Roxanne Holmes photographed a rather unique sunset. She wrote, “The sunset couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be yellow or red, so a stately tree provided a dividing line.”
Quite fun to see! Thanks to Roxanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Sunny and cool today. There was ice on some roads early this morning!
Karen Wilkinson heard about this beautiful bird and convinced her husband, Mike Petrich, to get a photo. Karen wrote, “Getting outside and soaking up the sunshine and calm winds was a total treat, but so was the Manchester Christmas Bird Count this [past] weekend. I joined Rich Trissel’s team for the southern territory and had a great day out. We saw 70 species of birds in a single day. That's a decent number for a winter's day along the Mendonoma coast. On the walk, some of the more experienced birders were talking about a rarity that was seen in Pt Arena earlier in the week - a Harris's Sparrow. It was a long shot, but I bribed Mike with a Zack's Milkshake if he'd join me for a little sparrow stalking expedition. It really was a long shot…BUT… we found it! I got my 'lifer bird' and Mike got a banana chocolate milkshake. Win, win.”
The wayward sparrow was with a mixed flock of White-crowned Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows. The flock was immediately behind the blue apartment buildings (Point Arena Village Apartments) which can be accessed off of Port Road. I have not received any more sightings of this bird for some days now.
Harris’s Sparrow is the only songbird that breeds in Canada and nowhere else in the world. In winter it is found in the south-central Great Plains, which is nowhere near Point Arena. Their populations are declining due to their vulnerability to habitat loss on the wintering and breeding grounds.
It's beautiful here today with blue skies and very little wind.
I was photographing the setting sun with my iPhone. There was an interesting cloud slowing moving in from the south. Here's what it looked like when the sun set.
Since the horizon was so clear, I was watching for a green flash, and there was a beautiful one. I wish my photo showed it better, but I'm still happy I got some green to show you.
Tonight the horizon is very clear so there could be another green flash! No clouds today and warm weather moved in. Quite warm! 79 degrees warm! It's pretty strange for January though.
I love the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. With all the rain, there is this beautiful waterfall to find as Mel Smith photographed. Hint: It's closer to the north end.
Mel noticed some cracking, some erosion on the southern end of the Lands. He brought his camera and young granddaughter to observe what was going on. A new blowhole has been born! Here in the link to Mel's video:
New blowhole at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands by Mel Smith
Amazing! Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo and video with you here.
Lots of overhead clouds have poured in this afternoon but no predicted rain. Temps in the high 50's.
Though there are quite a few overhead clouds this Sunday, the sun has shone through for most of the day. Harbor Seals are known for sleeping on rocks in the sun. Ben Angwin found something unusual a few weeks ago - two Harbor Seals molting!
I sent Ben’s photo to Jan Roletto, marine mammal expert for NOAA. She wrote, “Yes, that's a molting in harbor seal. The seal looks like a very healthy animal but is molting a couple of months later than most. Harbor seals molt June - July, just after pups are weaned. This is a ‘shedding’ of fur but will look a little ‘patchy with older duller fur mixed with new shiny fur with brilliant spots. This is what I see in the photo.”
When I look close at Ben’s photo, both Harbor Seals appear to be molting. It’s a mystery as to why they are doing so this late in the year.
Sara Bogard did her census of the Harbor Seals at the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula and adjacent Point Arena-Stornetta Lands a few days before Christmas. She found 125 Harbor Seals. Harbor Seals are apex animals. If they are doing well, the ecosystem is doing well too.
Thanks to Ben for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
It's sunny and cool. We are promised at least a week without rain. My season to date rain total is 40.73 inches, which is amazing. 50 inches is a normal wet winter at Rick's and my place.