Where to photograph in California – Yahoo Groups (Calphoto) has a very detailed set of reports on Anza Borrego Desert State Park posted by Bob Allen to be shared with others. Reports are for wildflowers and insects. Please note that the dates are all last month and may not show what is now in bloom in the Park.
The reports are for
- 2016 Feb 19, Friday. Plum Canyon in western ABDSP.
- 2016 Feb 27-28, Sat-Sun. ABDSP, route to Coyote Canyon, north end of DiGiorgio Road, just north of town, first 2 miles after end of pavement. This area is worth a repeat visit this spring.
- 2016 Feb 28, Sunday. Plum Canyon in western ABDSP
click read more to see the reports
I had two brief trips to Anza Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP). Rainfall levels are clearly much lower than normal, but there are pockets of wildflowers and the insects that visit them. Many of the wildflowers will persist and improve, especially if the area gets some rain.
Camera body was the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. In addition to using the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS macro lens (my go-to lens), I also used the Canon EF 100-400L IS II, an incredible lens that can close-focus to 3 feet. I added a 2-element closeup lens to the front to get even closer. For wide shots, I used the Canon EF 24-105 IS L lens. For unusual perspectives, I used the Canon EF f/2.8 Fisheye.
For most images, I used the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS macro lens handheld. As darkness began to fall, I switched to the Canon EF 24-105 IS L lens. As it got darker, a tripod was used for long slow shots.
This report is for posting/sharing with people in different groups: a southwestern butterfly/moth group, a desert butterfly/moth group, an insect group, a plant group, a California photography group, and to select friends. Instead of making separate reports, everything is here. So don’t be surprised if you see more detail than what interests you.
-Bob Allen
bugbob@…
Research Associate in Entomology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Research Associate, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Author, Wildflowers of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains
2016 Feb 19, Friday. Plum Canyon in western ABDSP.
FYI, for a list of the plants in this canyon, see:
Prunus fremontii, desert apricot.
It’s easy to miss the relatively early bloom of this short-blooming species. Mid- into late-February is about it, especially in such a dry year. My goal for this trip was to photograph it; any insects seen and photographed were just gravy.
Most were just slightly past peak bloom, but those at peak bloom were visited by many insects. In good bloom along “eastern” branch, about halfway from the branch fork to its terminus parking area. Note to self: go earlier next year.
Best bloom was up the “southern” (righthand) branch, just a few minutes walk up the canyon past the terminus parking area, at many large rocks, where the hiking trail heads up the canyon wall. I went no further up the trail.
Lycium andersonii, Anderson’s desert thorn.
Only 1 plant seen in bloom, about halfway up the “southern” branch from the fork. The incredible insect activity on it was visible from the car; indeed, it was the insects that drew my attention to it while driving, so I had to stop.
Condea emoryi [Hyptis emoryi], desert lavender. I saw none in flower along the washes, but many in bud.
Eschscholzia minutiflora, small-flowered poppy. Uncommon, a few in flower.
Simmondsia chinensis, jojoba. In flower, but no visitors observed.
Fouquieria splendens, ocotillo. Some had begun to leaf out.
Butterflies
Chlosyne californica, California patch. Only 1 seen, nectaring on Prunus fremontii.
Philotes sonorensis, Sonoran blue. Perhaps 3 seen, flying by. None stopped.
Pontia sisymbrii, spring white. About 3 seen in flight, 1 nectaring on Prunus fremontii.
Papilla polyxenes coloro, desert swallowtail. 1 briefly nectared on Prunus fremontii, then flew off.
Moths
Alypia ridingsi, Ridings’ forester. Abundant on Prunus fremontii, more so on Lycium andersonii.
Annaphila astrologa, ghost moth. Abundant on Prunus fremontii, more so on Lycium andersonii.
Euproserpinus phaeton, phaeton sphinx. Abundant on Lycium andersonii, not seen on any other plant.
Hymenoptera
A few native bees, mostly small halictids.
Apis mellifera, non-native European honey bee. Sadly, very common.
2016 Feb 27-28, Sat-Sun. ABDSP, route to Coyote Canyon, north end of DiGiorgio Road, just north of town, first 2 miles after end of pavement. This area is worth a repeat visit this spring.
Hesperocallis undulata, desert lily. Many in bloom from pavement constantly to about 2 miles up. Should still be in bloom for 2 more weeks. (Recent reports, from a reliable source, of it in bloom at Amboy Crater, off old Hwy 66)
Pectocarya sp., combseed. Few seen, all in flower & fruit.
Larrea tridentata, creosote. Numerous, in flower.
Abronia villosa, desert sand verbena. Numerous, in flower, but plants unusually short-stemmed.
Eschscholzia minutiflora, small-flowered poppy. Occasional, most in flower.
Eschscholzia parishii, Parish’s poppy. Many seedlings, larger than the preceding, so possibly of this species.
Chylismia claviformis ssp. peirsonii, brown-eyed primrose. Quite abundant.
Eulobus californica, California evening-primrose. Common, most are young and/or unusually short.
Oenothera deltoides, dune evening primrose. Occasional, plants unusually small.
Physalis crassifolia, thick-leaved ground cherry. Uncommon.
Lupinus arizonicus, Arizona lupine. Common only near base of rocky slope, about 2 miles past pavement.
Dithyrea californica, California spectacle pod. Abundant, especially about 2 miles past pavement.
Ambrosia dumosa, white bur-sage. Common, in flower, not yet peak.
Tiquilia palmeri, Palmer’s Crinklemat. Common, especially about 2 miles past pavement.
Perityle emoryi, Emory’s rock-daisy. Common only near base of rocky slope, about 2 miles past pavement.
Rafinesquia neomexicana, desert chicory. Uncommon, only one seen in flower not far after pavement.
Moths
Hyles lineata, white-lined sphinx moth. Adults very commonly seen in flight at dusk and immediately after. A few young larvae seen feeding on Eulobus californica.
Coleoptera
Meloidae – blister beetles
Cysteodemus armatus, inflated beetle. Common running on the ground
Lytta spp., Lytta blister beetles. Common on many species of flowers
Tenebrionidae – darkling beetles
Name unknown (as yet). Occasionally found walking on the ground.
Meloidae – blister beetles
Cysteodemus armatus, inflated beetle. Common running on the ground
Lytta spp., Lytta blister beetles. Common on many species of flowers
Tenebrionidae – darkling beetles
Name unknown (as yet). Occasionally found walking on the ground.
2016 Feb 28, Sunday. Plum Canyon in western ABDSP. Visited late morning to mid-afternoon.
Prunus fremontii, desert apricot.
Nearly 100% completed their bloom, only a tiny handful of individual flowers still in bloom on a few plants.
Lycium andersonii, Anderson’s desert thorn. About 99.9% completed bloom, no insects on it at all.
Condea emoryi [Hyptis emoryi], desert lavender. Dozens of plants in bloom, most commonly in the wash, blooming like crazy, more blooms to come.
Justicia californica, chuparosa. Just beginning to bloom. To the east, in the area around Tamarisk Grove campground, they are in peak to near-peak bloom.
Agave deserti var. deserti, desert agave. None in flower yet, but many with flower stalks over 1-2 meters tall.
Yucca schidigera, Mohave yucca. A few just beginning to flower right now.
Yucca schidigera, Mohave yucca. A few just beginning to flower right now.
Fouquieria splendens, ocotillo. Nearly all had leafed out, a very few were flowering.
Butterflies
Chlosyne californica, California patch. Dozens seen, nectaring on Condea emoryi.
Dymasia dymas chara, tiny checkerspot. Two or three seen in flight, 2 of them stopped to nectar from Condea emoryi.
Atlides halesus estesi, western great purple hairstreak. One nectaring from Condea emoryi.
Philotes sonorensis, Sonoran blue. Perhaps 3 seen, flying by. Two stopped and nectared from Condea emoryi, 1 worn, 1 fresh.
Pontia sisymbrii, spring white. About 3 seen in flight, none stopped.
Papilla polyxenes coloro, desert swallowtail. One fly-by.
Moths
Alypia ridingsi, Ridings’ forester. Nectaring on Condea emoryi.
Annaphila astrologa, ghost moth. Nectaring on Condea emoryi.
Hymenoptera
Many species of native bees, from small halictids, medium apids, to large carpenter bees.
Apis mellifera, non-native European honey bee. Sadly, very common.
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