Natural History Wanderings

Abbotts Lagon at Pt. Reyes is a good location for wildflowers, birds, butterflies and more. Most abundant on the trail were California Poppies (coastal form), Yarrow and Yellow Bush Lupine, though it was past peak. In the sandy areas on the beach area at the end of the trail there were lots of Gumplant and Curly-leaved Monardella.  Up on the headlands there was a good amount of Coast Buckwheat. Many other things were in bloom. See attached plant list.

The most interesting bird activity was the flyovers of the White Pelicans. Also found was  the endangered Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly nectaring on Curly-leaved Monardella and Yellow Sand Verbena. It was sunny and windy so it wasn’t ideal for photography but there was plenty to see. Here is a slideshow that will give you an idea of some of what I saw.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

click more to see Plants, Bird, Butterfly and Animal lists

ABBOTT’S LAGOON Plant list for June 29, 2020

ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
Toxicodendron diversilobum            Poison Oak (not in bloom but lots of it be careful)

APIACEAE/UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)
Conium maculatum                            Poison Hemlock            *

Heracleum maxima                                Cow Parsnipt
Oenanthe sarmentosa                        Water Parsley

ASTERACEAE/COMPOSITAE (SUNFLOWER/COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Achillea millefolium                                     Yarrow
Agoseris apargioides                              Seaside Dandelion
Anaphalis margaritacea                        Pearly Everlasting            *
Artemisia pycnocephala                        Beach Sagebrush
Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale            Cobweb Thistle
Eriophyllum staechadifolium                       Lizard Tail
Erigeron glaucus                                               Seaside Daisy
Eriophyllum staechadifolium             Lizard Tail
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla            Dune Gumplant
Lasthenia californica                        Gold Fields
Madia Gracilis                            Slender Tarweed

BRASSICACEAE/CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY)
Brassica sp.                                        Mustard            *
Raphanus sativus/ R. raphanistrum            Wild Radish            *

CRASSULACEAE (STONE-CROP FAMILY)
Dudleya farinosa                                    Sea-bluff-lettuce

FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (PEA FAMILY)
Lotus scoparius                                    Deer-weed (prostrate form on dunes)
Lupinus arboreus                                 Yellow Bush Lupine
Lupinus bicolor                                    Coastal form Annual Lupine
Lupinus albifrons                                Silverleaf Lupine

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 ajugoides var.  ajugoides            Marsh Hedge-nettle
Stachys ajugoides var.  rigida            Dryland Hedge-nettle

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

PHRYMACEAE (LOPSEED FAMILY)

POLYGONACEAE (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
Chorizanthe cuspidata ssp.cuspida San Francisco Bay Spineflower
Eriogonum latifolium                        Coast Buckwheat
Polygonum paronychia                     Dune Knotweed
Rumex crispus                                    Curly Dock

PORTULACEAE (PURSLANE FAMILY)
Claytonia sibirica                                    Candy Flower

PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)
Anagallis arvensis                                    Scarlet Pimpernel            *

ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
Fragaria chiloensis                            Beach Strawberry (colorful foliage)
Rubus ursinus                                    California Blackberry

SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)
Scrophularia californica                     Bee Flower

 

ABBOTT’S LAGOON Bird list for June 29, 2020

California Quail
American Goldfinch
Brewer’s Blackbird
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
White Pelicans
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
California Scrub Jay Scrub Jay
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Harrier
American Crow
Raven

Butterflies

Buckeye/Junonia coenia
Myrtle’s Silverspot/Speyeria zerene myrtleae   an endangered subspecies of the zerene fritillary.

Mammals

Bobcat