunset and a lovely light purple flash.  I hope you had a chance to witness the display."

"And here's a photo of the green flash from September 17th, as the flash ended up with a lovely silhouette of a pelican above it."

It isn't easy to photograph a green flash but Kate has the talent and ability to do so. I thank her for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

I did see a beautiful green flash last night, Monday. It's said to be good luck to see a green flash. I hope that works for photos of green/purple flashes too!

This morning it was sunny and mild. And then...and then...the fog came up from the south. Most of the time it comes from the north. It rolled over Rick's and my house in Anchor Bay early this afternoon and the temperature dropped dramatically/

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Kate Bloch managed to photograph a rare blue flash to go along with the green flash.

The reason we can't see more colors than green has to do with atmospheric dispersion.But every now and then, a talented photographer will catch magic and show us the blue flash.

Thanks to said talented photographer, Kate Bloch, for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Thick fog this morning but it finally cleared at Rick's and my place mid-afternoon. Temps in the low 60's.

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Harbor Seal pups are being born at several locations on the Mendonoma Coast. Kate Bloch was on the bluffs overlooking the rookery off The Sea Ranch when she witnessed an actual birth...and she photographed it for us to see.

Here the pup is being born.

And here the mother is looking to see how it's going! Two Western Gulls stand at the ready to eat the afterbirth.

Here the pup is breaking out of the amniotic sac.

And here is the first bonding of mother and newborn. They touch noses.

Below the pup begins to nurse. And then his/her mom leads the way to the ocean for the first swim.

Many thanks to Kate for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

When Harbor Seals are thriving, the ecosystem is doing well. Live long and prosper, little pup!

Foggy this morning but then brilliant sunshine broke out.

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Once in a great while, you might see another color on the edges of a green flash. Kate Bloch captured some blue in a recent green flash.

Seeing a green flash is said to bring good luck! I wonder what seeing some blue brings - double good luck? Sounds good!

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

Beautiful weather here today, close to 70 degrees and just a little breeze. There were several hundred people at today's protest in Gualala. We might have gotten a bit sunburned!