R: Butterfly Mariposa Lily.
Today Bob and I visited this place that has been on my list to check out for a while. We had hoped to see Northern Pygmy Owls, but they did not cooperate. HOWEVER, we saw SO MUCH ELSE.
Welch Creek Road should be a trail unto itself, it’s got so many dang wildflowers.
And the loop I found on AllTrails (Little Yosemite, Canyon View Trail, McCorkle Trail) turned out to be a perfect choice to explore this preserve. I only wish it’d been ten degrees cooler!
And as it’s past my bedtime (since we saw SO MUCH it took SO LONG to process my photos and upload them onto iNat!), my photos will have to tell my story.
Highlights include becoming entirely enamored of a moth (perhaps Small Heliothodes Moth?), maybe seeing a newtome Silvery Blue Butterfly (?), being delightfully surprised to see two of my favorite springtime wildflowers (White Globe Lilies and Butterfly Mariposa Lily), possibly new Lupines (iNat jury’s out on those for now), a gorgeous and newtome Dragonfly (Common Whitetail?), Whirligig Mites (!!!), newtome Pacific Tent Caterpillar (Moth), a distant Golden Eagle soaring (!), and all kinds of birds I’d never know about if it wasn’t for Bob by my side.
Was so very fortunate it wasn’t blazing hot in Eastbaysia for my Naturing outing today! Though, I absolutely needed to be reminded to bring extra water when naturing in Eastbaysia. Each and every time, dangit.
Always a treat to have such an expert bird nerd on hand to show me the dazzling array of birds I’d otherwise never know were there. Unless they flew right into my view, of course. Thanks so much, Bob!
Feeling so grateful to see so many newtome species and that I got to enjoy some of my favorite wildflowers before heading out of the country in a couple weeks. I was worried I’d miss out on some of my favorites, but today ensured I’m in a great place for Chasing Spring Wildflowers this year!
