Tag Archives: juvenile

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Craig Tooley found this little guy/gal. In the second photo Craig put a dime so we can see the scale of the California Slender Salamander. It's tiny!

You can learn much more about them on Gary Nafis' fabulous website at this link: https://californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/b.attenuatus.html

Gary is the person who identified this little salamander for me. Thanks, as always, Gary!

And 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

It's foggy right along the coast, and sunny elsewhere. Must be spring on the Mendonoma Coast!

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American Goldfinches nest later in the year than most birds as their favorite food source, thistle seeds, appears later. Rozanne Rapozo recently captured this beautiful photo of a young Goldfinch in flight. "Look, Ma...I'm flying!"

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

Clouds drifted up from the hurricane far to our north. A few raindrops gently fell this morning. Sunshine is peeking out between clouds this afternoon and it's very mild, near 70 degrees.

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Peter Baye was exploring the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River when he came across a what he called "a massive aggregation of Western Toad tadpoles!"

That's a lot of tadpoles! Nice to see. Here is a photo of a newly hatched Western Toad at the Gualala River, taken a few years ago by Peggy Berryhill.

Amy Ruegg photographed a juvenile.

And here is one of my favorite all-time Sightings photos, taken by Holly McCarroll, of an adult Western Toad looking in the window at Starcross in Annapolis. Just what was this frog thinking? Too funny!

Thanks to Peter, Peggy, Amy and Holly for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's been quite foggy today, with some sun breaks this afternoon.

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Jon Shiu noticed this young Peregrine Falcon hunting to our north. The peregrine nabbed a Gull for its dinner as many people observed the action.

Here’s what National Geographic says about these birds: “These falcons are formidable hunters that prey on other birds (and bats) in mid-flight. Peregrines hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift dive that can top 200 miles an hour.”

Rick and I, along with Mel Smith, once watched a Peregrine dive at unbelievable speed after a Common Murre at the mouth of the Gualala River.

Thanks to Jon for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Another beautiful sunny day on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast.

 

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Young Brown Pelicans, born earlier this year to our south, are now flying northward. They have brown heads and white tummies. The adults have white heads and darker tummies. Paul Brewer recently photographed this juvenile Brown Pelican.

Paul also photographed this group of Brown Pelicans in the fog - yes, it's been foggy the past couple of days!

Brown Pelicans are easier to photograph in flight because they have slow wing beats and they glide in between. They fly over or close to the bluffs, giving us wonderful sightings of them this time of year. Yay, Brown Pelicans!

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

Drippy fog this morning and dazzling sunshine this afternoon.