Look Up!

On June 30th, a nice almost-full moon rose over the trees to the east, with some delicate clouds dressing it up a bit.

Venus and Jupiter still hovered to the west, and I thought I'd finally take a shot of them. For fun, I also did an eight minute long exposure of the two planets, letting them streak a bit.

It was truly full the next night, but to my eyes, it looks pretty round in outline here.

Venus (the larger one) and Jupiter.

"Planet-streak"

This high ISO image of the Milky Way was not taken this year - I took it in July of 2012. I may experiment with these night sky images a bit more this summer.

Some Arthropods Seen in the Past Weeks

We are fully in the midst of the warm season here in Cuyamaca Woods, and the small ectotherms are out in force.

I have done some black lighting on my patio, something I do every year, on and off, and various organisms are out and about, visiting the many flowers that the late rain helped sustain.

A couple of these cicadas emerged on our property in late June. They are probably in the genus Okanagana, but I have not figured out the species yet. It is a new one for me.

Smooth harvester ants, Veromessor andrei (NOT Pogonomyrmex as I thought earlier), which have several nests right in the middle of our areas of activity. They are quiet during most of the heat of the day, but then become active in late afternoon, busily carrying food to their nests. Thanks to Derek Uhey for identification of these ants.

Centrodera spurca, a common species in late June and early July here.

This huge Prionus lecontei has been one of the few Prionus sp. individuals that have come to the light at night this season. Usually there are far more Prionus californicus. 

A large tarantula, lighter brown than I'm used to seeing, which visited the patio on June 28.

Something new - water boatmen in the ground-level bird bath! Very small - less than 10 mm long. They were gone the next day (presumably had flown on to greener pastures).

Acmaeodera connexa on thistle.

The ultra-common Acmaeodera hepburni, on an odd plant choice (as they usually prefer flowers!).

Brothylus gemmulatus pair. Making more Brothylus gemmulatus....

Galerita lecontei, apparently the only species of Galerita in southern California. A sharp-looking individual!

Hippodamia convergens, enjoying the flowers of late May.

This was one of the largest Polycaon stouti that I've seen - well over 20 mm.

"The Big Guy". Prionus lecontei portrait. The trick to distinguish this species from the more common P. californicus is the 13 antennal segments (as opposed to 12 in P. californicus).

Schistocerca nitens, a colorful morph of the Gray Bird Grasshopper. On the driveway, June 4.

A harvestman, which I think is the "common" one hereabouts, but I still do not know which species.

Mama wolf spider with babies (on her abdomen), on Sandy Creek Road.

Pepsis sp. (maybe P. pallidolimbata?). On my milkweed that I grew from seeds a few years back. The tarantula hawks have been loving this milkweed plant this year. I will try to harvest more milkweed seeds from a couple different species this year, and grow them from seeds next spring (to create my dream "milkweed garden").

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.