February 19

Last Tuesday, Caroline and I hiked in Dominguez Gap Wetlands, 5 miles north of Long Beach, CA. This 30-acre restoration project provides a freshwater green space for wildlife in a highly urbanized landscape. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 60 degrees and a gentle easterly breeze. Leaving the car parked on a nearby residential street, we made our way to the trailhead and hiked south on an earthen path where I spotted a flock of Black-necked Stilts wading in the shallow water of the Los Angeles River. Continuing south along a bayou, I noticed the water was teeming with waterfowl including Widgeons and Blue-wing Teal. Also, we paused to observe a Northern Shoveler drake and hen performing a courtship maneuver. Nearby, I spotted a Great Blue Heron motionless in a dense patch of California Bulrush. Up on the bank, blossoms of Evening Primrose and Purple Sage caught my eye. The red blossoms of a Bottlebrush tree were noticeable as well. Following the trail as it looped back toward the north, I was pleased to see a perching Purple Finch and Allen’s Hummingbird. Also, next to the trail, I observed a flock of tiny, hyperactive Bushtits fluttering through the dense underbrush. The high bank to the west was covered with a blanket of yellow California Sunflowers. While examining an individual flower, I noticed several ants scurrying over the petals. Although difficult to see, my guess is that they are feeding on honeydew produced by a colony of aphids embedded in the flower’s central disc. These ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship where the aphids produce food for the ants in exchange for protection from predators. Continuing north, I spotted some mud nests of Cliff Swallows under an eaves trough that were occupied by House Sparrows. One final scan of the water revealed a couple of Yellow-bellied Slider Turtles basking in the sun. Finally, we walked a few blocks to the car and headed back to Redondo Beach.

Midst of February

Where’s the snow

Where’s winter

I well do know

So many birds

Flowers bloom

Lilac and sage

Earth’s perfume

Frigid flurries

Or warm sand

Where ever I go

Nature’s at hand

D. DeGraaf