Bird and Plant Walk
By Debbie Bird
Tuesday March 21, 2018
17 people attending. Getting warmer in the late morning. Bear to Esprero to the Overlook/Helipad and back to VC on Tram Road
Birds seen today: Gambel’s Quail, Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Anna’s Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Common Raven, Cactus Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Curve-billed Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Lucy’s Warbler, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow
Plants for the day:
EPHEDRACEAE – Joint-Fir Family
Ephedra trifurca (buds forming) Mexican Tea
ACANTHACEAE – Acanthus Family
Dicliptera resupinata Twin Seed
AMARANTHACEAE – Amaranth Family
Atriplex canescens Four-wing Saltbush
ASTERACEAE – Sunflower Family
Acourtia nana Desert Holly
Ambrosia ambrosioides Canyon Ragweed
Ambrosia deltoidea Triangleleaf Bursage
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis Burro Brush
Encelia farinosa Brittlebush, Incienso
Porophyllum gracile Odora
Rafinesquia californica California Chicory
Trixis californica Trixis
Uropappus lindleyi Silverpuffs
Zinnia acerosa Desert Zinnia
BORAGINACEAE – Borage Family
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Fiddleneck
Cryptantha angustifolia (see Johnstonella)
Johnstonella angustifolia Narrow-leaved Cryptantha
Lappula occidentalis (redowskii & texana) Stickseed
Pectocarya recurvata Arch-nutted Comb Bur
BRASSICACEAE – Mustard Family
Boechera (Arabis) perennans (reported Fred) Rock Cress
Descurainia pinnata var. ochroleuca Tansy Mustard
Lepidium virginicum var. menziesii Peppergrass
*Sisymbrium irio (Europe) London Rocket
Thysanocarpus curvipes Lace Pod Mustard, Fringe Pod
CACTACEAE – Cactus Family
Carnegiea gigantea Saguaro
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis Desert Christmas Cactus
EUPHORBIACEAE – Spurge Family
Euphorbia sp.
FABACEAE – Pea Family
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster
Marina parryi Marina
Parkinsonia florida Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla Foothills Palo Verde
Note: Saw lots of the mysterious red clumps on both Palo Verde’s. Have a sample to check out. It is not actually growing on the trees but appears to be a conglomeration of plant matter and there is also some type of cocoon or droppings in it.
FOUQUIERIACEAE – Ocotillo Family
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo
LAMIACEAE – Mint Family
Salvia columbariae (tiny leaves) Chia
NYCTAGINACEAE – Four O’Clock Family
Allionia incarnata Trailing Four O’Clock, Trailing Windmills
Mirabilis laevis var. villosa (bigelovii) Wishbone Bush
SANTALACEAE – Sandalwood Family
Phoradendron californicum Desert Mistletoe
URTICACEAE – Nettle Family
Parietaria hespera Pellitory
VERBENACEAE – Verbena Family
Aloysia wrightii Wright Lippia; Oreganillo
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE – Caltrop Family
Larrea divaricata var. tridentata Creosote Bush
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Butterflies; Pipevine Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Sara Orangetip, Sleepy Orange, Spring Azure. Unidentified White Butterfly.
Other Critters: Whiptail Lizard, Ornate Tree Lizard, Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, Desert Cottontail
Photo: Mesquite spines
