Wild ceanothus

Wild ceanothus [sometimes called California Lilac] blooming on Cow Mountain. It comes in white, bright blue, sky blue, and even sometimes pale pink. When it's all in bloom, the hillsides look like some fantasy-land fairy's garden.

Purple Finch eating oat seeds

A purple finch munching on some green oat seeds early one morning in Mendocino County.

Anna's Hummingbird

This little bird is about the size of your thumb. The males have bright red throats, so the one above is either a female or a juvenile. It seemed quite happy to sit and prose for the camera for quite a long time.

Western Fence Lizard

I was taking a photo of some wildflowers when I noticed this Western Fence Lizard watching me quite calmly from beneath a nearby bush. They're often known as bluebellies for their brilliantly blue undersides, and they're the most common lizard to be found in this area.

Ground squirrel sunning itself

This plump ground squirrel was enjoying a few moments of sun early one morning. Its burrow is just outside the photograph, and when it decided it was tired of having a camera pointed at it, it scampered away down its hole.

Jackrabbit grooming near Lake Mendocino

This large jackrabbit was quite happy to sit in the sun and wash its fur as we watched, seemingly unworried by our presence.

Fawn hiding in the blackberries

This fawn was hoping that if it only held very very still, I wouldn't be able to see it. And it nearly worked - the ears kind of gave the game away however!