Tag Archives: Laura Baker

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Pacific Rhododendrons, also called California Rhododendrons, Rhododendron macrophyllum, often begin blooming in May. Their delicate blooms extend into the first part of June, and you can see them now, along with the native Azaleas. Laura Baker was at Mill Bend overlooking the Gualala River when she spotted this beautiful sight.

Mill Bend is the latest acquisition by our fabulous land conservancy, the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. You can read more about Mill Bend and RCLC's other public access spots at this link: https://www.rclc.org/

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

It's warm here today with very little wind. Clouds are beginning to appear as changes seem to be afoot in the weather department. Rain is predicted for the weekend, and wouldn't that be a blessing!

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Doug Le Du wrote, "I am hoping you can help me identify this flying creature captured on the evening of June 9 with a motion-sensitive camera with IR lighting about 9 pm. I have seen bats fly by this camera hundreds of times and at first dismissed this as just another bat fly-by. But then I paused the video and realized that not only is this NOT A BAT, but that I had no idea what this flying creature was.”

Naturalist Laura Baker took a detailed look. She wrote, “What a wonderful mystery! Here’s my guess – maybe a Praying Mantis? Males are known to fly around at night, come to lights and engage in bat avoidance maneuvers. Check. Mantids fly with their legs totally splayed out. General flight characteristics look like the Praying Mantises I’ve seen flying in the day.”

Here are the two short videos for you to see.

It's a fun mystery. I guessing a Forest Fairy! Let me know your guess.

Thanks to Doug for sharing his videos and photos with us here.

It's warm right along the bluffs, and downright hot further away from the ocean - a June heatwave. Lots of visitors have arrived, seeking relief from the inland heat and getting some necessary Vitamin Sea.

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Like a ghost in the deep forest, this Phantom Orchid, Cephalanthera austiniae, is a gem to discover. I  have never seen one but I hope to rectify that. Laura Baker photographed this beauty.

These orchids have no chlorophyll. They depend on a symbiotic relationship with fungi to thrive.

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

If you'd like to watch my presentation of the rarest and most beautiful Sightings photographs, which was sponsored by the Mendocino Land Trust, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2492W3BJIQ

It's sunny today but the wind is blowing very hard. No need to comb your hair, as the wind will have its way!

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Craig Tooley photographed this Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly.

Laura Baker ID'd this butterfly, which was originally thought to be a California Sister. I couldn't get the ID to match because the orange on the upper wing of this butterfly goes all the way to the edge.  Laura wrote, "Lourquin's admiral is frequently confused with California sister.  You're right that one of the distinguishing  characteristics is that the California sister's wings are tipped in black beyond the orange spots.  Lorquin's admiral has orange all along the edge of the forewings.  Lorquin's admirals are associated with willows and alders while sisters are usually associated with oaks.  But we have tons of sisters and they seem to love our fruit trees, so go figure!"

Here's a California Sister for comparison. This photo was taken by Wendy Bailey.

Thanks to Laura for the ID, and to Wendy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with  you here. Craig's photo is one of his daily Pic-O-JOY photos. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at his website: www.ruffimage.com

We're having a heat wave! Well, it's over 80 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay. We tend to start melting when it goes over 80.

Spring doesn't know...

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Laura Baker wrote, "I was out looking under logs up here in Annapolis and had a wonderful experience. I found a Speckled Black Salamander, a first for me. Later in the day I found a Wandering Salamander, also a first.”

Here's Speckled Black Salamander, Anedies flauvipunctatus. Its Scientific name sounds like an incantation from Harry Potter!

And here is the Wandering Salamander, Aneides vacrans.

Here's a look at this salamander's long, squared-off toes.

These are climbing salamanders and have prehensile tails. Wandering Salamanders often are found high in the canopy of old-growth trees, where they can live for the entire lives. The Gualala River watershed is the southernmost limit of their range.

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

We received .25 inches of rain yesterday, the first in over a month. We have more in our forecast. Today I can see showers out on the horizon and the Pacific Ocean has big swells.