Carolyn André was delivering meals on wheels when she came around a turn and there was this beautiful Peacock.
Carolyn managed to stop her car in time and take this photograph. We don't know whose Peacock this is or if it is living on its own. There used to be a Parrot farm, I'm told, in the area and perhaps these were from that farm. The bird sure looks handsome.
Thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Every winter for the past 17 years a wayward Laysan Albatross has over-wintered in the waters off the Point Arena Pier. Birders from all over the world come to the tiny city in hope of adding this bird to their life list. This year Al hasn't spent much time in the cove and we're not sure why. He, or she - we don't really know, is always absent when it is stormy, and today is very stormy here on the Mendonoma Coast!
Al has an affinity for surfers, often paddling over to "talk." Ken Holmes caught a photo of Al and a surfer and he's kindly allowed me to share it with you here.
There have been reports from fishermen that Al has been seen further north and several miles out. People in the Irish Beach/Elk areas should be on the look-out for this famous bird.
We know he/she is not a breeder as winter is when these large birds give birth. Ron LeValley was on Sand Island in the Midway Atoll, Hawaii on Feb. 7th. He photographed this Laysan Albatross mother as her egg hatched and has allowed me to share it with you here. So wonderful!
To see more of Ron's nature photography, here is his web site: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/
Last year Al left on March 28th so we know he'll be leaving us soon, hopefully to return again in late November or early December.
Judy Mello photographed the full moon rising on March 7th at the B. Bryan Preserve in Point Arena. The Grevy's Zebras aren't paying any attention though, getting a little more dinner before darkness fell.
And I took this photo early the next morning of the moon setting over the Pacific Ocean. A few wispy clouds decorated the moon. It was mesmerizing!
There have been lots of Gray Whale sightings this past week. I will share a few pictures with you tomorrow.
If you'd like to learn more about the fabulous B. Bryan Preserve in Point Arena, here's their link: http://www.bbryanpreserve.com/
Rick and I, plus our golden retriever Huckleberry, took a hike at the Stornetta Public Lands this Thursday. You can see that it was a lovely day. A very low tide occurred while we were there.
Sea Lion Rocks are only accessible at low tide. The photo below shows this rocky staircase. As this is a Marine Sanctuary, it would be better to stay off these rocks. And you wouldn't want to be caught when the tide changes!
We kept Huckleberry on a short leash because of sinkholes like this one and the dangerously steep bluff-faces.
The main access is off of Lighthouse Road, which is north of Point Arena. Before you see the Lighthouse pay station and parking, look on the left. You will see a portable toilet, parking and these rather uninformative signs. Notice that this one still has a picture of a fish, indicating that fishing is allowed. But it's not!
Here's the sign BLM added when this area was closed to fishing, including abalone diving, in 2010.
Tomorrow I will show you that there's been a BIG change in the Stornetta waterfall.
Carolyn André entitles her sighting as, "A cow, a bird, and a damn near miracle." Here's her story.
"Okay, these aren't the best pictures I've ever taken. But I thought this was amazing. Today I was out near the Pt. Arena Reservation and I stopped on the road because I saw a calf chasing swarms of birds. He was running around, tail up and moving. It was adorable. Reminded me of a cat. He was so playing and clearly having a good time."
"More birds flew around and he chased them still."
"But then he caught a bird!*?* Have you ever heard of a cow catching a bird? A calf at that? I'm sure no one has heard of a calf or cow catching a bird! It was amazing."
Carolyn told me the surprised calf quickly let the bird go. The bird flew off unscathed but surely bewildered as to what had just happened to it. Now that's something you don't see every day! Thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to share her story and photos with you here.