Susie the puppy and I played hooky for a morning and took a stroll around Lake Lagunitas. The ground was very wet from all rain and fog we've been having the last few weeks. There was on one lonely wildflower - a Milk Maid - to be seen. But lots of mushrooms!
10:45 - Lagunitas Parking Lot
We left the car and headed toward the picnic area. Right in the middle of a
dead tree we saw a bunch of Sulfur Tufts that were bright yellow with a touch
of orange. Cool. There was lots of water coming down the sluice from Lake
Lagunitas into Bon Tempe Lake. This was a big change from the November
hike. In the redwoods we also say a Scarlet Waxy Cap and what seemed like
a Parrot Mushroom
10:50 - Lake Lagunitas
At the dam we saw Coots swimming and Cormorants sunning themselves.
There was also a lone Red-breasted Merganzer between the shore and
log chain. A couple of minutes later Susie startled some Mallards and
we saw a lonely Milk Maid. There were some Western Grisettes and other
mushrooms I didn't recognize. At the end of the lake we saw a flock of
Ruddy Ducks and 3 Buffleheads.
11:15 - First Bridge
Just after we crossed the bridge we saw a way cool Scarlet Waxy Cap
that was bathed in a shaft of sunshine that had made it through the
dense redwood forest. Oh for a camera... Along the dark side of the
lake we saw some Short-stemmed Rusullas and one cool looking
Wood Star that had already "puffed."
11:45 - Bridge over East Fork of Lagunitas Creek
We crossed the bridge and headed down Lake View Road. We
saw a Mourning Cloak Butterfly with bright blue dots at the edges
of its wings. Gorgeous. Susie and I wandered down to the lake
and sat on one of the benches. Someone had hung Christmas
Tree ornaments on one of the pines. Grumble.
I actually heard a little bit of noise from a Pied-billed Grebe. We watched him make big Vs as he swam towards his partner a bit farther ahead. Wonderful. And in the background we could hear the Acorn Woodpeckers and the Robins in the trees. We headed back to the car and headed home. Need a camera!
Here's what we saw:
Birds
Pied-billed Grebe,
Double-crested Cormorant,
Mallard,
Bufflehead,
Ruddy Duck,
Red-Breasted Merganser,
American Coot,
Acorn Woodpecker,
Scrub Jay,
Stellar's Jay,
American Robin,
.
Butterflies
Mourning Cloak
.
Mammals
.
Mushrooms
Sulfur Tufts,
Scarlet Waxy Cap,
Parrot Mushroom,
Western Grisette,
WoodStar,
Witches Butter
.
Reptiles & Amphibians, etc.
Western Fence Lizard
.
Shrubs
.
Trees
Coulter Pine,
Douglas Fir,
Coast Redwood,
Coast Live Oak,
Tanoak,
California (Bay) Laurel,
Toyon,
Madrone.
