Tag Archives: Michael Reinhart

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Michael Reinhart found a Common Raven eyeing twp Pelagic Cormorant nests with chicks inside.

The Raven swooped down and the cormorants "yelled" at the bird.

The raven had its eye on a nest with a single chick. Look how the mama bird protects her offspring, with her wing spread.

The Raven was unsuccessful on this day, but we know ravens steal a great many cormorant eggs and chicks. It's one of the many reasons we humans shouldn't feed ravens, especially close to the bluff edge. The cormorants are much shyer birds so you don't want to attract ravens to their traditional nesting area.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his dramatic photos.

Another sunny, warm day on the Mendonoma Coast!

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Michael Reinhart recently photographed a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage.

These birds love thistle seeds. They seem to like each other's company, as they travel together in large flocks.

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

ooo, it's so windy today! It's sunny and mild, but the wind is brutal. My non-native lilies are having their blossoms ripped off today. Life on the Mendonoma Coast!

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Michael Reinhart was photographing Pacific Wrens last week. I often hear them but rarely see these tiny birds. Mike's first photo here made me laugh - the male has his mouth open wide, like an opera singer!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes their songs thusly: "Their song is a sweet series of tumbling, trilling notes with a staccato quality. Pacific Wrens have a large catalog of complex songs. Males sing for 5 to 10 seconds, stringing together as many as 50 different phrases." You can listen to their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

In these days when we are filled with worry, it's good to remember that life goes on, and that male Pacific Wrens are singing for mates.

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

We are having a "wait five minutes" type of day. Sometimes brilliant sunshine, sometimes a little rain, with dramatic clouds drifting in. It's quite lovely.

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I find hummingbirds difficult to photograph unless they are resting on a branch. Michael Reinhart obviously has no trouble photographing one on the wing.

And here the little Anna's Hummingbird rest on a branch.

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

Storm report: We received 2.80 inches at our house in Anchor Bay. Today we are bathed in sunshine.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small birds, smaller than a warbler or a chickadee. The males have a patch of red feathers at the top of their heads. However that flash of red isn't often seen. Michael Reinhart recently photographed a male showing off those dramatically-colored feathers.

Notice the yellow toes! These birds constantly flick their wings, giving you a clue as to what you are seeing. Their calls are quite distinctive too. You can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/sounds

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

ooo, we are going to have a big, wet, wonderful storm today and tomorrow. We need it, that's for sure. It's also turned quite cold - cold for the North Coast, that is. It's only 45 degrees at noon today.