Field Notes for February 2025

Welcome back to Field Notes!

February 1, 2025

Earlier this week, friends Mari, Gaymond, and I joined the late-January Over-the-Hills Gang hike at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, lead by Anthony Fisher. This is one of my favorite hikes, since it is fairly flat with wide trails that facilitate ambling and visiting with fellow hikers. Point Pinole has an interesting history (fishing villages; ranches and farms; and 100 years of gunpowder and dynamite production), and location (it juts out into San Pablo Bay for sweeping maritime views). It is part of the ancestorial home of the Huchiun-Aguasto speaking Ohlone people.

Mount Tamalpais through the morning fog

Adolescent bald eagle and raven

Cookie break at the half-way point

San Pablo Bay ferry crossing

The morning started out foggy, and then burned off to full sun. About 40 of us from all over the Bay Area strolled through the park, looking for wildlife, observing birds (an adolescent bald eagle that was being heckled by ravens was especially interesting), and watching the ferries cross the bay. The pace and company was excellent and Anthony brought a high-power scope for viewing wildlife, and ginger and lemon flavored cookies for the half-way-point snack. Mari, Gaymond, and I finished our outing at Richmond Kebab & Gyros for lunch and great conversation. Search the East Bay Regional Park District website to learn more about upcoming Over-the-Hills Gang hikes.

Intrepid hikers (photo by Gaymond)

February 3, 2025

Bird Buddy identified this avian visitor as a California Towhee, but it identified the same bird as a Scaly-breasted Mumia and a Bewick's Wren in other shots. I find Little Brown Birds (LBBs) to be very difficult to identify, and maybe Bird Buddy does too. They seem to be testing out a new AI option to help with identification, so maybe there are some kinks to work out!

California Towhee

February 6, 2025

Our family shared these cherry tomatoes, grown on a self-seeded plant and harvested in February. The consistency was good and the flavor was bright (but without the sweetness that develops in the summer sun). Still pretty amazing to harvest tomatoes from the yard in the dead of winter, with a few more ripening on the vine to enjoy in the future!

Cherry tomatoes harvested in February

 

February 9, 2025

We love watching all the winter visitors that stop by the Bird Buddy feeder. Here are a few snapshots from the camera (roughly clockwise, starting at the top): Red Finches (female and male); Mourning Dove, Oak Titmouse; Golden Warbler (?); Black-eyed Junco; and California Towhee (from the backend). Click on the photo to enlarge.

Winter birds at the Bird Buddy feeder

February 12, 2025

Mari and I joined the Over-the-Hills Gang hike to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, lead by Anthony Fisher. The weather forecast indicated that a large weather system was moving into the Bay Area, bringing rain later in the day. We decided to join the hike despite fog and cold temperatures. The park is quite hilly and steep in places, with some fantastic views if you follow one of the trails up the hill (I hiked up one of those trails with Leslie in 2018; see Wildcat Canyon Regional Park). The land is part of the ancestorial home of the Huchiun-Karkin speaking Ohlone people.

Hiking the fire road at Wildcat Canyon

Look at that glorious oak - with room to spread to its potential

Lady Bug hitches a ride with Sandy

Intrepid hikers

The fire road grade is very manageable for the 55+ crowd, the surrounding hills are still green from winter rains, and mushrooms and slime molds abound! We could see cattle grazing high on the hills, but didn't encounter any on the fire road. The pace and company was excellent and Anthony brought lemon/almond cream cookies and Fig Newtons for the half-way-point snack (always a highpoint). Search the East Bay Regional Park District website to learn more about upcoming Over-the-Hills Gang hikes.

February 15, 2025

We saw so many mushrooms and slime modes on our hike at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park! Here are a few snapshots, identified by a phone app that uses iNaturalist and other internet resources. Roughly clockwise, starting at the top): Fluted Black Elfin Saddle (Helvella lacunosa); Black Slime Mold (possibly Annulohypoxylon multiforme) - growing on a log; Black Slime Mold - closeup; Golden Ear or Jelly Fungus (Tremella mesenterica);  Dark Honey Fungus (Armillaria ostoyae); Felted Pinkgill (Entoloma roseum); and The Deceiver or Waxy Laccaria (Laccaria laccata).

Mushrooms and slime molds in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park

Another good resource for identifying mushrooms: Higher Fungi of the San Francisco Bay Area.

February 19, 2025

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count last weekend. I've participated in the yearly event for the last several years. Below is the list I compiled during my late afternoon walk up by the reservoir, near the redwood and oak grove. I uploaded the list using the eBird mobile app. Many of these species frequent our yard, hummingbird feeder, and Bird Buddy feeder. Good to know they have plenty of other food sources!

Bird sightings (or recorded) while walking in the neighborhood

February 27, 2025

I'm sad to report that our beloved Dakota the Husky has departed this life for the Happy Hunting Grounds, after a brief illness that came on suddenly. Dakota loved treats, taking walks, and a good belly rub. He went wild for anything cheese, butter, or sour cream; and for pork chops and chicken. He loved digging in the garden, eating dirt, resting in a pool of sunlight, and pondering the oak canopy above. He liked lounging in the living room while listening to cool jazz or light country. He was a Good Boy, who was well known by dogs and their walkers in the neighborhood. 

Dakota the Husky

Dakota had been abandoned on the streets in Qatar, and ended up in Seattle, WA as a rescue dog. Our son adopted him in 2017 and gave him a wonderful home and life. After Mako departed in 2024 (see Field Notes for May, the May 17th entry), Dakota evolved into the new Alpha. He became more assertive and confident and territorial, keeping his pack safe, all while retaining his gentle nature. I'll miss taking long slow walks with Dakota as he sniffed and investigated everything, seeing him gallop to the dinner table with gusto and enthusiasm, scratching his soft ears and ruff, and talking Husky with him. We will miss his sweet presence in our lives, and keep him close in our hearts.