Natural History Wanderings

Before heading out to Pt. Lobos we did another early morning stop at the Butterfly Grove in Pacific Grove to see the Monarchs. They were more active than yesterday and some were perched lower allowing photo opportunities.

At Pt. Lobos we saw Harbor Seals, Sea Otters and Sea Lions. Many wildflowers were starting to bloom with Ceanothus the most prolific . Other flowers in bloom included Wild Cucumber, Poison Oak, Paintbrush, Buttercups, Hedge Nettle, Checker Mallow, Seaside Daisy, Douglas Iris, Nightshade, Bush Monkeyflower, California Blackberry, Miner's Lettuce, Star Zigadene, Golden Bush, Lizardtail, California Poppy and Pearly Everlasting. Also alien Bindweed and Bermuda Buttercup.

Birds seen included Surf Scoter, Pelagic Cormorant, Brant's Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Eared Grebe, Black Phoebe, Brown Pelican, Western Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, American Crow, Western Scrub Jay Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Gold-crowned Sparrow, Rock Dove and most interesting of all was a Snow Goose flying in with two Canada Geese. Also a rabbit.

At Asilomar Conference Center there were many deer and a good number of birds. We have seen a Peregrine Falcon, Acorn Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Western Scrub Jay, Steller Jay, American Crow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, California Towhee and Dark-eyed Juncos who were doing a dominance dance. The sand dunes by Asilomar Beach had California Poppies, Purple Sand Verbena and a rare yellow Wallflower that is endemic to only a few coast counties in California.