Nature and wildlife

Steve DeMello captured this shot of mother and child the other day at Lake Clementia. Read more » about Happy Mother's Day!

While shooting photos of a mute swan family at Lake Clementia Wednesday afternoon, neighbor Steve DeMello managed to get a 14-photo sequence of a bald eagle fishing -- extraordinary photos you haven't seen before.  Click the "Start" triangle to see. Read more » about A successful fishing trip -- from the air

Neighbor Steve DeMello shares one of his photos with this note: "Thought you might like this photo I took this morning. 'The Dance' -- Poppies and Hummingbirds over Lake Calero. Rancho Murieta ... what a great place to live life." Read more » about A dance that celebrates spring

Two bicyclists saw a mountain lion near the Cosumnes River early Friday afternoon, Security reports.

Security Chief Greg Remson writes in an email, "Today at about 1 p.m. two bicyclists were riding on the 'Boulder Trail' in the North back area, along the river. As they rode around a bend they saw a mountain lion walking down the trail in front of them. When it saw the bicyclists the lion ran away from them."

Remson added that warning signs regarding the mountain lion sighting have been posted at the Clementia Park and river beach reader boards and at various points along the river trail areas. Read more » about Mountain lion sighted on trail near river

Security Chief Greg Remson reported Tuesday that a Security patrol officer on routine patrol overnight observed a mountain lion walking on the hill between Lake Chesbro and the water treatment plant. Remson reminds residents that "we live in mountain lion country," and advised people to call Security at 354-2273 (CARE) if they see one.

The mountain lion's main source of food is deer. The Rancho Murieta deer population thrives on landscaping and some people deliberately feed them, although it's against the law to feed deer by putting out grain or salt licks. Read more » about Security reports mountain lion sighting

Here's your chance to see a modestly bright comet this week -- maybe a prelude to a bigger display in December.

For the next week, astronomers say you should be able to see Comet PanSTARRS at sunset -- a sky show that could pale by comparison to another comet headed into our skies late this year. Read more » about The Heavens prepare a light show for us all

Neighbor Steve DeMello shares this photo and caption: "A visiting bald eagle perusing the breakfast buffet on Lake Calero. Who says the 'Rancho Murieta Sunday Brunch' is a thing of the past?" Read more » about Sunday at the breakfast buffet

It's not really bald-eagle season until we get a photo from Bill Gengler, known as the birdman of Rancho Murieta for the hundreds of photos he has shared with us all. So, with Bill's latest photo, consider the season under way. Referring to this and a couple of other photos that are in a new Bill Gengler gallery, he writes, "I am happy that the eagle has finally returned to his home trees from previous years. And, my favorite egret is also happy that a high charged eagle has taken roost on a power pole on the lake." Read more » about A regal roost, high in the branches

Here's a Valentine card from Rancho Murieta, taken by neighbor Steve DeMello. "It took all morning to get these two to cooperate," he writes. Read more » about Happy Valentine's Day

We asked if anyone had photos of this winter's bald eagles.  Neighbor Anthony Wong shares pictures shot over the weekend at Lake Calero.  Click through to see three more of his photos. There's a new photo -- with two eagles at their nest -- in the Forums. Read more » about The photos of bald eagles start landing