Craig Tooley named these Black Oystercatchers Fred and Ginger.
It does look like they are dancing! A fun photo for you today.
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com
Sunny and warm today and only a gentle breeze. Perfect weather!
I have two x-rated sightings for you. After all, it is Spring and love is in the air. Chris Pechal wrote, "Birds do it, bees do it, and apparently if you are lucky, you might see butterflies doing it. I ran across these Margined White Butterflies mating." Chris found these butterflies at The Sea Ranch, perched on a Foget-Me-Not blossom.
Sara Bogard photographed a pair of Black Oystercatchers mating on the bluffs of the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula.
While not actual mating, I did see a mating dance. Just after dawn on Tuesday, I saw a male Anna’s Hummingbird rise high in the sky, then plummet down, pulling up before he crash landed, then hovering in front of a tree, giving out a chirp that I’ve learned comes from his tail feathers. He was performing his mating dance to a female perched in the tree. As I watched, he performed his dance several more times. I hope she was as impressed as I was.
Thanks to Chris and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy beautiful day on the Mendonoma Coast. More rain coming in tomorrow afternoon, Monday, according to the predictors!
Craig Tooley has been watching a Black Oystercatcher nest. The other day, the first chick appeared.
And then there were two.
And finally three little chicks, exploring their new world.
Watching wildlife can bring joy!
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com
Black Oystercatchers nest on the Mendonoma Coast. Robert Scarola recently photographed an Oystercatcher with two eggs.
These eggs have hatched and fledglings have appeared. Here's a photo by Craig Tooley of fledglings.
There are three chicks with this Black Oystercatcher. Can you spot them?
These birds are quite noisy, even when flying. To hear their call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_oystercatcher/sounds
Thanks to Robert 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: www.ruffimage.com
It will be easy to spot the two adult Black Oystercatchers but not so easy to see their three off-spring. Hint: they look like rocks and are on the lower right side. Thanks to Craig Tooley for allowing me to share this photo!
To see more of Craig's photos, go to: http://web.me.com/theruffians1