The Pacific Slope Flycatcher is a hard bird to spot but photographer Ron LeValley was up to the challenge.
They have a distinctive call. You can hear it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this site: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_Flycatcher/sounds
These small flycatchers eat insects...on the fly!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/
I have to admit it - I love owls. Richard Kuehn recently saw and photographed a Burrowing Owl on the north end of The Sea Ranch, the first one he has seen there in five years.
This little owl can be seen hunting for insects in the day and night. It's a smart owl too. Burrowing Owls put dung from other critters around the outside of their nests. That attracts dung beetles, which they love to eat.
To hear the call of this owl, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds
Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
To see several photos of another little owl that landed on our deck railing, a Northern Pygmy Owl, here's the link to that post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/20/a-northern-pygmy-owl-paid-us-a-visit-in-anchor-bay-earlier-this-week/
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
I often hear the unique call of a Pileated Woodpecker as they travel through the forest. Yesterday two of these distinctive birds landed on a tree in front of our house. Darla Buechner had one land just off her deck and she got some great photos.
Pileated Woodpeckers eat ants and other insects, drilling away in dead wood. They make rectangular holes, which is unique to them.
You can see pieces of wood to the right of the photo above. This is indicative of a Pileated hard at work.
In the photo above the Pileated is on a granary tree, a snag that Acorn Woodpeckers are using to store acorns in the round holes. Darla thought the Pileated might be stealing the acorns and I guess that could be true. But I think it more likely this bird was snacking on bugs attracted to the acorns.
Thanks to Darla for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To hear the sounds of a Pileated Woodpecker, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pileated_woodpecker/sounds
And to see a cavity nest with two juvenile Pileateds taken by Nan Brichetto, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/05/31/pileated-woodpecker-feeding-two-babies-a-fantastic-photo-taken-over-the-weekend/
Cute as can be, a Burrowing Owl was recently photographed by Coastal photographer Ron LeValley.
Here's what Ron wrote about his photo: "The burrowing owl that I posted a photo of in January is still present. They usually don't stay on the coast in the spring and summer, as they nest inland. But this one is still here. It's unusual to see a Burrowing Owl with ice plant.This photograph was taken at MacKerricher State Park, Mendocino County, California on March 17, 2013."
This small Owl eats insects. To hear its call, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds