Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Autumn is the time of year that female Dragonflies and Damselflies lay their eggs, usually on aquatic plants or directly on still water. The eggs will hatch in a few days to a few weeks, and the nymphs will begin the underwater portion of their life cycle. Craig Tooley witnessed something different. Craig wrote, “This Dragonfly seem to be laying eggs in this log. It would fly and then bend the tail down just like the ones that were laying eggs in the water. I'm not sure what kind of dragonfly this is. Something interesting last night - I thought the bogeyman was scratching at the window and it turned out it was a Dragonfly attracted by the light of the TV. He particularly seem to like the TV more than just having the lights on in the room. I experimented a little bit and the TV light seem to be what was drawing it in.”

I sent Craig’s photo and sighting to Kathy Biggs, author of “Common Dragonflies of California,” asking if she had seen this before. She wrote back, “Oh yes! This is very common behavior for a Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) female, and Variable Darner (A. interrupta) females do it too. They use wet wood in the fall. The assumption is that the water level will eventually rise and the wood is a safe place for the egg. Only one egg laid per placement. Interesting about the TV light. I know that sleeping dragonflies sometimes get woken up at night by nearby lights.... but a TV! Wow!!”

Interesting! Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo and to Kathy for her expertise. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

You can get Kathy's great reference booklet at the Four-Eyed Frog Bookstore - https://www.foureyedfrog.com/

ooo, it's raining and there is already over .60 inches in my gauge.

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Craig Tooley recently photographed a Downy Woodpecker.

Karen Wilkinson also spotted one.

These woodpeckers eat insects. In Karen's photos it looks like the bird is looking for tasty bugs in a snag. Downy Woodpeckers joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, barely outsizing them - that's small!

Thanks to Craig and Karen for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

A spectacularly clear day with no wind...consequently the temps soared. It reached 80 degrees at my place in Anchor Bay. Last night, with the clear horizon, there was a green flash at sunset. Hooray!

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The long-lived generation of Monarch Butterflies has arrived on the Mendonoma Coast. These are the butterflies that migrate south, living up to seven months, and they are known as the Methuselah generation. They are looking for plants on which to feed. So nectar plants, particularly native nectar plants, are very important to them here on the coast. Here are some recent photos of these large, beautiful butterflies.

These photos were taken in different locations and the Monarchs are feeding on different flowers. The photos were taken by, starting with the top -  Tempra Board, Craig Tooley, Eric Zetterholm, and Grace O'Malley.

I thank all these photographers for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The best way to report your sightings of Monarch Butterflies in the autumn is to either send them to me and/or post your sighting on iNaturalist. The experts monitor Monarch sightings on iNaturalist. You will be contributing to their study of these butterflies that have struggled mightily in recent years. Here's hoping this will be a good year for the Monarchs.

Once again, the day started off gray and cold, with a moist fog bank greeting the dawn. It pulled back somewhat but it is still over the Pacific Ocean and may well in on the immediate coast in places. Temps in the low 60's.

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Several coast photographers have photographed Belted Kingfishers lately. Eric Zetterholm caught one just taking flight.

Here Ron Bolander photographs one flying.

And Craig Tooley found one resting on a branch.

Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has to say about these birds:

"With its top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle, the Belted Kingfisher seems to have an air of self-importance as it patrols up and down rivers and shorelines. It nests in burrows along earthen banks and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey, diving to catch fish and crayfish with its heavy, straight bill. These ragged-crested birds are a powdery blue-gray; males have one blue band across the white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band."

So Craig's photo shows a female, as does Eric.

Here is a link to their rattling calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/sounds

Thanks to Eric, Ron and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The rain is over though everything is nice and damp from the deluge. Sunny skies have returned. I checked the lagoon of the Gualala River yesterday and it has filled up from the rain - nice!

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Laura Baker wrote, “Here's a photo of a Barred Owl I snapped today up here in Annapolis.  It's peeking behind a strand of Usnea lichen.  I have to admit having mixed feelings about seeing it.  On the one hand, it's a beautiful, powerful bird.  But as you probably know, the Barred Owls are driving out our local and less aggressive Northern Spotted Owls.”

This beautiful owl used to be an owl of the eastern part of the United States but in the 20th century it started to migrate towards the Pacific Northwest. For better or worse, the Barred Owl is here. These owls fly noiselessly so it's often difficult to spot them.

For comparison, here's a Northern Spotted Owl, photographed some years ago by Craig Tooley.

Thank to Laura and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

No fog today and temps are very warm when you get away from the ocean!