I would never want to body shame, so let's just say this California Sea Lion looks very well fed. Michael Reinhart recently photographed him resting on a rock in the sun. The rock looks to be nearly covered with CA Mussels. This big Sea Lion looks like he is King of his domain!
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
It's a truly beautiful day here today. Temps in the mid-70's and a gently breeze. This morning the ocean was like glass.
Michael Reinhart has a real talent for photographing birds. He got this young Bald Eagle flying by recently. I believe this bird is 1 and 1/2 years old, so last year's young.
Bald Eagles go through many changes in their appearance during the first five years. Here's a link to Avian Report that shows the evolving feathers, beak and even the eyes of a developing Bald Eagle: https://avianreport.com/age-and-identify-a-juvenile-and-sub-adult-bald-eagle/
At five and a half they have their mature coloration and they won't change in the years ahead. Males and females look alike, but the female is about one third bigger than her mate.
Here is a recent photo of an adult Bald Eagle near the Gualala River, taken by Jim Garlock.
Thanks to Michael and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
It's lovely here today, high 60's, and a gentle breeze. Huckleberries are ripe and ready for picking. Yum!
Brown Pelicans land in the Gualala River, which is a hoot to watch. As graceful as they are in the air, they can be quite clumsy coming in for a river landing. Mike Reinhart was recently at the river when he saw this Brown Pelican taking quite a bath.
The freshwater of the river is perfect for getting each feather clean!
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Today is warm and rather muggy. Some clouds poured in this morning but all that remains are wispy clouds now.
Michael Reinhart found this very small wren and took this great photo.
This is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website has to say about these birds, which I have near me in Anchor Bay:
"Pacific Wrens are tiny brown wrens with a song much larger than themselves. One researcher deemed them a “pinnacle of song complexity.” This tinkling, bubbly songster is more often heard than seen within the dark understory of old-growth evergreen forests where they live. When Pacific Wrens sing they hold their tail upright and their entire body shakes with sound. They move like mice through the forest understory, hopping along logs and upturned roots."
To hear their tinkling song, you can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We've had a cold, tumultuous storm which appears to be nearly over. It's a wait-five-minutes kind of day - sunny for a bit, and then hey! it's hailing! Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, we are expected to have dry, warmer weather through the weekend. Rain report: 60.75 inches season to date! Rivers and seasonal creeks are roaring now.
Perry Hoffman was photographing this Black Oystercatcher when a big wave crashed behind him or her!
And Mike Reinhart got this interesting photo of two walking down the rocks, along with one sitting/resting in the sun.
This is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has to say about their calls:
"High-pitched, piping or whistling notes, given singly or in rolling, stuttering, or trilling series, often sounding like an excitable wheee as if given by a kid on a roller coaster." Listen and see what you think: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Oystercatcher/sounds
Thanks to Perry and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Perry's photography and art, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/
Looks like our three plus weeks of dry, sunny weather is about to come to a close in a couple of days. Today was clear and nippy!