Natural History Wanderings

Although the much of the local wildflower show is fading this year, the native California wildflowers are in full bloom at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley. There are Lilies, Clarkias, Monkeyflowers, Poppies, Buckwheat, Larkspurs, Western Columbines, Lupines, Wild Onions, Bush Anemones, Wallflowers, a number of species of Mariposa lilies, and many other flowers in bloom.

There is at lot of bird activity but more can be heard than seen. Birds I was able to ID included Bushtits, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Scrub Jays, Stellar Jays, Anna’s Hummingbird, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhees and Red-breasted Nuthatches. There were also butterflies. I saw Pipevine Swallowtails (both as butterflies and caterpillars) and Lorquin’s Admiral in the garden.

We also stopped by Native Here Nursery which is a nursery of “locally native plants”. There was much bird song there as well. Also saw Buckeye and Leanira Checkerspot butterflies here.

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