Autumnal Equinox 23 September 2023 |
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| This time of year, "Butterfly Arroyo" appears bleak, uninviting. | ||
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| But it's always a good idea to take a closer look. | ||
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| As long as there's a food source, insects like this Acmon Blue will remain active. |
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| I was delighted to find it nectar sipping on fading Buckwheat blossoms. |
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| Perched high above the arroyo like a sentinal standing watch, a lone CA Buckeye. |
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Forest Walk |
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| Checking on a favorite Black Oak's fall color. | ||
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| And on the status of its acorns. | ||
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| Leaf litter shows the variety of native trees in this forest. | ||
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| Tiny Western Fence Lizard rustled noisily through the fallen leaves. | ||
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| Blacktailed Doe steps gingerly into a patch of sunlight. Can you see her "spirit animal" close behind? |
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| Lots of full-size acorns on this Coast Live Oak. | ||
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| Tarantula Hawk Wasp. Not a wasp to stumble into! Has the highest painful sting rating on the insect bite pain index. |
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| A shiny black bee without a stinger gathers nectar from a Tar Weed flower. |
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| Buckeye butterflies like this one fly year round due to CA's temporate climate. |
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| CA's tiny Tarweed flower: a late summer nectar source for pollinators. |
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