Eric Zetterholm found this juvenile Bald Eagle drinking water, or perhaps looking for a fish, at the Gualala River. Behind him or her is a Killdeer on the riverbank.
Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Sunny and very breezy this afternoon!
A week ago Tuesday, sightings of these talkative geese came flooding in. The Aleutian Cackling Geese are on the move in huge numbers. Eric Zetterholm photographed this huge skein.
That Sunday Carolyn Case found more passing by, this time on a sunny day, flying over Gualala Point Island.
It's interesting that the two photos look like they are going both north and south, but it's all about where the photographer was standing.
The numbers of the Aleutian Cackling Geese have special meaning for Doug Forsell, formerly a migratory seabird biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Doug wrote, “Quite a few flocks passing over my house today. I counted about 3,400 geese flying by in two and a half hours including one flock of about 1,400 birds. I think that is the largest flock I've seen. That one flock was four times the entire population of Aleutian Cackling Geese in the early 1970's, when they were put on the endangered species list.” Foxes had been introduced to the islands with devastating results to the nesting geese. Doug was part of the successful effort to save them from extinction, something to be very proud of.
Some people mistake these geese for Canada Geese. Here's a closer look, photo by Sara Bogard.
From the web I found this graphic showing the difference between the two birds
Thanks to Eric, Carolyn, and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Lots of rain yesterday, 1.42 inches in our gauge. Some showers passed by this morning, with sun reappearing in the afternoon. Another storm tomorrow! Over 52 inches season to date!
Here is Eric Zetterholm's story from Feb. 26.
“I saw Chris Beach pointing his camera at the river as I came into Gualala for work in the morning. I turned around and pulled in next to him to see the two adult Bald Eagles on the logging structure in the river. We said hello and he said that the eagles had been just sitting there and he was waiting for one to take off and fly. I walked up the highway a bit to get a different angle and took a few pictures of the adult eagles together. I zoomed in for some close up shots and then out again to watch for one taking flight. It was then I spotted the young Eagle sitting just below the parents.”
Eric walked back to his car and found several people now watching the Bald Eagles from the riverside. Eric wrote further, “I mentioned the little one being so hard to see hidden in plain sight, its color blending in with the logs and shadows. No one had seen the young one there, just focusing on the two white-headed adults. I went back up the road and was surprised again to see the adults start mating with the youth having a front row seat."
"Soon after, the male adult gathered up some nesting materials and flew off up river."
"I missed seeing the female adult fly away and left for work with the juvenile still sitting there perplexed. Parents can be so embarrassing.”
Eric Zetterholm recently found the Bald Eagles near the mouth of the Gualala River on a cloudy day. In this first photo, the smaller male seems to be "singing" to his mate. Could it be a love song, eagle-style?
Apparently she approved, as the male was allowed to mate with her.
And in the last photo, the deed is done. hmmm, she doesn't seem very happy...
Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share these photos with you here.
Another big storm is headed our way tonight and tomorrow, Sunday. The Gualala River is already full from the previous river-of-rain event. It will be majestic to see when the storm leaves. Batten down the hatches!
Ospreys usually migrate to points south around the first week of autumn. And the vast majority have. But here comes a lone Osprey last week, hunting fish at the Gualala River. Eric Zetterholm was there with his camera.
Looks like the Osprey may have spotted a fish in this second photo.
Ospreys are a rare sighting in the Winter here. But I've been told an occasional Osprey has overwintered here on the Mendonoma Coast in the past. We'll be keeping watch to see if this Osprey is seen again.
Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
We are having a sunny day with many high clouds overhead. It's the calm before the storms - we have a series of storms predicted to arrive beginning tomorrow, Friday.