I had to laugh at Jon Shiu's photo. It looks like the Great Blue Heron is chastising the Raven.
Common Ravens and GBH's are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
There was .50 inches in my rain gauge from last night, 49.50 season to date. It's a wait-five-minutes type of day - sunshine, hail, sunshine, rain - and it's only 41 degrees early this afternoon.
American Robins seem to like spending the winter here. While they are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast and much of the United States, there seems to be more of them here during the winter months. Jon Shiu recently photographed one of these beautiful birds.
It looks like the setting sun is reflecting on the reddish chest feathers - beautiful!
In the spring, Robins have a beautiful call. You can listen to it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds Listen to the West Virginia recording below the photo. That is close to what we hear on the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Clouds moved in today, and it feels like it could sprinkle a bit. It's pretty cold too, as it didn't reach 50 degrees today. I know, I know...but it's cold for the Mendonoma coast!
Jon Shiu was at the Mendocino Headlands when he spotted this Northern Harrier.
These hawks have a long tail and an owl-like face. They use their hearing along with their vision to find prey as they glide low over a marsh or meadow. Their call is a fast series of "kek" sounds, and rather high-pitched. You can listen to it at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/sounds
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Another calm, mild day. This morning's sunrise was quite beautiful. I snapped a quick photo for you to see.
Brown Pelicans are migrating south, and they rest and fish off the Mendonoma Coast. Jon Shiu recently photographed some of the action, and he was happily surprised that he also captured the blow, the exhalation, of what we think is a Humpback Whale.
Scott and Tree Mercer of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study have been chronicling the Humpback Whales here in September and so far in October. They have a wonderful symposium tomorrow and here are the details:
Jon Shiu photographed a Chestnut-backed Chickadee singing, very possibly for a mate. Male birds also sing to establish their territories. But this is Spring so I'm going with singing for a mate.
You can here this bird's call at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/sounds
Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Boy, oh, boy, is it ever windy here today. Sunny with gusts of wind!