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American Robins seem to like spending the winter here. While they are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast and much of the United States, there seems to be more of them here during the winter months. Jon Shiu recently photographed one of these beautiful birds.

It looks like the setting sun is reflecting on the reddish chest feathers - beautiful!

In the spring, Robins have a beautiful call. You can listen to it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds Listen to the West Virginia recording below the photo. That is close to what we hear on the Mendonoma Coast.

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

Clouds moved in today, and it feels like it could sprinkle a bit. It's pretty cold too, as it didn't reach 50 degrees today. I know, I know...but it's cold for the Mendonoma coast!

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Rozanne Rapozo wrote, "The full Moon passed in front of the reddish planet Mars on the night of December 7th just as the planet was at its nearest to Earth and brightest."

"This was a rare event (only happens about every 2 years), made all the more special because December 7 was the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 17, the last time people landed on the Moon."

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

Cold morning, blue skies and a calm ocean - yes, it's a lovely day on the Mendonoma Coast!

 

 

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Craig Tooley was thinking of fairies when he photographed a mushroom that looked like a tiny parasol. He wrote, “Undoubtedly you recognize this Fair-a-sol mushroom. Used by fairies and other magical forest creatures to accessorize for gatherings or just to keep the harsh sun off.  I know that they are not often seen but it is getting close to New Year's, and you know how those fairies love the New Year’s celebrations.”

We think this mushroom is in the amanita family. It is lovely how the edges have formed little "curtains." Fairies must certainly use mushrooms like this!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Some overhead clouds  today which should make for a beautiful sunset. A little warmer today, which is nice! No rain predicted through the weekend.

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Rozanne Rapozo caught this American Kestrel just as it landed. It's fun to see its wing feathers and tail feathers extended. Kestrels use their long tails for balance.

Craig Tooley found this Kestrel staring down a Northern Flicker.

Kestrels are North America's smallest falcon. They eat insects and other small prey. They have an unusual call, rather excited notes, and you can hear it here at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/sounds

Thanks to Rozanne and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

It's been cold here, it was 37 degrees this morning. As we take a break from the rains, passing clouds bring beauty to sunrises and sunsets. There is little wind and the ocean is calm. In other words, an exquisite, lovely day here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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We are receiving a lot of rain today. This morning there was 1.6 inches in our rain gauge, 15.50 inches season to date. And it's raining this afternoon as I type this. During a previous storm, Grace O'Malley photographed the beautiful sight of an approaching storm.

Grace also photographed storm clouds approaching the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner.

There are mushrooms popping up in many places. Matsutakes are still appearing. Here I am a few days ago with a nice haul of these choice, edible mushrooms. Rozann Grunig took the photo.

Thanks to Grace and Rozann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Rain, intermittent sunshine, gusts of wind...it's a wait-five-minutes kind of day!