Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Ron McMath and Carolyn Young watched a Pileated Woodpecker looking for bugs on an old apple tree on the Gualala ridge recently. Ron took several photos of this prehistoric-looking bird. Pileateds drill rectangular-shaped holes looking for their favorite food, carpenter ants.

 If you could see this big woodpecker in flight, you'd see its wingspan is nearly thirty inches!

Pileated Woodpeckers have a very distinctive call. You can hear it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pileated_woodpecker/sounds

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's photography, here's the link to his website: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/ron-mcmath.html

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That's what Craig Tooley theorizes! Craig photographed this American Kestrel in a unique pose.

This small falcon eats insects, snatching them out of the air. Am. Kestrels are year round residents on the Mendonoma Coast.

To hear the call of this bird, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_kestrel/sounds

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: ruffimage.com

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Fox Sparrows are large sparrows, seven inches long. They can be seen on the Mendonoma Coast this time of year as they migrate to our area from points north. Bryant Hichwa photographed one recently.

Fox Sparrows eat mostly insects and have a distinctive "double scratch" motion. They hop forward and then back, dragging their feet through the leaf litter while they search for a tasty bug.

To hear their beautiful whistling song, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/fox_sparrow/sounds

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

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White-tailed Kites are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They are interesting to watch while they hunt as they hover over a meadow while they search for prey. Siegfried Matull recently photographed one hunting near his home on The Sea Ranch.

White-tailed Kites eat mostly small mammals, but they do eat lizards, insects and some birds. I often see one hunting over the grasslands along the Gualala River while hiking at Gualala Point Regional Park.

To hear the call of this beautiful raptor, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

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

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Kathy Bishop came across two Great Horned Owls that were roosting. She snapped a couple of photos and then beat a quick retreat. One of Kathy's photos was published in yesterday's Independent Coast Observer in my Mendonoma Sightings column. You can see it on-line at mendonoma.com. The other two photos I am pleased to share with  you here.

What beautiful owls! Here it what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about Great Horned Owls:

"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics."

That stare is a little intimidating! Their call is the "hoo hoo" call. Hear it at this link:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_horned_owl/sounds

Last year Rick and I were privileged to take part in a release of two Western Screech Owls back into the wild, about ten miles north of where we live in Anchor Bay. Here is the link to learn more about this heartwarming event: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/12/15/two-western-screech-owls-released-back-into-the-wild/

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