R: Northern Cloudywing?
Today I had another day trip day! After lunching with my dad in Cupertino, I ventured to check out a trail I read about some months ago – the Ancient Oaks Trail.
I honestly can’t remember anything about it other than falling in love with the name. And, oaks. Just can’t get enough.
And while it’s not that late (yet), I’m going to make this short to catch up on some sleep. To the highlights!
Want to note that I actually saw SEVERAL TIMES a hillside of Western Columbine while driving on Page Mill Road. Unexpected and lovely to see!
There were indeed many an ancient oak! And it was intriguing to see so many growing so close together. All covered in that Dendroalsia Moss, just like so many California Bay trees I’ve seen before. I bet that trail is quite spooky on a cloudy/foggy day…
I was surprised to see grasslands at the North end, filled with many wildflowers. Though they couldn’t compare to the far taller and far more ubiquitous invasive grasses everywhere. But a nice surprise to see them, especially the Wine Cup Clarkia and Tomcat Clover and Woodland Madia.
And with the grasses came butterflies! Wasn’t expecting to see them in an oak forest, but they were just about everywhere that open sunlight was. Spotted Northern Checkerspots and Variable Checkerspots and Propertius Duskywings and TONS of Common Ringlets and a couple newtome ones, too! Like the Northern Cloudywing (?) and Two-banded Checkered-Skipper. Absolute treat to see so many butterflies again!
Another delight was finding a good number of Western Starflowers and blooming Baldhip Roses. And a very pretty moth, newtome Drasteria edwardsii on some darling White Globe Lilies. And I even found some fungi! Maybe Poison Pie?
There were SO MANY Pacific Hound’s Tongue plants that had gone to seed. Would be great to return next year when they’re all blooming. Though I’d imagine it’d be pretty wet given how dark that forest can get…
As for wildlife, I heard and saw many California Quail. A Western Gray Squirrel shockingly didn’t run away from me once it saw me. And I FINALLY managed to see a Spotted Towhee! After hearing them often in the past couple days, it was so satisfying to see one out in the open for a spell!
Had some time at the end, so I checked out the Alpine Pond. Not much happening there, except a Pacific Forktail kindly posed for me. And I made a quick stop at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, as it was on the way home and has a short trail there I’ve been meaning to check out.
All in all, nice to visit Russian Ridge for the first time! I’ve known about it for a while, as I’ve been looking more and more in that area South of 84 for Naturing trails. Still have MANY places to visit, but it’s good to start somewhere!
