Monthly Archives: March 2015

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Peter Baye was at Manchester State Park when he saw this plant, Dodder, Cuscuta.

Dodder, a parasitic plant, growing on Gumplant by Peter Baye

Dodder is the orange and beige string-like plant. It is parasitic and it has attached itself to a Gumplant, the green leaves in the photo. In the next photo you can see the little pegs on its bright-orange leafless thread-like stems. Peter tells me it inserts these into its host's leaves to obtain water and nutrients.

A stem of Dodder inserting itself into Gumplant by Peter Baye

It's blooming very early this year. Dodder has vanilla-scented flowers and is in the morning glory family.

Peter also found a half-parasite plant, a rare dune variety of Purple Owl's clover, Castilleja exerta subsp. latifolia.

Rare dune variety of Purple Owl's-clover, Castilleja exserta latifolia, by Peter Baye

Peter says it taps into dune sage's roots. There was obviously enough rain in early winter for it to grow.

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

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Male birds are singing to attract a mate and it is beautiful to hear. Richard Kuehn and Dean Schuler took a walk yesterday and found these birds -  a Pacific Wren [formally called Winter Wren] and a Wilson's Warbler.

Pacific Wren by Rich Kuehn Wilson's Warbler by Richard Kuehn

To hear the sound of a Pacific Wren, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds. And to hear the Wilson's Warbler, here is the link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/sounds

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

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Paul Brewer caught these beautiful Anna's hummingbirds just as they were about to feed.

Anna's Hummingbird about to feed by Paul Brewer Anna's Hummingbird by Paul Brewer Anna's Hummingbird feeding 2 by Paul Brewer Anna's Hummingbird feeding by Paul Brewer Anna's Hummingbird feeds by Paul Brewer

I think of these tiny birds as living jewels. They feed on nectar - if you plant it, they will come!

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share these photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Donna Woodbury and her friend, Heidi Endemann, recently took a walk on Anchor Bay Beach with their dogs. Jerry Anon captured this lovely photo.

Donna Woodbury and Heidi Endemann take stroll on Anchor Bay Beach by Jerry Anon

Any day is a great day to take a walk at sunset!

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

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Some of the "boys" were in an amorous mood but the lone female Gray Whale wasn't interested. To get away from the males, she did a maneuver that looks like she's standing on her head. Barry Weiss and Craig Tooley each got photos of this. The first photo is Barry's.

Female Gray Whale head down by Barry Weiss Female Gray Whale trying to avoid amorous males by Craig Tooley

This isn't the right time of year for females to be impregnated. But tell that to the fellas.

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