Tag Archives: Karen Wilkinson

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Karen Wilkinson was the first to spot them early last Wednesday morning. She called Craig Tooley, who showed up with his camera and his talent soon thereafter. Here are a couple of photos taken by Craig.

The seabirds in the first photo are Surf Scoters. I love the photo showing so many dolphins surfing a wave together - the original surfers!

Researcher and scientist Bill Keener was able to identify six of the eleven dolphins, and one was our old friend, Sakura. Sakura was photographed off the Mendonoma Coast in 2018 and in 2020 she was seen with her calf. Here is the study of this group of Bottlenose Dolphins by Bill, just click on the link below.

Bottlenose Dolphins 2022 Jan 12 CT Bill Keener

I plan to share some of Karen's photos and videos of these dolphins soon.

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

Another lovely, clear day on the Mendonoma Coast today. 68 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay this afternoon.

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Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson found a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. Mike wrote, “It’s been an active Fall in terms of raptors, especially around the Garcia River. Last weekend we watched Ferruginous Hawks, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, and a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. It seemed to be hiding out away from the strong winds that preceded our rainy weather. We peered over the edge of the cliff overlooking the river, and it stared right back at us!”

These hawks are hawks of the forest. They prey on rodents, frogs and snakes. They have a rather plaintive call which you can hear at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

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

Today, Tuesday, is a lovely sunny day after a rainy day yesterday.

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Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich headed out to a tide pool with a UV flashlight at sunset during a recent low tide. They found a group of Sea Anemones shining with light. Karen wrote, “Things got weird on the edge of the Pacific last night! Scientists have found that the protein that helps Anemones light up also acts as a natural sunscreen. This protein allows Sea Anemones to protect their symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, living in their tissues from harmful UV rays. The fluorescence we see may be a by-product of their natural sunscreen.”

I wondered if Karen and Mike had photographed bioluminescence but Bob Van Syoc wrote, “I’d call this fluorescence, which is a form of luminescence. The Anthopleura Anemones in Karen’s and Mike’s photos have absorbed light from their flashlight and are emitting a longer, lower energy wavelength of light that makes them ‘glow.’”

Aren't they beautiful? Thanks to Karen and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The fog rolled in, as it is wont to do, and cooled things off quite a bit.

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A beautiful hummingbird was seen on October 2 and 3 at The Sea Ranch. John Batchelder’s daughter, Marianne, was the first to see it and identify it.

BBIH @TSR 100220

Diane Hichwa wrote, “There is a rare bird staying for a few days at Sea Ranch - a Broad-billed Hummingbird. It has been seen on two other occasions in Sonoma County.  It SHOULD be in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico, but not here. But it is.”

Several other photographers got wonderful photos of the colorful hummer, including Craig Tooley.  Craig wrote, “It is spectacular. Also, it makes a very different sound than our local Hummers.” Here is a link to hear their calls, which are quite different! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-billed_Hummingbird/sounds

Karen Wilkinson also photographed the beautiful hummingbird.

Why this little bird was so far from its normal territory is a puzzle, but we know how to appreciate beauty when we see it. Welcome to the Mendonoma Coast, little hummer!

Thanks to John, Craig and Karen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a oh-so-lovely autumn day today. Perhaps a little rain tomorrow, please rain gods and goddesses!

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Karen Wilkinson had spotted a Killdeer nest in July. The mother bird had laid her eggs in the gravel and rocks alongside the Gualala River. When Karen checked recently, she saw three Killdeer chicks.

Here's a photo of one of the parents.

These beautiful birds are plovers. They are quite graceful, I think!

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

It's kind of a strange weather day. The fog seems to be battling with the sun. Round 1 went to the fog, round 2 to the sun, and on it goes.