Tag Archives: Mary Lou Flint

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White-lined Sphinx Moths, also called Hummingbird Moths, are here on the Mendonoma Coast in unbelievable numbers. In past years, I'd be lucky to receive one or two sightings of these beautiful moths. In the past week or so I've received many, many sightings of them. For whatever reason, they are having a banner year - a mast year - and they are being seen in the daylight hours, which is also unusual.

Mary Lou Flint photographed one feeding on agapanthus. She said there were three or four in her garden.

And Michael Combs found one feeding on nasturtiams.

Jeanne Barry also found one in her garden.

This morning I saw two feeding in abelia, a plant loved by Bumblebees, Monarch Butterflies, and now White-lined Sphinx Moths! I'll be posting more about these beauties soon.

Thanks to Mary Lou, Michael and Jeanne (nice name!) for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

After a very foggy, drippy morning, the sun broke through, but temps are quite mild, low 60's.

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Connie King wrote, “I thought you might enjoy seeing this shot of pollen-laden bees feasting on a Matijilla Poppy from our yard today. Can you believe those bright yellow thighs!?! Or maybe that’s what the ‘bees knees’ is all about.”

I checked with entomologist Mary Lou Flint. She wrote, “Definitely Honey Bees. Nice shot of their well-filled pollen baskets! It’s amazing how much pollen, and nectar, they can carry in their ‘saddle bags,’ apparently up to 30% of their weight.”

Honey Bees are not native here but they are used to pollinate many crops. As several people on the Mendonoma Coast have hives of these bees, they are often seen in our gardens, feeding on flowers. I am also seeing them at the small waterfall in our courtyard. They are coming for water!

Here is one of our native bees, a Yellow-faced Bumblebee, photographed by Paul Brewer.

Thanks to Connie and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Good news! Several Monarch Butterflies were seen today, one in Timber Cove and another in Gualala. Fingers crossed that we see many more in the days and weeks ahead. Today is a spectacular day of blue skies and warm temps. The fog is AWOL and the air is clear from Saturday's wonderful rain.