January 30

The mid-morning sky is sunny with temperatures in the upper 60’s and an easterly breeze as Caroline & I begin hiking in Torrance California’s Madrona Marsh Preserve. Following an earthen path around the rain-swollen wetlands, I spot a swimming American Coot and a swimming family of Northern Shovelers. Proceeding along a busy road, I pause to observe a resting Red-rock Skimmer dragonfly and a Monarch butterfly, feeding on a willow blossom. Up ahead, I come upon a never-before-seen Leucitic blackbird, perched in the underbrush. White feathers on this bird’s head is the result of a genetic condition called leucism that prevents pigments (Melanin) from reaching some of a bird's feathers while the skin and eyes keep their normal pigment and color. Leucism can lead to limitations of flight. Melanin is a component in the makeup of feathers, and without it, feathers are weak and brittle and often fray easily. Continuing around a large pond, I notice a mating pair of swimming American Wigeons while high above, a perching Cooper’s Hawk scans the water for prey. Nearby, a sight and sound expected in Mid-Michigan in a couple of months-a vocal male Redwing Blackbird perched on a cattail. Overhead, I spot a pair of never-before-seen Cassin’s Kingbirds. In 1826, naturalist William Swainson was the first to describe this bird to science, from a specimen collected in Mexico. Twenty-four years later, George Lawrence gave the bird its current English name, in honor of his friend John Cassin, a prominent Philadelphia ornithologist. An assertive bird of open country, the gray and lemon-yellow species hunts flying insects from high perches. The bird’s scientific name translates to “vociferous tyrant,” and it fits this loud, aggressive songbird well. Males may attack large hawks that pass too close to the nest or battle rival kingbirds that enter the nesting territory. Continuing counter-clockwise around the marshy land, a perching Black Phoebe and a perching hummingbird catch my eye. Because of poor lighting, I could not tell if the hummingbird was an Allen’s or Anna’s variety. Blossoms that catch my eye include white Milk Vetch and yellow Telegraph Weed. Next, I walk under a Blue Gum Eucalyptus tree with its colorful flowers and seed pods. On the ground, I come upon some mole-like mounds of soil created by a Valley Pocket Gopher (stock photo). Pausing at a bird-feeder near the car, I see several Lesser Goldfinches fluttering about.  

Litter on concrete

Oasis of green

Acres of asphalt

Wetlands between

Megalopolis

Wildlife retreat

Amid the havoc

Waterfowl meet

Human encroachment

Habitat repair

Endangered species

Humans that care

 

D. DeGraaf

January 23

Under sunny skies and chilly morning temperatures in the low 50’s, Caroline, Riley and I start hiking an earthen trail in the 50-acre, George F. Canyon Nature Preserve, one of a dozen parcels on the Palos Verdes Peninsula operated by the local land conservancy.  Soon, I spot white flowers of Wild Cucumber vines and green catkin flowers of an Arroyo Willow tree. Just ahead, I pause and listen to the unusual call of a Peacock. The original Peacock colony on the Peninsula was established in the 1920’s when 16 birds from an aviary on Catalina Island were given as a gift to a local resident. More colonies were introduced in the mid 1960’s. Meant to be contained as yard pets, many birds escaped and established wild colonies that exist to the present.  Continuing west, I’m not surprised to hear the soothing sound of running water, since the hillsides are still draining after a week of steady rain. Likewise, I’m not surprised to hear distant sirens as I observe a Red-tailed hawk soaring high in the azure blue sky. Up the trail, after noticing the red fruit of a Toyon tree, I come across a 1-inch, Scallop shell lying on the ground. Realizing these mollusks live exclusively in salt water and we are miles from the ocean, I conclude it was moved and dropped here by a fellow human being.  Just ahead, I pause to read a sign that describes in detail this unique ecosystem. Turning around to retrace my steps, I spot a Honeybee, with a yellow sac attached, feeding on blossoms of Lemonade Berry. Resembling tiny saddlebags (stock photo), these bright spots of cargo are pollen baskets or corbiculae. Each time a bee visits a flower, pollen sticks to its antennae, legs, faces, and bodies. A bee's legs have an array of combs and brushes. As she becomes laden with pollen, a female bee uses those tools as grooming devices, running them through her body and hair to pull away the pollen. As she brushes herself, she draws the pollen toward her hind legs into those little pockets. As a bee gathers a batch of pollen, she pushes it into the bottom of the basket, pressing it tightly into what's already there. A full basket can carry as many as a million grains of pollen. She mixes a little nectar with the pollen to make it sticky and to help it hold together. Approaching the car, greenery to catch my eye include, a patch of Nasturtium and a slope-side patch of rye grass, planted for erosion control. Near the car, I come upon a 1-inch, edible Sweetbread mushroom that smells like cucumber. 

Once there were acres

For creatures to roam

For trees and shrubs

To make their home

Once there were acres 

Of water and sky

For fish to swim

For flocks to fly

Now there are acres

Where humans thrive

Pushing boundaries

Can nature survive?

 

D. DeGraaf

January 16

The morning temperature is 60 degrees, under partly sunny skies as Caroline, Riley and I walk an earthen path on Pt. Vincente, a favorite place on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, 10 miles west of our Lomita, CA. rental. Hiking south, I take in coastal sounds and sights, including ocean waves, palm trees and distant Catalina Island. Nearby, I spot a single Black Phoebe while far ahead, I see several Brandt’s cormorants perched on a steep rock face. Blossoms that catch my eye, include Sea Lavender and Baja Fairy Duster. After glancing skyward to see a Gibbous moon, I look down and notice some webs made overnight by ½- inch Grass Spiders (Funnel Weavers) (stock photo). This spider waits patiently within the funnel portion of its web until an insect gets tangled in the upper, sheet-like area, then it scurries out to bite and paralyze it. Once the insect is immobilized, the spider pulls its prey down into the funnel where she can feed at leisure – It’s the female that makes the funnel web. Next, I come to an overlook where fellow whale watchers are tracking and counting migrating Gray whales. While the white board shows none had yet been seen, I find out later that 9 whales were counted, including 2 calves. Continuing down the path past an often-seen sign, I observe a Dessert Cottontail rabbit and a never-before-seen Orange-crowned warbler whose namesake orange crown patch is rarely seen but may become visible when the bird raises its head feathers in excitement or agitation (stock photo). Looking away from the ocean, I spot a foraging, White-crowned sparrow and a couple of perching Common Ravens. Nearby, I see a familiar creature, an Eastern Fox Squirrel resting on a tree trunk. These squirrels were brought from the eastern United States in the early 1900’s and have been increasing their range and population ever since, both on their own and from humans deliberately spreading them through the state. Heading back to the car, I notice a European Starling perched near the top of a Palm tree. Scanning the tree, I see clusters of dates hanging from some branches. Date Palm trees are one of the oldest known crops, cultivated in western Asia and northern Africa more than 5,000 years ago for their sugary fruit—and still commercially grown in Iraq, North Africa, and the United States. This tree has long been considered the tree of life in desert cultures and is associated with fertility. Finally at the car, I take one last look at the Pacific coastline before heading home.

 

Overwhelming ocean 

Cliff-side perch

Binoculars poised

Morning search

Steamy blows

Whales of gray

Soaring high

Birds of prey

Sea lions swim

Dolphins dive

Senses alert

Nature’s alive!

 

D. DeGraaf

January 9

Caroline, Riley and I are hiking a paved path in southern California’s Harbor Park under partly sunny skies, morning temperatures in the mid 50’s and a stiff west wind. Soon, I notice a Prickly Pear Cactus displaying some red ripe “prickly pears” that can be eaten raw, right off the plant. Depending on the level of ripeness, they can range from slightly sweet to syrupy sweet. Curving around the south shore of an over-flowing Machado Lake, I spot a wading Great Blue Heron and a perching, juvenile, Black-crowned Night Heron. The oldest Night Heron on record was a female who was at least 21 years, 5 months old when she was found in California in 2012. She was banded there in 1992. Nearby, a few standing Snowy Egrets catch my eye. During breeding season these birds grow curving plumes that once fetched astronomical prices in the fashion industry, endangering the species. By the early 20^th century, conservationists rallied to protect them so they are once again a common sight in shallow coastal wetlands. Just ahead, I notice a much larger Great Egret. This bird hunts in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of its yellow bill. Like the Snowy Egret, Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds. Scanning the surrounding wetlands, I see lots of Canada Geese along with a few Mallards swimming and feeding. Turning around, I retrace my steps and then follow a path along the west side of the lake where I spot the red berries of a Toyon tree. These berries provide food for birds and mammals; however, they are poisonous to humans unless properly prepared. Nearby, I come upon the red berries of a California Pepper Tree. Humans do consume these berries; however, they are usually roasted or dried first. Continuing around the lakeshore, I come upon piles of fronds blown off the park’s tall King Palm Trees, after last night’s storm. The fronds turn into small, wiry strands as they break down and can take up to 50 years to decompose. Green-waste facilities cannot handle them because the strands get tangled in shredding equipment, causing damage to machinery. Finally, I take one last look out on the lake spotting a few California Gulls milling around and a few resting Brandt’s Cormorants with their heads tucked into their bodies.

Nature in winter

No path of snow

Another realm

For me to know

No leafless forest

Ponds with ice

Ocean breezes

More than suffice

No stark landscapes

Whitetail deer

Snakes that rattle

Lurking near

 

D. DeGraaf