Today I had a couple hours of Naturing time before meeting Carrie over at Bull Valley Roadhouse to enjoy sunny patio time and the live music of the fantastic Duo Gadjo. I’ve been curious what the nearby shoreline was all about, so I tried out the Carquinez Loop Overlook Trail on AllTrails.

Upon arrival, I could see that it was going to be a deserty type of trail route. But I was soon serenaded by clicking sounds coming from the dry grasses that seemed to go on forever in all directions except the Strait. Turns out, the sounds were coming from seeds of newtome San Joaquin Milkvetch! That entire place must look so lovely when all those plants are flowering…

Poking out here and there amongst the mostly dry grasses everywhere were many a Yellow Star-Thistle and a handful of Bindweed (TBD). And tons of Pacific Poison Oak. Which is always so weird for me to see when there’s not an Oak tree in sight.

I spotted an Owl feather at the edge of the trail. While I’m quite certain every Owl feather I’ve ever come across has been from a Great Horned Owl, this one looked a little different. Not as dark gray at the base. Almost all white all above. Barn Owl??

A couple feet further away was what definitely looked like a GHO feather. So, hmmmmmmm…

Given the lack of trees and shrubs, I set up expectations of seeing very few birds. But soon a Gray Buckeye butterfly frantically came running over the trail in my direction. It played coy with me but stopped to nectar a little just off trail. And a couple were courting further out in the dry chopped grass parts. And one bothered to stop for me on the trail, which was a treat.

Ahead was a Fontana Grasshopper, very dried up Summer Lupine, and ANOTHER Gray Buckeye that absolutely wanted to make sure I got a good shot of it with dorsal wings open and outstretched. Awww.

And then an Anise Swallowtail fluttered into my view for a spell, before bounding up the hillside.

And THEN, I came upon a somewhat sheltered hillside spot, where East Bay Regional Park District folks appear to be experimenting. Lots of plants with wire fencing around them. Like more Summer Lupine? And Coyote Mint. Maybe even Trees on the Strait side?

And that’s when a Blue butterfly made itself known to me. An incredibly GORGEOUS Acmon Blue. That gave me delicious peeks at its rainbow hues on its dorsal wings. And I was instantly reminded why I love the Acmon Blue so so so much. It’s like a brilliant UNIVERSE in there. That you can typically only see if you have a healthy dose of patience…

Which I have. For any Blue.

Juvenile and adult Western Bluebirds were also in the area. And a yellow medium-size Butterfly that sadly didn’t stop for me. Oh, and an unusually (?) pink-purple California Aster or two.

The rest of the route was pretty uneventful. I kept hoping I’d spot a Snake, but the winds (which I was SO fortunate to have today!!) may have kept them away?

As I was close to returning to where I started, I paused to notice and admire the fairy Dragonflies that were endlessly patrolling all around me. I had seen a couple along the way, but right near the trailhead they kept in the same patrolling routes right in front of me. So much so that I got great looks at them. They came so close to me! One even seemed to get closer and closer to me. To check me out, it felt like!

They looked like Darners but with electric golden bodies. Don’t think I’ve seen these before? iNat thinks they may be Wandering Gliders? STUNNING. Just STUNNING, my gawd.

I stood there watching like five of them for some time. Watching them zoom all over in front and near me. Occasionally disturbing a nearby Gray Buckeye, that wasn’t having ANY OF IT. Then back to patrolling all around me. Magic.

After noting a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk soaring above me, it was time to head out. But I got to see a Columbian Black-tailed Deer with THREE FAWNS before I left the area. And even on my way out of Port Costa, I spotted an adult Wild Turkey with two Turklets in tow. That’s Summer, folks. Wildlife broods everywhere you look.

I wasn’t exactly taken with this particular route, given what little native plants and plant variety there was. But I bet it’s a nice spot in the Spring. Perhaps I’ll return to get a glimpse of all the Milkvetch in bloom someday…