Last night's sunset had me gasping in awe. I had been working at my computer and looked out the window to see this.
You can see the sliver of the moon on the left. Beauty filled the sky and I was filled with wonder.
It's a beautiful, sunny day here with little or no wind.
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 The adults were very wary of this change of scenery and it took quite a while before their worry about Shari was superseded by their need to feed their two chicks.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!
The weather has been wild - downpours, hail, wind, sun breaks. The ocean is riled up and quite loud this Sunday morning. Here is last night's rather unique sunset from Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay.
The setting sun looks like a flashlight shining on the ocean.
Sunday morning's temp is 38 degrees and hail pelted down for a few minutes.
Yesterday we had the first storm, which brought 1.94 inches of rain. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the color in the sky. I don't believe I've seen the sky look quite like this before.
The colors intensified for a minute as the sun began to sink below the horizon. I saw a green flash for a second or two. I caught a hint of it in the photo below.
At 4 pm on Sunday, we've had a little over 0.90 inches and it's still raining. My season to date roared past 41 inches yesterday. 50 inches is a "normal" wet winter at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Hooray!
David Newhouse has watched Fish Rocks for many years. Fish Rocks is off Anchor Bay in Mendocino County. He wrote, "The first picture taken in the early 60’s is hard to see but there is no opening on the right side although it is hard to see."
"The second photo taken a couple of years ago shows the opening on the right side of the island."
"The last photo taken after the last storm shows where the rock over the opening has collapsed. Shows the force of nature over time."
The pounding storms take their toll, that's for sure. Thanks to David for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
No pounding ocean today. The drippy fog pulled back early this afternoon, and a sunny afternoon was our gift. Temps in the mid-sixties.