Dragonflies and Damselflies grace us with their incredible beauty. Ron Bolander was at a friend's lily pond where he found this gorgeous Blue-eyed Darner Dragonfly.
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
It's foggy along the coast but sunny when you head inland. That makes for a mild day today!
Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They have a varied diet, which includes small rodents and fish. Ron Bolander photographed one that had just found dinner.
Just look at the beautiful scene with the Pacific Ocean in the background!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Lots and lots of wind today to go with the sunny skies.
Spring doesn't know...
They are harbingers of summer - dragonflies are being seen, especially near still water. Ron Bolander recently was visiting a friend who has a lily pond, a perfect place to see dragonflies. He photographed a Cardinal Meadowhawk Dragonfly.
What a gorgeous dragonfly! One more photo of this living jewel is appearing along with my column in today's Independent Coast Observer. Maybe this would be a good time to get your own subscription, print and/or on-line. http://www.mendonoma.com/
Here's a link to the Press Democrat article I wrote several years ago about dragonflies: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/7372464-181/sonoma-countys-amazing-dragonflies
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
It was suppose to cool off today but so far it's still very warm. It's a beautiful, clear spring day.
Spring doesn't know...
American Goldfinches arrive in chattering groups, attracted to native thistles and milkweed. They love sunflower and nyger seeds, so you might be able to attract them to a tube feeder. Ron Bolander photographed this pair. The male is looking very spiffy in his bright yellow feathers.
Sara Bogard also photographed these small finches feeding on a coastal bluff.
These birds often are seen with Pine Siskins. Their songs are a series of warbles and twitters. You can listen to their call at this link of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/sounds
Thanks to Ron and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
A river of rain event is on its way this afternoon. It's quite balmy as we await Mother Nature's theatrics. Rick and I were out yesterday and we checked the Gualala River. It is closed by the sandbar and has filled up nicely into the lagoon. We'll have to see if the river opens with this oncoming storm.
Spring doesn't know...
It's always a joy when the Ospreys return, right around the first day of Spring. Rick and I get to watch an active nest in Anchor Bay through our spotting scope. While there are multiple nests here, perhaps Ron Bolander photographed the male of the pair we watch.
This Osprey has a very intent look on his face! He hunts fish for his mate, as she sits on the nest, tending to the eggs. He also will bringing nest materials back to the nest on a regular basis. They fine-tune and reinforce their nest daily. Sara Bogard photographed an Osprey bringing nesting materials back to the nest.
He's got quite a haul!
Yesterday, as I was watching the nest, I saw Common Ravens over the nest. They were trying to steal the eggs! The female Osprey stayed on her eggs with her neck extended, while the male Osprey performed aerial maneuvers, dive-bombing the Ravens and chasing them off. Whew! Today all is calm.
Thanks to Ron and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
We are headed into a warming trend. Today it's in the high 60's with a breeze.
Spring doesn't know...