Photos / Sounds

What

Western Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)

Observer

joergmlpts

Date

March 25, 2024 10:50 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cdobson31

Date

March 18, 2024 12:43 PM PDT

Description

Mating pair, with a spun white gift ball with a treat inside for the female. I saw about 10 males flying around or hovering while holding this 'gift' balls in chaparral areas in Edgewood Park. Warm sunny with light breezes.

Photos / Sounds

What

Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis)

Observer

bluevalhalla

Date

March 16, 2024 02:47 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bluewitch Nightshade (Solanum umbelliferum)

Observer

bluevalhalla

Date

March 16, 2024 02:55 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fewflower Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia sparsiflora)

Observer

bluevalhalla

Date

March 16, 2024 02:32 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fewflower Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia sparsiflora)

Observer

fugur

Date

March 15, 2024 11:41 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pale Springbeauty (Claytonia exigua)

Observer

sandor_in

Date

March 3, 2024 02:40 PM PST

Description

Growing on a rock outcropping, together with a thick layer of moss:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/201423730

Photos / Sounds

What

Pale Springbeauty (Claytonia exigua)

Observer

suelindner

Date

February 28, 2024 12:06 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Henderson's Shooting Star (Primula hendersonii)

Observer

suelindner

Date

February 28, 2024 11:00 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Scarlet Fritillary (Fritillaria recurva)

Observer

joergmlpts

Date

February 27, 2024 10:55 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum)

Observer

jjelen

Date

February 17, 2024 11:21 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Henderson's Shooting Star (Primula hendersonii)

Observer

chilipossum

Date

March 3, 2023 09:52 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

February 12, 2024 12:40 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Observer

randomtruth

Date

December 2013

Description

With band. Camera trap photo from permitted wildlife study in conjunction with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Observer

randomtruth

Date

October 2017

Description

With white-tipped tail. Camera trap photo from wildlife monitoring for San Mateo County Parks.

Photos / Sounds

What

Silver Cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa)

Observer

joergmlpts

Date

March 6, 2016 04:30 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis)

Observer

mombliss

Date

January 23, 2024 10:25 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Coast Silk Tassel (Garrya elliptica)

Observer

mombliss

Date

January 23, 2024 12:01 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)

Observer

scoparium

Date

January 17, 2024 11:37 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Toothed Jelly Fungus (Pseudohydnum gelatinosum)

Observer

oceanf

Date

January 15, 2024 11:36 AM PST

Description

Portola with the buds

Photos / Sounds

Observer

oceanf

Date

January 15, 2024 01:19 PM PST

Description

Portola with the buds

Photos / Sounds

What

Lion's-mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

January 15, 2024 11:40 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Observer

mombliss

Date

January 6, 2024 11:39 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

Date

January 2, 2024 07:56 AM PST

Description

Very adorable!

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Observer

scoparium

Date

January 2, 2024 03:36 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Gnome Plant (Hemitomes congestum)

Observer

randomtruth

Date

May 2013

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis)

Observer

arbonius

Date

February 2023

Description

Another observation, iNat 148304242, was made 2 hours after this one and a few hundred feet away.


As presently circumscribed, the genus Taricha has 4 species: 3 of those species are endemic to CA (T. rivularis, T. sierrae and T. torosa); while the remaining one (T. granulosa) ranges from Alaska through British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon to California...and east into Idaho & Montana.

The deep "tomato-red" underside & feet here are suggestive of Taricha rivularis. However, the other species can sometimes exhibit similar coloration...as shown in images on the Taricha ID page from the CaliforniaHerps web site. Apparently 3 of the 4 species are present in this local area of the Santa Cruz Mountains (excluding T. sierrae , which is only found in the Sierra Nevada) . The CaliforniaHerps Taricha ID page stresses that T. rivularis is distinguished by its entirely-dark eyes (as opposed to eyes partly-yellow in T. torosa and T. granulosa). Further interesting info and many helpful photos appear on the T. rivularis species page at CaliforniaHerps.

Note that the fairly-wide black band across the vent on the underside (see 5th photo, behind hind legs) indicates a male...and is another diagnostic character confirming the species ID of T. rivularis.


This Santa Cruz Mountains population of T. rivularis was relatively-recently discovered (in 2009) and is only known from a relatively-small area in Santa Clara County...where it's mysteriously disjunct from the main population of T. rivularis in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties. The story of the discovery...and the many questions it engendered...is briefly touched on in this "Bay Nature" article, and voluminously recounted & explored in the excellent multi-part blog "Mystery of the Red-Bellied Newt", as well as the related-blog "Homegrown Tomatoes". And the population is also the main focus of the paper below:

S. B. Reilly, D. M. Portik, M. Koo, D. Wake (2014). "Discovery of a New, Disjunct Population of a Narrowly Distributed Salamander (Taricha rivularis) in California Presents Conservation Challenges". Journal of Herpetology, 48(3), 371-379

____ Some Further References ____

Twitty, Victor (1966). "Of Scientists and Salamanders". Published by W.H. Freeman & Co. , San Francisco. 178 pp. [Classic book by one of the most historically-significant scholars of Taricha...can be freely-accessed via the "Internet Archive" web site at this link, after creating a (free) account. Chapter 5 has an informative discussion of the California species of Taricha.]

Twitty, Victor C. (1935). Two New Species of Triturus from California. Copeia Vol. 1935(2): 73-80. [Can be freely-accessed via the JSTOR at this link, after creating a (free) account.]

Davis, W.C., & Twitty, V.C. (1964). Courtship Behavior and Reproductive Isolation in the Species of Taricha (Amphibia, Caudata). Copeia, Vol. 1964(4): 601-610. [Can be freely-accessed via the JSTOR at this link, after creating a (free) account.]

Licht, P., & Brown, A.G. (1967). Behavioral Thermoregulation and Its Role in the Ecolgy of the Red‐Bellied Newt, Taricha Rivularis. Ecology, 48, 598-611. [Can be freely-accessed via the JSTOR at this link, after creating a (free) account.]

Twitty, V.C., Grant, D., & Anderson, O. (1966). Course and timing of the homing migration in the newt Taricha rivularis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 56 3, 864-71 . [PDF here]

Packer, W.C. (1963). Observations on the Breeding Migration of Taricha rivularis. Copeia, Vol. 1963(2): 378-382. [Can be freely-accessed via the JSTOR at this link, after creating a (free) account.]

Photos / Sounds

What

Bonnets (Genus Mycena)

Observer

scoparium

Date

December 13, 2023 10:30 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Observer

suelindner

Date

December 6, 2023 09:00 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum)

Observer

scoparium

Date

December 6, 2023 08:05 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Observer

mombliss

Date

December 1, 2023 02:16 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Observer

lcavphotography

Date

November 29, 2023 07:45 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Ear-shaped Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum var. auriculatum)

Observer

mombliss

Date

November 17, 2023 10:57 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Club Gall Wasp (Atrusca clavuloides)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

November 9, 2023 12:19 PM PST

Description

On Valley Oak.

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Observer

mombliss

Date

November 9, 2023 01:19 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Observer

scoparium

Date

November 8, 2023 09:06 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea)

Observer

scoparium

Date

November 8, 2023 10:16 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Pumpkin Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus minusculus)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

November 2, 2023 03:35 PM PDT

Description

On Coast Live Oaks in the Edgewood Pumpkin Patch (last pic).

Photos / Sounds

What

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

October 31, 2023 11:08 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Rosette-Gall Wasp (Andricus wiltzae)

Observer

gina-barton

Date

September 17, 2023 10:41 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Beaked Twig Gall Wasp (Burnettweldia plumbella)

Observer

elonicera

Date

October 25, 2023 03:10 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Madia (Madia elegans)

Observer

suelindner

Date

October 18, 2023 08:10 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pale Flax (Linum bienne)

Observer

suelindner

Date

October 18, 2023 09:54 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Naked Buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum)

Observer

suelindner

Date

October 18, 2023 10:42 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea)

Observer

scoparium

Date

October 18, 2023 10:15 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Telegraphweed (Heterotheca grandiflora)

Observer

suelindner

Date

October 8, 2023 05:34 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Denseflower Rein Orchid (Platanthera elongata)

Observer

jhigbie

Date

October 7, 2023 10:14 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Observer

lcavphotography

Date

October 5, 2023 08:04 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)

Observer

lcavphotography

Date

October 1, 2023 07:55 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Observer

lcavphotography

Date

October 6, 2023 07:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Hairy Bird's Beak (Cordylanthus pilosus)

Observer

gina-barton

Date

October 1, 2023 01:02 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Clasping Twig Gall Wasp (Disholcaspis prehensa)

Observer

mombliss

Date

September 25, 2023 12:48 PM PDT

Description

Leather oak

Photos / Sounds

What

Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)

Observer

mombliss

Date

September 1, 2023 11:30 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Crystalline Gall Wasp (Feron crystallinum)

Observer

mombliss

Date

September 1, 2023 10:23 AM PDT

Description

Leather oak

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Ringlet (Coenonympha california)

Observer

scoparium

Date

August 30, 2023 09:17 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Coast Tarweed (Madia sativa)

Observer

scoparium

Date

August 30, 2023 09:27 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Plate Gall Wasp (Feron pattersonae)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

August 24, 2023 01:47 PM PDT

Description

Plates! I can’t believe I saw plates! The Blue Oaks at Stulsaft are loaded with fun galls. Well so are the rest of the Oaks here.

Photos / Sounds

What

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

August 5, 2023 01:16 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mombliss

Date

August 5, 2023 10:11 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Observer

mombliss

Date

July 22, 2023 07:46 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Raspberry Buckwheat (Eriogonum gracilipes)

Observer

joergmlpts

Date

July 19, 2023 08:22 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

Observer

mombliss

Date

June 28, 2023 04:34 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Amole (Chlorogalum pomeridianum ssp. pomeridianum)

Observer

suelindner

Date

June 28, 2023 05:13 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

June 28, 2023 05:03 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Golden Brodiaea (Triteleia ixioides ssp. ixioides)

Observer

sjellysj

Date

June 14, 2023 08:33 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

North Californian Indian Pink (Silene laciniata ssp. californica)

Observer

mombliss

Date

June 25, 2023 02:10 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus)

Observer

alisong26

Date

June 24, 2023 02:18 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Broad-leafed Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)

Observer

suelindner

Date

June 21, 2023 10:44 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

Observer

joergmlpts

Date

June 22, 2023 10:27 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Observer

scoparium

Date

June 21, 2023 10:26 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow Clustered Broomrape (Aphyllon franciscanum)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

June 8, 2023 01:19 PM PDT

Description

Of course I had to look for it. Fortunately @sandy_b gave me some hints, one being it was slurping on Eriogonum nudum. Amazing!

Photos / Sounds

What

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Observer

catchang

Date

May 31, 2023 02:13 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Braun's Giant Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia ssp. braunii)

Observer

earth_tide

Date

May 5, 2023 09:59 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fringed Checkerbloom (Sidalcea diploscypha)

Observer

chilipossum

Date

May 28, 2023 01:47 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Observer

bkersey

Date

May 12, 2023 09:22 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White Brodiaea (Triteleia hyacinthina)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

May 9, 2023 02:20 PM PDT

Description

Starting up, but oh the weeds this year!

Photos / Sounds

What

Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae)

Observer

bluevalhalla

Date

May 7, 2023 06:16 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Douglas' Stitchwort (Sabulina douglasii)

Observer

jhigbie

Date

May 1, 2023 09:51 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Four-Spot (Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera)

Observer

alisong26

Date

April 29, 2023 11:24 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum jordanii)

Observer

tui

Date

April 29, 2023 08:30 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)

Observer

alisong26

Date

April 29, 2023 10:32 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Royal Larkspur (Delphinium variegatum)

Observer

tui

Date

April 29, 2023 12:12 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

April 27, 2023 09:16 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Denseflower Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja densiflora)

Observer

alisong26

Date

April 15, 2023 05:10 PM PDT

Description

Definitely seeing an owl here!

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)

Observer

jhigbie

Date

April 10, 2023 12:01 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Dot-seed Plantain (Plantago erecta)

Observer

alisong26

Date

April 8, 2023 11:56 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Longspur Seablush (Plectritis ciliosa)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

April 12, 2022 11:50 AM PDT

Description

From last year, 4/12/22, at the edge of a NE-facing meadow about 0.5 mile from the top of Courdet Trail. 3/26/23 still small plants not yet budding. This is a very interesting corner along the trail BTW.

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Fairy-Slipper (Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis)

Observer

randomtruth

Date

March 2023

Description

Soggy, but proud. Area is covered by a lot of downed trees and branches from the storms.

Photos / Sounds

What

Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa)

Observer

mombliss

Date

March 29, 2023 10:52 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani)

Observer

mombliss

Date

March 29, 2023 10:31 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Slender Woolly-Marbles (Psilocarphus tenellus)

Observer

mombliss

Date

March 29, 2023 10:26 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Observer

mombliss

Date

March 24, 2023 09:39 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

Observer

ross2

Date

March 26, 2023 09:10 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

sea-kangaroo

Date

March 17, 2023 01:08 PM PDT

Description

Strange happenings.

Photos / Sounds

What

Pacific Pea (Lathyrus vestitus)

Observer

bluevalhalla

Date

April 9, 2021 04:27 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pezizas, Desert Truffles, and Allies (Family Pezizaceae)

Observer

sea-kangaroo

Date

March 17, 2023 01:31 PM PDT

Description

In oak/bay forest.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Coast Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans ssp. terrestris)

Observer

emmashelton

Date

March 13, 2023 11:48 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Saxifrage (Micranthes californica)

Observer

townscapes

Date

March 11, 2023 10:12 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Sun Cup (Taraxia ovata)

Observer

mombliss

Date

March 11, 2023 11:19 AM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Observer

chilipossum

Date

March 3, 2023 10:43 AM PST

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