Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Such beautiful birds - I love Great Egrets. They are so very graceful, especially in flight. Loch Michie recently photographed one taking off.

They have rather harsh calls which you can here at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's wetsite: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/sounds

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

Cool and sunny weather today, with a breeze that could make you shiver. This weekend is supposed to be sunny so you might want to head for the Mendonoma Coast!

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This first photo of the Ferruginous Hawk graced page one of the Independent Coast Observer this week. Shari Goforth was on Lighthouse Road in Point Arena when she noticed this large hawk perched on utility pole.

 

We only see these hawks in the wintertime.

To hear their screaming calls, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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I guess everyone drops something now and then. Rozanne Rapozo was watching and photographing this Cedar Waxwing feeding on a cotoneaster bush, stilled filled with ripe red berries. But this bird dropped a berry and Rozanne captured with her camera and talent.

We see the nonbreeders here this time of year. The best way to spot these birds - other than finding a bush full of fruit - is to listen for their calls. You can listen at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/sounds

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

It was a beautiful, sunny day here this Friday. No rain in the forecast. The Mendonoma Coast is a great place to explore during this break in the rains.

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The first photo shows a beautiful White-tailed Kite. The second photo...a tangled kite!

I love White-tailed Kites. Here is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology writes about them: "Grasslands and savannas are great places to fly a kite and that's exactly where you will find the White-tailed Kite, flying as if it were attached to a kite string. With its body turned toward the wind and wings gently flapping, it hovers above the ground, a behavior that’s so distinctive it’s become known as kiting. From above it tips its head down to look for small mammals moving in the grass below. Its white underparts, gleaming white tail, and black shoulder patches are its other marks of distinction."

To hear the call of this kite, here is the link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

Thanks to Karen Wilkinson for two fun photos and for allowing me to share them with you here.

Today started off sunny, but clouds moved it. It's been drizzly today, with the bricks in our courtyard damp. More mushrooms are up - matsutakes and cocorra. King and Queen boletes, and yellow Chanterelles are also being found. I found several Zeller's Boletes today.

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Rozanne Rapozo was at Gualala Point Regional Park when she saw these three female Western Bluebirds feeding on a California Coffeeberry bush.

These beautiful birds are members of the Thrush family. They eat insects, and as you see with Rozanne's photo, they eat berries too!

They have a sweet call that you can hear at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/sounds

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

Another beautiful windless day. The Pacific Ocean looks flat calm. Tree Mercer told me she and Scott saw four Humpback Whales yesterday, Thursday.