Mary Sue Ittner was photographing the wildflower Sea Thrift when this lovely butterfly landed on a blossom. It's a Bramble Hairstreak Butterfly, Callophrys dumetorum. This small butterfly is only found in coastal California.
We don't see this butterfly very often so it's a treat to see Mary Sue's photo.
Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
It's another hot day on the Mendonoma Coast but today isn't windy. A cool down starting tomorrow.
Gray Fox kits are among the cutest of babies here on the Mendonoma Coast. Perry Hoffman recently found a den and patiently waited for over an hour for a sighting. Then he spent another hour photographing the action. The kits seem to play all day long!
And here's a photo of mom! Isn't she beautiful?
I love Gray Fox kits so much I chose Craig Tooley's photo of one for the cover of my book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year!
Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photos with you here. There will be another of Perry's photos of these kits in this week's Independent Coast Observer. To see much more of Perry's photography, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/
It's hot today! The predicted heatwave arrived. At dawn it was 65 degrees. It's in the high eighties this afternoon. And yesterday morning it rained a bit - talk about weather whiplash!
Paul Brewer photographed a Doe and her two little fawns nursing near his Gualala home.
Janet Pierucci spotted two little Fawns at The Sea Ranch.
As did Connie King though she only photographed the one Fawn with its mother.
And here is Sheri Novak's video of her first sighting of Fawns this spring.
Sheri Novak's first sighting of fawns 5.25.24Sheri Novak's first sighting of fawns 5.25.24
We love these little guys and gals covered in spots, nearly 300 spots on each Fawn!
Thanks to Paul, Janet, Connie and Sheri for allowing me to share their photos - and video - with you here.
Warm weather moved in today, and it's over 80 degrees at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Butterflies appeared, always a wonderful sightings.
Catriona Carey found this mother Duck - a Mallard - and her ducklings on a pond with lily pads. It made for a wonderful photo.
I learned recently that the female Mallards are the ones to make the distinctive "quack." The males have nothing to do with raising the ducklings, and their call is a quiet rasping sound.
Thanks to Catriona for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Sunny, breezy and warmer today!
I wanted to show you these other two photos of the Northern Lights we had two weeks ago, but first they appeared in the Independent Coast Observer. Paul Kozal's photo on the right, of the Sea Ranch Chapel and the Northern Lights, graced page one. Just spectacular! The one on the left is a bonus photo for you to see.
Joni Goshorn got a different look, a wonderful look, at the Northern Lights, with the Point Arena Lighthouse in the distance, and the moon on the left.
What a special treat to see the Northern Lights here on the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Joni and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Visit Paul Kozal's website to see more of his photography at this link: https://www.paulkozal.com/Visit-the-Gallery
It's sunny and breezy here today, highs in the low 70's!