photo series ~ 05/06-08/12/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

May 6, 2014 to August 12, 2014

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

Another seasonal photo series tester that I was playing around with.  These were taken 1 week apart for a total of 15 weeks. There were a handful of weeks in the middle where everything appeared to remain unchanged.  I wasn't consistent about taking this vantage point in the morning or in the afternoon, hence the random shadows.  I'd like to try this again, starting earlier in the spring when grasses are still green.  And, if I can find the right software, I'd like to center the photos around the big red rock in the distance.  Does anyone have suggestions?

ps 09/02/14 - I posted this earlier, and then removed it.  I had plans to stabilize it, thanks to Neil Kelley's suggestion.  Unfortunately, I couldn't make heads or tails out of the freeware with the plugin that he suggested.  Sorry, Neil!

habitat ~ 04/29/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

April 29, 2014

The forecast from the National Weather Service was 95°F and increasing to over 100°F for the rest of the week.  This is April, right?  Oh my.  Here we go.  What I've been dreading.  Hot, hot, hot.  It hit a high of 92°F.  The heat drained me of energy and turned my stomach through the next day.  Do I really want to do this?  Crazily enough, yes.

Thankfully, there was about a half inch of rain from the previous Friday, which was enough to keep things from drying out, save for the creek along the butterfly highway that had already stopped running the previous week.  In fact, the grass had now grown tall enough that many of the colorful flowers were hidden from view.  This week seemed to show a shift in the dominant flower color from yellow to deep purple, from spring to the beginning of summer.  That was a quick transition.

It was a bit distracting looking for different kinds of butterflies when hundreds of painted ladies were moving through.  The ringlets and Saras were going gangbusters at over 40-50 individuals each.  I saw a couple new butterflies and skippers for the season and will post IDs soon... I hope.  I need a better way to track all my notes (handwritten and electronic) and photos.  It's starting to accumulate  from my multiple excursions in a way that's not easy to remember, let alone retrieve.  How do other people do it?

habitat ~ 04/22/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

 

 

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

April 22, 2014

There may have been a tiny amount of precipitation overnight resulting in a rather chilly morning and forecasts for sunny skies by noon with wind gusts.  The wind is not ideal for butterfly watching and challenging, at best, for flower photos.  I went ahead with my plans once it hit 60°F mid-morning, because I was curious to see any changes in flora, greenery, and water in one week's time, for the second week in a row.  I want the experience to feel and observe first-hand the seasonal passage of time, something that's difficult to discern daily and easier to notice on a weekly basis.  Like I said before, Pinnacles is far enough away from home for me to really note the difference.  I've been intrigued by phenology ever since biobabbler mentioned the word 4 years ago on her blog.  I never knew it was a thing with an -ology name before.  I'm still brainstorming and following the proverbial path at my feet.  Plus, I love being outside this time of year.  It was a gorgeous, crystal clear day.

I gotta say, as someone who has been to Pinnacles 4 times this month alone, if you want to see CA spring wildflowers, visit the west side right now!  Do not pass go, do not wait a week, do it now.  The noticeable uptick in floral diversity and density compared to last week really impressed me.  The Juniper Canyon Trail is the showstopper.  In addition to the 2 weeks or more of blooming Johnny jump up, goldfields, lomatium, tufted poppy, CA poppy, buttercup, common monkeyflower, wallflower, cream cup, blue elderberry, blue dick, shooting star, delphiniums, Chinese houses, both blue and white fiesta flowers, woodland star, milkmaids, miner's lettuce, linanthus, saxifrage, and buck brush, the new appearances this week are Fremont's star lily, fiddlenecks, fringepods, phacelia, crinkled onion, tower mustard, stonecrops, and a pretty face relative.  Phew!  Plus, there are some unusual findings on the higher trails, like bitter root, but you've got to go find them yourself.  It's National Park Week, btw. 

I'm beginning to think this is the drought version of peak spring green, right here, right now.  At the 9 mile turn towards Pinnacles, the hills are already turning a reddish brown, which was not the case last week.  It remains relatively green closer to the park entrance.  Who knows if any additional rain will alter this seasonal shift.  The creek along my butterfly highway is no longer running, but there are a couple scummy puddles of water.  That was quick, only 8 weeks of moving water.

For all my Pinnacles temperature links on Nature ID (there are several, because it gets hot, hot, hot in the summer), I've used an online personal weather station, Pinnacles CA US on Weather Underground.  However, wunderground.com has recently updated its site, and my old links don't work quite right.  Grrr.  Paul has been encouraging me to use the National Weather Service.  As of 7:00 am, there was an 11°F current temperature difference between the two stations.  Wunderground matched what Paul said the reading was at his office a few hours later, but NWS still ran colder.  I kinda recall this discrepancy 5 years ago when I picked a station.  By Paul's description, the NWS station may be at a higher elevation.  I may resort to tossing a thermometer out in the shade when I arrive and take a second reading when I leave, use the Beaufort scale to estimate wind, and note sky conditions.  That's what I did for Sonja on both her moth and butterfly surveys.  I'll have to ask Art Shapiro how he handles his weather records when I take him out next month to one of his butterfly sites; he's quite proficient in meteorology and is likely versed in how to link the data to butterfly observations beyond the antecdotal.  Butterflies can be rather particular about weather (sounds like me), and more than any other -ists that I know (besides meteorologists, duh), lepidopterists watch the temperature, wind, and barometric pressure very closely.

Oh!  I saw 13 pale swallowtails, plus 2 more by Soledad.  That may be the most I've ever seen in a couple hours' time.  I also saw my first acmon of the year.

And, as a last note, I finally noticed the micro-trash confetti Easter egg signs in the bathroom.  I think they were there last week, but I wasn't paying attention (haha, scary thought when I go out to observe).  I hadn't given it much thought since it's not a part of my tradition, but I went to Toro County Park the day before and saw what a massive mess it creates.  Aren't there animals that like to pick up shiny objects?  I bet there are some well-decorated nests and middens all across CA now.

habitat ~ 04/15/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

 Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

April 15, 2014

Are you tired of Pinnacles, yet?  I'm not.  The flowers are really starting to get their groove on, particularly the tufted poppies compared to 1 week before.  I met up with Paul Johnson and his kids this visit.  He showed me moths, and I showed him my butterfly highway (pics 1 & 2), which I'm considering extending down another trail (pics 3 & 4).  This is nothing official; it's for my own amusement to help me learn the local butterflies.  The lesson I took away from our tips and tricks is that I haven't been looking for lepidopteran host plants, which are often quite small with the tiniest flowers.  There's plenty of detail up close, but it's only been in the last year or so that I've started to need reading glasses.  Ugh, I'm still adjusting to this new visual experience and getting older business.

The thing for me about Pinnacles is that it's different enough from home that I really notice the changes between visits.  I'll take any spring green I can get this drought year, and it's a very pleasant low-stress and low-traffic drive to get there.  Given Paul's office is on the east side (here and here) and I prefer the west side, we don't always see the same things or at the same time.  He told me that most visitors to the east would have no clue so many wildflowers are blooming right now on the west.  Interesting.  I'm curious to see how things progress. 

habitat ~ 04/10/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

April 10, 2014

I suggested to Ken @ Nature of a Man that we should start the "10th Day Club", because so far this year we've gone out to Stevens Creek on February 10, Midpen Preserve on March 10, and now Pinnacles on April 10.  There was some talk about meeting closer to Yosemite this spring, too.  So, maybe we'll get something arranged for Saturday, May 10 for CA nature bloggers?  Is there any interest?

This time we had Ken's CNPS friends, another Ken, Stella, Steven, and Joe in tow.  I had a lovely time and enjoyed observing how seriously curious native plant folks do their thing with jeweler's loupes and plant keys.  Their back and forth exchange of opinions was awesome!  Plus, they're proficient hikers.  I'll admit I was a little nervous about being able to keep up, both in terms of plants and hiking, because they came with a reputation.  They're no namby-pamby garden strolling group.  Fortunately, my 7 miles a day walk with weights rehab after my bike accident is paying off with better hiking stamina.  It's unfortunate so many nature lovers I know physically can't manage a decent hike; too many waited until after retirement to start the fun stuff and discovered their bodies refused to cooperate.  Gotta keep your body moving all along.  I still have a lot to learn and hope to retain my curiosity for a long time to come.  Considering I'm pretty shy about joining organized groups, I've really enjoyed these casual get-togethers to go places and appreciate nature.  Thanks, again, Ken!

It felt ever so slightly cooler at 88.0 °F and became somewhat hazy as the day wore on compared to 2 days before when the air remained crystal clear.  I've already been to Pinnacles 5 times this year, something I've never done before.  I love seeing the season progress, even if this year's extreme drought can hardly be called typical.  Compare this late dusting of spring green to the still swathed in winter reds and relatively bare February 25, 2014 visit.  Even at one month ago, the green was barely poking through on March 9, 2014.  There seems to be a ton of yellow flowers out right now, even dominating my favorite lilac, spring wildflowers' color co-chair.  Given the variety of flowers that have started blooming, I'm beginning to have hope for the coming months after a seemingly slow start.

habitat ~ 04/08/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

April 8, 2014

We planned to go the previous Friday while Andy was still on Spring Break, and I even invited a couple people to join us.  However, the weather had its own plans.  This was the second planned hike last week that was cancelled due to rain forecasts; the other was to Henry Coe with another blogger and his wife.  Yay, my rain curse has returned... I can't believe I'm even saying this.  Both mornings it was raining, but by the afternoons, sunny skies.  Who knows, even if there weren't butterflies and opened flowers, I think I would have enjoyed the overcast.  No matter, I went by myself this sunnier day to continue my butterfly quest.  I'm making good use of my $15 annual pass.  It's so cheap!

Other people seem to be more particular about inclement weather, whereas I'm a total heat wimp.  It started in jr. high when I was running track.  All of a sudden I got tunnel vision, my ears rang, I got really cold and dry, and the next thing I knew I was in the nurse's office with an ice pack on my neck.  Was that heat exhaustion?  Ever since, I often get sick to my stomach in extreme heat.  It's not pleasant.  The previous visit to the east side had me feeling faint at only 82.0 °F.  Ooof.  However, I think I'm starting to get acclimated.  With a new sun hat (necessary because my 15-year-old ripped at the brim just days before) and plenty of H2O, I surprised myself and found Pinnacles tolerable at 90.0 °F.  Eh, I know a marine biologist who gets horrible sea sickness, and she manages.  So, maybe I can be a butterfly gal who faints at the sight of butterflies?

The last three photos above are from a section of trail I've been calling the "butterfly highway" for the past 4 years.  I remember editing that particular post quite a bit.  I had an awful group experience shortly after I arrived back in CA, which I wrote about in detail and then deleted.  Given the chance, I tend to blab, but I've been trying to be more responsible and better about not airing dirty laundry in public.  I'm gingerly testing the waters again and so far have had encouraging encounters.  I honestly don't have a plan yet, except to follow the green-lined path at my feet.  I do know I'm having a good time, stretching my legs and brain in ways I haven't in years.  And, I'm grateful.

habitat ~ 03/09/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park - west

Pinnacles National Park - west entrance

March 09, 2014

I had in mind, again, to find a couple butterflies at Pinnacles.  Plus, I was curious to see this year's seasonal progression after a bit of rain.  Hey, at the very least, there is a small amount of running water on each side of the west entrance.  It feels like it's been forever since Andy and I hiked together, even though it's only been 3 weeks since our visit to Los Padres Dam.  He's been busy, stressed, and sick.  And I ended up talking his ear off.  I've never known a more patient man.  He's my rock.  Heavy sigh... I am weary.  I feel as if I am running out of borrowed time.  I have been searching hard, maybe too hard, for some of life's answers.  I wish it were as simple as finding butterflies.

ps 03/14/14 - I am reminded of a vivid dream I had shortly after my mentor Sonja died.  In it, I was running up hill and down dale, chasing after butterflies, loosing my breath, wildly swinging my net, with no success.  Then I heard her voice, "Slow down.  Be patient.  Pick a nice spot to sit.  One that you enjoy.  Wait.  The butterflies will come to you."  In the dream, I did as she told me, and sure enough before too long, butterflies were swarming all around me.  It's taken me a while, but I now recognize I may have had the answer all along.

habitat ~ 02/25/14 ~ Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park

February 25, 2014

Researching location labels for Nature ID has had an unforeseen benefit in that I'm now more appreciative of local parks.  I used to take them for granted.  Their ownership and management are not always the same entity and can change over time.  Pinnacles changed from a National Monument to a National Park on January 10, 2013 when President Barack Obama signed an act into law.  (Is this a different legal process than when he signed a proclamation on April 20, 2012 changing former Fort Ord Public Lands into a National Monument? I'm mildly curious to know how all this works.)  Eh, I've been griping about the lack of progress I see around me, e.g., this recent Hatton Canyon habitat post, yet I haven't given enough credit to the changes that have been made.

So, I've added a new location label for Pinnacles National Park.  I'm still undecided if I'll update my past National Monument labels.  For the record, they include:
west entrance location (habitat + IDs)
east entrance location (habitat + IDs)
all Pinnacles habitat
west habitat
east habitat

giant slalom section of the "butterfly highway"

I decided on this last-minute trip to Pinnacles hoping to find 2 specific butterflies before the week's heavy rains hit.  One was the margined white, which is not included in the Pinnacles Butterfly Checklist.  I queried Paul Johnson (it's his list) and Art Shapiro (my go-to CA butterfly expert) about why it might be missing, because there are plenty of milkmaids (host plant) at Pinnacles.  Paul's been looking for over a decade, but he admitted he's had doubts around some look-alike checkered and cabbages he's seen.  Art challenged me to go find them myself.  OK!  Considering I spotted margined at 2 very different locations in the past few weeks, I figured the sooner I get out to Pinnacles, the better chance I have at finding them, if they are there.  Nope.  It's dry.  Very dry.  Very few milkmaids are up yet.  And very few butterflies are out.  Without any clear photographic evidence, I spotted a red admiral, a couple mystery Vanessa ladies, a handful of echo blues, and...

large rocks covered with Dudleya (host plant) and Sedum

... a couple Sonoran blues.  Woohooo!  It's thanks to Ken @ Nature of a Man who sent me a recent picture of one to ID that I even remembered I've been wanting to get a picture of my own ever since Chris Grinter commented on my Dudleya post from 3 years ago.  I was so close to getting a good shot, but then I was afraid of falling off the rock.  You understand.

standard west entrance shot from the parking lot

As I debated whether I wanted to try another trail where I know more stonecrops grow, I marveled at the incredible palette Pinnacles provides even in this record dry winter we've had.  The iron red color of the buckwheats is starting to float my boat.  Given my relative lack of success, I wasn't so gung ho on butterflies anymore.  Plus, I was still feeling kinda icky and was a bit parched and craving the sight of water.  There are plenty of strenuous trails but no connecting roads through the park.  So, in an unusual move for me, I decided to drive over to the east entrance and hike to the reservoir. 

Bitterwater Road

The bleached out grey, died, dead was oppressive, and yet fascinating at the same time because it's so extreme.  I feel badly for the cows and the farmers.  Anyone else hoarding butter in their freezer like I am?  It's going to be worth its weight in gold.

Bear Gulch Reservoir

Ahhh.  It was so worth the long day of driving and hiking through the ick to get here, to this spot, to watch the shadows from the late afternoon sun, and to contemplate life.

habitat ~ 02/20/12 ~ Pinnacles National Monument - west

Pinnacles National Monument - west entrance
February 20, 2012

Every year we seem to head to Pinnacles a little earlier. I was impressed with the surprisingly bold winter colors. The soft green of the gray pines was offset by the deep red of the dried buckwheats and the bright orange of the willow stalks. All these colors were continued on the multicolored breccia rocks, which were also often covered with colorful lichen, mosses, and stonecrops. I joked with Andy that if I were a painter, I wouldn't need too many different tubes of paint to do plants and rocks.

Speaking of rocks, the geology of Pinnacles is incredible. Based on the unique rocks and the infamous San Andreas Fault, geologists believe Pinnacles originated 195 miles southeast of its current location. The new west entrance visitor center has an interpretive sign that stated Pinnacles continues to move northward at a rate of almost 2 inches a year, about the same rate as human fingernail growth. Wild.

This is my standard shot from the parking lot that I include in every habitat post for Pinnacles west entrance. I like being able to visually compare seasonal and yearly variations. I tried so hard to get a picture without children in it, but I would have waited a long time. We have never seen so many kids at the park. They all seemed to be about grades 2-6. There must have been some kind program for the holiday weekend, because many of them had Junior Ranger books.

Only a few flowers were starting to show themselves. There were lots of CA milkmaids, patches of padres' shootingstars, and tiny fiddlenecks. I spotted a single blue butterfly and a couple small brown butterflies, but I was unable to get close enough for positive IDs. There are seven species of lycaenids that have been recorded for February, so my seeing them was not too unusual.

Goodbye, Pinnacles. We'll probably see you again real soon for a camping excursion from the east entrance! It still amazes me that these incredible, massive rock structures are hidden behind rolling hills. I'm guessing most people who drive Highway 101 never even know of their existence.

ps - I'm including this last pic with the barn, because it was just around the bend from where I saw a barn owl. Is this its home?