Photos / Sounds
What
Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis)Observer
arnelDescription
Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis), photographed in the parking area of the Elk Grove Marketplace shopping center in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa)Observer
arnelDescription
Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa), photographed in the riparian corridor of Elk Grove Creek in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)Observer
arnelDescription
A Parasitoid Wasp (Apocrita sp.), photographed on the trunk of a Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) at Ehrhardt Oaks Park in Elk Grove, CA. iNaturalist suggests that it may be a Eupelmid Wasp (Eupelmidae sp.); however, I don't know enough about these Parasitoid Wasps to determine if this is true.
Photos / Sounds
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Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)Observer
arnelDescription
A Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), photographed near the parking lot at the Laguna West Plaza strip mall in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Habronattus klauseriObserver
arnelDescription
A Paradise Jumping Spider (Habronattus sp.), photographed along the Elk Grove Creek Trail, just north of Arnie and Iris Zimbelman Park, in Elk Grove, CA. This was a small spider, measuring 5 or 6 mm long from its pedipalps to its spinnerets.
Note that the enlarged anterior median eyes, powerful forelegs, and stocky body of this spider indicate that it is one of the Jumping Spiders (family Salticidae). Also note that the third leg from the front is longer than the fourth leg; this trait, along with the striking patterns on this spider's body, indicate that it is one of the Paradise Jumping Spiders in the genus Habronattus.
I attempted to identify this spider to species, but I wasn't really able to find a good enough match. H. klauseri seemed to be the closest fit, as its body patterns and coloration were close to the individual in my photograph, and as research grade records for H. klauseri have been reported to iNaturalist in the same region where I found this individual (northern California). However, I was not able to find any photographic examples of H. klauseri with a red patch around the anterior median eyes, as is evident for the individual in my photograph, so I am not sure. H. schlingeri is also close, but it also seems to lack the red patch around the anterior median eyes, and in any case, its range is restricted to southern California
Photos / Sounds
What
Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)Observer
arnelDescription
Some Jointed Charlock (Raphanus raphanistrum), photographd along the Elk Grove Creek Trail, just north of Arnie and Iris Zimbelman Park in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Jerusalem Lampwick (Phlomis fruticosa)Observer
arnelDescription
I think this interesting ornamental plant is Jerusalem Lampwick (Phlomis fruticosa). At least, this is the best match I could find for this plant. As lampwicks are cultivated plants originating from Europe and western Asia, I am not familiar with them at all, so my identification of this plant could be wrong. Corrections and suggestions are welcome!
Note: I photographed this plant along the edge of the Mayor Anne Rudin Peace Pond at William Land Park in Sacramento, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mallows (Genus Malva)Observer
arnelDescription
Some Mallows (Malva sp.), photographed near the Mayor Anne Rudin Peace Pond at William Land Park in Sacramento, CA. There were no flowers or fruit available for inspection on any of these plants, so identification to species is not possible.
Photos / Sounds
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Dwarf Nettle (Urtica urens)Observer
arnelDescription
Dwarf Nettle (Urtica urens), photographed at Miwok Park in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)Observer
arnelDescription
Musk Stork's-bill (Erodium moschatum), photographed on private property along Mack Road in Sacramento, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis)Observer
arnelDescription
Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis), photographed at Hawkins Park in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Rancher's Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia)Observer
arnelDescription
Rancher's Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia), photographed in the riparian corridor of Elk Grove Creek in Elk Grove, CA. Note the free calyx lobes of (more or less) equal width; the non-succulent, bristly leaves; and the green, erect stem. The corolla was radial in symmetry and orange in color, with a darker, reddish dot on each petal; it measured ~10 mm in diameter, with an exserted corolla tube whose limb measured ~5 mm. The corolla was large enough to place this plant safely in the variant intermedia rather than the variant menziesii (A. menziesii var. menziesii being more commonly known as the Small-flowered Fiddleneck).
Photos / Sounds
What
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)Observer
arnelDescription
A pair of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), photographed on the banks of Laguna Creek in western Sacramento County, CA. These geese were located just upstream from the bridge carrying Franklin Boulevard across this creek.
Photos / Sounds
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California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)Observer
arnelDescription
A California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica), photographed on some telephones near the intersection of Wesley and Cuny Avenues in Sacramento, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)Observer
arnelDescription
A European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), photographed on some telephone lines near the intersection of Wesley and Cuny Avenues in Sacramento, CA.
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Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)Observer
arnelDescription
A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), photographed as it was soaring over the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)Observer
arnelDescription
A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) and a White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis), photographed as they were flying over the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)Observer
arnelDescription
A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), photographed as it was soaring over the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)Observer
arnelDescription
A Killdeer (Charadius vociferus), photographed in Elk Grove Creek, just downstream from Arnie and Iris Zimbelman Park in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Common Teal (Anas crecca)Observer
arnelDescription
Some American Wigeons (Mareca americana) and Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), photographed in Elk Grove Creek, just opposite from Arnie and Iris Zimbelman Park, in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)Observer
arnelDescription
Some American Wigeons (Mareca americana) and Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), photographed in Elk Grove Creek, just opposite from Arnie and Iris Zimbelman Park, in Elk Grove, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)Observer
arnelDescription
A Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), photographed on a dredge spoils islet along the southern edge of Salt Pond A4 in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)Observer
arnelDescription
A male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and a small flock of Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), photographed at Salt Pond A2E in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)Observer
arnelDescription
A male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and a small flock of Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), photographed at Salt Pond A2E in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)Observer
arnelPlace
Alviso Unit, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose, CA (Google, OSM)Description
A Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), photographed at New Chicago Marsh in the Alviso Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in San Jose, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)Observer
arnelPlace
Alviso Unit, Don Edwards, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose, CA (Google, OSM)Description
A female Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), photographed at New Chicago Marsh in the Alviso Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)Observer
arnelDescription
Two Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) and two Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), photographed at Salt Pond A4 in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)Observer
arnelDescription
Two Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) and two Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), photographed at Salt Pond A4 in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
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Common Teal (Anas crecca)Observer
arnelDescription
A male Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) in the midst of a small flock of Northern Shovelers (Spatula clypeata), photographed along the banks of Stevens Creek, not far from the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)Observer
arnelDescription
A male Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) in the midst of a small flock of Northern Shovelers (Spatula clypeata), photographed along the banks of Stevens Creek, not far from the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh in northern Santa Clara County, CA.
