General Blog, Naturalist, photography, Volunteering

Green Therapy Time, 11-19-19

I got up around 7:00 am and headed out to the Effie Yeaw Nature Preserve for my weekly volunteer trail walking gig. The weather was lovely, about 49º at the river and mostly sunny. I really needed to get outside into my happy, green “therapy place” and start recovering from the trauma of yesterday.

Not a lot to see today, though, although I did get to see one of the big-big bucks, the 5-pointer. He was sitting down right on the side of the trail and didn’t move as I walked by and took photos of him… until I stepped back to get a shot of the doe behind him. I guess he didn’t like that and got onto his feet and stepped out a little bit, before going back to stand by the doe. They both eventually walked off, him following her across the trail and into the woods. Such a handsome thing.

Columbian Black-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

I also got to see quite a few California Ground Squirrels, which I love, and got some video of a European Starling singing and gurgling overhead.

California Ground Squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris

CLICK HERE for the full album of photos.

I walked for about 2½ hours and then headed home.

Species List:

  1. Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
  2. Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
  3. Bushtit, American Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
  4. California Ground Squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi
  5. California Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma californica
  6. California Wild Grape, Vitis californica
  7. Chinese Pistache Tree, Pistacia chinensis
  8. Columbian Black-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
  9. Coyote, Canis latrans [scat]
  10. Eastern Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger
  11. European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
  12. Golden Crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
  13. Green Shield Lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata
  14. Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
  15. Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
  16. Oak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus
  17. Pipevine, California Pipevine, Dutchman’s Pipe, Aristolochia californica
  18. Raccoon, Procyon lotor [tracks]
  19. Rio Grande Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
  20. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
  21. Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
  22. Sulphur Shelf Fungus, Western Sulphur Shelf Fungus, Laetiporus gilbertsonii
  23. Swainson’s Hawk, Buteo swainsoni
  24. Valley Oak, Quercus lobata