Richard Kuehn took a walk on the bluffs recently and photographed three wildflowers. The first photo shows Seaside Daisies.
And Footsteps-of Spring.
And a lovely Douglas Iris.
Wildflowers are blooming along shady forest paths too. Western Trilliums have begun their bloom.
Redwood Violets, Milk Maids, and the first Redwood Sorrel are also blooming.
The first three photos are by Rich and the last photo is from Jon Raymond. I thank them both for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
A rare visitor to the Mendonoma Coast, a Pacific Golden-Plover was spotted by Richard Kuehn.
This bird gets its name from the gold color etched on its wings.
To hear the call of this shorebird, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Golden-Plover/sounds
Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Mark Simkins photographed a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk recently. They are hawks of the forest, hunting prey such as frogs, mice and snakes.
And Richard Kuehn photographed a juvenile Northern Harrier. They fly low over the land hunting their prey, small animals.
To hear the call of a Northern Harrier, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/sounds
To hear the call of a Red-shouldered Hawk, here is the link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-shouldered_hawk/sounds
Thanks to Mark and Rich for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Richard Kuehn noticed spouts over the Thanksgiving holiday, perhaps the vanguard of the southward Gray Whale Migration. More Grays have been seen, though in small numbers.
Scott Mercer, a Gray Whale expert, related the theory that, because there was an early ice-out in their prime feeding grounds, they were able to feed earlier than usual. It was then thought the Grays might be on the move earlier than usual, and that has proved to be the case.
Here is an aerial photo of a Gray Whale that Craig Tooley took last year.
Thanks to Rich and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much, much more of Craig's Nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com
American White Pelicans often head to the coast to overwinter. A flock has been seen near the mouth of the Russian River. Richard Kuehn recently photographed one giving him the eye. The second photo was taken by Allen Vinson of a pair in Bodega Bay. That is followed by Siegfried Matull's photo of one coming in for a landing.
The second to last photo is by Jim Garlock and the last by Janet Tervo. These are huge birds with a wing span of 108 inches! They are usually silent away from their breeding grounds, which is inland and to the north.
Thanks to all the photographers for allowing me to share their photos with you here.