Species List 2021

Here is my running species list for 2021. I’m including those I’ve taken photos of, heard, saw without getting a photo of, or found tracks/scat that I could identify. You can see last year’s species list HERE.

Total Species Identified in 2021:  254

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUN
254
JULYAUGSEPTOCTNOVDEC
Number of individual species observed/recorded per month (no duplicates)

Arachnids:

  1. California Turret Spider, Antrodiaetus riversi
  2. Sheet Weaver Spiders, Family: Linyphiidae

Birds:

  1. Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
  2. American Coot, Fulica americana
  3. American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
  4. American Pipit, Anthus rubescens
  5. American Robin, Turdus migratorius
  6. American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
  7. American Wigeon, Anas americana
  8. Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna
  9. Audubon’s Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata auduboni
  10. Azure-Winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus
  11. Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
  12. Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii
  13. Black-Necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
  14. Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
  15. Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
  16. Buff Orpington Duck, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus var. Orpington
  17. Bufflehead Duck, Bucephala albeola
  18. Bushtit, American Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
  19. California Quail, Callipepla californica
  20. California Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma californica
  21. California Towhee, Melozone crissalis
  22. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
  23. Canvasback Duck, Aythya valisineria
  24. Caribbean Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
  25. Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera
  26. Common Gallinule, Gallinula galeata
  27. Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
  28. Cooper’s Hawk, Acipiter cooperii
  29. Crested Duck, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus var. Crested
  30. Crested Screamer, Chauna torquata
  31. Crow, American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
  32. Dark-Eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
  33. Double-Crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auratus
  34. Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
  35. Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae
  36. Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
  37. European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
  38. Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
  39. Gadwall Duck, Mareca Strepera
  40. Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
  41. Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
  42. Great Egret, Ardea alba
  43. Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus
  44. Great-Tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
  45. Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
  46. Greater White-Fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
  47. Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
  48. Green-Winged Teal, Anas carolinensis
  49. Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
  50. Herring Gull, Larus argentatus [spot on bill, gray legs, pale eye]
  51. Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus
  52. House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
  53. Killdeer, Charadrius vociferous
  54. Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
  55. Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
  56. Mallard Duck, Anas platyrhynchos
  57. Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
  58. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
  59. Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
  60. Northern Harrier, Marsh Hawk, Circus hudsonius
  61. Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
  62. Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
  63. Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
  64. Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Picoides nuttallii
  65. Oak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus
  66. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
  67. Ostrich, Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus
  68. Pekin Duck, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus var. Pekin
  69. Pied-Billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
  70. Red-Shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
  71. Red-Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
  72. Red-Winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
  73. Rio Grande Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo intermedia
  74. Ring-Necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
  75. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
  76. Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
  77. Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
  78. Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya
  79. Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
  80. Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
  81. Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
  82. Spur-Winged Lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
  83. Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides [can be white, or gray/brown, knob on the bill]
  84. Swedish Blue Duck, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus var. Swedish Blue
  85. Thick-Billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha
  86. Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
  87. Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
  88. Western Bluebird, Sialia Mexicana
  89. Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
  90. White-Breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
  91. White-Crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
  92. White-Faced Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna viduata
  93. White Tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
  94. Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
  95. Yellow-Billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli

Fish:

  1. Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus
  2. Koi Fish, Cyprinus rubrofuscus

Fungi and Molds:

  1. Barometer Earthstar fungus, Astraeus hygrometricus
  2. Bonnet Mushrooms, Genus: Mycena
  3. Bracket Fungus, Family: Hymenochaetaceae
  4. Common Bonnet Mushroom, Mycena galericulata
  5. Cramp Ball Fungus, Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum
  6. Cytospora Canker, Cytospora chrysosperma [bright orange fruiting body, looks like frozen dodder]
  7. False Turkey-Tail, Stereum hirsutum [thin, flattish, brown underside]
  8. Fragrant Funnel Mushroom, Clitocybe fragrans
  9. Gem-Studded Puffball, Common Puffball, Lycoperdon perlatum
  10. Goldenhaired Inkcap Mushroom, Parasola auricoma
  11. Green Trichoderma Mold, Trichoderma viride
  12. Hare’s Foot Inkcap Mushroom, Coprinopsis lagopus
  13. Honey Fungus, Honey Mushroom, Armillaria mellea
  14. Jelly Spot Fungus, Dacrymyces stillatus
  15. Mica Cap, Coprinellus micaceus [an inkcap, tan cap, dark gills]
  16. Nitrous Bonnet, Bleach-Scented Mycena, Mycena leptocephali
  17. Oak-loving Gymnopus, Gymnopus dryophilus [tan-orange with pale gills; cap can be flat or curved up as it ages]
  18. Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus
  19. Paltry Puffball, Puffball Fungus, Bovista californica
  20. Pleated Inkcap Mushroom, Parasola plicatilis
  21. Scurfy Twiglet Mushroom, Tubaria furfuracea [small, tan-yellow]
  22. Small Moss Oysterling, Arrhenia retiruga [tan, thin like a fingernail, tan or brownish]
  23. Trembling Crust Fungus, Merulius tremellosus [flat, kind of like stereum, white fuzzy edges when young/growing, can have teeth/netting underneath]
  24. Turkey Tail Fungus, Trametes versicolor
  25. Veined Mossear, Rimbachia bryophila [small, while, fingernail like]
  26. Witch’s Butter Jelly Fungus, Tremella mesenterica
  27. Yellow Fieldcap Mushroom, Bolbitius titubans
  28. Yellow Knight Mushroom, Tricholoma equestre

Galls:

  1. Alder Tongue, Western American Alder Tongue Gall Fungus, Taphrina occidentalis
  2. French Broom Gall Mite, Aceria genistae
  3. Manzanita Leaf Gall Aphid, Tamalia coweni

Insects, Arthropods, Hexapods:

  1. Chinese Praying Mantis, Tenodera sinensis [largest]
  2. Rosy Short-Head Millipede, Brachycybe rosea

Other Invertebrates (Worms, Mollusks, etc.):

Lichen on Trees:

  1. Bark Rim Lichen, Lecanora chlarotera [looks like Whitewash Lichen but has apothecia]
  2. California Camouflage Lichen, Melanelixia californica [dark green with brown apothecia, on trees]
  3. Common Sunburst Lichen, Golden Shield Lichen, Xanthoria parietina [yellow-orange,on wood/trees]
  4. Farinose Cartilage Lichen,  Ramalina farinacea [like Oakmoss but very thin branches]
  5. Fluffy Dust Lichen, Pacific Fluffy Dust Lichen, Lepraria pacifica [blue-green dust lichen]
  6. Gold Dust Lichen, Chrysothrix candelaris
  7. Green Shield Lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata
  8. Hooded Rosette Lichen, Physcia adscendens [hairs/eyelashes on the tips of the lobes]
  9. Hooded Sunburst Lichen, Xanthomendoza fallax [leafy, yellow-orange, on trees]
  10. Pin-Cushion Sunburst Lichen, Polycauliona polycarpa [bright orange, apothecia, close, piled]
  11. Poplar Sunburst Lichen, Xanthomendoza hasseana [sunburst on Cottonwood]
  12. Powderhorn Lichen, Common Powderhorn, Cladonia coniocraea
  13. Shadow Lichen, Family: Physciaceae
  14. Shrubby Sunburst Lichen, Polycauliona candelaria
  15. Speckled Greenshield Lichen, Flavopunctelia flaventior
  16. Strap Lichen, Western Strap Lichen, Ramalina leptocarpha [without soredia]
  17. Western Shield Lichen, Parmelia hygrophila [blue-gray, foliose, dull isidia on leaves]
  18. Whitewash Lichen, Phlyctis argena

Lichen on Rocks/Metal:

  1. Bare-bottom Sunburst Lichen, Xanthomendoza weberi [yellow to orange, shrubby, on rock/metal]
  2. Concentric Boulder Lichen, Porpidia crustulata [circles of black spots on rock]
  3. Cumberland Rock-Shield Lichen, Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia [gray on rocks, brown apotheca
  4. Ear-leaf Lichen, Normandina pulchella [green leaf-like on rocks]
  5. Hidden Goldspeck Lichen, Candelariella aurella [small, scattered, yellow, on rocks]
  6. Rock Greenshield Lichen, Flavoparmelia baltimorensis [light green to gray, crumbly center]
  7. Rock Shield Lichen, Xanthoparmelia conspersa
  8. Rock Tripe, Emery Rocktripe Lichen, Umbilicaria phaea
  9. Sagebrush Goldspeck Lichen, Candelariella rosulans [bright yellow, lumpy clumps on rocks]
  10. Smokey-Eyed Boulder Lichen, Porpidia albocaerulescens
  11. Stonewall Rim Lichen, Lecona muralis [pale green/gray thallus with rose/tan apothecia gathered in the center; color can be quite variable]
  12. Sunken Disk Lichen, Aspicilia sp. [like crusty patches, tan to black]
  13. Yellow Map Lichen, Rhizocarpon geographicum [bright yellow-green with dark spots]

Mammals:

  1. African Lion, Panthera leo
  2. Beaver, American, Beaver, Castor canadensis
  3. Black-Tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
  4. California Ground Squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi
  5. Cat, Felis catus
  6. Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes
  7. Columbian Black-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
  8. Coyote, Canis latrans
  9. Dog, Canis lupus familiaris
  10. Douglas’ Squirrel, Tamiasciurus douglasii [brown with white belly]
  11. Eastern Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci
  12. Eastern Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger
  13. Grevy’s Zebra, Equus grevyi
  14. Jaguar, Panthera onca
  15. Masai Giraffe, Giraffa tippelskirchi
  16. Mongoose Lemur, Eulemur mongoz
  17. Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus
  18. Red Kangaroo, Macropus rufus
  19. Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens
  20. Red River Hog, Potamochoerus porcus
  21. Reticulated Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
  22. River Otter, North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis
  23. Sumatran Orangutan, Pongo abelii
  24. Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius
  25. White-Faced Saki, Pithecia pithecia
  26. White-Handed Gibbon, Hylobates lar

Plants, Flowers, Trees:

  1. Azolla, Water Fern, Azolla filiculoides
  2. Bald Cypress Tree, Taxodium distichum
  3. Bay Laurel Tree, Laurus nobilis
  4. Blue Elderberry, Sambucus nigra cerulea
  5. Borage, Borago officinalis [blue “beaked” flowers]
  6. Broadleaf Cattail, Bullrush, Typha latifolia
  7. Bunch-flowered Daffodil, Narcissus tazetta
  8. Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
  9. California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii
  10. California Mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana
  11. California Sycamore, Platanus racemose
  12. California Wild Grape, Vitis californica
  13. California Wild Rose, Rosa californica
  14. Candelabra Aloe, Aloe arborescens
  15. Chinese Pistache, Pistacia chinensis
  16. Common Correa, Correa reflexa [trumpet shaped pink flowers]
  17. Common Sugarbush, Spicebush, Protea repens
  18. Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis
  19. Coyote Tobacco, Nicotiana attenuata
  20. Creeping Moss, Conardia compacta
  21. Crisped Pincushion Moss, Ulota crispa
  22. Curly Dock, Rumex crispus
  23. Dendroalsia Moss, Dendroalsia abietina [long, curling tendrils on trees]
  24. Dutch Iris, Iris × hollandica
  25. Elephant’s-Ears, Bergenia crassifolia [like a begonia, bouquet of pink flowers]
  26. Fremont’s Cottonwood, Populus fremontii
  27. French Broom, Genista monspessulana
  28. Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba
  29. Golden Dwarf Mistletoe, Western Dwarf Mistletoe, Arceuthobium campylopodum
  30. Goodding’s Black Willow, Salix gooddingii
  31. Greater Honeywort, Cerinthe major [spotted leaves, “shrimp-like” flowers]
  32. Green Hellebore, Helleborus viridis
  33. Grey-cushioned Grimmia Moss, Grimmia pulvinate [clumpy, on rocks]
  34. Hairy Violet, Viola hirta
  35. Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina domestica [bright red berries]
  36. Hedgehog Holly, European Holly, Ilex aquifolium
  37. Hen-and-chickens Echeveria, Echeveria secunda
  38. Himalayan Blackberry, Rubus bifrons [white flowers]
  39. Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens
  40. Italian Cypress, Mediterranean Cypress, Cupressus sempervirens
  41. Interior Live Oak, Quercus wislizeni
  42. Japanese Aralia, Fatsia japonica [stalks of white flowers, huge leaves]
  43. Japanese Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda
  44. Jointed Charlock, Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum
  45. Large-flower Pink-Sorrel, Oxalis debilis [clover-like leaves, pink flowers]
  46. Liquid Ambar, American Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua
  47. Lords and Ladies, Wild Arum, Arum maculatum
  48. Love-in-a-Mist, Nigella damascena
  49. Mistletoe, American Mistletoe, Big Leaf Mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum
  50. Mountain Misery, Chamaebatia foliolosa [fern-like leaves]
  51. Oregon Grape, Barberry, Berberis aquifolium
  52. Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana
  53. Pink Honeysuckle, California Honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula
  54. Plume Moss, Dendroalsia abietina
  55. Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa
  56. Red Gum Eucalyptus, River Redgum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis
  57. Redvein Abutilon, Callianthe picta [lantern-like flowers]
  58. Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus
  59. Sacred Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera
  60. Shining Netvein Barberry, Berberis dictyota
  61. Soft Rush, Juncus effusus
  62. Spanish Butcher’s-Broom, Ruscus hypophyllum [tiny white flowers in the middle of the leaf]
  63. Star Moss, Syntrichia ruralis
  64. Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo
  65. Sulphur Grevillea, Grevillea juniperina ssp. sulphurea [orange spidery flowers]
  66. Tall Flatsedge, Cyperus eragrostis
  67. Tree-skirt Moss, Pseudanomodon attenuatus
  68. Tule, Common Tule, Schoenoplectus acutus
  69. Valley Oak, Quercus lobata
  70. Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis
  71. White Alder, Alnus rhombifolia
  72. White Horehound, Marrubium vulgare
  73. Whiteleaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida

Pathogens/Bacteria:

Reptiles and Amphibians:

  1. American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
  2. Rhinoceros Iguana, Cyclura cornuta
  3. ?? Snake bones [Mather Lake]

Other Vocabulary:

  • Apothecia: [a-poth-EH-cee-ah] concave cup formations on lichen that bear the spores; asocarp
  • Bilateral Gynandromorph: an organism that contains both male and female characteristics that can be distinguished through sexual dimorphism. Usually seen in moths, butterflies, other insects and birds.
  • Cilia: outgrowths on the thallus of lichen that look like eyelashes or tentacles
  • Crown Shyness: gaps in the canopy between trees in the forest that allow for sunlight to get through, and help the trees “social distance” to help neighboring trees to avoid infections and infestations.
  • Fasciation: also known as cresting, a relatively rare condition of abnormal growth in vascular plants in which the growing tip which normally is concentrated around a single point and produces approximately cylindrical tissue, instead becomes elongated perpendicularly to the direction of growth, thus producing flattened, ribbon-like, crested (or “cristate”), or elaborately contorted, tissue.
  • Inquiline: an animal exploiting the living space of another, e.g. an insect that lays its eggs in a gall produced by another (not the same as parasite because they don’t necessarily adversely affect the host.)
  • Intergrade: There are two types of intergradation: Primary intergradation: Occurs in cases were two subspecies are connected via one or more intermediate populations, each of which are in turn intermediate to their adjacent populations and exhibit more or less the same amount of variability as any other population within the species. Adjacent populations and subspecies are subject to cline intergradation, and in these situations it is usually taken for granted that the clines are causally related to environmental gradients. Secondary intergradation: When contact between a geographically isolated subspecies is reestablished with the main body of the species or with another isolate subspecies, interbreeding takes place as long as the isolate has not yet evolved an effective set of isolating mechanisms. Consequently, a relatively distinct zone or belt of hybridization will develop depending on the degree of genetic and phenotypic difference that was achieved by the previously isolated subspecies.
  • Isidia: [EYE-sid-ee-ah] ; small outgrowths of the thallus, from about 50 micrometres to a millimetre or so in length. They contain both fungal hyphae and photobiont cells and vary in shape, depending on species, from bulbous to cylindrical or branched, sometimes even coralloid .
  • Soredia: [SORE-dee-ah] powdery grainy-looking balls composed of fungal hyphae wrapped around cyanobacteria or green algae on lichen; asexual reproduction
  • Teneral: of, relating to, or constituting a state of the imago of an insect immediately after molting during which it is soft and immature in coloring.
  • Thigmotropism: the turning or bending of a plant or other organism in response to a touch stimulus (what causes a vine to wrap around a tree, for example)
This is a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak with bilateral gynandromorphism. It’s male on the right and female on the left. [I did not take this photo. It’s from the Powdermill Nature Reserve.]

Travels of a Certified California Naturalist