Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Michele Melio was at Shell Beach, one of public access trails of The Sea Ranch. She wrote, "I saw something red, maybe a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker. No, something better, a Pileated Woodpecker, nature's chainsaw."

"The Beaver is nature's builder and engineer, but the woody woodpecker lives up to its name. They can turn a tree into sawdust and wood chips in a matter of days. I've never seen one in this area before, as they generally hide and hunt in the forest on the ridge with the bigger trees. I tried my best to get a better shot, but it kept calling "ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." Then comes a noisy pair of humans walking down the trail talking loudly. It took off cackling the entire way."

It's not always easy to get a photo of one of these prehistoric-looking birds. Here's another look at one of these beauties, this one taken by Mike Petrich.

Pileateds have a very unique call. You can listen to it at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/sounds

Thanks to Michele and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The storm late Friday brought another inch of rain, and we sailed past 25 inches season to date. It's raining Saturday afternoon and another storm is due in Sunday. Bring it, Mother Nature!

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Ferruginous Hawk's scientific name is Buteo regalis. And this beautiful hawk IS regal! Ron Bolander recently spotted one, last Saturday to be more exact, near Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

Here are two fun facts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website, http://www.allaboutbirds.org:

Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks (plus the Golden Eagle) are the only American hawks to have feathered legs all the way down to their toes.

Ferruginous means rust-colored, and refers to the reddish back and legs of light-morph birds (which are more common than dark morphs).

To hear the call of this hawk, here is the link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

We are having rain today, Tuesday. Over 2/3 of an inch so far. More to come overnight. Coast waterfalls are beautiful now and seasonal creeks are full and racing towards the Pacific Ocean. There's a feeling of abundance in the moist air.

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Paul Brewer always takes his camera with him when he travels coastal roads, thank goodness. This day he headed north and found a Red-shouldered Hawk on Lighthouse Road, north of Point Arena. The meadows there attract hunting hawks.

Paul pointed out the hawk has a band on its right leg. Wish we could see numbers but no such luck.

I love the call of these forest hawks. You can hear it at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: https://paulbrewer.smugmug.com/

It started off cool and sunny but some clouds began streaming in this afternoon. That makes for a beautiful sky!

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Bob Yeager wrote, “Our friend, Alex Pierce, took this wonderful photo of a Northern Pygmy Owl while she and her husband Donald were on vacation at Sea Ranch a couple of weeks ago.” In receiving Alex’s permission to share her photo, Alex wrote, “I love going to [the coast] and photographing birds and everything nature.”

I love owls, and Pygmy Owls are a treat to find. Rick and I had one land on our deck railing some years ago. Did you know they have false eyes on the back of their head? That's what I photographed!  Quite an interesting feature Mother Nature gave this tiny owl, a little help from predators.

Their calls are a high pitched hoot and you can hear it for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/sounds

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

We are having a two-day heatwave for today and tomorrow. It's quite warm away from the ocean, and even toasty in downtown Gualala. The Pacific Ocean is all riled up today - huge breakers and the mist from them is drifting across Highway One. I was told by Ron at Surf Market that the ocean is riled up because of a storm in the Gulf of Alaska. Wow!

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Rozanne Rapozo found these two birds flying together and hanging out on the beach together. She dubbed them "Best Friends."

The Whimbrel is facing left, with its long downward curving beak. Whimbrels are migrating southward now. This shorebird has a piping call that you can listen to at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whimbrel/sounds

Look at the Marbled Godwit's beak - it's two-toned, very long and slightly turns up. This shorebird might spend the winter here on the Mendonoma Coast. They have a very funny call that made me laugh when I heard it - it almost sounds like these birds are laughing...and perhaps they are! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marbled_Godwit/sounds

Here is a photo of these two birds in flight, with another bird, perhaps a Sandpiper, in the distance.

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

We had sprinkles overnight but the clouds are now gone, and it's a beautiful autumn day here on the Mendondoma Coast. The forecast is for sunny and warmer temps next week. Head for the coast!