Photos / Sounds
What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Sycamore Canyon, Cardiac Hill. Single plant with two blossoms on uphill, north-facing berm of the road.
Photos / Sounds
What
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)Observer
donendicottDescription
Sycamore Canyon Preserve, Cardiac Hill. First California Poppy sighting of the year in a small cluster of seven blossoms on five plants.
Photos / Sounds
What
California-Lilacs (Genus Ceanothus)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore section. Adjacent to a white specimen. The lilac-colored variety was abundant on slopes throughout the area.
Photos / Sounds
What
California-Lilacs (Genus Ceanothus)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore section. Adjacent to a purple specimen. The lilac-colored variety was abundant on slopes throughout the area. Only two white ones noted and the other was a sparser growth about 1/4 mile distant.
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What
Two-color Rabbit Tobacco (Pseudognaphalium biolettii)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore area along one of the ridge trails
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California Golden Violet (Viola pedunculata)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore. Abundant in a couple of sites.
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California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore. Wide spread but spaced apart along the trail.
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Chalk Dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta)Observer
donendicottDescription
MTRP West Sycamore. Only one specimen noted in immediate area.
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What
California Tree Frog (Pseudacris cadaverina)Observer
donendicottDescription
Encountered swimming in creek downstream from Borrego Palm Canyon First Grove. It was a particularly large individual.
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What
California Peony (Paeonia californica)Observer
donendicottDescription
Encountered while retrieving two bat recorders from off exhibit area of San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
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What
Bigelow's Monkeyflower (Diplacus bigelovii)Observer
donendicottDescription
Found growing in a small linear cluster in wash near Hayden Spring.
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What
Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)Observer
donendicottDescription
Upon discovery I thought this partial mandible might be a Black-tailed Jackrabbit but it appears to be too small (~ 2" in length). Lepus californicus was observed in the area this same day about a mile to the south. Sylvilagus audbonii was also observed the following morning a few miiles to the north near Bow Willow Campground.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Badger (Taxidea taxus)Observer
donendicottDescription
Very fresh sign with visible horizontal scratching visible.
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What
Schott's Indigobush (Psorothamnus schottii)Observer
donendicottDescription
Growing prolifically throughout this area in vicinity of Hayden Spring. Without blossoms, it was not immediately identified. The thorn-like spines were conspicuous.
Photos / Sounds
What
Desert Shaggymane (Podaxis pistillaris)Observer
donendicottDescription
Adjacent to Bow Willow-to-Mountain Palm Spring trail. A soil plug it pushed up was on the ground next to it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park. This individual plant with four open blossoms and two still to bloom was the most exceptional specimen sighted so far.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park, west section. Located shortly before dark. Two plants discovered within one meter of each other. More may be present but search was terminated due to fading light
Photos / Sounds
What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park, northwest section. Adjacent plant, also with two blossoms, is approaching end of bloom phase (see fourth inage).
Photos / Sounds
What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park, northwest section. At least five different plants in this area, four proximate to within 5 meters of each other.
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What
Cleveland's Shooting Star (Primula clevelandii ssp. clevelandii)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park, west side
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What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trail Regional Park, west side
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What
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)Observer
donendicottDescription
Mission Trails Regional Park, west side
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What
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)Observer
donendicottDescription
I was observing this pair of Buffleheads while they were diving for food just offshore from Alki Beach. It was well below freezing but clear and calm. The winter sun was still relatively low in the eastern sky. I was carrying my binoculars and camera and telephoto lens on a tripod. I was attempting to capture the moment of a dive, just before their bill enters the water. I wasn't successful although I did manage to capture a couple of instances when they arched forward with only the tip of a bill submerged. It happens in a fraction of a second. All of a sudden, the female initiated a takeoff and the male followed suit. I was able photograph a nice sequence as they splashed and flapped their way to my right and parallel to the shore. They were perfectly synchronized as can be seen here.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observer
donendicottDescription
Encountered while I was in Carkeek Park to observe and photograph shorebirds. This observation made from the train overpass looking NE. It flew off shortly after I turned around and first saw it perched high in this Douglas Fir. The third photo shows the perch tree second from left as viewed from the lower parking area interpretive viewpoint on a rare sunny day.
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What
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
donendicottDescription
Appearing to occasionally drift off to nap, this Great Blue Heron nonetheless seemed quite attentive to the goings on under the water surface immediately below it.
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What
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)Observer
donendicottDescription
One of many Robins foraging in the area. This one happened to grab a worm while I observed it.
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What
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observer
donendicottDescription
This Bald Eagle, one of a resident pair, was discovered thrashing around at the top of this tree attempting to carry off a large branch, presumably to use for nesting building. I proved to be too large and too tightly wedged for extraction. To a cacophony of crow calls, it departed after several minutes of trying.
Photos / Sounds
What
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)Observer
donendicottDescription
One of first sightings on a cloudy and drizzly birding walk around the west loop trail. This was my first visit to the Union Bay Natural Area. The bird in flight is the same as the one spreading its wings in the second photo. The second photo was taken shortly before it took off. There were numerous Double-crested Cormorants in this area.
