Sightings

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Lilium pardalinum, also known as the Leopard Lily or Panther Lily, is blooming now. David Munson got this close up of the beautiful flower.

This plant is native to Oregon, California, and Baja California. It usually grows in damp areas. What a treat to see!

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

Last night, Saturday night, the fog held back for the fireworks show in Point Arena. And it was quite a dramatic, beautiful show. This morning the fog had moved in. Temps are in the 60s today. Considering all the terrible heat inland, this cooling fog feels like a blessing.

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This Western Gull was NOT happy a big Bald Eagle was perched nearby. Perhaps there is a nest there. Shari Goforth photographed the action as the gull launched itself at the eagle.

The Bald Eagle took the hint and lifted off.

Great action photos by Shari! I thank her for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Fog made an appearance early this morning, cooling off the immediate coast. It's more than ten degrees cooler today, temps in the low 70s at Rick's and my place.

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Fogbows, sometimes called white Rainbows, can be seen in the mornings if you are lucky. Karen Wilkinson is obviously lucky! She photographed this Fogbow last week.

John Wall once photographed this beautiful fogbow.

Thanks to Karen and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

There was some fog this morning but it quickly burned off. Temps this afternoon are in the low 80's, cooler right next to the coast. Lots of visitors here now, and it seems many inns and other rentals were full up for tonight. There is a fireworks display tomorrow night in Point Arena, out over the water. Sunday there is a parade, also in Point Arena.

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As Karen Wilkinson watched, this Bobcat has spotted a Brush Rabbit.

I just looked up what a Bobcat eats the most. The answer? Rabbits. From the web: Bobcats mostly eat rabbits and hares. They may also eat rodents, such as squirrels and mice, or hunt small deer, snakes, lizards and domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, sheep, goats and poultry.

People who raise chickens here have to protect them from Bobcats, and that means overhead protection too. Just look at this Bobcat climbing the tall giraffe fence at the B Bryan Preserve in Point Arena some years ago. The photo was taken by Judy Mello.

Bobcats are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast and they are often seen in the daylight hours here.

Thanks to Karen and Judy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

No fog and no wind. It's warm here on the coast today. Lots of visitors are here enjoying the coast too.

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I invited photographer Shari Goforth over to my place in Anchor Bay to see if she could photograph the Western Flycatcher [formerly called Pacific Slope Flycatcher] couple feeding their chicks. The nest, woven with lichen, is above an outdoor light fixture. Shari patiently sat on the deck about twenty feet away. The adults were very wary of this change of scenery and it took quite a while before their worry about Shari was superseded by their need to feed their two chicks. Shari got a series of photos and in each photo the adult flycatcher had an insect in his or her mouth, ready for the open beaks of their offspring.

The flycatcher chicks are completely silent, at least to human ears. Shari has Western Bluebirds in her nesting box in Gualala. She wrote, “Unlike your flycatchers, these chicks are not reticent! At feedings, they make a huge racket in that little box. I can hear it on the bench at least 30 feet away!”

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photos with you here. The chicks fledged several days ago. I miss the adults coming and going!

Breezy and HOT today. Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer. Yep, we're having a heatwave. Head to the beach!