Natural History Wanderings

I just completed a two day field workshop on trees and shrubs of the Bay Area through the UC- Berkeley Jepson Herbarium. The first day of the class took place in Mitchell Canyon at Mt. Diablo State Park. We hiked out and back Mitchell Canyon Trail from parking lot and Visitor Center about six miles round trip.

Although I have been there twice in recent months today was quite different. The emphasis was on identifying trees and shrubs. Wildflower season is winding down and only a few plants are still in bloom. There was less bird activity than when I was here with the Master Birding Class on May 9 as we didn’t start until 10 and it was later in the day. I also suspect some of the birds may have left for the season. The birding, flowers in bloom and butterfly lists are only from my observations as the rest of the group focused mainly on trees and shrubs.

Click read more to see the species lists

Trees and Shrubs

Acer macrophyllum, Sapindaceae, Big-leaf maple, tree

Adenostoma fasciculatum, Rosaceae, chamise, shrub

Aesculus californica, Sapindaceae, California buckeye, tree

Alnus rubra, Betulaceae, red alder, tree

Arctostaphylos glauca, Ericaceae, manzanitas, shrub/tree

Artemisia californica, Asteraceae, Coastal sagebrush, shrub

Baccharis pilularis, Asteraceae, coyote brush, shrub

Baccharis salicifolia, Asteraceae, mule fat, shrub

Ceanothus cuneatus, Rhamnaceae, shrub

Ceanothus oliganthus, Rhamnaceae, shrub

Cercocarpus betuloides, Rosaceae, mountain- mahogany, shrub/tree

Ericameria linearifolia, Asteraceae, interior goldenbush, shrub

Eriodictyon californicum, Boraginaceae, yerba santa, shrub

Frangula californica, Rhamnaceae, california coffeeberry, shrub

Fraxinus dipetala, Oleaceae, two-petal ash, shrub/tree

Heteromeles arbutifolia, Rosaceae, toyon shrub

Holodiscus discolor, Rosaceae, Ocean spray, shrub

Juglans californica, Juglandaceae, CA walnut, tree

Juniperus californica, Cupressaceae, CA juniper, shrub, tree

Lonicera hispidula, Caprifoliaceae, twining honeysuckle, vine

Lonicera interrupta, Caprifoliaceae, Chaparral Honeysuckle, shrub

Lupinus albifrons, Fabaceae, bush lupine, shrub

Mimulus aurantiacus, Phrymaceae, sticky monkey-flower, shrub (soon to be Diplacus aurantiacus)

Pinus coulteri, Pinaceae, Coulter Pine, tree

Pinus sabiniana,Pinaceae, ghost pine, tree

Populus fremontii, Salicaceae, Fremont cottonwood, tree

Ptelea crenulata, Rutaceae, CA hop-tree, shrub, tree

Quercus agrifolia, Fagaceae, coast live oak tree

Quercus chrysolepis, Fagaceae, canyon live oak, tree

Quercus douglasii, Fagaceae, blue oak, tree

Quercus lobata, Fagaceae, valley oak, tree

Rhamnus ilicifolia, Rhamnaceae, holly-leaf redberry, shrub

Rhus trilobata, Anacardiaceae, skunkbush, shrub

Rosa gymnocarpa, Rosaceae, CA wild rose, shrub

Rubus ursinus, Rosaceae, California blackberry, vine

Salix laevigata, Salicaceae, red willow, tree

Salix lasiolepis, Salicaceae, Arroyo willow, shrub, tree

Salvia mellifera, Lamiaceae, black sage, shrub

Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea, Adoxaceae, blue elderberry, tree, shrub

Symphoricarpus albus, Caprifoliaceae, snowberry, shrub

Toxicodendron diversilobum, Anacardiaceae, poison-oak, shrub, vine, tree

Umbellularia californica, Lauraceae, California bay laurel, tree

Vitis californica, Vitaceae, CA wild grape, vine

Bird List

Turkey Vulture

Band-tailed Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Acorn Woodpecker

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hutton’s Vireo

Steller’s Jay

Western Scrub-Jay

Oak Titmouse

Bushtit

Wrentit

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Lesser Goldfinch

Wildflowers in Bloom

Creambush

Colt’s Foot

Paintbrush

Morning glory

Bush Monkeyflower

Pitcher Sage

Elegant Clarkia

California Poppy

Wooly Sunflower

Coyote Mint

Butterflies

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Cabbage White

California Buckeye

Possibles:

Pipevine Swallowtail

Variable Checkerspot

California Ringlet