Michael Beattie is monitoring several sites where Peregrine Falcons have nested the past few years on the Mendocino coast. He caught this Peregrine preening recently.
And then shaking his/her leg.
Here's a photo Michael took last year of Peregrine Falcon in flight, and looking at Michael!
We are happy Peregrines have returned to the Mendonoma Coast, along with Bald Eagles.
Thanks to Michael for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Gail Jackson noticed this Peregrine Falcon in a tree at Gualala Point Regional Park. The falcon was soaked from the rain.
This falcon doesn't look too happy! Here's a photo of a Peregrine Falcon soaring, taken by Michael Beattie. This Peregrine had much better weather for hunting.
Thanks to Gail and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
We've had a storm overnight and another one today. We have soared past 26 inches season to date at our place in Anchor Bay. Up ahead for next week? Sunny and mild!
Michael Beattie wrote, “It was just a wonderful day at the Lands today, January 1. We see these two Coyotes on an almost daily basis. They seem to be keeping the Gophers in check. The one we originally saw actually called the second one to their side, and it came quickly from an unseen hideout.”
Here's a close-up of one of the healthy-looking Coyotes.
And here is where the one Coyote was calling to the other one.
Michael also reports a pair of Peregrine Falcons are back at a rocky island off the Lands. He wrote, “I’ve located the old Stornetta pair, and keeping them safe by not visiting too closely.”
Thanks to Michael for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Lots of rain from this morning's storm, over one inch. Much more headed our way soon.
Driving on Highway One is quite an experience. When you reach Elk, this beautiful sight is revealed. Charlie Ivor recently photographed this special spot.
Sea stacks are formed when parts of the headlands break off due to the force of the ocean waves. Larger sea stacks can provide important nesting spots for seabirds.
In the photos below, taken by Michael Beattie two years ago, a pair of Canada Geese used a sea stack off the Point Arena/Stornetta Lands to nest on. It was pretty exciting when the chicks needed to fledge from such a great height!
Thanks to Charlie and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
The weather is delightful, with abundant sunshine!
The chicks in the other two Peregrine Falcon nests, one with two chicks and the other with four chicks, have fledged. But a new nest was discovered recently and the chicks are at least three weeks younger than the ones that just fledged. There are two chicks in this newly discovered nest and Michael Beattie was invited to come by and photograph them.
Here the two chicks obviously are anxious to be fed.
The adult Peregrines have been taking nearly all of this year's Western Gull chicks to feed their young. It's a rough time for smaller birds with these predators in town.
Thanks to Michael for allowing me to share his photos with you here.