Martin Steinpress noticed two Great Egrets out on the ocean surface. They were standing on kelp, feeding. It is an amazing sight to see.
Here is a photo of two Great Egrets taken by Bettye Winters. The one of the right has nabbed a fish. Great Egrets have yellow beaks and black legs.
Thanks to Martin and Bettye for allowing me to share their photos with you here. We are having a heat wave here on the Mendonoma Coast today. Being near the water, like these Egrets, would be a good idea for today!
Martin Steinpress found two of these mushrooms, Hydnellum aurantiacum.
They grow under Pines and other conifers. They do sport "teeth" like Hedgehog mushrooms do, but to quote David Arora, "[They are]unequivocally inedible."
This mushroom is in the same group as the Strawberries and Cream Hydnellum I shared some months ago. Here's the photo Ken Browning took of that one.
Sometimes it seems that Mother Nature has a sense of humor! Thanks to Martin and Ken for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Martin Steinpress captured a big of magic recently - a green flash.
Martin also saw the food chain in action at the Gualala River. Below a River Otter has nabbed a Gull and is taking it to shore for its lunch. I believe there is a second River Otter behind the one carrying the Gull. They do hunt cooperatively.
River Otters swim underneath a group of unsuspecting Gulls and then grabs one for dinner. A River Otter was seen taking a Brown Pelican this way. It can be hard to see but it is part of our natural world.
Thanks to Martin for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
To see a photo of a green flash that turned into a blue flash and then a purple flash, photographed by Ron LeValley, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/08/10/a-green-flash-that-turned-into-something-more-as-photographed-by-coastal-photographer-ron-levalley/