Central Coast Splendors - Birds and Flowers

The goal of the morning was to look for spring wildflowers on the Junge Ranch Trail - located about 1/4 mile north of San Simeon Creek.  The scenic one mile trail hugs the coast.   In 2004 the Junge Ranch property was added to the Hearst San Simeon State Park. 


San Simeon State Park -  From the Washburn parking/picnic area -  A few steps to the boardwalk, turn toward the sea and you have arrived at the San Simeon Beach Lagoon.  Overhead sped hundreds of Swallows feeding on insects and gathering droplets of mud.

The swallows were building mud nests that were tucked under the bridge where the deck meets the the huge bridge supports.  Now for the sometimes hard part of birding, identification - an easy task if Swallows were ground feeders.  Finally, after much pondering, I concluded they were Cliff Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. (I do enjoy the pondering)

 What took me by complete surprise was the size of the lagoon.  Winter/Spring storms had opened the lagoon to the sea.  Gone was the natural gravel berm that kept the ocean at bay.  The Lagoon was now considerably larger. 

On the far side of the lagoon, standing in shallow water, were five Caspian Tern, possibly taking a break on their flight north to East Sand Island in Oregon’s Columbia River Estuary where a huge breeding colony of Caspian Tern is located. 

 While observing the Terns four Bufflehead, 3/M, 1/F splashed down. I was rather surprised when they landed directly in front of me.  (above photo male Bufflehead) Only observed one precious Snowy Plover. 

 Next stop, the Junge Ranch Trail to look for wildflowers

     Chocolate Lily - Fritillaria biflora (2-3 in.)
Some of the flowers are tiny and barely noticeable.  I used binoculars to locate the  inch Chocolate Lily patch. 

 California Native wildflowers are bountiful on the Junge Ranch Trail. 
Some of the Wildflowers were: Blue-eyed Grass, Sun Cups, Thrift, tiny Redmaids, Butttercup, Fiddleneck, California Poppy, and one very special flower. 

           

 The special flower was alone in it's universe, one small lavender flower, a flower I had never seen before.  It was a Monterey Mariposa Lily (Calochortas uniflorus), considered a rare plant due to its limited distribution.  Coincidentally I'll be visiting Point Lobos in Monterey in a few weeks and guess what I will be looking for, yes, a Monterey Mariposa Lily.  (and birds of course)

           Seaside Daisy - Erigeron glaucus