Natural History Wanderings

After considering several choices, it was off to Pt. Reyes and Abbott’s Lagoon, which is my favorite all year round hike.  I also had read it might be especially good now and it didn’t disappoint. Driving north on Hwy. 101 to Lucas Valley Road, the hills are browning faster than I hoped.  I guess the rain can’t keep them green much longer.  Drive by flower I.d.’s on Lucas Valley Road included Mules Ears, Poppies, Bush Monkeyflowers and a white Iris on the way to Pt. Reyes.  Also seen were a Turkey, Crows, Red-winged Blackbirds and at Nicasio Reservoir a White Pelican and unidentified ducks.  In Pt. Reyes Station the mandatory stop was made at the Bovine Bakery for coffee and baked goods.  It was foggy on the drive out to Abbott’s Lagoon and the road was lined with alien radish and mustard.  It stayed overcast all day creating nice even light for flower photography.

Entering the Abbott’s Lagoon Parking lot, there were immediately lots of California Poppy (the yellow coastal ones with orange centers), Yellow Bush Lupine (lots of flowers in bloom and lots of buds that will be soon be opening) and Cow Parsnip in bloom.  Other flowers seen on the trail to the lagoon were Coast Fiddleneck, Yarrow, Windmill Pink, several species of Lupine, Salmonberry (flower and fruit), Pink Owl’s Clover, Checkermallow, Manroot, Hedge Nettle, Marsh Hedge Nettle ( just starting), Candy Stripe, California Blackberry, Yellow Monkeyflower, Big Marsh Buttercup, California Buttercup, Douglas Iris, Catchfly, Linaria, and Pearly Everlasting.

Just before the bridge crossing the lagoon we took the trail on the left up to the overlook.  Goldfields, a pink Buckwheat, a white Johnny Tuck, Blue-eyed Grass,  a pink Trifolium sp. and Ithuriel’s Spear were added to the plant list.

Crossing the bridge and walking through the sand and over to the dunes, it was obvious that the water level was higher than usual and some areas were submerged where we normally walk or watch birds hang out.  Beach Suncups, Yellow Sand Verbena, and Sea Thrift all appeared in great numbers. Also new were Beach Layia, Sea Rocket, Beach Pea, Beach Dandelion, Beach Strawberry, Beach Morning Glory, Pearly Everlasting, Small yellow Lotus, Popcorn, Wallflower, Seaside Daisy, Gumplant (just starting), California Bee Plant, Fern Phacelia, Beach Knotweed, Rattlesnake Weed or Wild Carrot and Stinging Phacelia were all new species.

Also seen were alien Mustard, Radish, Crane’s Bill, Scarlet Pimpernel, and Ice Plant.

Birders were out and saw many more species than I did.  My eyes were mainly on the ground looking for flowers.  I did mange to see  White-Crowned Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Brewers Blackbirds, Turkey Vultures, a “real” Turkey, California Quail, an Osprey, with prey in its mouth, Double-crested Cormorant and American Goldfinch.  Part of the Beach is closed to protect the nests of Snowy Plovers.

There was also a plan to go down the road to McClure’s Beach , but we were at Abbott’s so long that will have to be another trip.  For more information on Pt. Reyes look at my  posting from April 2, 2010: Visiting Pt. Reyes: Wildflowers, Whales and More

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