Tag Archives: Ron Bolander

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Ron Bolander photographed this Canada Goose family last week. There is just one gosling but he/she is cute and photogenic.

The Mendonoma Coast isn't normally where Canada Geese breed, but occasionally we see them nest here. They have to contend with Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and River Otters, to name a few predators. Tim Bray told me the adult geese are ferocious defenders of their chicks. The remaining chick, with his/her head tilted, seems to be looking at Ron, wondering just what the heck it was seeing!

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

It's sunny and breezy today, with some high clouds drifting by. It's quite lovely.

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Cliff Swallows have arrived and are busy building their nests of mud. You can see these beautiful swallows working hard at the north end of the Gualala Community Center building, along the entrance road to the post office. Cliff Swallows nest in colonies. Here is a photo Robert Scarolo took some years ago in a tunnel at The Sea Ranch.

Diane Hichwa further explains. She wrote, “Our Barn Swallows build individual nests [hidden from each other]. Tree Swallows build in cavities in trees or boxes, and may be harder to find! Violet-green Swallows use nesting boxes.” Our largest swallow, the Purple Martin, uses nesting cavities in trees that other birds have made, such as woodpeckers.

Here is the beautiful Violet-green Swallow photographed by Craig Tooley.

And there is one more swallow species that returns here in the spring. Ron Bolander wrote, “I was out photographing at Gualala Point with my  usual Saturday group of friends. We all photographed these Northern Rough-winged Swallows in this tree. It was nice to capture this image on a beautiful day in the park.” Diane tells me this type of swallow is found near a river, as they nest in the river’s banks.

All of these swallows leave our area in the late Summer or early Fall. They are insect eaters, eating over a hundred insects a day, each one of them. In the Winter there aren’t enough insects for them to survive here, so they fly to warmer climes to our south.

If you are lucky enough to have swallows build a nest under your eves or in a light fixture, as happened one year at Surf Super’s entrance doors, think of the benefits these swallows bring by keeping the insect population under control. If you are worried about the mess the baby birds make, you can take a cardboard box and cut the sides off, leaving an inch or so. Tack that up under the nest to catch the waste, and when the birds have fledged, take it down and dispose of it. Remember that migratory birds, and their nests, are protected by law.

Thanks to Robert, Craig and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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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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Ron Bolander noticed this Bobcat sitting in the sun.

And then the cat with the bobbed tail heard something.

The Bobcat stealthily approached a gopher hole.

And then, he/she put its head in the gopher hole.

 

And drug out a very large gopher. Poor gopher! But this is the food chain in action. The Bobcat then took his meal off into the bushes.

Did you know a Bobcat's markings, the spots and lines of its coat, are unique to each animal? Just like our fingerprints.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share these actions photos with you here.

It's a little cooler today, especially close to the ocean, and a breeze has picked up. Sunny skies are the order of the day. Happy Spring!

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Ron Bolander was at Gualala Point Regional Park photographing birds between storms. He found this gorgeous male American Kestrel. I love how one feather is lifted by the wind.

Ron also found a Bald Eagle soaring through the air.

ah, to be able to fly!

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

Today is very cold...brrr....and lightly raining. We added another .20 inch of rain yesterday for a season to date total of 33.85 inches. After tonight's rain, we are suppose to get a break until late Sunday. With the King Tides this weekend, and New Year's Eve, this weekend would be a great time to be here on the Mendonoma Coast.