Jim Garlock noticed the two juvenile Bald Eagles in a tree their parents like to perch on. These are the two eagles that were hatched this year somewhere in the Gualala River watershed. Jim also photographed one of the parents high in the tree.
Welcome, Bald Eagles!
Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Lots of cool, thick fog hugging the coast, with sunny skies a little ways inland.
The trouble-making thunderstorms California experienced last month brought an unusual cloud formation over the Pacific Ocean. Ned Alpers called it a “cloud-island.”
Jim Garlock saw it in Gualala and wrote, “I just looked outside and thought a new land mass had sprung out of the ocean. It was a cloud that has now disappeared, but it was certainly a strange view.”
John Wall saw it too. He wrote, “I saw this really interesting and unusual cloud formation as I was driving south by Stewart’s Point. It was worth pulling over to take a pic even though it got me stuck behind a Winnebago that wouldn’t pull over! [The cloud formation] made me want to dial up “Islands In the Sky.’ What an amazing place we live in!”
Scott Gasparian took a look at the photos and sent me several links that explained this rare phenomenon. It was a type of Arcus cloud called a Roll cloud, or a Morning Glory cloud. They can be created by downdrafts of thunderstorms.
Thanks to John, Jim and Ned for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Heat wave on the Mendonoma Coast! Might I tell you I do not like the heat? It's nearly 30 degrees hotter today than yesterday. At our home in Anchor Bay we are at 90 degrees this afternoon.
California Quail chicks can be hard to photograph as they move so fast. Jim Garlock managed to photograph eight of the chicks, a treat to see.
The father quail is near the middle, with the mother on the right. They watch over their many chicks as best they can, though Jim saw a stray cat snatch one of the chicks before he could wave it away. Domestic house cats kill a LOT of birds.
Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you.
Sunny, mild weather here today. Huckleberries are ripe and ready for picking!
It looks like the mated pair of Bald Eagles is back at the Gualala River. Gail Jackson recently photographed them.
It looks like the smaller male is perched on the higher branch. Below you will see a photo taken by Jim Garlock. The Bald Eagle could be perched on the same tree branch as in Gail's photo.
Seve Cardosi was surprised when she saw a Bald Eagle snatch a Western Gull out of the air and proceed to eat it. Again, this was by the Gualala River.
We hope they will build a nest in the watershed of the Gualala River this year.
Thanks to Gail, Jim and Seve for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
We have a rainstorm coming in late tonight!
Eric Zetterholm photographed this Barn Owl recently, spotted on The Sea Ranch perched on a fence post.
Here is a close-up of two Barn Owls, taken by Jim Garlock.
Barn Owls are nocturnal - predators of the night. When they fly overhead, they look ghostly white. They don't "hoot" like some owls; their calls are a raspy scream. You can listen to it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds
Thanks to Eric and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.