Date: 2/26/26 9:36 pm From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Pelagic Sunday March 1
Nice spell of calm weather coming early next week. The Kraken is
available Sunday so let's get out there! Forecast showing seas less than
five feet and very little wind, very nice conditions.
If we get enough people we can go out to Noyo Canyon and probably find a
pod of Dolphins as well as the offshore birds. Last year the March trip
was amazing, we got into a big pod of Risso's Dolphins and a Laysan
Albatross repeatedly visited the boat. There are still Gray Whales
passing by so we will probably look for them on the way out and possibly
on the return as well. And this is the time of year when Short-tailed
Albatrosses have been seen here!
This would be a 5-hour trip departing at 10 AM and returning in the
afternoon, for $120 per person, paid directly to Anchor Charters.
If you are interested, please let me know. We need around 20 signups to
make the trip happen. Contact me directly: <tbray...>
--
Cheers,
Tim
“I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the
albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912
mendocinocoastaudubon.org
kzyx.org/show/ecology-hour
kzyx.org/show/oak-and-thorn
Date: 2/25/26 5:42 pm From: Jessica Morton via groups.io <jessica...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Caspar Pond again
At 5:30 Wednesday afternoon, a Hooded Merganser pair near a Common Merganser pair, with 2 paired-off Bufflehead and the usual midpond-perched Double-Crested Cormorant.
Date: 2/21/26 2:55 pm From: Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Cormorant - feather or nettles?
On 2026-02-21 2:38 pm, Michael Coustier via groups.io wrote:
> At the Gualala Point Regional Park today and I saw this cormorant - I
> thought there was a jellyfish behind him when viewing him, and when
> getting home inspecting the photos ... maybe?
> But in the photo I also notice fine "nettles" on the cormorants neck -
> are these feathers or other?
>
> Looking directly behind the cormorant, is that a jelly fish?
> Looking at the cormorants back and neck, are those "nettles" ?
>
> _._,_._,_
The Brandt's Cormorant has something in its mouth.
The white on the sides of the head are breeding plumes coming in
Date: 2/21/26 2:38 pm From: Michael Coustier via groups.io <mcoustier...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Cormorant - feather or nettles?
At the Gualala Point Regional Park today and I saw this cormorant - I thought there was a jellyfish behind him when viewing him, and when getting home inspecting the photos ... maybe?
But in the photo I also notice fine "nettles" on the cormorants neck - are these feathers or other?
Looking directly behind the cormorant, is that a jelly fish?
Looking at the cormorants back and neck, are those "nettles" ?
> On Feb 18, 2026, at 3:59 PM, Jessica Morton via groups.io <jessica...> wrote:
>
> Seen a little after 3 p.m. today at the pond, 7 Bufflehead vigorously speed-dating (much head-bobbing and girl-chase-boy) , with 1 splendid male Hooded Merganser snoozing nearby.
>
>
>
>
>
>
Seen a little after 3 p.m. today at the pond, 7 Bufflehead vigorously speed-dating (much head-bobbing and girl-chase-boy) , with 1 splendid male Hooded Merganser snoozing nearby.
Date: 2/18/26 9:08 am From: David Jensen via groups.io <djensen...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Bandtailed-pigeon Incursion
February 18, 2026
Conditions in the foothills must be tough. I have a flock of 70+ BTPI in my yard in downtown Fort Bragg this morning. It's at least one month earlier than they usually arrive.
Date: 2/17/26 5:54 pm From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Possible offshore trip Friday
Possible Half-day offshore trip to Noyo Canyon, Friday February 20
The forecast for Friday is now showing light wind (from the south) and
seas decreasing through the day. The Kraken is available all day, so we
could depart at 10 or noon, giving us five hours on the water for $120
per person.
There isn't a whale-watching trip scheduled for that morning, so we
would probably start out looking for some Gray Whales before heading
farther offshore to the Noyo Canyon area. Out there we would look for
Dolphins (two or three species possible) and possibly Fur Seals, as well
as seabirds. Likely birds include Black-footed Albatross, Sooty
Shearwater (and perhaps Short-tailed as well), Rhinoceros and Cassin's
Auklets, and six to eight species of Gulls (including the elegant
Black-legged Kittiwake). Hoped-for birds include Laysan or Short-tailed
Albatross, Tufted or Horned Puffin, and any number of rarities.
Let me know ASAP (reply directly to me) if you can make it on Friday.
The Captain would like to have at least twenty people on board. If you
know anyone who might be interested, feel free to tell them about it.
--
Cheers,
Tim
“I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the
albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912
mendocinocoastaudubon.org
kzyx.org/show/ecology-hour
kzyx.org/show/oak-and-thorn
Date: 2/17/26 4:21 pm From: jackson_us via groups.io <jackson2...> Subject: [Mendobirds] A report from the south coast
2/17/26
Hi All,
There has been a sighting of a CA thrasher on the ridge behind Anchor Bay.
I just posted about it:
https://www.mendonomasightings.com/2026/02/17/a-california-thrasher-as-photo graphed-by-ron-bolander/ Ron Bolander got a great photo of it. Apparently
the bird has been here for months. I'm told the land where this bird has
been seen is near Rick's and my place so I'll be looking for it.
Also Tricolored blackbirds were seen at the Gualala Bluff Trail by Shari
Goforth last week - six or seven. I have photos of them too.
Date: 2/13/26 12:58 pm From: Robert Keiffer via groups.io <rjkeiffer...> Subject: [Mendobirds] White-throated Swift
Friday, 13 February 2026, Minimum of 8 White-throated Swifts foraging directly over Frog Woman Rock, south of Hopland, along Hwy 101. No swallows yet. Bob Keiffer. <rjkeiffer...>
Date: 2/7/26 7:32 pm From: Michael Coustier via groups.io <mcoustier...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Help with Warbler i.d.
I've only seen Yellow-rumped and Orange Warblers in Gualala.
eBird/Merlin is insisting the warbler i've identified as a juvenile orange warbler is actually a Nashville Warbler.
1. Can anyone positively id this bird?
2. If it ends up being a Nashville, eBird doesn't even give me the option to add a Nashville ( I assume based on my location )
Date: 2/6/26 12:46 pm From: Roger Adamson via groups.io <radamson...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Western Tanager in Fort Bragg
There is a Western Tanager in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Spontaneously calling prididit in the formal garden area just west of the entrance.
RHA
Date: 2/3/26 10:40 am From: jackson_us via groups.io <jackson2...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Tropical kingbird
Seen yesterday, Feb. 2, 2026
Hi All,
Michael Reinhart was photographing birds on Lighthouse Road in Point Arena
yesterday and found a Tropical kingbird. I've attached one of his photos.
Also a Ferruginous hawk.
