January Recap!

Midway into February, we have seen lots and done lots. We have also been away from the Intrawave (usually thankfully), and have been easing into our posting life. By the end of January we had hoped to see 175 species of birds; by month’s end we hit a surprising 222! We really have zero idea what someone doing an exhausting, run-around-crazy Big Year may have been able to accomplish, but we felt like the Fates were smiling upon us, even when things were not going quite as planned. By year’s end we set a goal of 500 species, so we believe this is a totally excellent start. It should be said: they always rack up quickly in the beginning; every bird is new. That said, we still feel like a Moderately Sized five hundred is very achievable. Ok. An Atlantic style monthly review in photos…

Chuparosa (Justicia californica) Twenty-Nine Palms, CA

California Brown Pelican (Pelicans occidentalis) La Jolla Cove, CA

Pyracantha (Greek: pyra=fire, akanthos=thorn. Common name, thus, firethorn. Ramona, CA

Black Rain Beetle (Pleocoma puncticollis)

Lace Lichen (Ramalina menziesii) Pt Lobos, CA

Long Billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Moss Landing, Monterey

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) Monterey, CA

Dead Branch (Deadbranchus badphotous) Oh, and also a Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Andrew Molera SP, Big Sur

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Pinnacles National Park

Red Throated Loon (Gavia stellata) Monterey, CA

Tyler and BFF (Dorkus americanus), Lynn’s Arcade, Seaside, CA

A very cool mushroom we did not ID… any ideas?? Seen under Coastal Redwoods in Andrew Molera State Park, CA

Ladybugs huddled together for warmth, Pinnacles National Park, CA. For more: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/ladybugs.htm

Cirrus clouds above Short Canyon, CA.

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) tracks in the sand, Short Canyon, CA