A broken snail shell found next to the path.
Crown whitefly on Southern Live Oak leaf found on sidewalk.
We found this jaw bone underneath a Raven nest (which was atop a telephone pole). Collected for better photos, which I'll add after cleaning it.
Image 2 shows it as we found it. Image 3 shows a measurement.
Upon cleaning at home, each of the back teeth split in half when removed.
Image 7 shows its location.
Parched hillsides, tiny
This is a cluster among many Genus Crassula Stonecrops growing unplanted on this flat area next to the Carriage trail. It recently heavily rained. Shot with my Canon EOS 80D, 35mm macro lens and built-in flash, f/9.
I found this mammal scat between 2 paths. It had fur in it, and seemed to be somewhat tapered on one end.
I saw this in a few locations, but iNaturalist can’t identify it. Maybe I didn’t get a good enough shot. It looks like two varieties on the log, but again, not my field of expertise.
iNaturalist calls this “stonecrops.” (Maybe "Pygmy Stonecrop"?) Not sure. It was very low to the ground and spread across wide areas. It almost looked like red tide
A vast Dodder parasitizing a Datura and a Buckwheat. I've seen it here for a few years in a row if I recall correctly.
According to Vasily, the reproductive structures in photo 5 belong to the Dodder.
did you know: ilove them
Coyote Canyon Wildflower Garden, Coyote Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Coachella Valley, Imperial County, California
A Mallow growing as a weed in a vast vacant lot. This one is growing between some rocks. Mallows are very abundant here. The soil is dry and I believe not watered.
Observed during Bryophyte Field Trip led by Chris Wagner organized by OC CNPS
Solitary whitefly puparium on Quercus leaf, with drop of honeydew, collected, made a Canada balsam slide mount. Also posted to BG here:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1994306/bgimage
Some kind of growth on the underside of two branches of a Coast Live Oak tree.
I photographed it from the ground and from an adjacent wall, as this is about 10-15 feet off the ground.
This plant was growing in the middle of a fenced off poison storage area, the F.H. Collins Filtration Plant. One sign mentioned Sodium Hypochlorite. This out of place filtration plant was in the middle of a neighborhood, visible from a small path between two streets. The 9th image shows a wider view of the water that this plant was growing in. Photos 10-13 show the signs along the fence.
A Coast Live Oak infested with invasive wood-boring beetles. This branch was on the ground underneath the tree.
Host to Crown Whiteflies, Pumpkin Galls, and Wood-boring Beetles.
Weevil rescued from pool. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but after handling it, I noticed that one finger was super worn down and peeling.
I just found this guy on my face...
I rubbed my forehead and this guy fell into my lap. It crawled onto my finger, walked around for a minute, and has been stationary on my middle finger for 4 minutes now. It doesn't seem to mind how twitchy my hand is, and I can't feel it.
NOTE: I took macro and microscope photos of this guy, which I'll add when I can. They're far superior to these phone pics.
This sunbathing lizard let me get very close without reacting, though it was alive.
Photos 1, 3, & 5 were edited to have lower exposure to bring down blown out parts. Photo 6 is unedited.
Sam is the only other one who saw this Lizard, thanks for sticking in the back of the pack with me.
Observed a camera-shy California Ground Squirrel rush toward the safety of the shrub, directly to where a Desert Cottontail was sitting causing the Desert Cottontail to leap straight up into the air allowing the California Ground Squirrel to pass underneath (image 2).
Being eaten by a Great Blue Heron
Two new coyotes traveling together closer to the east end of the park. I couldn’t get a shot of them together.
Insect rescued from pool. Photographed standing on my forefinger.
This is one of 4 Pumpkin Galls on a Coast Live Oak leaf that I found underneath the Coast Live Oak tree. This is the first time I've seen one with an exit hole.
Photo 6 shows the host leaf.
There are 3 of these plants growing unplanted in a planter.
ID based on iNaturalist's AI suggestion.
Small, somewhat spherical gall wasp nests growing on immature Oak tree (a Coast Live Oak I believe). The surrounding mature Oaks appear to all be Coast Live oaks.
Each gall is about 1.5mm long.
6th image shows that they're not detectable from the bottom of the leaf they're on. Lifer for me.
Rust looking blights or something on leaves of a Desert False Indigo. Was somewhat visible on the backs of the leaves.
ID based on iNaturalist's suggestion. Last photo shows the host plant.
I found this kind of rust fungi on each of the multiple Desert False Indigos in the area.
Host plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/101874248
I found this dead Long-legged Fly on a yellow pool floatie in our pool at night. Another, differently colored Long-legged Fly was nearby.
Not very petty, quite robust!
Absurdly large species (fingers for scale, left side), maybe 4-5x larger than most E. moschatum that I see.
Somewhat resembles peplus but differing in the branched, decumbent growth style, smooth (and larger) fruit, cyathium characteristics, and serrated leaf margin...
Odd growth on tree branch. I've found this kind of growth exclusively on bare Coast Live Oak Branches. This one was under a Coast Live Oak, shown in the last image.
Whatever it is, it's hard. Brought it inside (it was right outside), so I can get macro shots if they'll help.
Kept carrying the leaf around. It would drop occasionally and the gull would pick it back up again.
This was one of multiple Hoppers on this bush in the Lewis Hall atrium (6 Hoppers total, 5 of another species).
Photo 1 is in Flash White Balance while the rest of the photos are in Auto White Balance as they were shot. Flash was used.
I photographed this Hopper with my Canon EOS 80D and 35mm macro lens. My settings were: 1/250 seconds, f/9, ISO100, EXP0, natural lighting + built-in flash.
I found this limpet shell washed up on a beach. The tide looked to be coming in. Picture 6 shows it as I found it.
It was windy and overcast.
This egg case was right beside the main trail and showed clear signs of human tampering. The basal plate aperture had been prized open and all of the fluffy flocculent silk packing (along with the spiderlings) had been removed. I took the empty cocoon home and experimented with creating a continuous thread by unwrapping the outer covering. Someone familiar with the use of a drop spindle would be able to make a large quantity of good quality silk thread.
A Spurge growing in the crack of the pavement. It had white sap. Multiple present.
This is one of a few bird nests made on a metal shade fixture attached to Gregory Hall.
Observed on a tree trunk.
Odd rice ball looking thing on a leaf. When prodded it fell off. Side view in the 4th and 5th images. Seed or eggs? Last photo shows the bushes it was among.
ID based on AI.
Visto en vía pública.
Puesto en libertad.
This Grackle was missing a leg! It was looking for food and eating at the airport.
Lawn weed, edible(?), very bitter, 1/10
I didn’t see a live spider in this web, nor did I see a live spider in a similar web that I encountered earlier, but both had similar bundles of “leavings” attached.
Found in the IPBio reserve in the trail behind the bus stop. Found this and many more under the first moon of the month.
And a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgwCemYKrmw
mold (?) on the face of a dead salmon: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100686780
Wild goose flew onto the field at Dodger’s stadium during game 2 of the NL west playoffs.
LET’S GO PADRES!!!!!!
Fell from roof space of historic mill.
Fruit and flowers large, shown with 5 mm x 5 mm grid. Berry flavor disappointing, indicative of S. americanum from past experience.
Encelia californica LEFT, E. farinosa RIGHT.
This cute Cottontail Rabbit was grazing on grass on the lawn next to Hall of Letters. It was near the edge of the hill.
These shots were taken at dusk and while a few are brightened a bit, the lighting is natural and what I saw in person.
A Hummingbird pollinating. The 8th and 9th photos are the obligatory ass views. Multiple Hummingbirds were present.
I’ve been frustrated that the trails in Irvine Regional have been closed for poor conditions after the rain. I’ve been walking along the streets instead. Today, I was so grateful for the detour because I never would have seen this guy/gal otherwise!!