Tag Archives: Mike Petrich

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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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Mike Petrich wrote, “Here are a few new pics of the piebald deer (and twin and parent). This morning I found them on the trail (they blocked our path) and I had the camera so I crouched down and snapped a few pics."

"The good news is that they seem to be healthy and active in the area.  They are very comfortable around me and my camera, which worries me a little, but so many deer in these parts are less skittish than other parts of the coast.”

This white fawn is considered a tow-head and will continue to color up. Live and prosper, white fawn...and your sibling!

It's warm away from the ocean, but very breezy.

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Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson were looking for nature sightings near the P'da Hau, aka the Garcia River recently. Mike wrote, “We looked up towards the Point Arena Lighthouse and photographed a Caspian Tern playing with its food in mid-air! I assembled an image from a series of individual pictures while it dropped the fish, and caught it again several times"

I didn't know Caspian Terns would do this - so interesting to learn! Here's a close-up Mike took of the Tern:

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

Foggy mornings, with some high clouds overhead - it's nice and mild on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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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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Monday evening Mike Petrich saw a blow, the exhalation of a whale, out on the Pacific Ocean. He had his camera and captured this series of a Humpback Whale breaching, just magnificent!

Scott Mercer was told by a fisherman that anchovies are off the Mendonoma Coast in vast numbers. That fact is going to bring more whales and other marine mammals to our area. Get your binoculars out!

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

Fog on the immediate coast, sunny away from the coast - hey, it must be summer!