Today I got to attend a Bay Nature walk! They happened to have one on a Sunday!! Not only that, but it was a Butterfly Walk at Mt. Diablo, led by Liam O’Brien.

Yes, that same Liam O’Brien. Whose “Butterflies of the Bay Area” book I just bought and read a couple weeks ago! Not only that, but I was asked by Lia (from Bay Nature) to give him a ride home back to SF (since she knows I live in SF). So I was able to ask him all my questions. And pitch my idea of having him lead a walk for one of my programs (which he said YES to!). And tell me all about the Butterfly Count in SF in July. Which he’s going to make on a Sunday so I can attend.

!!!

AND, I got him to sign my copy of his book. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a book signed by someone I’ve actually met before??

The group was a nice size of folks. Not too big and not too small. But the weather was against us. It was overcast most of the day, which kept many flying insects in hiding. But, as always, we saw many cool things just being outside, Naturing.

Ok, so I finally saw my first AMAZING newtome GALLS, the likes of which I’ve only seen as part of Subquercus at the Autumn Lights Festival (courtesy of our very own Octodrone and Logan). And in photos. But I got to see Urchin Gall Wasp and Red Cone Gall Wasp and Yellow Wig (!) Gall Wasp and Coyote Brush Stem Gall Moth and Live Oak Bud Gall Wasp galls today. AMAZEBALLS!

Or should I say, AMAZEGALLS!!

Upon seeing the very first one, I turned to Lia and told her that I’d love to do a Galls Walk as a program with Bay Nature in the near future. And she is IN.

In addition to ALL THOSE GALLS, there were newtome fruits out, like Hollyleaf Redberry and California Wild Grape (which was shockingly sweet!). And the familiar rose hips of the California Wild Rose.

Some delightful blooms were out, as well. California Fuchsia and Naked Buckwheat and Coyote Brush. I even learned today how to tell the difference between a male and female Coyote Brush plant! The male plant has flowers that look like a bunch of birthday candles are at the end, whereas the female plant doesn’t have those. Yeah, pretty cool.

Because there were no Butterflies up to about this point, we were able to focus in on other things. Like the many Western Boxelder Bugs on the trail below. And a Horse-fly Carpenter Bee, which did not mind one bit that everyone was fawning over it.

And then someone spotted a Butterfly on the trail. Not moving. A California Sister was just there. Bird strikes on its wings. And we all crowded over it to get a better look. Liam said it was done for, but one in the group wanted to pick it up to be placed off trail. And in the attempt at doing so, it moved and flew up for a second to avoid being captured. It even eventually flew up and up and into the tree canopy. And we were all so happy to see it. Even though it was likely done for soon.

Another California Sister made an appearance. And we spotted two California Tortoiseshells, one of which was dead on the trail. Just nearing the end of their flying time.

While it was SUPER COOL to be led by Liam, I confess the wildlife highlight of the day was TARANTULAS.

OH, YES. We spotted the first one on the flippin’ trail. Just moseying along. Now, I’ve never seen a tarantula in the wild. I MAY have seen one in a cage somewhere before, when I was in school? But that doesn’t count. Especially if I can’t remember it. So this was INCREDIBLE.

Now, I’ve heard friends who go up to Mt. Diablo. At night. To camp. And see these newtome Desert Tarantulas. Because of that, I thought you could only see them at night. NOPE! We ended up seeing two more on our walk back!!

Two of my colleagues from the Presidio Trust were also on the walk. Plus a couple more folks that lead nature walks, one for plants and one for kids. And I love that. That even on our day off we want to be at these things.

So, even with the overcast day, we saw SO MUCH. Like ya do.

P.S. Not at Mt. Diablo, but on my dad’s car in San Jose tonight, I got to see a medium-size newtome MOTH. The Civil Rustic Moth. How I adore the colorful names some species get. And how sometimes the Nature finds its way to you where you least expect it…