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Michael Reinhart recently got a nice photo of a Hairy Woodpecker.

Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about these woodpeckers:

"The larger of two look alikes, the Hairy Woodpecker is a small but powerful bird that forages along trunks and main branches of large trees. It wields a much longer bill than the Downy Woodpecker's almost thornlike bill. Hairy Woodpeckers have a somewhat soldierly look, with their erect, straight-backed posture on tree trunks and their cleanly striped heads. Look for them at backyard suet or sunflower feeders, and listen for them whinnying from woodlots, parks, and forests."

To listen to their one-note call, scroll down till you see Calls Pacific: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/sounds

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

Another beautiful day here, though cooler. Temps in the low 60s with a few drifting clouds.

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Remember the Ochre Star missing two arms that Roxanne Holmes photographed? She's been keeping a watch on the Star and it has begun growing two new arms.

Those two purple-ish stubs are the new arms beginning to grow. I believe they will be the same orange color of the Star when they are grown. I'll have to ask Roxanne to continue to photograph this Star so we can find out!

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

wowza, it's warm here on the Mendonoma Coast today, in the 70's with no wind. The Pacific Ocean is like a lake. It's a magnificent day on the coast!

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California Quail might be pairing up now. Paul Brewer had this male and female quail visit his garden in Gualala. The more showy male is on the left.

CA Quail are mainly seed eaters, preferring to eat on the ground. So if a Jay knocks seed out of your bird feeder, the positive might be that these beautiful birds might arrive to eat the seeds.

I've seen CA Quail take dirt baths, a fun thing to watch!

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: https://paulbrewer.smugmug.com/

Today was clear but windy, temps in the low 60s.

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A large, healthy-looking Mountain Lion has been seen twice at Pat Whelan’s home at The Sea Ranch. Pat wrote, “ Our critter cam spotted this big Mountain Lion walking through our yard this morning at 12:50 am, Feb. 22. Elegant, confident and handsome!  We live on the north end of Sea Ranch.” The Cougar paid the Whelans another visit a week or so later. Pat wrote, “Cougar sighting again in our yard on critter cam at 5:30 am.”

As I watched the videos, it sure looked like the Mountain Lion was comfortable in his or her surroundings. It’s hard to tell if it’s a male or female. This is the time of year most Mountain Lions mate. This could be a male here to mate with one or several females over the next few weeks.

Thanks to Pat for allowing me to share this screen shot with you here.

It's raining this afternoon! Good weather for watching the Academy Awards.

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I never get tired of rainbows and I hope you don't either! Cooks Beach is a beautiful pocket beach north of Gualala. Steve Bennett recently got this photo of the beach and a lovely rainbow.

Thanks to Steve for allowing me to share his photo with you here. You can learn about Cooks Beach at the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy's website at this link: https://www.rclc.org/

Wow, we had an early morning downpour, 0.50 inches, and 48.52 season to date. More rain coming starting Sunday afternoon. But when you look at next week, after Monday it looks like spring is arriving early on the Mendonoma Coast!