Tag Archives: Timber Cove

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To see a beautiful Monarch Butterfly in winter means we have a few overwintering Monarchs here, which is very good news. Judith Fisher recently spotted this Monarch at Gualala Point Regional Park.

And in Timber Cove Grace O'Malley had this Monarch feeding on her Pride of Madeira bush.

Monarch Butterflies used to overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast but their numbers have been in a tailspin...until this past autumn/winter, where Monarchs have been seen in much larger numbers. Fingers crossed and recrossed that these beauties will thrive in the future.

Thanks to Judith and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Unseasonably warm here today. 73 degrees this afternoon with low humidity. This isn't January weather...is it? Scott and Tree Mercer are seeing lots of Gray Whales headed south. They are a ways out, two to four miles, so binoculars are very helpful.

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Red-shouldered Hawks are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast, and it's always a treat to see and hear one. Craig Tooley recently photographed one of these beautiful hawks at the moment it took flight near the Gualala River.

Heidi Horvitz photographed a Red-shouldered Hawk that makes its home in the Timber Cove area. She said this hawk is very vocal!

To hear the calls of a Red-shouldered Hawk, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Craig and Heidi for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

We received 1.2 inches of rain overnight Friday, a nice soaking. Today, Sunday, is sunny and breezy, a beautiful day. More rain coming in tomorrow. Wildflower alert: The first Calypso Orchids are up!

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The Pacific Ocean has been loud and mighty lately. Huge waves have crashed against sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. Janet Burch was out on the bluffs at The Sea Ranch when she saw this awesome sight.

Grace O'Malley photographed these waves called Rooster Tails off of Timber Cove.

And Bob Rutemoeller witnessed this roiled-up ocean off the Gualala Bluff Trail.

Shirley Mitchell photographed the action off of Gualala Point.

Such power and such beauty - we need to respect the Pacific Ocean and stay well back when she is flexing her awesome power.

Thanks to Janet, Grace, Bob and Shirley for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today it is raining - hooray! A half-inch so far but the bulk of the storm is due in a bit later.

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We usually see many Monarchs in the autumn here on the Mendonoma Coast. But sightings this year have been few and far between - not good news for these beautiful butterflies. However, Molly McKusick found this one at The Sea Ranch.

And Grace O'Malley photographed this one in Timber Cove.

I saw a large orange butterfly this morning from my house, but it was too far to confirm if it was a Monarch, but I'd like to believe it was!

Thanks to Molly and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Another clear, dry day, with mild temperatures. Thank goodness we had those two storms before this high pressure system moved back in. Last night there was a green flash at sunset, and conditions for one tonight look very promising.

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Grace O’Malley in Timber Cove wrote, “The warm air last week brought out a kaleidoscope of butterflies, flitting and fluttering about in my flower beds. I was delighted to see a pair of Monarchs dating in flight, and then they landed together on a grassy bed, glued abdomen to abdomen. May she successfully locate the native milkweed to perpetuate life."I asked Monarch expert Mia Monroe about these butterflies mating in the autumn. She wrote, “Good to hear from you and with such good news. With this warm weather much is going on, like migration, and some seem frisky and mate. It’s not the best thing as it’s the wrong time of year. But that female can also make it through the winter and then in spring lay her eggs at the ‘right’ time.”

Interesting! Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share her photo with you here.