Tag Archives: Michael Reinhart

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Michael Reinhart wrote, “I looked out the window and saw a VERY large bird circling low over the water – an immature Bald Eagle. While grabbing my camera, I noticed that there was a gull on the water under the eagle. The eagle attacked, picking up the gull, and flew off adjusting its prey in its talons.

Another gull [a Western Gull] made a few dives at the eagle, but the eagle kept going and disappeared around the cliff.”

Mike caught sight of the juvenile Bald Eagle on a bluff where he/she presumably finished off his or her meal.

It is heartening to see the recovery of Bald Eagles. As their numbers increased, they began expanding their territory northward along the coast. First we saw a pair in Jenner, and then two years later, the Gualala Bald Eagles arrived. Could this young one be last year's offspring of the Gualala pair? Maybe!

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's sunny and breezy today, and achingly beautiful!

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Michael Reinhart noticed this Common Loon with something tasty, perhaps a mollusk.

Theses birds are excellent swimmers and they can fly fast too, up to 70 MPH when migrating. They have such incredible calls which you can listen to at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/sounds Click on the second recording to hear the ethereal call. wow...

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Sunday/Monday's rain total was 1.15 inches, a nice soaking for the wildflowers and other plants! I swear I can hear the wildflowers singing today. It's breezy today, with a big fog bank over the ocean, clouds overhead mixed with brilliant sunshine. Something for nearly everyone!

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I love these elegant birds. We often see Great Blue Herons near rivers and wetlands. Recently Mike Reinhart found this Great Blue Heron preening near the Gualala River.

Can you stand on one leg and preen your feathers? I thought not!

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's much cooler today. It's also windy with lots of clouds - it *feels* like we could get rain soon. Hope so! It's been well over a month since we got any meaningful rain.

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Michael Reinhart spotted this Red-shouldered Hawk in Point Arena recently.

Isn't this a beautiful hawk? Red-shouldered Hawks live in areas of tall trees and water. Sounds suspiciously like the Mendonoma Coast! They have loud calls which can be listened to at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Today started off with fog but it cleared in most places by mid-morning. A sunny, windless day was our reward for being on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast today. Lots of Gray Whales are migrating southward now. I saw multiple spouts off the Mendocino Headlands today.

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The Bald Eagles seemingly went their own ways after successfully raising a chick earlier this year. But in recent weeks, they have paired up again. Mike Reinhart recently photographed the Gualala Bald Eagles.

We're not sure why the one Bald Eagle, the female, has her wings extended. Maybe she was just stretching. Then they jointly preened themselves.

It's a lot of fun watching for these eagles! The best place to spot them is behind Trinks Cafe in Gualala and at the north end of the Gualala Bluff Trail. There is a dead tree, a snag, to the north that they like to perch in.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

We are waiting for another "river of rain" event that comes late afternoon/early evening today, Saturday. Our stretch of warm, dry weather is over...for now. Bring it, Mother Nature!