Jean Wheeler
 Chamise
 Coastal Dudleya and Wooly Star Schrubs
 California Quail
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Elfin Forest Activities
By Jean Wheeler
When parking near the Elfin Forest while visiting, please avoid blocking driveways or mailboxes.
Saturday, July 2
The volunteer work party known as the "Weed Warriors" will meet from 9 am to about noon. Anyone is welcome to join in and help pull obnoxious invading weeds and work on projects to reduce erosion. Wear comfortable sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, and park at the north end of 15th Street in Los Osos, avoiding driveways and mailboxes.
Third Saturday Walk—July 16, 9:30 a.m.
Marine Mammals and the Ocean's Health: The Central Coast enjoys an abundance of marine mammals. Lisa Harper Henderson of the Marine Mammal Center will introduce us to the various species with which we share the coast, in particular the seals and sea otters that inhabit the estuary. Seals are more than lovable, intelligent creatures. They are mammals, just like us. So, when something in the ocean makes them sick, we too are at risk. Since 1975, the Marine Mammal Center has rescued thousands of these sentinels of the sea, and continues to identify the causes of marine mammal illness and how that affects the health of the ocean. You will come away knowing the difference between California Sea Lions and seals, and so much more.
Park at the north end of 15th Street (16th Street for wheelchairs) off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos. Walks begin on the boardwalk at the end of the 15th Street sand path. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid poison oak and mosquitoes.
Besides docent-led events, visit the Elfin Forest any day. Experience the quiet natural beauty of this small wilderness area. Park at the north end of any street from 11th through 17th streets off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos and take a sand path to the boardwalk or the wheel-chair accessible boardwalk entrance at 16th Street.
Coming Up in the Elfin Forest
Colorful wildflowers are especially abundant in early summer. July is the end of the blooming season for the lovely blues of wooly star along the 15th Street sand path and the blue spikes on the silver dune lupines of Bush Lupine Point. Coastal dudleya has tall pinkish stalks capped with yellow flowers rising far above the low gray rosettes of succulent leaves usually growing under other plants. They are blooming prolifically again this year. Yellow to orange California poppies are still in bloom, as are clumps of golden yarrow. The bright orange of sticky monkey flowers will continue at least well into August. In the drier chaparral at the inner and upper end of the boardwalk, chamise is covered with white flower spikes.
Golden Yarrow
Year around and summer only birds are making good use of the cover our shrubs and low trees provide and food such as nectar, seeds, berries, and insects for their growing offspring. Look for flocks of tiny gray Bushtits swarming rapidly through the shrubs, often accompanied by other species such as sparrows. Listen for a loud buzz and see if you can see the colorful Spotted Towhee. His more drab cousin, the brown California Towhee can often be spotted briefly in or between shrubs before diving back under cover. Western Scrub Jays loudly call their names and are probably the birds most likely to be seen. The call of the California Quail is usually described as "chi-CA-go," but sounds more to me like "quer-CA-go." A parent or two should be followed by an incredibly long line of young quail this month. Anna's Hummingbirds should be zipping around gathering nectar and insects.
Among the summer visitors to look for are several species of warblers, Say's Phoebe, the Western Kingbird, and the Hooded Oriole. Waterbirds that can be seen even in summer include Willets, American Coots, Great Blue Herons, Black Crowned Night Herons, Greater and Snowy Egrets, and Brown Pelicans. For that matter, small numbers of ducks remain on the bay through the summer even though most members of their species have migrated north.
Mammals are harder to observe, but I have seen a squirrel near the entrance to the sand trails at 11th and 12th street several times in recent months, brush rabbits are often seen, and even coyotes have been very occasionally seen and more often heard. The three to five foot high brushy homes built by lady wood rats are numerous and quite a few are visible from the boardwalk, although their owner-architects are seldom seen, being active only around dawn and dusk. Lizards are very active in July. Insect life such as beetles, butterflies, damselflies, and several species of bees can also be interesting to watch.
A relaxing walk on the sand trails or boardwalk can provide much scenic beauty and interesting observations of nature in action.
Unless otherwise attributed, all photos, including the Spotted Towhee banner image, are taken by Jean. |
