Tag Archives: Allen Vinson

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It's a treat to see a White-tailed Kite hovering in the air as she searches for a tasty rodent. Allen Vinson recently photographed a beautiful kite against an oh-so-blue sky.

These small raptors are year-round residents of the West Coast. Look for them in grassy meadows. I've seen them at Gualala Point Regional Park, a great place to see wildlife.

The calls of White-tailed Kites are rather soft. You can listen to them at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

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

It's another sunny, warm, breezy day on the Mendonoma Coast today!

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The Sea Ranch has a small army of sheep and goats that munch down the grasses, helping to keep the fire danger low. Recently little lambs have appeared, the essence of cuteness. Betty Bailey recently photographed one on top of what she thought was a rock. The rock turned out to be the lamb's mother!

 

Here's a cute photo Allen Vinson took several years ago of two lambs enjoying the sun.

The Sea Ranch Sheep even have their own website - https://www.thesearanchsheep.com/

You can find out where the flock is on any given day. Thanks to Betty and Allen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Cool and foggy this morning has given way to sunny and mild.

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Steve McLaughlin, publisher of the Independent Coast Observer newspaper, was at Pelican Bluffs recently. There, under a bush, he spied a Gnome!

How fun is this? Pelican Bluffs is a spectacular addition to our public open spaces in Mendocino County. Here's a look of the dramatic bluffs and a peek at one of the trails, photos taken by Allen Vinson.

The land was brought to us by the Mendocino Land Trust. To learn more about Pelican Bluffs, here is their website: https://www.mendocinolandtrust.org/trails/southern-coastal-trails/pelican-bluffs-trail/

You can download a trail map from the above link. If you go, keep a lookout for Peregrine Falcons. Just before the shutdown in March, we heard, and then saw, two Peregrines. They were giving their warning calls, so I believe they might have nested nearby. Perhaps their chicks will be fledging soon.

Thanks to Steve and Allen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Sunny and toasty here today!

Spring doesn't know...

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Steve Bennett photographed these two Western Gulls strolling along the beach, at Bowling Ball Beach.

Western Gulls are the only year-round Gulls on the Mendonoma coast. We do see other species of Gulls arriving  now, to overwinter here or, perhaps, just passing through.

Here's a close-up of one of these gulls, taken by Allen Vinson. They are quite beautiful, and just look at those pink legs and webbed feet!

Thanks to Steve and Allen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Oh my, the fog rolled in thick and heavy today, and it's cold!

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Karen Wilkinson noticed two Common Ravens and one of them had what she thought might be chewing gum in its beak.

It looks like this raven caught a caterpillar. Ravens are omnivores. I had a recent report of ravens eating candle wax!

Here is a close up of a raven taken by Allen Vinson - quite a beautiful bird.

And here is a comparison of size between a Common Raven and a Bald Eagle, taken by Gail Jackson.

Thanks to Karen, Allen and Gail for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having the most loveliest day on the Mendonoma coast today. Gentle breeze, warm temps - just about perfect!