February 5

The afternoon sky is sunny and the air temperature is in the upper 70’s as Caroline and I begin our hike at Hopkins Wilderness Park, an 11-acre wildlife preserve in a dense, residential section of Redondo Beach. After passing a man-made pond where some Red-eared slider turtles bask on a rock, we proceed on a perimeter path where yellow blossoms of Bermuda Buttercup and Crowndaisy catch my eye. Heading down slope, I stop by a pile of large limestone boulders where one of several 3-5 inch Western Fence lizards warm up and move about. These reptiles eat mostly insects and spiders. Their predators include snakes, coyotes, bobcats, and hawks. The lizard’s tail can be detached as a mechanism to escape and is eventually regrown. Heading upslope, I come upon dainty yellow blossoms of Willow Wattle and pause to take in their sweet aroma. Nearby, I spot clusters of blue berries of Japanese Privet. This shrub was introduced to the U.S. from Japan in 1845 as an ornamental plant. As is the case with many introduced species, the intentional plantings for landscaping around homes and buildings led to its escape into more natural surroundings. After passing by the trunk of Red Gum Eucalyptus tree, I turn toward the trailhead when suddenly, we come upon a sunny glade to watch, in amazement, as a dozen butterflies of different species flutter about, land and take off. Before mating, butterflies often seem to dance together, whirling around each other. The male releases pheromones from scent glands in an effort to entice the female. While I’ve seen this butterfly behavior by members of the same species, I’ve never seen it happen among a mixture of species. As a watch some of the individuals land briefly, I’m able to determine their identity. The first species I spot is the Monarch. There are two subpopulations of these butterflies in North America, with the eastern population overwintering in Mexico and the western population overwintering in coastal California. The next species is the Mourning Cloak. This butterfly apparently gets its name from its resemblance to an archaic, traditional cloak worn when someone was in mourning. The third species is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. Similar in apperance to the Eastern Swallowtail, this butterfly ranges through much of western North America from British Columbia, Canada to Baja, Mexico. The last one I observe is the Painted Lady. Their annual migration usually peaks in mid-March when they leave their winter residence in western Mexico and head to the Pacific Northwest for the summer to breed.

Satisfaction

All life seeks

Trout thrive

In healthy creeks

Plants enjoy

Sunlight of day

Hungry predator

Savors its prey

Human beings

Every race

Follow their dreams

Age with grace

 

D. DeGraaf