Pileated Woodpecker feeding two babies - a fantastic photo taken over the weekend

Frank Drouillard and Nan Brichetto were hiking in Sonoma County when they heard the racket. They looked up and saw two heads poked out of a hole of a tree. Nan usually gets the shot, but she handed the camera to Frank and he got the fantastic photo of an adult Pileated Woodpecker at the opening of the nest cavity with the two babies' heads awaiting food. Thanks much to Frank for sharing his photograph here with us.

Pileated Woodpeckers are our largest woodpeckers here on the Mendonoma Coast. They have a prehistoric look to them, don't you agree? Their territory is quite large - 200 acres or more. Their call is unique. Once heard it will never be forgotten.

Male Osprey checks on the female Osprey nesting in Anchor Bay

This pair has survived several attacks by Ravens and some very high winds but they are still thriving. The nest overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a little tattered but still intact. The female Osprey has been sitting on the nest for several weeks now. Occasionally she stands up and appears to move the eggs around. Yesterday I photographed through our spotting scope a visit to the nest by the male Osprey. The rocky island on the left is Fish Rocks, which is just off of Anchor Bay.

A newborn Pinto joins the herd in Point Arena - meet Little Lady!

Jacqueline McAbrey joyfully announces that the Point Arena Pintos have a new foal. Mama gave birth to a perfect filly on Tuesday the 24th, Jacqueline believes. You can see from the photo that she is brown and white. She has been named "Little Lady" after Lady who passed away in March.

These wild horses are a thrill to see as we drive north on Highway One. You can read more about them on Jacqueline's blog. http://pointarenapintos.blogspot.com/ There are many more photos and stories about these beautiful creatures. Thanks to Jacqueline for letting me share these two photos.

American Goldfinches are like living jewels on top of our tree

American Goldfinches have arrived in great numbers to the Mendonoma Coast. Many of the males are in bright yellow breeding plumage to attract females. It's as if rays of sunshine were sitting on top of our Douglas fir tree. Rick and I put a thistle feeder out this spring, as we have the last several years, and we've been rewarded by the sight and sound of these little birds. The males sing a lovely song. We have also put out yarn for the females to use in making their nests. I guess you could call us "enablers."

Old Growth Redwood Tree that survived the loggers because it grew in a twisted shape

Soon after Rick and I moved to the Mendocino Coast we found this magnificent old growth Sequoia Sempervirens or Coast Redwood. We were nearly overcome with awe and delight when we first saw it and even now, after 15 years, we still get a thrill every time we hike down to see it. It is on a neighboring property. Our area was logged in the 1880's. This giant wasn't taken because it wasn't straight; it grew in a twisty fashion. Rick is in the first picture to give you some idea of how big this beautiful tree is. About halfway up a limb grows as big as a second growth tree. It's perfectly straight. The top was blown off in a storm many years ago. Who knows how old this tree is? Many hundreds of years and perhaps even a thousand years old. What stories it could tell...

Brandt's Cormorant in breeding plumage

Brandt's Cormorants are busy building nests on Gualala Point Island just off the Sonoma coast. Craig Tooley photographed one in breeding plumage. You can see the blue throat patch - a sign this bird is ready to mate. I'm also showing you a picture taken by Rich Kuehn of storm driven waves crashing over the island taken several months ago. Brandt's Cormorant nest rather late. They instinctively know not to build their nests too soon. These birds were scared off their nests in 2006 and 2007 when a group decided to shoot off fireworks in Gualala for the 4th of July. Some places just don't work for fireworks, at least in nesting season - some places are for the birds!

 To see more of Craig's photos: http://web.me.com/theruffians1

Sweet wildflower blooming alongside our road - a single Pussy Ears

The first Pussy Ears I've seen this year is blooming amidst a sea of pine needles on the edge of a dirt road here in Mendocino County. Such a delicate little flower with a single, slender green leaf. It is a treat to find this native California wildflower. It's a perennial herb and is a member of the Lily family. Want to impress family and friends with its Latin name? Be my guest! It is Calochortus tolmiei. Say it fast three times.