February 24

By midday, the marine layer had evaporated to reveal mostly sunny skies as Caroline and I begin hiking in the 123-acre, Dana Natural Area in San Pedro, California, 26 miles south of Los Angeles. Shortly after leaving the trailhead, I’m not surprised to spot a Honeybee feeding on a Japanese Cheesewood blossom, a favorite attraction because of its sweet orange-like fragrance. Next, despite not seeing the Song Sparrow, I stop to enjoy its solo from a leafless Alder tree. During our time here, I’ve heard this pleasing song many times in many settings throughout this densely populated landscape and am amazed how well this bird adapts to such conditions. Just ahead, Caroline points out a 3-inch Fence Lizard, warming itself in the sun. Speaking of reptiles, we come upon a warning sign often seen on our hikes. After many years hiking in suitable habitat, I’m still longing for my first encounter with one of these creatures, likely a Western Diamondback (stock photo). After passing a Lodgepole Pine tree displaying both male and female cones and a Brazilian pepper tree displaying its red fruit, I pause to watch a flock of Cedar Waxwings feeding on cones high in an Alder tree. A common winter migrant here in Southern California, these birds will later travel to their summer breeding grounds in northern US and Canada. Beginning our steep ascent on a paved road, I come upon a field of dead Black Mustard stalks as well as an invasive Leafy Spurge plant. Near the hilltop, a plant restoration effort by the nature center reveals Lavender, Purple Sage and Creeping Thyme. Looping around and beginning our descent on an earthen trail, I spot a White Garden Snail clinging to a thistle leaf as well as small pink blossoms of Wild Radish and Stork’s Bill. Further down the hill, I first gaze afar to see a perching Says Phoebe and then crouch down to notice a tiny Ladybug feeding on mustard greens. After rejoining the paved road, we continue our descent against the backdrop of metropolitan San Pedro with a population of 57,000. Back in the car, we head to our Redondo Beach rental for afternoon quiet time.

Competition

Vying for space

Habitats for nature

Human case

Cooperation

Vying for space

Unity with nature

Human race

Conservation

Vying for space

Protection of nature

Human grace

D. DeGraaf

February 17

It’s late morning on another beautiful day as Caroline and I begin our weekly nature hike in Willow Wetland Preserve. This 14-acre natural habitat is located in Gardena, California, 14 miles south of Los Angeles. The last remnant of a 400-acre watershed, this protected land is completely surrounded by residential housing and retail establishments. Following an earthen trail east around the perimeter, I spot a patch of Bermuda Buttercups that, upon closer look, reveals a Honey Bee feeding on one of the blossoms. Further ahead, Caroline directs my attention to a perching Monarch Butterfly gathering nectar from a Coyote Brush blossom. Stepping off the trail to closely examine the water’s edge, I am pleased to discover a perching Spot-winged Glider dragonfly and an Umber Skipper butterfly, well camouflaged among the dead leaves. High up in a leafless tree nearby, I watch patiently as a Nuttall’s Woodpecker hops from branch to branch and then, amid the noise surrounding this preserve, we proceed beside a vernal marsh surrounded by a dense stand of willows. Speaking of noise, I pause by some lush ground cover to listen to a Pacific Tree frog (stock photo) before venturing onto a wooden overlook where I notice some California Cardinal flowers and a Castor Bean plant with its huge, star-shaped leaves. Continuing east, I spot a Live Oak tree displaying some flowers while last year’s fallen leaves litter the ground at my feet. After walking south along a busy street, we turn west where I glance up in a Black Willow tree to observe a House Finch feeding on some of its seeds. Continuing west, I watch a Western Gray Squirrel scamper up another willow tree. While crossing a footbridge near the end of our hike, I can easily see an orange object in the distance. A closer examination reveals it’s a Flittery Butterfly resting on dead vegetation. After exiting this oasis of natural green space, we reflect on its importance for both humans and wildlife as we drive through several miles of densely populated, concrete-covered suburbs in dense traffic to our densely populated neighborhood.

February hike

Seems like May

Wetland wonders

Winter display

Placid pond

Drake and hen

Dragonflies

Frequent the fen

Amid the bustle

Humans give

Wildlife a home

A place to live

D. DeGraaf

February 10

The noontime temperature is in the upper 50’s under sunny skies as Caroline and I work our way down the steep bluff to the beach along Abalone Cove on California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula. Here, we begin to explore the intertidal shoreline that includes exposed rocks and shallow pools of seawater left behind when the tide recedes. Immediately, I come upon dense aggregations of Mussels clinging to rocks. These edible mollusks look lifeless when exposed to air, but under water they come alive. Their shells open slightly and tiny hairs beat rhythmically to draw in water carrying tiny particles of food. To collect enough food to survive, a mussel filters two to three quarts of water an hour. Scanning my first tide pool, I spot several Sunburst Anemones with their turquoise tentacles as well as pinkish Corraline Algae. This type of seaweed plays an important role in marine ecology as a food source for Sea Urchins, Limpets and Chitons. Some encrusting and rock-like species are the main builders of coral reefs throughout the world. Among the rocks nearby, I notice a foraging Willet and a perching Gull. At the next tide pool, I pause to observe some Turban snails when suddenly one begins to crawl over the sand. As suspected, this shell is occupied by a Hermit Crab. As these tiny Crustaceans grow in size, they must find larger shells and abandon the previous ones. These crabs have been known to fight or kill a competitor to gain access to the shell they favor. Glancing toward the shining sea, I watch a single Brown Pelican fly above the surf. At another tide pool, I come upon a formation of tightly packed tubes of hardened sand made by Honeycomb Tubeworms (stock photo). A close examination of a nearby rock surface reveals Periwinkle snail shells and Barnacles. As the tide continues to recede, I make my way down the beach where I come upon tracks of a seagull and a Hermit Crab as well as a large exposed sedimentary rock with a weathering pattern similar to a topographic map. Finally, we trudge up the bluff back to our car and head for home.

Treasure hunt

Ebb the tide

Basins of brine

Jewels reside

Puddles of riches

Appear ashore

Filled with gems

Prime to explore

Nature’s assets

Found the key

Chest is open

Wealth of the sea

D. DeGraaf

February 3

Amid sunny skies, mild temperatures and a steady sea breeze, Caroline and I take a midday stroll along a favorite stretch of beach around Malaga Cove. Close to the urban sprawl of Torrance and Redondo Beach, this narrow corridor of sand has towering Palos Verdes cliffs on one side and the vast Pacific Ocean on the other. While Caroline searches for seashells, I approach a gathering of California gulls, including white-headed adults and grey-headed juveniles. After seeing tracks of gulls and humans on the moist sand, I spot a formation of Brown Pelicans flying low above the surf. Like Bald Eagles, these birds nearly disappeared from North America because of pesticides entering their food chain. In 1970, Brown Pelicans were listed as endangered. The plight of these birds led to a ban on DDT in 1972 allowing their numbers to rise enough to be delisted by 2009. However, since then, a drastic decline in their main food source (sardines) is threatening the species again. Further down the shoreline, I watch a group of Willets probing the sand for crabs, worms and insects as well as large clumps of Kelp washing up. Moving away from the water, I investigate a pile of sun-dried Kelp teeming with Kelp flies. The entire life cycle of these tiny dipterans is only 30 days while living exclusively on Kelp. Further ahead, I come upon a moderately fresh Pelican carcass. Proceeding from a sandy to a rocky beach, I pause to watch a Spotted Sandpiper searching for food. Among the various rocks are those with holes produced by boring clams that use a set of ridges or “teeth” on the outer surfaces of their shells to grind into the hard surface (stock photo). Turning around, I begin to explore the steep coastal cliffs where, not one but two Red Tailed Hawks perch against the rock face. Nearby, I watch ravens soar above the rock wall against the azure blue sky and a single Says Phoebe perch on a dead stalk. Approaching the car, I notice, among the lush ground vegetation, a stand of Pampas grass as well as blossoms of Beach Suncup, Sea Rocket and California poppy.

Beach concert

Ocean quartet

Stage is ready

Maestro is set

Sand Piper solo

Along the shore

Gulls serenade

As they soar

Lapping waves

Melodic winds

Percussive surf

Encore begins

D. DeGraaf