Tag Archives: Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs

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Sara Bogard photographed this American Kestrel several weeks ago out at the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs. He sure looks like he's glaring at Sara.

These beautiful, small falcons have migrated off the Mendonoma Coast in recent days because they nest inland. Here is a photo of a male Kestrel showing off his beautiful colors, taken by Ron Bolander.

To hear the calls of this falcon, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/sounds

Thanks to Sara and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Surprise! We are having light rain today. We'll take every precious drop.

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The beginning of the northward migration back to the Arctic has begun. The first Grays to head north are the newly pregnant females. They are swimming hard and fast for their feeding grounds. Shari Goforth saw several Gray Whales the other day off the bluffs of the Point Arena Lighthouse. Despite the distance, Shari got several great photos. Here is the tail of one of the Grays she saw.

And here is a collage of the two Gray Whales she saw.

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To read her blog posts, here is the link: https://mendonomagraywhale.com/migraytions-blog-home?blog=y

We had sprinkles late yesterday, nice to get a little wet on an afternoon walk with friends. Today is sunny and warm, in the low sixties. There is no wind and the ocean is glistening like a million diamonds in the afternoon sun.

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Sara Bogard was out at the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs when she noticed a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk and something else. She wrote, "This American Kestrel was diving at this Red-shouldered Hawk. The Kestrel won and the Red-shouldered Hawk flew off, a dramatic moment."

Sara also recently photographed a Belted Kingfisher. Such a cute little gal!

This morning I  heard a Red-shouldered Hawk calling overhead. Their call is quite distinctive and you can hear it for yourself at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

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

Lots of dark clouds in the sky today but no rain predicted. This morning several people sent me photos of a cloud that looked like a bird...or an angel. I'll share it here soon.

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Any day you see dolphins feels like a gift, but Thanksgiving Day? Perfection. Sara Bogard spotted a small pod off of the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs. And there was a calf in the pod!

If  you look closely at the smaller dolphin, you will see creases, lines on its body. These are fetal folds, showing this is a newborn, a neonate, Bottlenose Dolphin! How wonderful is that?

Sunny, warm, no wind - just about perfect if we weren't longing for rain!

NEWS FLASH! Scott and Tree Mercer saw the first, the vanguard, of the Gray Whale southward migration yesterday, Wednesday. Yes, it's begun and the show is appearing off a bluff near you!

 

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On and off storm systems have brought dramatic clouds to the Mendonoma Coast. Karen Wilder was out at the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs and she captured this lovely sight.

 

Sunrises have been striking too. I photographed this one from my deck in Anchor Bay on Oct. 19. A vision of loveliness in pink!

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

Rain and more rain! The  temperature is quite mild and the rain continues to fall today. A big storm is due in Sunday, an atmospheric river of rain. Will it be enough to open the Gualala River? We'll be watching.