Abbott’s Lagoon at Pt. Reyes still has many flowers in bloom. There was less in bloom than last year but plenty to see. The sun, wind and high grasses along the trail made for less than ideal photographic conditions. Two of the most dominant plants along the trail were California Poppies (yellow coastal variety) and Yarrow. White-crowned Sparrows were plentiful and singing almost continually. The dominant species in the sand and dunes areas were Dune Gumplant and Coast Buckwheat. To see lists of all flowers and birds identified today click read more below.
ABBOTT’S LAGOON Plant list for July 22, 2012
I used the Marin CNPS list for Abbott’s Lagoon for reference. It is found at the following link: (http://www.marin.edu/cnps/ABBOTTS_LAGOON_PUBLIC_TRAIL2009.html). I have only listed the plants I was able to identify (with help) . All errors are mine. Includes off-trail area to North of the trail as far as edge of the freshwater lagoon, the sand-dunes and the bluffs to the S. of the bridge. This ridge to the East of, and overlooking, the brackish lagoon, is especially rich in coastal wildflowers in April and May. List 1B plants are rare, threatened or endangered species, decimal additions are more recent clarifications of the estimated degree of rarity, 1B.1 being the rarest. Alien species, or weeds, are marked *. All other plants are Californian natives.
ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
Toxicodendron diversilobum Poison Oak
APIACEAE/UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)
Angelica hendersonii Coastal Angelica
Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock *
Heracleum maximum Cow Parsnip
ASTERACEAE/COMPOSITAE (SUNFLOWER/COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Agoseris apargioides Seaside Dandelion
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting *
Artemisia pycnocephala Beach Sagebrush
Baccharis pilularis var. pilularis Coyote Brush
Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale Cobweb Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle *
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla Dune Gumplant
Solidago canadensis Canada Goldenrod
BRASSICACEAE/CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY) coroponifolia
Brassica rapa Field Mustard *
Raphanus sativus/ R. raphanistrum Wild Radish *
CRASSULACEAE (STONE-CROP FAMILY)
Dudleya farinosa Sea-bluff-lettuce
FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (PEA FAMILY)
Lathyrus latifolius Everylasting Pea *
Lotus sp. a yellow lotus
Lupinus arboreus Yellow Bush Lupine
Lupinus chamissonis Fragrant Dune Lupine
LAMIACEAE/LABIATAE (MINT FAMILY)
Monardella undulata var. undulata Curly-leaved Monardella LIST4.2
Monardella villosa var. franciscana Franciscan Pennyroyal
Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata Large-flowered Self-heal
Stachys chamissonises Giant Coast Hedge Nettle
NYCTAGINACEAE (FOUR O’CLOCK FAMILY)
Abronia latifolia Yellow Sand-verbena
ONAGRACEAE (EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
Camissonia cheiranthifolia Beach Suncup
PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy, coastal yellow
PLUMBAGINACEAE (LEADWORT FAMILY)
Armeria maritima ssp. californica Sea Thrift
POLYGONACEAE (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY)
Eriogonum latifolium Coast Buckwheat
Polygonum paronychia Sandy Knotweed
Rumex crispus Curly Dock
PORTULACEAE (PURSLANE FAMILY)
Claytonia sibirica Candy Flower
PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)
Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel *
RANUNCULACEAE (BUTTERCUP/CROWFOOT FAMILY)
Ranunculus orthorhynchus var. orthorhyncus Large Marsh-buttercup
ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
Potentialla anserina ssp. pacifica Cinquefoil
SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)
Mimulus guttatus Monkey-flower
Scrophularia californica Bee Flower
ABBOTT’S LAGOON Bird list for July 22, 2012
As my focus was mainly on flowers today I am confident a serious birder would have had many more species.
California Quail
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Gulls (not identified to species)
White Pelicans
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Raven
Cliff Swallow
Wrentit (heard)
Also seen Brush Rabbit and Mule Deer
For more information on Pt. Reyes and Abbotts Lagoon click on this list: Pt. Reyes Posts on Natural History Wanderings
Natural History Wanderings 
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