February 14

The early morning sky is sunny with temperatures in the mid 60’s as we hike the steep terrain of the 155-acre Forrestal Preserve, another property of southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. Soon, I come upon a foraging California Towhee. Poison oak is one of the hazards of outdoor recreation in California. It lines trails (stock photo) and covers hillsides, seemingly waiting to inflict its itchy, weeping rash on the unwary. But it’s also an integral part of the landscape and part of the daily life of California Towhees. Many build their nests in poison oak and feast on the plant’s copious crops of pale white berries. Next, I spot the dark pink blossoms from an Ice plant and a honeybee feeding on Bladderpod blossoms. Proceeding on a narrow earthen trail, I pause and listen to the call of a Bewick’s Wren. This bird (stock photo)was named by John James Audubon for Thomas Bewick, a bird watcher and amateur naturalist, who was well-known for his published illustrations. Widespread and common in the western US, these wrens have completely disappeared from most areas east of the Mississippi River during the last few decades. A likely theory for the dramatic decline is competition with other birds, primarily the House Wren, a smaller but more aggressive relative. Up ahead, I come to a hillside of exposed rock with a range of slope conditions, including vertical walls. Between 1920-1950, this place was a quarry for mining basaltic rock that was used for building breakwaters around nearby Long Beach Harbor. Turning westward, I look afar at Santa Catalina Island, a 42,000-acre land mass that is the largest of 8 “Channel Islands” spread north to south along the California coast. Back in the 1920’s, a small heard of bison was left on the island by a movie crew. Currently, the Catalina Island Conservancy maintains a herd of about 150 of these animals while protecting both them and the island's landscape. Continuing along the rugged path, I notice a perching Allen’s Hummingbird. The bird’s name commemorates Charles Andrew Allen, an American collector and taxidermist who identified the bird in 1879 in California. Nearby, I see a perching Anna’s Hummingbird. This bird was named for Parisian Princess Anna de Belle Massena. John James Audubon himself was charmed by her, but it was naturalist René Lesson who named it in her honor. Back toward the car while exploring a meadow, I come upon some tiny pink blossoms of Stork’s bill as well as a Honeybee feeding on blossoms of wild Mustard.

 

Feet on the hilltop

Eyes to the west

An ocean scene

One of the best

Cays and coves

Miles of sand

Beyond the surf

Isle of land

Sea and sky

Amazing views

Blues and greens

Colors and hues

 

D. DeGraaf