Siegfried and Gretel noticed a Raccoon befriending a black cat.
This cat became so familiar with Raccoons that it was friendly when a baby paid it a visit.
Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his fascinating photos with you here.
Shirley Mitchell saw a charming sight. She called these Pine Siskins "whale riders."
Pine Siskins arrive on the Mendonoma Coast about the same time the beautiful male Goldfinches. They both love to eat at thistle feeders filled with niger seed. Below is a photo taken by Dean Schuler of male American Goldfinches at one such feeder.
Siegfried Matull took this lovely photo of three Goldfinches on a branch and a Pine Siskin in the air.
Thanks to Shirley, Dean, and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds look so similar that sometimes even the most experienced birder can't tell one from the other. I've been advised to just call them Selasphorus Hummingbirds and I'll always be right. Siegfried Matull recently photographed what he believes is an Allen's Hummingbird. Whatever you call them, they sure are beautiful!
These feisty, slightly smaller Hummingbirds migrate through the Mendonoma Coast in the spring and again in fall. They fight with our year round Anna's Hummingbirds, darting here and there like kamakazi pilots. When my chives are in bloom, one of these beauties likes to feed on the purple blossoms.
Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Anna's Hummingbirds nest early, as early as January. They build the most exquisite nests out of spider webs, lichen and small twigs. Jenny and John Biglow found this hummingbird nest with two babies inside. Can you spot them?
Siegfried Matull found an occupied nest too. Here's the mother hummingbird sitting on the nest.
And when the female took off for a moment, Siegfried got a photo of her eggs. Look how perfect the nest is.
Thanks to Jenny and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Siegfried and Gretel Matull stopped at the mouth of the Russian River in Jenner. They found the river closed but the Harbor Seals and Gulls didn't seem to mind.
The wave action was dramatic at times and Siegfried got this photo of a crashing wave.
Rick and I had driven down the coast last Thursday and saw the river was about to flood the deck of the visitors' center. On our way back home, we saw this fellow getting ready to manually open the river - a dangerous task indeed.
We had to go down to Bodega Bay on Monday and saw that the river was at least four feet lower than it was the previous Thursday. Yes, the river was once again open to the Pacific Ocean.
Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photos with you here.