Natural History Wanderings

Yosemite Nature Notes Blog has a report on what is happening in Yosemite Valley and the Merced River Canyon. Here are the flower and bird highlights.

The Merced River canyon below Yosemite Valley is ablaze with poppies and dozens of other flower species just now. The color of millions of petals is dazzling even from miles away on the Glacier Point Road. Clarkia is already in bloom in the very lowest foothills.

Snowplants have been emerging for about 3 weeks already. Miner’s Lettuce and Gooseberry are blooming in Yosemite Valley. What we call ‘the first dogwood’ located along Hwy. 140 above Cascades is officially in bloom now; Valley trees will be lit up shortly. Orioles have been in the Valley since the end of March, with black-throated gray warblers right behind. Black-headed grosbeaks arrived in the Valley a week ago. Vireos and tanagers are on their way. Conservancy naturalists have started springtime birdwalks and botany walks from the Art Center and there are some really great natural history field seminars coming up.

See full post and photo at  Yosemite Nature Notes Blog.