Signs of Spring (and the Recent Rain)

We have received an unusual amount of rain in the past few weeks - VERY late for this region of the country, but we are not going to complain!

The wild flowers and even fungi are more lush than usual because of this moisture and I am trying to get out and see (and photograph) some of this spring bounty.

Pretty sure that this is Exidia glandulosa, "Black Witch's Butter", growing on the log we placed under the huge live oak tree in the meadow.

Colorful moth, as yet undetermined, that showed up at my black light last night. Finally the nights are warming after weeks of very cool (and damp) weather.

Hippodamia convergens (Convergent Lady Beetle) on Common Yarrow. Mountain Meadow Road.

The very common Acmaeodera hepburni, a jewel beetle. Oddly perched on young oak leaves (they usually prefer flowers). 

Collomia grandiflora. Don't see this one every year.

Lupinus succulentus, the common lupine species here in the mountains.

Turkey tail fungus.

Calochortus albus, the White Globe Lily. We have MANY of these this year, perking up the landscape, especially along roadsides.

Calochortus splendens. We've never seen so many of these mariposa lilies before. They are popping up all over.

Tremella sp., probably T. aurantia. 

Clarkia rhomboidea. 

Rhododendron occidentalis, Western Azalea. I have been meaning to photograph these flowers for years, and finally got around to it. They grow along Engineers Road in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and it takes a little bushwhacking to reach them.

A Quick Diversion to the Anza Borrego Desert to Scout Before Our Camping Trip Next Weekend

The rain storms that brought several inches to the mountains brought a little bit to the desert, too. A little goes a long way down there, and the flowers looked richer along Henderson Canyon Road than they have in several years.

We also drove about 5 miles up Coyote Canyon, which is a favorite spot of ours now!

Henderson Canyon Road, Borrego Springs. The usual suspects, flower-wise. Nice to see them again after a long absence!

Wide shot at Henderson Canyon Road.

Hyles lineata (White-lined Sphinx Moth) caterpillar. There was a huge emergence along DiGiorgio Road.

Not much left of this plant (which is a mustard, I believe).

If the leaves are gone, why not eat the stem?

Small cryptic grasshopper at the northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road.

Matching (almost) pupae of...? Northern terminus of DiGiorgio Road.

Acmaeodera vernalis, a new species for me in San Diego County (or anywhere else, for that matter). Around Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

Eupompha elegans, Henderson Canyon Road.

Trichodes ornatus, checkered beetles. These are common in our desert, and in the mountains, also. This behavior keeps them that way! These were near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

Fishhook Cactus flower. Near Third Crossing, Coyote Canyon.

A nice healthy-looking Desert Lily, Old Springs Road, Borrego Springs.

Signs of Spring in Cuyamaca Woods

Even though it's not technically spring, it is feeling like it these days. We have finally had some decent rain (around 5 inches in the past several weeks). The warm weather between storms, and the water is bringing the spring growth out.

Lupine with dew. These little lupines grow on a slope just outside the house. They are kindly adding nitrogen to the soil.

BIG droplet on some low-growing vegetation behind Yin Yang's house.

Manzanita berries. They will get bigger and redder as the season progresses. These are about a centimeter wide. The manzanitas flowered to a huge degree this season, for some reason.

Ceonothus sp. (wild lilac). This particular bush is very popular with honey bees and native bees at the moment!

Yin Yang, the nature lover, who accompanied me on this mini-photo expedition around the property last Tuesday.

Our Annual Diversion to the Salton Sea: Birding and Good Times with Friends!

Right at the beginning of the fresh new year, we made our usual trip to the Salton Sea, about an hour-and-a-half east of Cuyamaca Woods. This time our neighbors and friends, Bill and Susan Carter joined us. Bill generously shared his long camera lenses which fit on my Canon Rebel. This allowed getting some better bird shots than usual (as I STILL have not invested in my own long lenses yet, with all that macro photography distracting me most of the time).

As we drove in from Westmorland, we saw many American Kestrels perching on the wires, and the one below perched on the ground briefly.

American Kestrel, just south of the Salton Sea, California.

We were also lucky to see a cooperative Burrowing Owl on the drive in, as we saw no more the rest of the day (which is a bit unusual).

Keeping an eye on things in the morning sun.

The owl did some strange movements while we watched it - like this head bob-maneuver.

When we arrived at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, the usual suspects were around visiting the feeders and water sources put out for their benefit. That would be Gambel's Quail, Common Ground Doves, Abert's Towhees, and the ubiquitous White-crowned Sparrows. I didn't get good images of much, except this well-fed-looking Mourning Dove perched in a Palo Verde!

Mourning Dove, Sonny Bono SSNWR.

The walk out to the edge of the Sea was worthwhile as there was a Yellow-footed Gull hanging around with the Ring-billed Gulls and ducks. A good year bird, and a seldom-seen bird any time. It was so far away I could only get a rather blurry record image of it.

Yellow-footed Gull, Salton Sea, California.

We then headed over to Unit One, which had much less in the way of water-filled areas close to the viewing platforms than usual. The Sea is shrinking yearly, but this seemed like more than just the expected water level reduction.

Raccoon tracks in the mud, with salt at top of photo (as expected). Unit One, Salton Sea NWR, California.

All in all, we saw many good birds and had a great time with friends this day! Looking forward to next year's trip!

Susan and Bill, with Sandhill Cranes in background. Salton Sea, California.

Our August Trip to the Algodones Dunes

It's been a little over a month since our trip to the Algodones Dunes, about 7.5 miles south of Glamis. I finally have a chance to report some of the things seen on that trip.

There had been moderately heavy rain prior to our arrival, and mud was extensive still. The areas about 8 miles south were off limits to camping as of this year, so we camped just north of that area, in a small Palo Verde pocket on the east side of the main dune system.

Similar fauna to what we observed in 2013 were seen, with some new invertebrates.

Hydrophilus triangularis, a first for me at the dunes. This is a large beetle - over an inch long.

Weevil, still wearing an outfit of dried mud from the rains.

Eburia falli, a nice cerambycid of the dunes. I have seen this species on several occasions there in the past, as well.

Initially I thought that this was Oxygrylius ruginosus, as opposed to Tomarus gibbosus, which is so common west of the deserts. But the apex of the clypeus seems to have two small points, instead of one, so it may be Tomarus. Thanks to Art Evans for pointing out the difference. These beetles were extremely numerous here in the dunes this year in this location.

These beetles liked burrowing. Here's one, taking advantage of the soft sand.

MANY showed up at the black light sheets.

These field crickets were also present in very high numbers.

These little rove beetles were also EXTREMELY abundant.

A sand roach, probably Arenivaga sp.

Scorpions were out in numbers after dark. This one nabbed one of the small dynastines...

...then it snagged one of the ubiquitous crickets! If it had a larder somewhere, it must have been full at the end of this night!

A BIG velvet mite - Dinothrombium sp. A couple were seen near one light, ambling along like fuzzy teddy bears.

I have seen these very pale asilids at the dunes before. This one was determined by Eric Fisher from this photo as Efferia candida, a common species of the Colorado Desert in early summer.

We found a Sidewinder half buried in the sand. They will bury themselves completely with only the eyes protruding. This behavior may explain the sudden appearance of the sidewinder by my leg last year. I probably knelt by a buried one (as Gary suggested).

This is what the Sidewinder's spot looked like in the morning (it never moved over the several hours of early evening while we were active).