Photos / Sounds
What
Miner, Fairy, Allied Panurgine, and Oxaeine Bees (Family Andrenidae)Observer
ouzel
Photos / Sounds
What
Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)Observer
ouzelDescription
Tail half of a gopher snake. The other half could not be found. Unknown cause of death.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rayless Ragwort (Senecio aronicoides)Observer
ouzelDescription
Just this one plant by the waterway.
Photos / Sounds
What
Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus)Observer
ouzelDescription
found atop and next to a dusky footed wood rat mound in the manzanita thicket. Is this a male's skull with the longer snout.
Photos / Sounds
What
Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus)Observer
ouzelDescription
Near where my neighbor has a small vineyard. My neighbor has placed many deterrents around and in the vineyard to keep deer and gophers out. The plastic mesh fencing deters deer.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)Observer
ouzelDescription
This individual was on the dead tree near where I suspect it's nesting. From the photos it looked like it was perhaps interested in robbing insects or insect parts caught in spider silk. It's nice to be able to observe them more so I can learn more about their habits and life.
Photos / Sounds
What
Silky Shoulderband Snail (Helminthoglypta diabloensis)Observer
ouzelDescription
3 ft up an oak tree trunk. Cold 51°
Photos / Sounds
What
California Groundcone (Kopsiopsis strobilacea)Observer
ouzelDescription
Found under brittle leaf manzanita. Only one flower cone seen.
Photos / Sounds
What
Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus)Observer
ouzelDescription
Twin Fawns, dead, one appears to have had dirt pushed onto it. Smell of death so not totally recent. Did not appear to have interest of vultures perhaps because of the location. The fawn bodies seemed intact and in the area around their bodies was a bare dirt patch. Perhaps they were killed as prey or perhaps they died of other reasons?
There are regular sightings of bobcats and coyotes in this area of the Sobrante Preserve (and one mt. lion sighting this year prompted the Park to post warning signs at all the entrances).
I did not get close to their bodies but the photos show what condition they were in.
They might have been killed by dogs is one idea I had. But this is not in an area near any trails and is quite wooded so it's not easy to get into.
Photos / Sounds
What
Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids (Order Orthoptera)Observer
ouzelDescription
Nymph of either a cricket or a grasshopper or a katydid. from the pattern on the body I'm leaning towards it being a grasshopper nymph.
