Cup-like nest of a small bird (sparrow?), found with destroyed egg and scattered feathers inside an alkali heath bush. Feral cats or foxes seen in the area may have been the culprit.
Tiny salt marsh flies on pickleweed. Swarms of these accumulate on sand, water, or plants, making an ethereal opaque sheet of gray wherever they alight.
On the side of a large parked truck. I also saw what I think was some type of red-backed Phidippus yesterday: it followed me into my car!
Several Snowy Egrets, sometimes hanging out with Great Egrets.
Mixed in with pickleweed at the lowest tidal zone.
This plant grows in large bushes on the bases of levees, at one of the highest tidal levels. Some of the stems have thin red striations, looking like vaguely like peppermint sticks.
Common bushy plant with a somewhat rubbery feel to stems and leaves. Flowers at the base of leaves.
Not sure of the species, but some type of sedge (triangular stem)
Seen often.
Some of these caterpillars are very active.
I spotted this guy in the corner of a bathroom stall in a fast food joint.
I couldn't get the best shots (didn't want to be bitten!), but the red hourglass was unmistakeable. Sitting on egg cases.
The second photograph is another set of egg cases. For some reason they're always in pairs.
