California Sister Butterfly photographed on the Mendonoma Coast

A California Sister Butterfly, Adelpha californica, was photographed recently by Robert Scarola. It is seen around Oak trees, which is where they lay their eggs. It gets its name from the supposed resemblance to the black and white of a Nun's habit. It is only found in California and occasionally in Oregon and Washington. Many thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo here.

Sandhill Crane seen in Mendocino County

On Friday a Sandhill Crane was seen by Mel Smith just off Highway One by the Garcia River flats. Last year about this time two Sandhill Cranes danced in the air in front of my Anchor Bay home. I don't think people would have believed me, as I'm not the most experienced birder, except I got several pictures. Sandhill Cranes are rare visitors to the coast.

I felt very fortunate to see and hear them - a wonderful gift from Mother Nature!

Two photos of a Gray Fox from coastal photographer Hal Fogel

We share the Mendonoma Coast with the beautiful Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus. They are often photographed hunting in the open meadows of The Sea Ranch. And that is where Hal Fogel photographed this Gray Fox. Thanks to Hal for kindly allowing me to share his photos with you.

Something caught this Gray Fox's attention!

Fun fact: Gray Foxes are monogamous. Their kits are some of the cutest critters you could hope to see. Here's a link to see Craig Tooley's photo of two Fox kits. http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-photos-of-gray-fox-kits-by-coastal.html

Two photos of Sunday's magnificent Sunset by Gary Klein

Sunday's sunset, Oct. 23rd, was so beautiful that nearly everyone on the coast has been talking about it. Gary Klein took these pictures from Irish Beach and has kindly allowed me to share them here.

Oh, beautiful, for spacious skies...

You can see another photo of that sunset, which was taken by Ron LeValley a little further north, by clicking on this link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/10/spectacular-sunset-photo-by-coastal.html

Unusual Beetle seen in Anchor Bay - a Monochamus

I was sitting on our deck reading when a fairly large bug flew into the side of my face. It flew down to the brick deck and rested in the mortar between two bricks. Rick and I had never seen anything like it before. The antennae are longer than the bug's body.

I sent my photo to bug expert Will Ericson. He wrote back, "Oh, that's cool. I haven't seen these in Mendocino before, always a pleasant surprise. This is a Monochamus sp. in the family Cerambycidae." Will told me they are wood-boring beetles and act as essential decomposers of dead trees. They are also known as Sawyer Beetles.

I thought the photo below was interesting with the shadow.

Coccora mushrooms just peeking up through the duff on the forest floor in Anchor Bay

Coccora mushrooms, Amanita calyptroderma, are just poking up through the forest duff on our Anchor Bay property. They appear in the same place, year after year. A mushroom expert friend, Bev Vogt, identified them for Rick and me some years ago. She declared this part of our property, "Coccora heaven!"

In the days to come, the white you see below will adorn a golden-colored cap. These are edible, indeed considered choice by some. But with the creamy white top removed they can be confused with the Death Cap, Amanita phalloides. As the name implies, it is deadly poisonous.

I wouldn't eat a Coccora unless I had picked it myself. They are quite beautiful to look at. I will post a photograph here when they are in "full flower."

Yellow-rumped Warblers are moving into the Mendonoma Coast and photographed by coastal photographer Craig Tooley

Yellow-rumped Warblers are arriving on the Mendonoma coast to spend the winter here. Their song can be heard from trees. I learned on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website that they are the only warbler that can digest the wax of the berries of Wax Myrtle and Bayberries.

Here's a link to their site where you can hear their sweet call.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

Craig Tooley has photographed this small songbird several times and has kindly allowed me to share them with you here.

To see more of Craig's work, here is a link to his website: http://web.me.com/theruffians1