Photos / Sounds
What
Sanderling (Calidris alba)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Saw large group of them feeding next to a large pile of seewed on Tourmaline beach. They were in the sandy area during high tide. Although i later saw them feeding in a rocky area as well. Moved in a group with minimal flying but mostly running away from crashing waves. Stayed near the waters edge. Not particularly large birds, but bugger than a sparrow. It was a warm sunny day of 75 degrees farenheit and minimal clouds. Many humans and dogs nearby on beach.
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Genus OrgyiaObserver
adamjrossDescription
Multiple Caterpillars of this type on this domesticated bush. Bush sits on western wall of building, well shaded, and recieves water from sprinkler. The Caterpillars have been feeding on the bush heavily for the last week since i first noticed them. Growing steadily. Lows in the 50's and highs near 80 degrees farenheit throughout the week. Only seen them on this bush during this time of year (although i havent observed the bush heavily).
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Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A pair of doves sitting high up in a tree on campus. Tree was by Tecolote canyon. Heard the typical dove "oooo" call from them. It was a warm sunny afternoon around 75 degrees farenheit. The doves are common sight in the area. Living in and around the palms and large spanish style buildings in the area.
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San Diego Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata ssp. webbii)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Saw this lizard at the edge of some bushes next to a pedestrian walkway. Lizard had easy access to Tecolote canyon and quickly ran into the brush when i got to close. Very long, fast, and aware. It was around 75 degrees faranheit and sunny all day. The area it was in recieves water from a sprinkler system and has many insects and smaller lizards.
Photos / Sounds
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Subfamily TipulinaeObserver
adamjrossDescription
Large individual, about 3 inch long body, legs were about 2 inches each. The individual only had 4 legs and must have lost 2 along the way. It was resting on an indor pillar next to an open door at night. Around 8pm, dry, and 59 degrees farenheit.
Photos / Sounds
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Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Species seen on the sidewalk of a heavily walked area on the USD Campus. It had rained right beforehand and it was about 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Appeared to be moving from one garden area to another by crossing the concrete path. Was healthy and active. I then picked it up to move it out from the path and place it in a garden. It reacted when picked up and curled into shell.
Photos / Sounds
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Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)Observer
adamjrossDescription
There were dozens of individuals flying around and feeding on the flowering garden bushes. The butterflies were occasionally pairing up and flying together around the bushes. They were about an inch long and 3 or 4 inches wingspan. Dusty grey on the bottom and a brilliant black, orange, and white coloration on the front. Very active and all over the USD campus over the past week. Hundreds all around on this sunday at 1pm feeding on different gardens across campus. It was sunny, clear, and 75 degrees farenheit at the time.
Photos / Sounds
What
Symmetrical Sessile Barnacles (Order Balanomorpha)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Small grouping of barnacles on rocks that were artificially placed to be the shoreline of Quivira Basin. They were located on the first 2 feet of rocks on the shoreline, and didnt go very far underwater as they were replaced by macroalgae. The barnacles were about the size of a fingernail, off white, with some green algae coloring on lower portions. Ridges existed but were not very pronounced.
Photos / Sounds
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Great Egret (Ardea alba)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Pure white bird with black legs, and yellow orange beak. Very long and slender. Taller than cormorants nearby. It was slowly walking across a floating wooden dock in the middle of Quivira Basin, did not care about busy moving boats in area. Didnt care about other seabirds around it. There were a few other similar individuals nearby. It was 9am, sunny, around 70 degrees farenheit.
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Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Multiple individuals in the same area around eachother on a wooden floating dock and the boats in Quivira Basin. Gray/Blue coloring in the body feathers, some black feathers under wings and on neck amd eyes, white faces, bright orange/red beaks. The individuals were either perched and basking in the sun, or hunting off the side of the docks. Some of the individuals began fighting on the dock (pecking and showing wings at eachother) at times. It was 9am, sunny, and around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cormorants and Shags (Family Phalacrocoracidae)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Groups of the birds of about 12 were standing on the floating dock in the middle of Quivira Basin. About 1 or 2 feet tall each, black to brown feathers throughout the whole body. Black eyes and beaks, beaks about the same length as the head. Birds were actively scanning water for fish. It was 10am, sunny, and around 70 degrees farenheit. There were many seagulls and other aquatic birds in the same area.
Photos / Sounds
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Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A group of around 15 Common Dolphins swimming near the surface off of Mission Beach in San Diego. They were around 6 feet long and very active. Jumping at the surface and showing their fins. Swimming in the wake of the boat we were in. And generally playing with eachother. They stayed within viewable distance for only a few minutes. Warm day and sunny, around 9 am, around 70+ degrees farenheit. Saw them while with San Diego Whale Watchers.
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Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A pod of about 20+ offshore bottlenose dolphins were seen playing around our boat and a young gray whale individual. The dolphins stayed near us and the whale for 30+ minutes. Came right up to the boat and continuously rode in the wake. Would pair up with one another and jump out of the water. Very playfull and not shy at all. We were quite far off the coast of mission beach when we saw the individuals. Was with San Diego Whale Watchers boating trip.
Photos / Sounds
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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A single, midsized individual that was located off the coast of sunset cliffs, near the continental slope. It had a few barnacles in certain on its area. It never fully came out of water, no large breaches. But it sprayed multiple times and pushed its tail out of the water multiple times. It stayed near the surface without doing any deep dives for 15+ minutes. There were multiple small boats around, none create large wakes or getting close to the whale, the whale was not coming close to the boats. I was on a boat with San Diego Whale Watchers Group.
Photos / Sounds
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Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Between 3 and 6 bright orange fish, very wide and about the size of plates. Seen actively swimming in and out between rocky outcroppings right next to the shore. Located next to docks in Quivira Basin. Warm day, sunny morning, about 70° F.
Photos / Sounds
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Bladderpod (Cleomella arborea)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Mid size bush, about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Pale white/green leaves with serrated edges pointing up in the middle. Stem is similar color. Flowers are orange yellow, bell shaped, with long parts in the middle. Found in multiple areas all throughout Tecolote Canyon along a dirt hiking trail. It has rained alot recently.
Photos / Sounds
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Coast Cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A large individual, 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide, inter tangled with brighter green sections on top and browner sections underneath. Some dead flowers and buds beginning, but no flowers or fruit. It was along a westerly facing slope of tecolote canyon, surrounded by bushes on one side and a hard packed dirt trail on the other. There has been alot of rain recently.
Photos / Sounds
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Coastal Pricklypear (Opuntia littoralis)Observer
adamjrossDescription
2 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The cactus was found at the edge of an oak grove next to tecolote creek, in a very moist area. No pear fruits present. The cactus parts were large, light green, and had long hard spikes.
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Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Mid size individual, 6 feet tall but many sections fell lower, and about 6 feet wide. There were many plants of its kind in the area. It was located along a dirt trail goong through an oak grove next to Tecolote creek. The leaves were thin, long, and very densly packed along the stick while pointing upwards. There were small brown seeds throughout.
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Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A mid size tree, about 16 feet tall, at the edge of an oak grove surrounding Tecolote creek, and the steep canyon face. There were many other individuals of its kind in the sureounding area, some smaller and some larger. No acorns at the moment, many lower leaves were dead/dying. Leaves were circular with slight points on the edges, leaves were slightly curving down.
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Springtime Amanita (Amanita velosa)Observer
adamjrossDescription
The mushroom was a few inches wide, and only about 2 inches tall. It appeared to "burst" out of the soil as there were clumps of dirt around and on top of the cap. Large white spot on top of cap, with uniform brown/smooth texture throughout the rest of the cap. Very round shape. The stem was white/tan, had a bumpy area in the middle, and a wider upward turned base area. It was the only individual of its kind in the area. It was in a very moist oak grove next to Tecolote creek. Very wet soil for the area and it has rained alot recently.
Photos / Sounds
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Southern Honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata)Observer
adamjrossDescription
A large bush, about 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide at its largest part. Many small to mid size leaves that were circular/oval all throughout. Straight, smooth, brown edges and thick overall texture. Small blue/green buds were forming all throughout the plant. The stem was red/brown/grey at different areas. Understory was mostly leafless. The plant was at the edge of a oak grove surrounding Tecolote creek, one edge was treeline, the other was a steep canyon. A mid amount of shade and there has been alot of rain recently. Many other similar individuals in the immediate area.
Photos / Sounds
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Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)Observer
adamjrossDescription
This plant was in a ln oak tree grove next to Tecolote creek. There were many other plant individuals similar to it all throughout the surrounding area. Mid size to large bush. Thick, small, oval shapped leaves that pinted up were around the whole plant. Tiny pink flowers and many hard pink/red berries throughout. It has rained alot recently and it is in a very shady/moist area.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Small plant with long, slender leave that were a pale green yellow. The leaves sat low to the ground and the plant was about 1 foot wide. The stem of the flowers reached about 2 feet tall and were long, thick, and red. The flowers were in small bunches of under 10, and were a pink/purple flower. It was the only plant of its kind i saw in the area and it was shaded by larger bushes on the Westerly facing slope of tecolote canyon. Individual was between larger bushes and a hardpacked dirt trail. It has rained alot recently
Photos / Sounds
What
Wishbone Bush (Mirabilis laevis)Observer
adamjrossDescription
Found alongside a dirt path in the western facing slope of Tecolote Canyon. The shrub was quite small, only about 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Full of tiny purple/pink flowers and buds. Leaves were small, thick, teardrop shaped with red rim and they pointed up along the stems. Crowded by nearby plants, dont recall seeing a large amount of similar individuals in the immediate are. We have had a large amount of rain recently.