What
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Rescued by crows: Heard crows making a commotion and saw that they were upset with a red shouldered hawk who had a smaller bird pinned down on the ground. The hawk tried to fly away with its prey, but the crows attacked it and it dropped the bird - this woodpecker - that it was carrying. Didn't see any obvious injuries, but it was roughed up, out of breath and gasping for air with its beak wide open.
Photos / Sounds
What
Explorer's Manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. hebeclada)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Burl exhumed by erosion.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bearberries and Manzanitas (Genus Arctostaphylos)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Tall A. pumila or a pumila hybrid.
Growing in the middle of a large stand of old growth A. tomentosa and chamise. The stem of a nearby A. tomentosa ssp. bracteosa measured 60cm (2 feet) in circumference well above the burl.
This is the second tall A. pumila I have seen on this ridge. I have seen no prostrate A. pumila in this area.
What
Manzanita Hoof Polypore (Phellinus arctostaphyli)Observer
kvandevereDescription
On A. tomentosa ssp. bracteosa.
Photos / Sounds
What
Glandular Woollyleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. bracteosa)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Dangerously close to keying out to ssp. daciticola. No glandularity detectable by touch and no actual oil visible with hand lens. ID based on black specks at the end of some setose hairs which could be a dried secretion of some kind.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pacific Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa ssp. benthamiana)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Some needles in bundles of 4.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
kvandevereDescription
Young plant possibly growing from seed, rather than burl.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
kvandevereDescription
Not sure what's going on with some of the nascent inflorescence on this thing.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Observer
kvandevereDescription
This plant has been posted at least three times in the past:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186660813
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194949905
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195483719
Twice it has been ID'd as A. edmundsii.
Although this is not an expected location for A. uva-ursi (or A. edmundsii) I think it is uva-ursi.
It is completely prostrate, with no mounding, and has short nonglandular twig hair (both of which work for either species) and the leaves are within the size range for either species.
But the leaves are distinctly bi-facial. Glossy dark green above and light green with sparse short hairs below (consistent with A. uva-ursi, but not with A. edmundsii).
Finally, the inflorescence is raceme-like (consistent with A. uva-ursi, but not A. edmundsii).
The nearest known occurrence of A. uva-ursi is almost directly to the west of this location on the coast.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bearberries and Manzanitas (Genus Arctostaphylos)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Another upright A. pumila or pumila hybrid.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bearberries and Manzanitas (Genus Arctostaphylos)Observer
kvandevereDescription
Another upright A. pumila or pumila hybrid.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bearberries and Manzanitas (Genus Arctostaphylos)Observer
kvandevereDescription
A. pumila or a pumila hybrid. Upright with very red smooth stem.