Tag Archives: fledgling

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Rozanne Rapozo was at Gualala Point Regional Park when she noticed this young Peregrine Falcon landing on the log. Looks like this fledgling has just begun his/her flying lessons.

There were two more fledgling falcons that were "play" fighting.

Welcome, young Peregrine Falcons!

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

We had more blessed rain this morning. The total from Monday and this morning's rain is 0.34 inches, so a nice third of an inch. As I type this at 3:21 pm, the fog is rolling in. You never know what the weather is going to be like! The forecast is for sunny and warmer days ahead.

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One of Craig Tooley's Pic O Joy, this young American Robin might have just left his/her nest.

Here is a photo Craig took of an adult for comparison.

And here is a photo of a Robin's nest that I took some years ago.

American Robins are beautiful singers. You can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds

Go to the "Sounds and Calls" for the cheery call I'm thinking of. I hear a Robin singing this song at dawn these days - a nice way to start the day.

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

Foggy morning, afternoon sun, and mild temps - a perfect 4th of July forecast!

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Ed Cutler was in the right place at the right time...and he had his camera. He photographed a mama Anna's Hummingbird feeding her chick, which had fledged. The mother is on the left.

It's fun to be able to see this! Thanks to Ed for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's sunny and breezy on the Mendonoma Coast. For the first time, I could see the new life in the Osprey nest I watch with my spotting scope. Two scrawny heads were seen today.

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If you follow these blog posts or read my column in the Independent Coast Observer, you know that we have had a mated pair of Bald Eagles in Gualala for the past several years. We've been wishing and hoping they would have a chick and it looks like they did this year. Steve Woolson photographed the family near Salal Creek, which is very close to the Gualala River. The fledgling is eating a bird that one of the adults caught for him/her.

The fierce-looking mother is on the right. You can make out a few stray dark hairs on her head. A totally white head denotes a mature bald eagle. She was obviously mature enough this year to hatch an egg and nurture her chick. The father had been seen diligently fishing and then flying upriver with his catch. We believe the nest is in the watershed of the Gualala River.

So, how about this goo - no, great - news?! We need it, right? Thanks to Steve for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We have no smoke from the wildfires here, as the wind is pushing it southward. In fact, if you didn't read or listen to the news, you'd never know anything was amiss if you were on the Mendonoma Coast! It's sunny and breezy today. Many Humpbacks were seen today too.

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It's called fledging when the chicks leave their nest, testing their wings for the first time. Sometimes the beginning flying lessons can go awry. But in the case of a group of young Pacific Wrens, according to John Batchelder, they were hopping around in several bushes, doing just fine.

John commented that this fledgling's beak looks too big for its head. I agree! But we know he or she will grow into that big break. Here's a photo of an adult singing, taken by Craig Tooley.

We loved this photo so much, we included it in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. This bird used to be called a Winter Wren. They have the most lovely song, which echoes through the forest in the spring and early summer. You can hear it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

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