Natural History Wanderings

Although it is past peak for wildflowers season and still early for fall birds there is plenty to see at Abbott’s Lagoon at Pt. Reyes on a Golden Gate Audubon Field. The coastal climate of cool temperatures and moisture from frequent fog results in there being flowers in bloom all year round. The birding highlights were watching a Peregrine Falcon swooping in low over the dunes and lagoon, Virginia Rail being heard early on by one of the leaders and an Elegant Tern. Also spotted was a Red-legged Frog. Click Read more to see bird and plant lists.

Abbott’s Lagoon Plant List 7/31/16

ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)

Toxicodendron diversilobum            Poison Oak

APIACEAE/UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)

Conium maculatum                            Poison Hemlock            *

Heracleum maximum                        Cow Parsnip

ASTERACEAE/COMPOSITAE (SUNFLOWER/COMPOSITE FAMILY)

Achillea millefolium                                     Yarrow

Agoseris apargioides                         Seaside Dandelion

Anaphalis margaritacea                        Pearly Everlasting            *

Artemisia pycnocephala                        Beach Sagebrush

Baccharis pilularis var. pilularis         Coyote Brush

Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale            Cobweb Thistle

Cirsium vulgare                                          Bull Thistle                    *

Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla            Dune Gumplant

Madia gracilis                                Slender Tarplant

Madia sativa                                 Common Tarweed

Solidago canadensis                                  Canada Goldenrod

BORAGINACEAE (BORAGE FAMILY)

Heliotropium curassavicum                 Coast Heliotrope

BRASSICACEAE/CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY) coroponifolia

Brassica rapa                                    Field Mustard            *

Cakile maritima                            Sea Rocket                *

Raphanus sativus/ R. raphanistrum            Wild Radish            *

FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (PEA FAMILY)

Lotus sp.                                                 a yellow lotus      *

LAMIACEAE/LABIATAE (MINT FAMILY)

Monardella undulata var. undulata            Curly-leaved Monardella            LIST4.2

Monardella villosa var. franciscana            Franciscan Pennyroyal

Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata            Large-flowered Self-heal

Stachys chamissonises                            Giant Coast Hedge Nettle

MYRICACEAE (WAX MYRTLE FAMILY)

Morella californica                                    Ca. Wax-myrtle

 

NYCTAGINACEAE (FOUR O’CLOCK FAMILY)

Abronia latifolia            Yellow Sand-verbena

ONAGRACEAE (EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY

Camissonia cheiranthifolia                        Beach Suncup

PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)

Eschscholzia californica                        California Poppy, coastal yellow form

POLYGONACEAE (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY)

Polygonum paronychia                    Sandy Knotweed

Rumex crispus                                    Curly Dock

PORTULACEAE (PURSLANE FAMILY)

Claytonia sibirica                                    Candy Flower

PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)

Anagallis arvensis                                    Scarlet Pimpernel            *

ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)

Potentialla anserina ssp. pacifica     Cinquefoil

SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)

Mimulus guttatus                                  Monkey-flower

Abbott’s Lagoon Bird List 7/31/16

(complied by Rusty Scalf)

Canada Goose

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

California Quail

Common Loon

American White Pelican

Brown Pelican

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

American Kestrel

Virginia Rail

Semipalmated Plover

Western Sandpiper

Sanderling

Heermann’s Gull

California Gull

Western Gull

Caspian Tern

Elegant Tern

Common Murre

Rock Dove

Western Scrub Jay

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Bewick’s Wren

Western Bluebird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Wrentit

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

California Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

 

also a Red-legged Frog