After surviving 45 minutes of rush hour traffic, Caroline & I are relieved to find peace and quiet as well as wildlife at El Dorado Nature Center in nearby Long Beach. Under cool and clear skies, we begin our hike by crossing over a footbridge where a lovely White Pelican greets us from its watery perch. Following an earthen trail and passing a Toyon bush with its colorful red fruit, we pause to watch a wading Snowy Egret stirring up prey with its feet. While admiring this clever behavior, I wonder if it’s learned or instinctive? As Caroline leads the way through a dense corridor of trees, we notice the trail is busy with lots of seniors on their morning walk. Around the bend, we spot the fragile web of an orb weaver, sparkling with morning dewdrops as well as purple berry clusters on a California Privet bush. These berries are toxic for humans but edible for birds, which are responsible for dispersal of seed. Along the creek and over the bridge we go to see a few colorful leaves still clinging to a Sycamore tree while most of them have dropped to make up the dense leaf litter. Looking skyward, we catch a glimpse of a perching Kestrel and an immature Red-shouldered Hawk. Continuing our one-mile loop, we come upon a Chinese Flame tree withits display of seed capsules–clusters of two-inch long papery husks resembling little Chinese lanterns. Just ahead, we stop to count three soft, eight-inch needles per cluster on a branch of Ponderosa Pine. Nearing the trailhead, we pause to watch a Great Egret wading gracefully in a narrow creek while a pair of Mallards and a colorful male Hooded Merganser swim nearby. Perched high at a distance, we could barely make out a tiny Allen’s Hummingbird. With our tranquil hike complete and minds at ease, we find the car and gear up to join throngs of vehicles heading north toward our place in Redondo Beach.
Honking horns
Sirens sound
Smoggy air
Humans abound
Asphalt of black
Urban scene
Where’s the fauna
Flora of green
Plumage of emerald
Eucalyptus here
Hummingbird hovers
Nature is near
D. DeGraaf
Lovely!
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