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Can you see the bug?

Craig Tooley was at the Gualala River when he noticed a tiny bug. After some research, I believe it’s a toad bug, more specifically a big-eyed toad bug. When I told Craig, he wrote back, “I’ve never heard of such a thing! But very interesting, glad I caught it. I should go down and look around and see if I can see anymore.”

They are about the size of a watermelon seed. And they have exceptional camouflage until they suddenly hop across the sand or mud. Living near the shoreline of fresh water streams and rivers, they are beneficial, eating even tinier insects.

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

We've had a few sprinkles today but the sun is shinning this afternoon, at least for a short while. The surface waters of the Pacific Ocean are flowing south to north, indicating a storm is on the way!

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Sara Bogard was out recently with a friend.  She wrote, "Barbara Mehl and I saw two Bobcats north of Point Arena. This one was gorgeous!! And regal.”

Bobcats are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They are often seen in the daylight hours hunting rodents in grassy meadows.

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

Warm and calm today - 70 degrees! It's the calm before the storm as we have a big one coming in early Friday. Batten down the hatches!

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Loch Michie has been noticing a particular Acorn Woodpecker working away to drill holes in the building that houses Anchor Bay Store.

After drilling the holes with its powerful beak, the woodpecker foraged for acorns and has begun poking them into some of the holes. These acorns, and the bugs that are drawn to them, will be eaten by these woodpeckers during the winter months.

Normally Acorn Woodpeckers use a dead tree - a snag - to drill holes. Then the dead tree is called a granary tree. Sometimes they will use the dead wood we tend to use for buildings, which is what is going on in Anchor Bay!

To hear the distinctive calls of this woodpecker, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker/sounds They also have tips on how to protect your building from this activity if this is happening to you.

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

We had a storm move through late Sunday into Monday which dropped 0.38 inches of rain. 1.59 season to date. Today is cool and breezy with lots of clouds zipping by. There could be a beautiful sunset tonight!

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American Kestrels are the smallest of falcons. They hunt for insects and other small prey in open spaces, perching on wires or poles. They face into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place.

Ben Angwin found one overhead, soaring, at Gualala Point Regional Park.

Mel Smith found a female taking a bath in the birdbath at his place in Point Arena.

Kestrels are declining in parts of their range; you can help them by putting up nest boxes.

To hear the call of this falcon, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/sounds You can also learn how to make a nesting box for these beauties at this link: https://nestwatch.org/?s=American+kestrel

Thanks to Ben and Mel for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It was a mostly cloudy day as rain is due in tonight. Tomorrow, Tuesday, should be rainy!

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Craig Tooley was out photographing at the Gualala River when he saw this North American River Otter and a Great Egret looking at each other. Peace on Earth moment?

Craig and I would love to see your captions for this photo!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://ruffimage.com

It's a nice autumn day here on the Mendonoma Coast with some overhead clouds, a breeze with the temps in the mid 60's.