Favoritos de tvl

From a localized population discovered by @dominic. I was able to secure the two specimens photographed for genetic analysis and was completely surprised to learn that these individuals did not represent the native B. attenuatus I’ve found <10miles from here but B. gavilanensis introduced from the Santa Cruz area! This find was referenced in 2020 in a paper largely about B. major: https://peerj.com/articles/9599/?fbclid=IwAR3lxwd5Lrh52y4CtK4OICH1cM-7WQGSEjWAjM6vgLK_jvbIG8g2OAFk0lc

Update May 2021: Photos and info gleaned from this occurrence used in the Wikipedia article I wrote for this species:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithodoros_coriaceu

This thing truly weirded me out. Like a tank-tick. Big. Gross. And after doing some research I am DAMN glad it did not bite me.

"George Henry Falkiner Nuttall - Monograph of the Ixodoidea

Two females bit Mrs Z Nuttall through her clothing and inflicted painful wounds, "their ites were intolerably sharp and painful, and both wounds bled a good deal – but notwithstanding, there has been intermittent irritation ever since" (this persisted after 4 months, and the seat of the bite was stil discolored and the puncture covered by a scab). Eight months after the bite was inflicted, there remained a nodule which occasionally itched. The natives of Tehuantepec, Mexico fear this tick for the reason that the bites are severe and often do not heal for a long time. The females immediately proceeded to feed, on arrival in Cambridge, when placed upon a fowl. They fed for 45 minutes and 1 hour and 45 minutes respectively, and drew a large amount of blood. The bites caused intense ecchymosis, measuring about one inch in diameter. Whilst feeding the palps did not penetrate the wound as once observed in the case of O. savignyi, but both specimens exuded clear fluid as observed in O. moubata."

From Furman and Loomis' Ticks of California:

"0. coriaceus was originally collected in Sonora, Mexico, and is distributed in the other western states of Mexico southward to
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where the natives call this tick "talajas" (tala = destruction, havoc). Berlese (1888) states
that he saw a specimen taken from cattle hides at Rio Apa, Paraguay. From 1904 185-1850 m elevations along the coast from
through 1941 numerous collections of this species were made in the coastal regions of California (Cooley and Kohls, 1944b), and intensive surveys in subsequent years have shown that this tick is widespread in California and occurs in Nevada and southern Oregon (Loomis and Furman, 1977). Originally called "pajaronela" by the inhabitants of the Santa Lucia mountains.

The pajahuello is best known because of the severe reaction in humans following exposure to its bite. Initial bites usually result in a localized inflammatory reaction accompanied by a burning sensation and a small nodule that forms around the wound.

These symptoms usually disappear within 48 hours, leaving a small, purplish nodule that disappears in 1-2 weeks. In other cases, an umbilicated pustule surrounded by an inflamed, painful, edematous area develops. More severe allergic reactions appear in persons previously bitten and thus sensi- tized to a substance injected during the tick's blood-feeding process.

1. coriaceus is not known to transmit any disease of man, but on the basis of circumstantial evidence it is capable of transmitting the agent of a cattle disease called epizootic bovine abortion ("foothill abortion") (Schmidtmann et al. , 1976), and has been shown experimentally to transmit African Swine Fever virus to healthy pigs (Groocock et al., 1980)."

From Herms, 1916:
"
For several years previous to beginning his observations on this
species, the writer has listened to many harrowing tales about the
Pajaroello. No one seemed to know exactly what it was and no one
seemed to have collected specimens so as to make accurate identification
possible in so far as the writer knew at the time. Complaints came
almost exclusively from the more mountainous portions of Santa Clara and San Benito Counties (California). Natives, principally Mexicans, in the vicinity of Mt. Hamilton fear this parasite more than they do the rattlesnake, and tell weird tales of this or that man having lost an arm or leg, and in one instance even death having ensued, as the result of a bite by the Pajaroello. There seems to be a superstition in that region that three bites will result in certain death. The stories all agree in the essential detail that the bite results in an irritating lesion which is slow to heal and often leaves an ugly deep scar. Several persons also informed the writer that the Pajaroello occurred in certain mountainous portions of Mexico. It was not, however, until August, 1913,
that living specimens came to hand, taken in Santa Clara County in the vicinity of Mt. Hamilton. These were identified as Ornithodorus
coriaceus Koch, described in 1844 from a single female specimen from
Mexico. A translation by Nuttall of the original description is as follows:

"Shaped like the sole of a shoe, thick margined, roughly shagreened, yel- lowish earthy color, spotted rusty red, legs toothed dorsally. Length 9.3 mm. Body about twice as long as wide, width fairly uniform, indented on the sides, pointed above the mouthparts, rounded posteriorly, a thick turned-up border all around; the whole surface above and below thickly granulated like fish
skin (shagreen), the granules flat above, consequently, the whole leathery, on the back unequal folds and grooves. Beneath in the front of the body a deep groove running to the stigmata and on the inner protrusion the rather large round quite clearly marked eyes. The coxae gradually thicken toward the distal extremity and are somewhat bent; the other articles somewhat com- pressed and clearly notched or round-toothed. The whole surface, above and below, dirty yellowish earthy color, rusty red spots irregularly distributed throughout. Capitulum and palps light yellow. Legs gray-brown. Female. Male: unknown. Habitat: Mexico."

These two male "bicolored" Red-winged Blackbird males (with a European Starling in the middle) were part of a large, mixed European Starling / blackbird flock. There are several subspecies of "bicolored" blackbird, so until it is officially split from the Red-winged Blackbird or information on distinguishing the subspecies in the field comes out, I have to leave this as a Red-winged Blackbird.

A complete checklist of birds seen at the cemetery this day can be found here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S120871379

Upper Young Lake, approx. 10,200’

Variety of colors present in close proximity:
Pink & white: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134642384
Reddish-pink: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134642985

Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) Native plant, endemic to California, growing on grassy foothills above Toro Creek, on the SE side of Fort Ord. Substrate is decomposing sandstone on a former marine terrace. Last year, there were 100 +- on this knoll, the last week of May, 2021.

Similar in appearance to Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus) but
1) WITHOUT the maroon blotch/spot at outer end of petal.
2) Nectaries at base of petals are rectangular not square.
3) Hairs on nectary are Long, dark purple-maroon, not short-yellow-hairy like C. venustus.

Jepson eFlora: Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus)
"Stem: 40--60 cm, simple, bulblets present. Leaf: basal 20--30 cm, withering; cauline reduced upward. Inflorescence: +- umbel-like; flowers 1--4, erect; bracts 2--8 cm. Flower: perianth bell-shaped; sepals 20--40 mm; petals 20--40 mm, +- rounded, white to purple or pale yellow, central red spot within pale yellow, sparsely hairy; nectary 1 crescent or chevron, not depressed, densely short-hairy; filaments not dilated at base, anthers purple, pink to yellow-white. Fruit: erect, 4--6 cm, lanceolate. Ecology: Hard clay from volcanic or metamorphic rocks; Elevation: < 800 m. Peak bloom: April-June. Note: Flowers highly variable, generally showy."
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=76542

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016--not listed
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015--not listed.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019--not listed
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns--not listed

See other interesting discussion/comments re the Clay Mariposa Lilly growing in this area:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49858393
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6185354

Pink Johnny-Nip (Castilleja ambigua insulutata) Native/endemic, annual, hemiparasitic plant in the Broomrape (Orobranchaceae) family that grows in grassy meadows, on coastal bluffs and headlands. Peak bloom time: May-June. This endemic Castilleja is seriously threatened in California due to habitat loss. Conservation Status: 1B.1 in California, US (CNPS)

Calflora https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1675

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p. 220-221.

"On Fort Ord, the subspecies insulutata is restricted to the vicinity of vernal pools."
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.156.

Castilleja ambigua subsp. insalutata
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=49734

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-castilleja/

Castilleja photos, grouped by species, by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/collections/72157617709816218/

93 excellent photos of Castilleja ambigua var. insalutata by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/sets/72157622769326215/

(only lists Castilleja ambigua ssp. ambigua)
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 364.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Castilleja (Paintbrushes & Owl’s-clover) are in the Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) Family.
Members of the Broomrape family are all root parasites. Those in the Castilleja (Paintbrush) genus are HEMIPARASITIC, meaning they have photosynthetic green leaves, but also derive some of their nutrients from nearby plants. Castilleja are often seen growing over the roots of Manzanita and Chamise shrubs, for example.

Jepson eFlora Key to Castilleja:
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/search_eflora.php?name= and
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=11347 and
Castilleja description taxon page https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=11347

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-castilleja/

Pink Johnny-Nip (Castilleja ambigua insulutata) Native/endemic, annual, hemiparasitic plant in the Broomrape (Orobranchaceae) family that grows in grassy meadows, on coastal bluffs and headlands. Peak bloom time: May-June. This endemic Castilleja is seriously threatened in California due to habitat loss. Conservation Status: 1B.1 in California, US (CNPS)

Calflora https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1675

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p. 220-221.

"On Fort Ord, the subspecies insulutata is restricted to the vicinity of vernal pools."
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.156.

Castilleja ambigua subsp. insalutata
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=49734

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-castilleja/

Castilleja photos, grouped by species, by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/collections/72157617709816218/

93 excellent photos of Castilleja ambigua var. insalutata by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/sets/72157622769326215/

(only lists Castilleja ambigua ssp. ambigua)
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 364.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Castilleja (Paintbrushes & Owl’s-clover) are in the Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) Family.
Members of the Broomrape family are all root parasites. Those in the Castilleja (Paintbrush) genus are HEMIPARASITIC, meaning they have photosynthetic green leaves, but also derive some of their nutrients from nearby plants. Castilleja are often seen growing over the roots of Manzanita and Chamise shrubs, for example.

Jepson eFlora Key to Castilleja:
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/search_eflora.php?name= and
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=11347 and
Castilleja description taxon page https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=11347

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-castilleja/

First time I've observed white petaled Fiesta Flowers mixed in with the usual deep blue-purple ones.

Fiesta Flower (Pholistoma auritum) Native, annual plant with vine-like growth habit and loosely branching stems that grows on shaded slopes and canyons. Leaves and stems are covered with down-curved hairs or prickles that stick to fur or clothing like Velcro. Calyx lobes are bristly-hairy. Two stigma lobes are at the end of a long, thin, purple-brown style. Flowers are usually lavender-purple, but sometimes white, and have five fused petals. Peak bloom time: March-May.

Jepson eFlora (description and video) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=37885

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p. 104.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 70.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 33.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/hydrophyllaceae-nemophila/

A group of nine California Condors were seen gliding in the area near the High Peaks Trail summit.

General info on California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) can be found on this Wikipedia page and on the G. californianus page from the Cornell "All About Birds" web site.

Information on the condors at Pinnacles can be found here.

--- Photo Details ---

1st Photo: This male condor, named "Kawkikat" (tag # 986) was hatched on 4/29/2019 and released in Pinnacles on 11/13/2020. He was "notoriously wily" when in the (pre-relaese) flight pen.

2nd & 3rd photos: Bird tagged as # 726

4th Photo: Individual tagged as #726... and a "tan tagged" individual (possibly "Kawkikat" again?)

5th Photo: Six of the nine are visible in this image (as well as a 7th barely perceptible in the far distance at upper center of the photo)

6th Photo: Two individuals gliding past

7th Photo: A collage of four separate photos of condors flying distantly overhead

8th Photo: Three condors gliding overhead...view at full-size to see the diagnostic white-triangular patches of the underwings, and the pronouncedly elongate & "digitate" primaries (black in condors; white in turkey vultures)

9th Photo: Same three condors as in previous photo

10th Photo: Five of the nine gliding overhead