Hiking at Point Reyes, a photo essay

13 April, 2008:

Sarah and I spent a lovely Saturday in Point Reyes, first hiking along Abbott’s Lagoon and picnicking on the beach, and then walking a little ways out on the Tomales Point Trail to enjoy the glut of wildflowers that’s usually there this time of year.  We weren’t disappointed – loads of irises, radish, and various asters lined the trail.  Birding was very good at both locations, and I even got a lifer (Red-necked Grebe).

Since I’m so far behind in posting, I will dispense with the words and let the photos tell the tale.

Abbott’s Lagoon Trail

Yellow Bush Lupine / Lupinus arboreus

Dwarf Checkerbloom / Sidalcea malviflora

Cobweb Thistle / Cirsium occidentale

Salmonberry / Rubus spectabilis

Prickleseed Buttercup / Ranunculus muricatus

Field Chickweed / Cerastium arvense

Yellow Sand-Verbena / Abronia latifolia

Beach Primrose / Camissonia cheiranthifolia

European Searocket / Cakile maritima

Tiny spider – anyone know what it is?

Douglas Iris / Iris douglasii

View from Tomales Point Trail

Tomales Point Trail – loads of asters and wild radish!

Tomales Point Trail

Tomales Point, and a bit of dust on my sensor

I brought only my binoculars and P&S camera, so have no photos of the many lovely birds we saw – maybe next time!

Birds seen: Location: Pt. Reyes – Outer Observation date: 4/13/08 Number of species: 41 Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos 3 Cinnamon Teal – Anas cyanoptera 2 Surf Scoter – Melanitta perspicillata 4 Bufflehead – Bucephala albeola 5 Ruddy Duck – Oxyura jamaicensis 25 + California Quail – Callipepla californica 1 + Pacific Loon – Gavia pacifica 1 * Red-necked Grebe – Podiceps grisegena 1 Eared Grebe – Podiceps nigricollis 25 Western Grebe – Aechmophorus occidentalis 1 American White Pelican – Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 2 Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalis 1 Double-crested Cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus 3 Snowy Egret – Egretta thula 1 Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura 5 Northern Harrier – Circus cyaneus 1 Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis 2 American Coot – Fulica americana 4 Snowy Plover – Charadrius alexandrinus 2 Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus 2 Willet – Tringa semipalmata 1 + Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus 5 Sanderling – Calidris alba 5 Western Gull – Larus occidentalis 2 + Forster’s Tern – Sterna forsteri 1 Black Phoebe – Sayornis nigricans 3 + Steller’s Jay – Cyanocitta stelleri 1 Western Scrub-Jay – Aphelocoma californica 2 American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos 2 Common Raven – Corvus corax 7 + Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor 2 Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica 25 + Western Bluebird – Sialia mexicana 3 European Starling – Sturnus vulgaris 5 Song Sparrow – Melospiza melodia 12 White-crowned Sparrow – Zonotrichia leucophrys 8 Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus 30 Brewer’s Blackbird – Euphagus cyanocephalus 10 House Finch – Carpodacus mexicanus 10 + American Goldfinch – Carduelis tristis 2 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus 5 + = year bird, * = life bird This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Wildflowers seen: – Beach Primrose – Brass Buttons – California Blackberry – California Manroot – California Poppy – Cobweb Thistle – Cow Parsnip – Douglas Iris – Dwarf Checkerbloom – English Plantain – Fiddleneck – Meadow? Chickweed – Miniature Lupine – Mission Bells * Prickleseed Buttercup – Red Maids – Redstem Filaree – Salmonberry – Scarlet Pimpernel – Springbeauty sp. / Claytonia sp. – Wild Radish – Yellow Bush Lupine – Yellow Sand-Verbena * = life flower