Some of the willow leaves were covered with these very small galls. They may be the Willow Gall Mite, Aculops tetanothrix
I was happy to get a shot of this one although it is not very good. Elevation about 4,000' along the river
a flowering bush near the North Fork of the American River. 4,000' elevation. Flood plain of rocks and sand. The plant was about 4-5' tall and as wide.
flowering plant along Middle Fork of the American River. About 4,000' elevation, growing in rocky,sandy river flood plain. Lots of willow around also
This guy flew into my window screen last night sounding like a WWII bomber. I am guessing right now on the species name but Prionus, (Giant Root Borer) certainly fits with my insect ID book: course spines on the pronotum and antennal segments conical.
Fennel is all over the place here in the Baylands. In a couple of places they have made attempts on control by digging but that takes a lot of human energy. For the most part I am certain that it is humans that spread the seeds by grabbing a hand-full to smell the sweet fragrance and then toss the seeds away when we are finished thus becoming the local distributor. The plants are taking advantage of us without out our knowing it.
With all the invasive fennel I was seeing I hoped I might find an Anise Swallowtail flitting around. Some searching did no good but as I was walking back to the car I happened to spot this about six feet from the trail so got one a little earlier in its life than expected.
This egret was right next to one of the control grates and had found a good spot for fish. I was lucky to get this shot.
five or six of these, mostly feeding along the edges of the slough. This one was high above the water giving me a good view.
three of these all standing on a debris boom.
Several dozen of these birds this morning in two groups. Second group was communal f
