Today I continued my resumption of Sacred Mondays for Naturing by visiting my backyard. My intention was to do the Greatest Hits. And minus the Secret Gardens and Lily Pond, I achieved it.

I ended up spending a good deal of time just soaking up the place. Lingering longer, just because I could. Waiting for a possible return of a Hummingbird. Staying to listen a bit more to a bird call deep in a shrub. Opening up my gaze to its greatest landscape view of all these very different spots in GGPark. It was GRAND to have such glorious time.

I started in the Monarch Bear Grove, of course. First checking in on all those new trails along Pelosi Dr. Looks like they’re maybe planting Coast Live Oaks under the Monterey Cypresses? Hm!

I spent quality time in the maze of Oaks there that I love to bits. Calmly and lovingly watching a Black Phoebe oddly hanging out on a tree branch. Noticing some surprising flowers at the meadow, like Purple Toadflax? And a truly BIZARRE Sage-looking thing I could not stop looking at. A close-up observation of it revealed that it had a facial expression of opening its mouth WIDE to show off two front buck teeth and laying out its tongue for a doctor to examine. What the heck are those things??

While admiring these new additions, I received a fly-by of two Hummingbirds chasing each other. Literally just past my ear! A thrill I never take for granted.

I was checking in on all the spots I knew so well. And then I saw something intriguing on a Coast Live Oak branch. I initially thought perhaps it was a bud of an acorn? Couldn’t be a Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp gall, as this had its own stem… HM! Once I got home, all signs point to it being a newtome gall insect! A Live Oak Bud Gall Wasp!

Now, this super small orb was like something I had only previously seen in glorious photographic scenarios in Bay Nature magazines. So I doubted it was something as cool as THAT. But both iNat and Seek point to it. So. EXCITING!

I was heading out to move on to the CAS Botanical Garden when I spotted A SKIPPER. Given the cool weather, I wasn’t expecting to see many insects out and about. And THIS ONE appeared to be a Skipper I don’t see too often. A bright orange-yellow darling called a Fiery Skipper that seemed unable to get enough of the hot pink Yarrow over there. I had oodles of time with it, but the gray skies didn’t give me crisp light on it unfortunately. Ah, well. Any day I see a Skipper for more than a couple seconds is a Good Day.

Over at the CAS, all was quiet. But I came across something ODD. Near the bike rack was a bunch of what seemed to be dead Black Slugs. Each and every time I take the far East Trail of the CASBG, I look for one. Which is absolutely silly, given I’ve only ever seen them out when it’s wet/ish. So I was simply astonished to see any on a dry day like today. And then to see so many all near each other. And of various sizes. And all dead? What happened here??

Stopping to note that a Coffeeberry bush had its tiny yellow flowers out, I saw that many pollinators were taking full advantage. Guess it was warm enough for them! So many different kinds of pollinators were enjoying those teensy flowers. Interesting that Coffeeberry appeals to so many. Had no idea.

I checked the CAS roof eaves for any signs of a Great Horned Owl, as I’ve been seeing iNat observations here and there of one hanging out there. But, no. Hrm.

But after taking a minute to indulge in a sit under one of the largest California Buckeye trees along the trail, I was treated to A SHOW. A Red-tailed Hawk came out of the trees behind me and flew across the street and into a super tall Cypress. Cry-shrieking in an unusual way. It was immediately followed by ANOTHER Red-tailed Hawk that looked like it was chasing the first one. And I think EVEN ANOTHER got involved. And there was so much chasing and cry-shrieking that other birds started changing their location and looking a bit uneasy!

Two California Scrub-Jays quickly came to the Buckeye and started chasing each other in it. A Western Tanager (that really didn’t look like one, but so says iNat and Seek) seemed deeply disturbed, too. Whenever I see chasing and noisemaking around this time of year, I assume juveniles are harrassing their parents for food. It’s a hoot to watch.

On my walk to Blue Heron Lake, I saw that the fence along the CAS outdoor patio had a bunch of new flowers there. The Black-eyed Susan Vine is going NUTSO. There are new clusters of some type of flower in the Pea family. And there are now even Common Passionfruit flowers there. Weird.

After pausing to watch and document both a Lesser Goldfinch and an Anna’s Hummingbird, I soon arrived to the Japanese Tea Garden. And noted some Creeping Buttercup and Common Selfheal near that little stream thing under the bridge there. Aw.

I was expecting to see a good amount of birds up at Blue Heron Lake. But, nope. A couple of Hybird Mallards was all I saw out on the lake. Huh! I mean, it was cool out, but this might’ve been the most empty of birds that I’ve seen the lake display?

Up on Strawberry Hill, the reservoir level was in a pretty sad state. Guessing it’s because the waterfall wasn’t running? It’s all stagnant up there, and so much of the area around it is super depressing. I did manage to spot a Hairy Woodpecker, though. And there are Bees at the bee boxes.

Some heavenly scented Garden Heliotrope (which apparently is now going by Cherry-pie – but wait, did I already learn that?) and a couple Seaside Daisies were nice to see. As was a Lesser Goldfinch and a cuteaspie Anna’s Hummingbird, which just made me melt every time it looked up.

Oh, and newtome Bower Plant. What is that random non-native flowering plant doing there?

Over at the Pioneer Trail, I delighted in being greeted by divinely scented Sagewood. Sooooo gooood. The trail was quiet as heck. The Elm leaves are started to turn though… And it was a treat to first hear TWO Western Flycatchers then finally get to see one. I shall never tire of their call, as if they’re whistling for their dog to come. REALLY WISH I’d been able to get closer to one to get better photos, but what can you do. There’s such little light on that trail.

I am fairly confident I’ve never seen a Western Flycatcher in GGPark before. And consulting Merlin, it looks like they’re common round here from August to October. But why does its Range show as here during Breeding season? Thought that was Summer? Bob, if you’re still reading, what am I not getting here?

Came back the same way along the CAS, and I saw one alive Black Slug (in great condition) seemingly trying to cross the sidewalk to the road. Eek. Are they all confused right now for some reason?

I had just enough time left to see if there might be a GHO near the Slime Mold Lab Trail (that will certainly receive a new name). And there wasn’t. Not at the fakenesttree nor at the Owl Nursery. Though, there was a fair amount of Owl Pellets and whatnot under the fakenesttree.

I have been ohsocurious as to who the GHO was that’s been hanging under the CAS eaves…

See, there was apparently a GHO nest and Owlet over in the Botanical Garden this year. So it’s possible that’s the GHO that’s been spotted at the CAS? Or it’s possible I guess for it to be Ma Owl? Though, it doesn’t seem to check out. I walked away without any intel.

HOWEVER. On my way there, I walked up the trail from Pelosi Dr. Through the trees. And I saw OWL PELLETS and whatnot on the trail amongst the trees. HUH! Looked up everywhere in there and saw nothing. There was even a pellet that looked relatively fresh!

So many questions. That can likely only be answered near/at sunset. Gotta come back. SOON.