Tag Archives: Michael Reinhart

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Michael Reinhart was photographing Pacific Wrens last week. I often hear them but rarely see these tiny birds. Mike's first photo here made me laugh - the male has his mouth open wide, like an opera singer!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes their songs thusly: "Their song is a sweet series of tumbling, trilling notes with a staccato quality. Pacific Wrens have a large catalog of complex songs. Males sing for 5 to 10 seconds, stringing together as many as 50 different phrases." You can listen to their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

In these days when we are filled with worry, it's good to remember that life goes on, and that male Pacific Wrens are singing for mates.

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

We are having a "wait five minutes" type of day. Sometimes brilliant sunshine, sometimes a little rain, with dramatic clouds drifting in. It's quite lovely.

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I find hummingbirds difficult to photograph unless they are resting on a branch. Michael Reinhart obviously has no trouble photographing one on the wing.

And here the little Anna's Hummingbird rest on a branch.

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

Storm report: We received 2.80 inches at our house in Anchor Bay. Today we are bathed in sunshine.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small birds, smaller than a warbler or a chickadee. The males have a patch of red feathers at the top of their heads. However that flash of red isn't often seen. Michael Reinhart recently photographed a male showing off those dramatically-colored feathers.

Notice the yellow toes! These birds constantly flick their wings, giving you a clue as to what you are seeing. Their calls are quite distinctive too. You can listen at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/sounds

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

ooo, we are going to have a big, wet, wonderful storm today and tomorrow. We need it, that's for sure. It's also turned quite cold - cold for the North Coast, that is. It's only 45 degrees at noon today.

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Last week there were several green flashes at sunset.  Michael Reinhart was ready with his camera and he got this photo of the optical illusion. See the green on top of the clouds? And then again on the horizon - a double green flash!

Here's a green flash taken a few years ago by Rich Kuehn. The sun appears to narrow and then pinch off at the middle. This is a perfect example of that phenomenon beginning to occur.

And Jim Grant got this amazing photo of a double green flash.

Green flashes come in various guises. To watch the sunset is always wonderful, but if you also get to see a green flash, consider yourself blessed!

Thanks to Michael, Rich and Jim for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The fog pulled back this afternoon and the Pacific Ocean is sparkling in the sun.

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Michael Reinhart spotted this bird a few weeks ago, a Rock Wren.

He wrote, “I spotted this Rock Wren on the point to the west of Sea Ranch Lodge, Bihler Point.”

There have only been three sightings of one in recent years. The male Rock Wren is a tremendous singer, singing over 100 different songs. You can hear some of the male's calls here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rock_Wren/sounds Let’s hope we have more sightings of this bird.

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

Today we are having a big, wet, windy storm. Batten down the hatches!