These guys were building their cases from fresh hemlock needles.
Genus or species, anyone?
Not sure about this ID, but Rumex paucifolius is a highly variable plant species that occurs even in alpine climate, like this one. It's the only candidate that even seems likely.
Nesting pair and noisy babies in a tall snag at an overlook. Therefore, no photo.
Good ID by four California Naturalists with binocs.
Missed this tiny flower the first time we looked for it, but later noticed that I'd accidentally caught it in the corner of a picture of Brewer's Lupine.
Came back again the next week!
Male flowers up high, female flowers down low on another plant.
Gravity: the ultra-lazy pollination strategy :)
Hopping along, hunting in the tall grass at Movie Night. Stopped to give us a nice profile.
Larger than the usual ermine. About the size of a skinny tree squirrel, with quite a long, black-tipped tail.