Natural History Wanderings

We went to Abbott’s Lagoon at Pt. Reyes today primarily to see wildflowers. Spring Wildflowers are out. There may be less than in better years but there was still a lot in bloom. Abbott’s Lagoon is a place for lots of species rather than large displays.    Flowers are still somewhat sparse along the trail out.  Be sure to go out to the dunes and up to the headland south of the bridge as those areas have most of the flowers at present.  Pussy Ears (Calochortus tolmeii) are in bloom on the headland. Most numerous  on the beach were Beach Strawberry and Sand Verbena.

Song and White-crowned sparrows were active and often singing. Red-winged Blackbirds were putting on great displays showing their red color. Waterbirds were very scarce today. The birds of the day were a pair of Ospreys that we observed high up in their nest driving through the park on our way home.

Today’s highlight species was a River Otter, who crawled out by the sand dunes and rolled around for a while. Also seen were mule deer and brush rabbits.

We drove out Lucas Valley Road to get to Pt. Reyes and found many California Buttercups and Milkmaids along the road.

Click read more to see today’s plant and bird lists

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Abbott’s Lagoon Plant List 3/24/12
(Trail, Dunes and Headlands South of the Bridge)

Aster (not sure which one)

Baby Blue-eyes (along trail to headland)

Beach Dandelion

Beach Dandelion

Beach Evening Primrose

Beach Layia

Beach Strawberry

Big Marsh Buttercup

Brass Buttons

California Blackberry

California Buttercup

California Poppy (yellow coastal form)

Candy Stripe

Checkermallow

Coast Fiddleneck (barely starting)

Coastal Angelica

Common Chickweed

Cow Parsnip (just starting)

Douglas Iris (just a few)

Footsteps-of-Spring (on headland)

Goldfields (on trail to on headland and at the headland)

Gumplant

Hog Fenel

Lupine, blue (just a few)

Marsh Checkerbloom

Marsh Buttercups

Marsh Willow-herb

Miner’s Lettice

Red Elderberry

Salmonberry

Sea Rocket

Suncups (on headland)

Wallflower

Wild Cucumber ( 2 species)

Yellow Sand Verbena

and a pink pea or vetch (that didn’t identify)

Also seen alien Mustard and  Radish,

Bird List for Abbotts Lagoon, Pt. Reyes Mar 24, 2012

Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Clark’s Grebe (though possibly a Western Grebe)
American Coot
gull sp.
Northern Flicker
California Quail
Tree Swallow
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Marsh Wren (heard only)
Common Yellowthroat (heard only)
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird