Several observed over a period of hours. Unlike fence lizards in the area, these lizards would run from you and then keep running as opposed to running a short distance and stopping. Very fluid motion - reminded me of alligator lizards but their coloration does not look same. Weather was very hot (~100 F.).
Flowering plant growing amongst scattered iris in shaded woodland forest of Madrone, Oaks, Pine, etc... growing amongst mosses, poison oak, irises and other low growth plants scattered amongst forest debris.
Scattered Iris growing in shaded woodland forest of Madrone, Oaks, Pine, etc... Iris were growing amongst mosses, poison oak, and other low growth plants scattered amongst forest debris.
Scattered Iris growing in shaded woodland forest of Madrone, Oaks, Pine, etc... Iris were growing amongst mosses, poison oak, and other low growth plants scattered amongst forest debris.
Perigrine Falcon. Pair were seen (one larger - as pictured - female and one smaller - male). Observed high speed aerobatics (intercepts, tandem maneuvering, etc...) and much vocalization. Pair were seen to disappear towards ground area where non-flying vocalizations were heard for several minutes before pair returned to flight. This behavior was observed 3 times over a 20 minute period.
Lotus Formosissimus - Witch's Teeth Pea. Coastal Prairie - Upper Meadow UCSC. Several small patches largest averaging 10-12 plants. Several individual plants located elsewhere...
Dodecatheon hendersonii - Henderson's Shooting Star - small cluster over a 3mx3m area. Many older flowers dropping. Weather warm with storm front rolling in and winds picking up.
Thamnophis elegans terrestris - Coast Garter Snake. In Coastal Praire Grass. Docile when handled. Weather warm with storm front heading in and wind picking up.
Young Bobcat crossing road from South to North in flat area near entrance to Grant Ranch Park. Cat went into thick bushes where it was observed using one of the heavier branches as a scratching post...
Tarantula, walking down the road.
Counted 4 on the road on 9/2 and saw 4 on the road on 9/1 - all of them between the summit of Mount Hamilton and Grant Ranch Park. Seems mating season has begun...
Saw a pair of Red Tailed Hawks soaring above Grant Ranch Park.
Stopped the car and one of them kept riding the updrafts right next to the road...
California Sister, Mount Hamilton.
They were hanging high in the oak trees...
western sheep moth, elegant sheep moth, deceased - found on ground near roadway... :-( NEar Cal Lodge at Norden/Donner Summit
Bird's nest cliffbrake, fern, Mt. Hamilton California, 4200', growing from crack in cliff
Great Horned Owl. Biking up Mount Hamilton on what would have been my son, Joseph's, 23rd birthday, 5 years after he died. Looked over and noticed these 4 identical lumps on a branch.By the time I got off my bike and got out the camera, one by one three of them turned around, saw me and took off. Fortunatley, the 4th one waited long enough for me to catch him when he turned around...
