R: Red Bush Monkeyflower.
Today I had planned to go to Pescadero, to check out the Pescadero Marsh Butano Creek route along (and through?) the marsh toward the town of Pescadero. It seemed like it’d be a perfect day for a lazy and gorgeous drive down Highway 1 and to spend quality time Naturing in one of the literally coolest spots in the area. AND stop for pie at Duarte’s and artichoke bread at Arcangeli’s. OF COURSE.
But then I checked traffic. And it was a nightmare in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, and my fantasy of Highway 1 Happy Times was ruined. Yes, I could’ve gone the long way via 280 and 84, but I was also concerned that getting back home could easily be a whole separate nightmare… So. I bailed.
I was truly itching to get away for Naturing today. It’s been impossible to do so most Mondays since my dad passed away. Too much to do, much of which has to be done in San Jose. But, there will be more Mondays for me soon enough.
Brian wanted to stay local, so we ventured out to the West end of GGPark. And, since Ren had shared with me recently that a couple Belted Kingfishers were at North Lake, it sounded like he might get to see his favorite bird, too. So. We went!
We were going to start at the Chain of Lakes Garden, but we heard a strange and loud raptory call coming from beyond the garden. And Merlin thought it was A PEREGRINE FALCON. That’s right. A PEREGRINE FALCON.
I didn’t really think it was likely, but we HAD TO FIND OUT! So we headed in the direction of the call. But we didn’t find it. And it didn’t call again after we started heading for the likely location.
HOWEVER, while looking for it, we found some things! Like a flippin’ Great Horned Owl!! Just sitting high up, napping. West of the Bercut Equitation Field (which, according to Google Maps is “permanently closed”)??? Wish it had been easier to see it. Easier to get better photos of it. That we had time to go back to it closer to sunset to see it move around. All of it.
And WHO is it?? Owlet from last year that hasn’t left yet? Another owlet from nearby looking for its own place? Can’t imagine it’s one of the mated pair GHOs from the Bison Paddock.
Also spotted an American Lady Butterfly that eventually opened her wings out for me.
And a juvenile (?) Red-tailed Hawk that looked like it was a bit nervous to jump off the tiny branch it was on when we found it.
We didn’t hear the “Peregrine Falcon” again, nor did we find it. So we resumed our plan of starting out in the CoLG. And, lucky us, the sun had come out by then.
There were some Agaricusy-looking Fungi in the shade behind the garden. Delightful surprise! Lesser Goldfinches and Anna’s Hummingbirds and other usual suspects were about. And for flora, Red Osier Dogwood and Common Snowberry and Sandrose Mallow were sweet to see. Plus, new yellow benches and chairs are now behind the garden. I kinda prefer the handmade wood slab benches and tree stump stools, but ah well.
A fair number of birds were bopping around. A Western Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay (that we got to watch break open an acorn!), more Hummingbirds zooming around, and a Red-shouldered Hawk that quietly looked down on it all. Shockingly, not cry-cry-crying.
A Skipper that I had seen before actually stopped on a Hummingbird Sage leaf and just stayed there for me. Not only was I able to get a couple decent photos of this Umber Skipper (especially of it drinking its milkshake through its black straw), but I got to see it do something I’ve never seen before! I think it was cleaning its head? Grooming around its eyes? Got video of it! SO COOL!
After stopping to admire the few Red Bush Monkeyflower blooms that I had to make Brian stop to also admire, we made our way to North Lake. Pausing for a moment to inhale the divine Blueblossom blooms and note a European Harvestman Spider just chilling underneath them.
Upon our arrival to North Lake, we heard a Belted Kingfisher! Such a nice way to start our visit there. Also saw the first of many spiderwebs. And the first one we saw had a Shamrock Orbweaver at the end of it that Brian spotted! AND, seeing my photo of it close-up shows it was hard at work at the time, whoa!!
Most of what we saw at North Lake were BIRDS. Four Black-crowned Night-Herons and many a Yellow Warbler, among others. Plus a female Belted Kingfisher flew out from our side to the East, and we got a decent view of it perched high in the eucs there. And a yellow bird we saw (in the insanely overpowering Reeds that are absolutely going to cover every inch of the lake soon) turned out to be a Common Yellowthroat!
On our way out, I stopped to notice the many Gumplants planted at the South end. Thought that plant would needs TONS of water? Hm…
It was time to head home, and we took the way through the park. We turned South onto Transverse Drive, and soon after Brian shouted, “COYOTE!!!” And a FLIPPIN’ COYOTE crossed the road in front of my stopped car. Reached the other side and casually looked back to where it came from. Perhaps at another Coyote coming along behind it? There was a bicyclist alongside me, plus a car behind. So I couldn’t stick around to find out. But. COYOTE!!
While I hadn’t planned on spending time in my backyard today, I’m ohsoglad I did. Still magic out there.
