Tag Archives: Mary Sue Ittner

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Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner were the ones who spotted the well-camouflaged Green Heron by the Gualala River. Bob wrote, “We were skipping flat rocks across the Gualala River when a Green Heron flushed and landed on a tree that is leaning over the river. It blends in so well it was hard to see through the camera on full zoom."

As seen by Bob and Mary Sue, they can be spotted by water, often hidden behind foliage. They use the awesome beak you can see in Bob's photo to stab fish for their meals.

Fun Fact: Green Herons are one of just a few bird species that actually use tools to tempt fish to come their way. They create their own fishing lures using insects, feathers and even bread crumbs. They lay their lure on the water to entice small fish - pretty clever, don't you think?

To hear some of the calls of this small heron, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/sounds

Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photos with you here!

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The Thursday Ramblers were out exploring at Manchester State Beach several weeks ago. They walked along the long-closed Alder Creek Road. It has gotten very overgrown, but there were lots of native wildflowers this summer. Mary Sue Ittner sent in these photos.

Looks like they had a beautiful day for their ramble. Here is a Seep-spring Monkey Flower, Mimulus guttatus.

And Seaside Daisy, Erigeron glaucus.

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

We have had a lot of fog on the coast this past week. It does clear in the afternoon, but soon returns. This is why some people call August by the name "Fogust."

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Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner noticed this beautiful moth feeding on a plant in their garden. It's a Hummingbird Moth, or a White-lined Sphinx Moth.

This moth has a very long tongue, with which she sips nectar from flowers. You can also see this moth's antennae, a giveaway that it is a moth, not a bird.

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

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One of my favorite summer wildflowers is the Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum. Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner found a nice group of them recently.

Never pick these beauties, just enjoy their splash of color wherever you might be fortunate enough to see them.

Thanks to Mary Sue and Bob for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Mary Sue Ittner photographed these Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum, on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands recently.

These native wildflowers are endemic to the north coast of California, from San Francisco north. So we appreciate these lovely flowers even more. They should never be picked, as the flower head turns into a seed pod. Just enjoy their beauty if you are fortunate enough to see some.

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