Tag Archives: Sara Bogard

• 1 Comment

•

A week ago Tuesday, sightings of these talkative geese came flooding in. The Aleutian Cackling Geese are on the move in huge numbers. Eric Zetterholm photographed this huge skein.

That Sunday Carolyn Case found more passing by, this time on a sunny day, flying over Gualala Point Island.

It's interesting that the two photos look like they are going both north and south, but it's all about where the photographer was standing.

The numbers of the Aleutian Cackling Geese have special meaning for Doug  Forsell, formerly a migratory seabird biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Doug wrote, “Quite a few flocks passing over my house today. I counted about 3,400 geese flying by in two and a half hours including one flock of about 1,400 birds. I think that is the largest flock I've seen. That one flock was four times the entire population of Aleutian Cackling Geese in the early 1970's, when they were put on the endangered species list.” Foxes had been introduced to the islands with devastating results to the nesting geese. Doug was part of the successful effort to save them from extinction, something to be very proud of.

Some people mistake these geese for Canada Geese. Here's a closer look, photo by Sara Bogard.

From the web I found this graphic showing the difference between the two birds

Thanks to Eric, Carolyn, and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Lots of rain yesterday, 1.42 inches in our gauge. Some showers passed by this morning, with sun reappearing in the afternoon. Another storm tomorrow! Over 52 inches season to date!

•

Sara Bogard was out at the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula when she saw this Ferruginous Hawk looking at her. She quickly got this photo.

A few of these hawks will overwinter here on the Mendonoma Coast and it's always a treat to see them. They will be leaving soon as their breeding season will be commencing soon. Here's a map by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that shows where they will be headed.

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here. And thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for being so awesome. Their website is http://allaboutbirds.org They also created the Merlin Bird ID that lets you use a smartphone to listen to a bird's call. It then will ID it for you. I've been waiting for this app all my life! You can learn about it here: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ It's a free app, but you just might be inclined to hit the donate button on their website as a thank you.

oh boy, we had a lot of rain the past five days, five inches of the wet stuff. I'm at 48.10 inches season to date, a nice wet winter. Today is sunny and breezy.

•

Sara Bogard saw this rare visitor to our coast off the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula. It's a Harlequin Duck.

When talking to each other, Harlequin Ducks make un-duck-like squeaks, which gives them another common name, Sea Mouse.

A week or so earlier, in the same area, Sara had watched while two Common Ravens attempted to chase off a Red-tailed Hawk.

Can't we all just get along?

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Saturday's storm was suppose to be the smaller of the storms but it's really pouring here. 1.60 inches so far. Yikes!

•

Sara Bogard took this photo of an Anna's Hummingbird looking directly at her. Just what is this little hummer thinking?

Perry Hoffman had a Common Raven take a good at him and his camera!

And lastly Ron Bolander found this male American Kestrel giving him the eye.

These photos cry out for a caption! Feel free to chime in.

Thanks to Sara, Perry and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with  you here.

Today is sunny, windy and cool. Yesterday a quick but potent storm moved in and dumped a half inch at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. 19.98 inches season to date!

•

Sara Bogard does a regular count of Harbor Seals at the PA Lighthouse Peninsula and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. She also notices and photographs other wildlife. The first bird is a Surf Scoter. This is a female and she is overwintering on the Mendonoma Coast. These sea ducks nest in far Northern Canada and Alaska.

Next Sara photographed a Belted Kingfisher. Males have one blue band across their white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band. I can't see any chestnut, so I think this is a male. They are year round residents here. And then Sara found this Harbor Seal catching a Rockfish for its meal.

There is a LOT to see when you take the time to observe as Sara does!

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It was cool overnight, 40 degrees in the early morning. There are high clouds, which gave us a beautiful sunrise and, hopefully, a beautiful sunset!