What
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Time: 4 pm
Cloud Cover: >60%
Temperature: high 60's - low 70's
Wind: less than 5 kmph
Outside the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, a Great Horned Owl had attempted to find some shelter in a sycamore tree from a small murder of crows that had been harassing it. The owl did not vocalize and only surveyed its surroundings, after the murder had left. It eventually left some time later in the afternoon.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A hatch-year juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that was chased into the side of a nearby building by a flock of crows a couple of hours earlier. He/she was initially unconscious after the collision, and local museum staff had moved to a protected area of a canopied table nearby. The hawk has since regained consciousness, but is still recovering from what appears to be head trauma, and may require a couple hours more, before being able to take flight again.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A couple of shots of what turned out to be 5 juvenile Cooper's Hawks that were grouped together around a suburban neighborhood at around 7 AM. They were frequently flying in loops from one tree to another, with at least one other juvenile ate a time, and wer frequently making their cry-like juvenile calls. It was difficult to photograph them, since the tree they appeared to favor was a densely leaved eucalyptus, likely for concealment from nearby crows and western gulls.
The ones photographed here were perched in a jacaranda tree, before joining the other 3 in the eucalyptus. The skies were clear, with a very faint breeze, and temperatures nearly 70 degrees.
What
Genus AphonopelmaObserver
j_mcgowanDescription
The second of two tarantulas that we had found under a couple of our cover boards from two sites at the property. Unfortunately, the first one had ducked deeper into its burrow before it could have been photographed too.
Environmental conditions at the time were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures in the high 80's.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Two of several more young Baja California Treefrog froglets that were found in another pond within the property. They also shared their pond with dozens of tadpoles of the same species, who had yet to metamorphose into froglets themselves. Conditions around the pond were dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A couple of the several, young Baja California Treefrog froglets that were found in and near the shallows of the main pond on the property. Conditions around the pond were dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's.
What
California Striped Racer (Masticophis lateralis ssp. lateralis)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A DOA California Striped Racer that was found on the side of one of the paved roads, most likely hit by a vehicle. The specimen however, was still in pretty good condition, and may have only expired within the previous couple of hours before we discovered it. Environmental conditions at the time were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures in the high 80's.
What
California King Snake (Lampropeltis californiae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A snake shed that was found underneath one of the cover boards at one of the study sites on the property.
What
Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
One of many Baja California Treefrog tadpoles that still remained in the few remaining pools within the creek bed of a study site, with many more tadpoles of the same species found in the properties larger ponds in adjacent sites.
Photos / Sounds
What
San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer ssp. annectens)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A young adult gopher snake that was found moving through the nearly 1 meter high grasses of an open field during a very windy morning, with temperatures approaching the high 80's that morning. The individual measured approximately 1 meter in length, and released back where it was caught.
What
California King Snake (Lampropeltis californiae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
One of 3 juvenile California Kingsnakes that were found under cover boards during a survey of reptiles and amphibians on the property. Conditions above and under the board were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's as the day.
All juveniles were found within only tens of meters from each other at this site, and were all approximately 30 cm in length, possibly siblings from a previous year's clutch.
What
California King Snake (Lampropeltis californiae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
One of 3 juvenile California Kingsnakes that were found under cover boards during a survey of reptiles and amphibians on the property. Conditions above and under the board were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's as the day.
All juveniles were found within only tens of meters from each other at this site, and were all approximately 30 cm in length, possibly siblings from a previous year's clutch.
What
California King Snake (Lampropeltis californiae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
One of 3 juvenile California Kingsnakes that were found under cover boards during a survey of reptiles and amphibians on the property. Conditions above and under the board were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's as the day.
All juveniles were found within only tens of meters from each other at this site, and were all approximately 30 cm in length, possibly siblings from a previous year's clutch.
What
Common Desert Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Two of several large centipedes that were found underneath several wooden cover boards during a survey of reptiles and amphibians on the property. Conditions above and under the board were pretty dry, with Santa Ana winds picking up and temperatures warming into the high 80's as the day. progressed
What
Western Jack-O'-Lantern (Omphalotus olivascens)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Some species of bright, yellow mushroom that I found growing on the base of a trunk of a eucalyptus tree. The temperature was approximately 50 degrees F, with no detectable breeze, and the ground was still damp to muddy from the rains that had occurred a few days prior.
What
Funnel Weavers (Family Agelenidae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A spider I discovered under a decomposing chunk of wood that had broken off from a larger rotting log next to it. The spider appeared to have been taking a defensive stance to protect his/her lair from the potential threat that had stirred it. The temperature was just below 50 degrees F, and the ground was still damp to muddy from the rains that had occurred a few days prior.
What
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A Western Scrub Jay that was foraging for food sources around the park picnic tables. The temperature was just below 50 degrees F, with no detectable breeze, and the ground was still damp to muddy from the rains that had occurred a few days prior.
What
Stone Centipedes (Order Lithobiomorpha)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A small centipede that I had discovered under a chunk of rotting wood. The temperature was just below 50 degrees F, and the ground was still damp to muddy from the rains that had occurred a few days prior.
What
Solifuges (Order Solifugae)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
While checking under rocks in the early afternoon sun, we unexpectedly encountered a large solifuge taking refuge under a small boulder. Its body length (including its legs) would have easily reached across the diameter of a quarter. The solifuge was returned to its home after this photo was taken.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A large, back and yellow striped butterfly that we observed fluttering around and feeding from some thistle blooms, during the partially cloudy, cool and breezy, early afternoon.
What
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Sadly, the best photo I managed to get of a small flock of American Goldfinches I heard and observed in the trees around the visitor center during a chilly morning, with a low overcast (which this finch is back-lit against). I was able to identify them by their distinct calls as American Goldfinches.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A Spotted Towhee that I had observed among the foliage (a Live Oak in these photos) around the parking lot and visitor center during a chilly morning with low hanging overcast overhead.
Photos / Sounds
What
California Quail (Callipepla californica)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A small flock of California Quail that I had observed foraging in around the parking lot, during the cool morning with a low hanging overcast overhead.
What
Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A Desert Night Lizard that was found within the dried, hanging leaves of a Yucca tree, in the late afternoon to early evening hours, as the desert began to cool for the evening.
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A dead Southern Alligator Lizard had been found under a wooden board at an abandoned ranch.
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A Southern Alligator Lizard shed that was under a palm frond.
What
Western Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana ssp. elegans)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
One of several Side-blotched lizards (both adults and juveniles) I had encountered that were trying to take advantage of the late afternoon sun and heat.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
A Red-shouldered Hawk that I had flown right over me and had perched in sycamore tree right in front of me for a few minutes, before flying off to some adjacent Live Oak trees.
What
Western Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana ssp. elegans)Observer
j_mcgowanDate
Missing DatePlace
Missing LocationPhotos / Sounds
What
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)Observer
j_mcgowanDescription
Around 3 pm of an 85 degree afternoon, encountered what I believe to have been a Blue Grosbeak perched in one of the trees that line the creek bed along the main trail, between the parking lot and culture center. It gave a few, brief calls, and glanced down at me, as I took photos of it.