The heat has arrived which means Rattlesnakes are out! Don’t let it stop you from hiking but now, more than ever, is the time you should remember to STAY ON THE TRAIL! This photo shows the dangers of walking off trail.
(click images to enlarge. close window to return)
Although you are likely to see snakes on the trail too, at least you have a good chance of seeing them and thus avoiding them.
Typically, Rattlesnakes will give you PLENTY of warning because they have no desire to waste their venom on something too big for them to eat. However, they will strike if threatened and there are also species who aren’t as likely to give you a warning. SO…keep plenty of distance between you and the snake and carefully make you way around them.
The Flying Insect Survey got under way officially Saturday, March 24th with Ron Rutowski as our lead investigator. We began with some classroom instruction on what to keep our eyes out for. After class, walked out to the Bajada Nature Trail to get in a little practice. We found a Pallid-winged Grasshopper and a small Yellow and Black Beetle (unidentified). Below in order posted are 1. Classroom at the Gateway 2. Pallid-winged Grasshopper 3. Ornate Checkered beetle on Hedgehog bloom. Click Images to Enlarge. Close window to Return.
On Friday, March 30th, I went out to the Marcus Landslide Trail to look for flying insects. I did find one beetle but also a crab spider. Most exciting, though, was an encounter with not one but two Diamondback Rattlesnakes! Below in order posted are 1. Ornate Checkered beetle 2. Crab Spider on Xanthisma 3. Diamondback . Click Images to Enlarge. Close window to Return.
I went to Marcus Landslide Trail again on Sunday, April 1st with some fellow stewards. We came across a few flying insects including Butterflies but a variety of birds were the hit of the morning. Below (in order posted) are 1. Canyon Towhee 2. Crab Spider feeding on a moth 3. Pallid-winged Grasshopper 4. Bot Fly 5. Reakirt’s Blue Butterfly 6. Phainopepla 7. White Crowned Sparrow 8. Possibly Square Spotted Blue Butterfly 9. Beetle on Delphinium 10. Robin (there was a big flock!) Click Images to Enlarge. Close window to Return.
This morning (Sun, March 18th), Steve Jones and I led a Wildflower/Photography hike on the Ringtail Trail. We wondered if the hike would take place at all because of the weather (90 percent chance rain) but we decided if any of the public showed up, we would brave it. ONE person showed up! We had a great time, of course, and learned a new plant “Liverwort”. I had photographed it before but had never known what it was. Our lone public person had a wonderful time and learned several new tidbits including a couple of photo tips. It was becoming increasingly cold which we weren’t prepared for so we opted for an abbreviated hike. All in all, we ended up going a little less than 2 miles round trip.
The weather continued to worsen and a few hours later, we had hail!!! Click image below for video.
Yesterday was collection day for two ground dwelling trap locations and we were surprised to see these two guys trapped. I would have thought the lizards feet would be able to grasp the plastic but the solo cups are obviously a lot more slippery than I would have guessed! Anyway….I wondered if they snacked on whatever insects had been trapped 🙂
Because of the still very cold evenings, we haven’t collected anything really interesting yet. Mostly ants, small spiders and some teeny tiny insects that only a microscope can help identify. I’m looking forward to what shows up when the heat brings them out at night! To see more photos from our surveys, click on the CITIZEN SCIENTIST tab above.
