Slowly, we made our way around the base of the mesa. It was sorta like turning a “corner”. Some of the same yet different. On this side in the past, Black-capped Vireos had nested here. The last pair to nest here was four or five years ago. Before that a pair had nested there in the late 1990’s as well.
This was all that was left of a deer! Perhaps soon, a coyote will want to gnaw on it some more?
Here was another first for me at the preserve, a fossilized sea urchin! It measures about 18mm across.
This rock looks to have a case of white measles with the white crustose lichens. LOL
Certainly a crazy year for the Yellow Flax (Linum rigidum) to be blooming in the fall!
The Prickly Pear (Opuntia) was decorated for Christmas? As you can also see in the photo the steep hill to the mesa above.
Shining a flashlight in this bowl shaped rock, we found a moss growing inside!
Jeanne ID’d the moss as Bryum argentum. Thanks Jeanne!
A close up of a spent coneflower head!
A closer look at the seeds of the coneflower! More tomorrow from the base!
Ive never seen a fossilized urchin. Cool. Interesting article about plants and electricity. Reminder of how little we know.
Do you still survey every year for nesting vireos? I’m wondering what might entice them back.
I do not.
Neat to find a rock with such a big fossil after being there so many times! Always something new!