This was so cool... I turned the bend and saw a jackrabbit coming down the path. Since we were on a 10-ft. wide levee, there were only two ways to go - either forward or back. After considering it for a moment, he came straight for me and passed only a couple feet from where I was standing. So fast! So cool!

It was really interesting to watch the jackrabbit interact with the two baby ground squirrels (at first I thought it was a baby jackrabbit). The jackrabbit hopped around them, then stopped to sniff them, and then went on its way. The baby squirrels weren't in the least bit scared of it.

Recorded with Tascam DR-05X.
Edited with Audacity according to the recommendations in the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYqogvHYn28

High-pass Filter:
Frequency:1000 Hz
Roll-off: 48 dB
Normalize Peak Amplitude: -3 dB
Silenced a few clicks.

this observation is part of an ongoing study to document the newt roadkill problem around Lexington Reservoir. To learn more about it, go to https://www.bioblitz.club/newts
We need your help! If you'd like to join our team, please message me!

I didn't see this bird. The Merlin app suggested this ID. There's a CA Scrub-Jay on this recording as well.

Recorded with Tascam DR-05X.
Edited with Audacity according to the recommendations in the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYqogvHYn28

High-pass Filter:
Frequency: 1000 Hz
Roll-off: 48 dB
Normalize Peak Amplitude: -3 dB
Silenced a few clicks.

E. cicutarium, botrys and brachycarpum are all present on this section of the trail, offering ample comparison. (E. moschatum is far away, one day I'll get all 4 together!). E. cicutarium at top, E. brachycarpum at right, and E. botrys at bottom.

I took this opportunity to study these 3 species, most importantly botrys and brachycarpum, the differences of which are poorly documented. I observed 160 E. brachycarpum, and 242 E. botrys.

This observation is for the Hermit Thrush in the foreground. This recording was taken near the lake where there's a lot of bird activity.

Other birds: There is a Say's Phoebe call in the distance at about 15 secs, and a California Thrasher call starts at about 1:07. Also, some Acorn Woodpeckers.

See the following observation for the Spotted Towhee in the background:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100214226

Sound recorded with Tascam DR-05X. Edited with Audacity according to the recommendations in the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYqogvHYn28

High-pass Filter:
Frequency: 500 Hz
Roll-off: 48 dB
Normalize Peak Amplitude: -3 dB
Silenced a few clicks.

Once the light is fading, Baby Owl takes their turn looking out of the box for a while, really getting their groove on (I know, it's a vision thing, but still funky). This night, this baby flew out, and a second baby looked out!

Here's some Baby Owl groove:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WLzXq28fq6oE22U3sAeQqtcDGztqEgQ9/view?usp=sharing

And a longer video of the two babies, lots of flapping, and a lizard delivery:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m2BldszjFpS9GI1kATyuF_4wYE-B7Qw0/view?usp=sharing

Finally, I created a Flickr album with a larger collection of photos and videos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVZPnT5

A flock of wild turkeys. Notice the coyote walking past the flock. They aren't even alarmed! I wonder if they can sense the coyote's not hungry for turkey right now? Their heads turned in unison to watch the coyote pass. Very interesting!

(Ed Levin County Park)

Some rather scruffy-looking Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), photographed in a patch of mulch at Varian Park in Cupertino, CA. Note that there are two photographs in the set of poctures documenting this specimen - the lead shot (Shot 1.1), which provides a view of the plant in situ; and the remaining shot (Shot 1.2), which provides a closeup of one of the flowers and some surrounding leaves.

In identifying this plant, I made the following observations:

1) This specimen has bisexual flowers consisting of 5 sepals; 5 petals, a single pistil, and numerous stamens. The 5 petals are partially fused together to fom a corolla tube that is radial in its symmetry. The pistil has a superior ovary at one end 5 linear stigmas at the other. Finally, the stamens' filaments have fused together around the pistil, almost enclosing it completely. Together, all of these traits place this specimen firmly within the Mallow Family (Malvaceae).

2) This specimen is also an annual forb with axillary flowers, with up to 10 flowers per leaf axil. Inside each flower, one can see the anthers arranged in a single series near the top of the filament tube, just below the linear stigmas. Outside the flower, subtending the calyx, are three tiny bractlets that are generally free from each other (verified in the field, difficult to see in the photos). The stems of the plant are prostrate to erect. Together, all of these traits place this specimen firmly within the genus Malva.

3) Finally, for this specimen, sepals are about 4mm long, while the petals are around 8mm long (= 2x length of the sepals). The petals are white to pale lialc pink, with veins that are not darker than the base color of the petals. Together, these traits identify this specimen as Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), a non-native plant originally from Eurasia that has become more or less naturalized in northern California. It is also known as Dwarf Mallow.

California Newt
We saw 5 newts this morning, but I only took pictures of this one. There were 2 in the water. The others were climbing uphill.

After seeing thousands of dead newts at Lexington Reservoir, every live one I see is very precious.

Found sitting in the road with wings splayed out, unmoving. Picked him up out of the road (he opened his eyes and squeaked loudly) and watched for about ten minutes to see if he'd recover on his own, and then walked back to my car, put him in a little box, and brought him to the wildlife rehab in Burlingame. On the walk back he'd occasionally rouse and open his eyes, peck me gently, move his wings, clutch my hand with his feet, etc., and seemed to gradually be getting more active, so hopefully with some sugar water and a rest in rehab he might recover.

Nothing obvious in the area, so I assume a window strike that flew off at the time of impact but didn't make it too far.

This part of Alma Bridge was recently repaved. This newt was adhered to the road, and the line-painter seems to have gone right over them. After peeling the newt from the road, their shadow remains, a long-term reminder.

This observation is part of an ongoing study of the Pacific Newt roadkills on Alma Bridge Road, Lexington Reservoir.

Flowers: 1-2 in each leaf axil
Stem: not hairy; erect, up to 60 cm tall
Short, conical hypanthiums/fruits. Red spots at base.

Reference:
https://bioone.org/journals/madro%C3%B1o/volume-66/issue-3/0024-9637-66.3.97/NOTES-ON-LYTHRUM-LYTHRACEAE-IN-CALIFORNIA--LYTHRUM-JUNCEUM-AS/10.3120/0024-9637-66.3.97.short

Per @randomtruth, the hypanthium shape is the easiest character to look at for differentiation - L. cal has cylindrical hypanthiums with defined ribs, and L. junceum has shorter, conical hypanthiums that are mostly smooth.
Here's a photo by @randomtruth of L. californicum on flickr for reference - note the long, cylindrical hypanthiums with the ribs.