Morgan Territory - 4/30/2021

I returned to Morgan Territory today, to see if anything new was happening in the burn areas, and the answer was mostly... Not really... which isn't surprising since it's barely rained. But there were many flowers, the most notable of which were yellow fairy lanterns (Calochortus amabilis), and there were a lot of them! Certainly in areas that burned, but also in areas that didn't, so I don't know if the numbers are unusual or not, but they sure were delightful.

Similar to Coe, there were also quite a few large, dense patches of Collinsia, again often in areas that burned, but also areas that didn't. Open grassy fields in the northeast part of the park were dotted with hundreds of Ithuriel's spears, all very short. It's also prime time for Blow wives, tons of them and quite common. Winecup Clarkia, yarrow, blue dicks and Whiskerbrush were also often seen. Oh! And a surprise, semi-hidden patch of wind poppies!

Since it was a warm day, pollinators were out in force, so many large and small, especially on Collinsia heterophylla, and one patch of chaparral with blooming black sage, yerba santa and sticky monkeyflower (the first two being by far the favorites.) Wonderful clouds all day, including a dramatic sun ring.

Having returned the horrible Galaxy S21, I got a Pixel 5 and took it for a spin today, and while it's significantly better for this purpose than the S21, it's still not great. The color and exposure are much better, but it's hard to focus properly, I can't get as close to the subject as I can with my S8, and probably because of that have trouble getting things really sharp and detailed. Sigh. I never thought that I'd have so much trouble finding a new phone camera that is at least as good as my old one. Ain't that the way of it. But why?

Posted on May 1, 2021 05:10 AM by newtpatrol newtpatrol

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

False Bindweeds (Genus Calystegia)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 10:08 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 2021

Description

So many of these at Morgan Territory! These in particular were in an area that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Whiskerbrush (Leptosiphon ciliatus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Description

A lot of these right now, including in burned areas.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 10:43 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 2021

Description

So many of these at Morgan Territory! These in particular were in an area that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ookow (Dichelostemma congestum)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:03 AM PDT

Description

Lovely and vivid, in an area that burned last year. I think they're Blue Dicks, but still have a hard time committing.

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 2021

Description

So many of these at Morgan Territory! These in particular were in an area that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:09 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Purple Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:18 AM PDT

Description

Quite a few nice patches of Chinese Houses, especially in areas that burned last year, but also in areas that didn't.

Photos / Sounds

What

Wintercresses (Genus Barbarea)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:19 AM PDT

Description

In an area that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Winecup Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:26 AM PDT

Description

Commonly seen, both in burn areas and not.

Photos / Sounds

What

Oneleaf Onion (Allium unifolium)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:28 AM PDT

Description

In an area that burned last year, rather small. Very similar to a few others seen nearby, but the other ones were much larger, maybe just due to conditions?

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 2021

Description

So many of these at Morgan Territory! These in particular were in an area that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Oneleaf Onion (Allium unifolium)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:34 AM PDT

Description

Just a few in an area that burned last year. Rather large.

Photos / Sounds

What

Jeweled Onion (Allium serra)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:38 AM PDT

Description

In an area that burned last year

Photos / Sounds

What

Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:42 AM PDT

Description

In an area that burned last year

Photos / Sounds

What

Wintercresses (Genus Barbarea)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:47 AM PDT

Description

In an area that burned last year

Photos / Sounds

What

Mt. Diablo Helianthella (Helianthella castanea)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:58 AM PDT

Description

A few patches of these, including in areas that burned last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 12:10 PM PDT

Description

On blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)

Photos / Sounds

What

Digger Bees (Tribe Anthophorini)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 12:17 PM PDT

Description

On purple Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla)

Photos / Sounds

What

Dimorphic Mountain-digger Bee (Habropoda tristissima)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 12:18 PM PDT

Description

On purple Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla)

Photos / Sounds

What

Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 12:22 PM PDT

Description

On blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 12:52 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:02 PM PDT

Description

I saw many similar piles of poop along this part of the trail, some fresher

Photos / Sounds

What

Winecup Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:04 PM PDT

Description

I love how variable their flowers are

Photos / Sounds

What

Larkspurs (Genus Delphinium)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:11 PM PDT

Description

Maybe a pale version of one that's usually purple? There were lots of purple Larkspurs (which I'm now realizing I never photographed), including in the vicinity of this plant (there were actually two that looked like this.)

Photos / Sounds

What

Mining Bees (Genus Andrena)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:17 PM PDT

Description

On yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Photos / Sounds

What

Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:28 PM PDT

Description

Lots of these scattered in open grasslands around the northeast side of the park. Notably short.

Photos / Sounds

What

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 01:49 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

European Earwig Complex (Complex Forficula auricularia)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:18 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:24 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:26 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:35 PM PDT

Description

So many insects on the yerba santa!

Photos / Sounds

What

Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:40 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:44 PM PDT

Description

Beautiful, frosted bees, quite a few of this kind on yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

Photos / Sounds

What

Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:45 PM PDT

Description

on yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus melanopygus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:51 PM PDT

Description

On black sage (Salvia mellifera)

Photos / Sounds

What

Mediterranean Lineseed (Bellardia trixago)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:59 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blow Wives (Achyrachaena mollis)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 03:03 PM PDT

Description

LOTS of blow wives, in many places

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 03:09 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 03:53 PM PDT

Description

On blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 2021

Description

So many of these! In an area of Morgan Territory that did not burn last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Wind Poppy (Papaver heterophyllum)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 04:06 PM PDT

Description

A surprising number of them, in a half-hidden spot off the trail that did not burn last year.

Photos / Sounds

What

Sticky Cinquefoil (Drymocallis glandulosa)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 04:16 PM PDT

Description

Rather large, in a fairly shady spot

Photos / Sounds

What

California Quail (Callipepla californica)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 04:40 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 04:50 PM PDT

Description

It must be nesting season, the red-winged blackbirds were very aggressive and showing off

Photos / Sounds

What

Davidson's Beetle (Dascillus davidsoni)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 02:07 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Phlox-leaved Bedstraw (Galium andrewsii)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 10:29 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Nomad Bees (Genus Nomada)

Observer

newtpatrol

Date

April 30, 2021 11:38 AM PDT

Description

On jeweled onion (Allium serra)

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