Monthly Archives: July 2013

•

I rarely see these birds because they are hidden away in a tall tree, so you might ask why it is one of my favorites. The answer is its beautiful song. Swainson's are a medium-size thrush and they are found in forests. Richard Kuehn was lucky enough to capture one singing recently.

Swainson's Thrushes overwinter in Mexico and South America. Their arrival on the Mendonoma Coast signifies spring to me. When they pair up, you can hear them calling to each other during the day, keeping in touch with their beautiful song.

Here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to hear their call: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Thrush/sounds. But you will have to imagine a series of these calls, with the thrill going upwards on the scale, sometimes almost too high to hear - at least by human ear.

Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see a Swainson's Thrush nest, along with an American Goldfinch nest, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/07/26/swainsons-thrush-and-american-goldfinch-i-have-two-nests-to-show-you/

•

Paul Brewer continues to study an Osprey nest upriver from Jenner and he is kindly sharing some of his photos with us.

The first photo shows the baby on the left as Mom lands on the nest.

 And below the young one is exercising its wings.

And in the photo below the juvenile Osprey is taking its first "steps." It may not be too long before this Osprey fledges.

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

• 4 Comments

•

It wasn't in the forecast but tell that to Mother Nature. A spectacular lightning and thunderstorm made it impossible to sleep late last night and early this morning on the Mendonoma Coast. Fortunately most of the strikes were over the ocean. Paul Kozal set up his camera and caught this beautiful photo; it gave me goosebumps when I saw it.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to show you this wonder of nature. To see more of Paul's photography, here's the link to his website: http://www.paulkozal.com/. I particularly love his mushroom photographs.

•

The heat wave we had been experiencing broke yesterday. Last Saturday we had the highest temperature we've ever had in 17 years of living here - 96 degrees. We weren't sad to see the heat go. This morning's early sunrise was reflected off some beautiful clouds with the calm ocean underneath, as seen from our deck.

The Pacific Ocean has no whitecaps today and fishing boats are out. Salmon fishing has been great lately. I'll share a photo showing a beautiful salmon soon.

Tomorrow we celebrate the 4th of July, commemorating the birth of America. Here on the Mendonoma Coast, we will celebrate on Saturday the 6th with fireworks in Point Arena and a parade on Sunday.

•

It's Latin name sounds pretty scary -Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis. California Red-sided Gartersnakes are only found on the California Coast from Humboldt County south to Monterey Bay. Peter Baye recently photographed one found along Tenmile River.

They have a toxin in their saliva which can be deadly to their prey. They are not considered harmful to humans but I wouldn't want to be bitten by one. Their bite could cause an adverse reaction. California Red-sided Gartersnakes eat a wide variety of creatures, including Banana Slugs. Gartersnakes are the only known creature that can eat Rough-skinned Newts.

They are great swimmers and will often retreat into the water if threatened. C'Anna Bergman Hill photographed this Red-sided Gartnersnake in a creek on the Stornetta Public Lands.

Thanks to Peter and C'Anna for allowing me to share their photos with you here.