Somewhere in Mill Valley and Oakwood Valley (6/7/2025)

Today we saw TWO Threatened Species. And it was all just AMAZING.

Yes, I normally work Saturdays. But it just turned out that I was able to take today off and work last Monday. Which was super fortunate, as I absolutely needed that extra time to prep for my intern’s first week this week! Yep, MY INTERN. That full circle thing. YEP.

First, we took Linzy and Jon to see the Spotted Owls I know about, somewhere in Mill Valley.

We tried out a newtome trailhead to get to The Spot, and it was surprisingly easy! Thanks, AllTrails, for showing me another access point!

We saw a Brown Creeper, Swallowtail, Umber Skipper, Ithuriel’s Spear, California Darner (and maybe a Blue Darner with it?), a possible Echo Azure, and a couple Banana Slugs on the way to The Spot.

Once there, we started looking. And found nothing. I’d heard from NPS folks that the Spotted Owlets should be fledging soon. So I thought maybe we’d see them out of the nest. And, if not, there’d be two parents in the area to try seeing. So I figured, since the area is quite small, that there was a REALLY good chance to find them.

And this was important. Since Linzy (and I think also Jon) had never seen one before?

But, NOPE. Couldn’t see into the nest. So who knows what was in there. And didn’t see any Owls in the area.

HOWEVER. I did see Owl feathers below the nest tree. AND pieces of random pellet bits closeby. So they WERE THERE. Just not IN VIEW. Boo.

We started walking back. And I’ll admit. I felt pretty bummed about it. I mean, I hadn’t GUARANTEED Owls. I know better than THAT. But I felt pretty confident we’d find ONE. Urgh.

But we were getting close to where we started. And we were trying to locate a Western Flycatcher that was calling. I saw it briefly, but we were trying to get Linzy and Brian to also see it.

After giving up on it, we continued on. And soon after, Linzy spotted A FLIPPIN’ SPOTTED OWL. Chillin’ on a California Bay tree branch. Almost over the FLIPPIN’ TRAIL.

Now, I had JUST SAID that I’d heard from NPS Rachel that one time a Spotted Owl just happened to be chillin’ on a flippin’ Bay Tree branch near The Spot. Over the flippin’ trail. And no one (casually walking on the trail) had noticed at the time. So I was telling them that that was possible. And since we couldn’t find them in the Redwood Grove that we should keep our eyes peeled. JUST IN CASE.

So. Linzy. Spotted this magnificent thing of beauty. On our way out. And we just stood and marveled at it. Now, this was QUITE CLOSE to the trail. I can’t imagine I’ll ever get so close to a Spotted Owl again. Well, I guess if I spend more time in the area I might. But, seems SO UNLIKELY.

I couldn’t help but coo and talk to it. And it looked at me. At us. Watched us a bit. Since we were SO DANG CLOSE and all. It was INCREDIBLE.

Also, can’t wait to tell NPS Rachel all about it!!

Onto Oakwood Valley. Only I had been before, so it was fun to show a new place to everyone else. It was unfortunately quite windy, so we didn’t see as many Butterflies in the meadows as I’d hoped. Only a Swallowtail on our way in and a perhaps newtome Blue? Western Tailed-Blue?

But it was nice to return after only one visit prior. Saw a California Lady Beetle and Golden Ear (I think) and lots of Pink Honeysuckle and Sweet-brier and Fringe Cups and Pacific Pea and Thimbleberry.

And on a blooming Wavy-leafed Soap Plant were what I thought might be Bee Flies. But it turned out to be more like a California Digger Bee? At least Seek thinks so. Jury’s still pending over on iNat. Anyhoo, fun to watch them enjoying the Soap Plant. Have I ever seen pollinators on them before?

But the thrill was yet to come!

I told them all about the Frog Pond up ahead. And that, to my knowledge, there sadly weren’t frogs there. While the pond is marked with a sign for California Red-legged Frogs, someone at NPS told me there weren’t really a population there. And it was likely because it’s so close to the trail. And too many off-leash dogs.

I relayed the very unlikelihood of finding any frogs, but they wanted to see. So, off we went!

We arrived. And soon after, Jon spotted A FROG. OH, YES. A flippin’ CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG was just chillin’ near the edge of the pond. Sitting in it. Not moving. LIFE FROG!!

Now, I’ve been wanting to see this frog for A WHILE. Ever since I learned about them back in my Intern Days. I wanted to see all of the threatened and endangered species the parks folks were trying to help come back in greater numbers and thrive. And after the Spotted Owl, this was Number Two!

Nope, didn’t see the red legs. And, they don’t all always have red legs anyway. So, no big whoop. I was just THRILLED to see it at all. And especially in a truly unexpected place.

Not only was that frog there, but Jon or Linzy also spotted NEWTS further in the pond. I think we ended up seeing about four or five of them? Maybe Rough-skinned Newts? They were pretty much in the water the whole time, so it was tough to get a good look at their eyes. Maybe only a certain kind is known to hang in this pond?

And that was it. EPIC DAY of surprisingly close Spotted Owl encounter AND entirely shocking find of a California Red-legged Frog. I think Linzy and Jon brought luck to the day. So happy to have shared two new places to them, one new place to Brian, and newtous special species not often seen. FANTASTIC SATURDAY!!