Nature and wildlife

Neighbor Dave Voss shares this photo, taken in his front yard the other day.  "Biggest I've seen in a number of years!" he writes. Read more » about When nature visits the front yard

A note from photographer Steve DeMello accompanies this photo: "Attached is a photo I took at Stonehouse Park a few days ago. While not a true albino, in the birding world, Buffy is referred to as a 'Leucistic' Blackbird.  Her light plumage makes her a standout target for birds of prey, so it’s pretty impressive that she has been a frequent visitor at our Stonehouse Park for the past four years." Read more » about A fan of the facilities at Stonehouse Park

Swans have taken up residence at Lake Clementia.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information after a swan was shot and killed Wednesday morning at Lake Clementia.

A Rancho Murieta Association maintenance worker reported hearing what sounded like a gunshot and seeing a swan in flight drop from the sky about 9 a.m. Security responded, the area around the lake was searched, residents hiking the trails around the lake were interviewed, and the Sacramento Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Fish & Game were notified.

"It's illegal to discharge a firearm in that area, and there's definitely no hunting," Security Chief Greg Remson said. Read more » about Reward offered in killing of swan at Clementia

The first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Rancho Murieta were found in a sampling the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District took in late August near Puerto Drive's 7 Park. There were 10 infected mosquitoes in the sample, the vector district reported Tuesday. Read more » about Mosquitoes with West Nile found in RM

The clouds, spatters of rain and thunder of the last couple of days gave us a gorgeous sunset over Laguna Joaquin Wednesday night, captured by neighbor Suzanne Sheumaker. Her accompanying note: "Here is a picture taken last night of the first really nice sunset of the approaching autumn." Read more » about Unsettled weather yields a beautiful sunset

The number of birds found with West Nile virus in Rancho Murieta continues to climb -- 10 in the last six weeks -- and officials say spraying to kill mosquitoes here won’t happen until the virus is found in mosquitoes in this area. Read more » about So far, no mosquitoes found with West Nile

Two more dead birds in Rancho Murieta have been tested and found to be infected with West Nile virus.  That makes five infected birds found here in the last month.  Read more » about Two more dead birds found with West Nile virus

No mosquitoes trapped in Rancho Murieta have yet tested positive for West Nile virus, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Wednesday.  The district placed traps to test mosquitoes after a dead bird found in Rancho Murieta earlier this month tested positive for the virus. Additional testing was done after a sentinel chicken tested positive last week, according to the district, and a second dead bird was found to have the virus. Read more » about More findings of West Nile virus in Murieta

A dead bird found in Rancho Murieta earlier this month has tested positive for West Nile virus, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed Friday.  The district had already reported a high incidence of the virus in the Wilton and Elk Grove areas, where 50 samples of mosquitoes, which transmit the disease, have tested positive. Read more » about Dead bird in RM tests positive for West Nile

Early Monday, don’t be surprised if you hear what sounds like gunshots in the area of Lake Clementia. The Rancho Murieta Association will be setting off propane blasters to frighten the Canada geese that have taken up residence there, befouling the beach, grass and sidewalks -- the site of July 4 fun. Sunday morning found more than 100 geese on the beach and grass, and they weren’t terribly afraid of humans. Droppings were everywhere, as seen below. RMA plans a range of approaches to dislodge the geese, as outlined in an announcement earlier Sunday. On Saturday, a neighbor posted a Forums thank-you to a friend who saved an 8-year-old’s birthday party from goose poop.

From the archives:

• Video: Country Club hires four-legged help to control geese (Dec. 19, 2008)

Read more » about Red, white and blue? Try gray and gooey