Tag Archives: Karen Wilkinson

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Karen Wilkinson found this Surfbird playing...or fishing...in the surf.

Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has to say about these birds: "Surfbirds are perfectly named: they spend most of their lives in the splash zone of rocky ocean shorelines—a precarious place to make a living. During the breeding season, these plump shorebirds move from coastlines into barren arctic mountain habitats to nest, turning from dark gray to a dappled black-and-white plumage with rufous accents in the wing. Males give display flights over the nesting area, like many other shorebirds. Surfbirds seem to be more social and less territorial than most North American shorebird species."

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

It's a beautiful autumn day here today - lots of sun and no wind. Temps in the low 60's. Rain predicted for late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Lots of mushrooms are up and I found matsutakes - lots of them!

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Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson were out looking for birds. Mike wrote, “There have been a variety of inhabitants on the coastal beaches and rocks the last few days. Always looking for a new bird, Karen spotted two new species (for us) this week. Her Bird of the Day is at 187 and over the weekend we photographed a Ruddy Turnstone in breeding plumage and the large flock of Sooty Shearwaters."

We’re hoping for more new sightings since we are running out of ‘known birds’ for the website!”

This Ruddy Turnstone is just coming out of breeding plumage. To see Karen's fantastic bird of the day website, here is the link: http://www.mpkw.com/BirdOfTheDay

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's a beautiful, mild day here on the Mendonoma Coast today, with no wind. Huckleberries are ripe and ready for picking, which what I did with several friends earlier today!

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It's always a happy occasion to see the first Harbor Seal pup of the year. He/she was born last Sunday at the Tidepool Rookery off The Sea Ranch. Karen Wilkinson was there with her camera. The mother and pup soon entered the ocean.

Here the pup catches a ride on the back of his/her mom.

There is a very sweet photo on page one of the Independent Coast Observer from this series by Karen. Hope you subscribe!

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

There was 1.30 inches in our gauge from the storm that came through Thursday night/Friday morning. But today is dry and mild, with many clouds passing by. Gray Whales have been seen today, heading north. We'll be looking for the first mother/calf pair soon - another heartwarming sighting.

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Karen Wilkinson wrote, “I get excited over all shorebirds, but the Killdeer are such fun little birds with some rather peculiar behaviors.  The injured wing defense is the one most birders talk about, but their ‘dancing in the sand or ‘fishing with their feet’ are my official favorites.

I'm wondering what's really going on when they're doing this. I was 'belly in the sand' trying not to spook them after they flew in above me, as I was focused on watching a Spotted Sandpiper. It took a while, but I could hardly believe my luck as they started coming straight towards me.

I'm still going through the 1200 plus photos I took, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the video, just looking back on it cracks me up!” I too wonder what this Killdeer is doing with  his feet. Maybe you know?

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos and video with  you here.

brrr, it's cold and cloudy with rain due to arrive mid-afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be very stormy, another river-of-rain event. Bring it, Mother Nature!

 

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Craig Tooley recently photographed a Downy Woodpecker.

Karen Wilkinson also spotted one.

These woodpeckers eat insects. In Karen's photos it looks like the bird is looking for tasty bugs in a snag. Downy Woodpeckers joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, barely outsizing them - that's small!

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

A spectacularly clear day with no wind...consequently the temps soared. It reached 80 degrees at my place in Anchor Bay. Last night, with the clear horizon, there was a green flash at sunset. Hooray!