Friday, May 04, 2012

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - 4/23/12


Pinnacles NM_Sign, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The entrance to the west side of the Pinnacles National Monument is marked by this sign. The west Pinnacles is day use only. There is no camping on this side. You may camp at the east Pinnacles, however. I camped there a few times before this time around, and I always liked it. It is great for wildlife viewing, too.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Visitor Center


Pinnacles NM_Visitor Center, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The west Pinnacles has a new visitor center! In December 2011, the old Chaparral Ranger Station was removed and replaced by this brand new visitor center. It even has that new visitor center smell - lol.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - 4/23/12


Pinnacles NM_Pinnacles, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A view of the Pinnacles from the west side of the park.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis
We always called this guy the Blue Belly, because of the bright blue patches on its belly and under its neck. This guy seemed to be unconcerned that a giant human with a big camera lens was coming its way, and it never even moved. It did seem to give me the stink eye, however - hehe.

Pinnacles National Monument - Greater Roadrunner


Pinnacles NM_Greater Roadrunner1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Geococcyx californianus
Look closely....there's a bird in there - lol. The Roadrunner is a member of the cuckoo family. They are typically found in desert and shrubby habitats in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. And, excuse me, but it looks nothing like Wile E Coyote's nemesis. I think Warner Bros exaggerated him a bit - lol.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Juniper Canyon Trail1

A view from the Juniper Canyon Trail on the west side of the Pinnacles National Monument. I love this trail. It is full of wildflowers in the spring.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - unknown flower


Pinnacles NM_Gilia2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Not sure what kind of flower this is, but I think it may be a type of gilia or linanthus ????

Pinnacles National Monument - Stellers Jay


Pinnacles NM_Stellers Jay, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Cyanocitta stelleri
The Stellers Jay is a member of the corvid family, which includes crows, ravens, nutcrackers and magpies. This jay is the only crested jay west of the Rockies.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - California Ground Squirrel

This little guy was so busy scurrying around looking for nuts, that he got close enough for me to photograph with my macro lens (as I left my telephoto lens in the car while I was out hiking the Juniper Canyon Trail)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Pretty Faces


Pinnacles NM_Pretty Faces1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Triteleia ixioides
Pretty Face (aka Golden Brodiaea)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Fremont's Star Lily


Pinnacles NM_Fremont's Star Lily, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Erysimum capitatum
Fremont's Star Lily (aka Death Camas, Fremont's Death Camas, Star Lily)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Western Wallflower


Pinnacles NM_Western Wallflower, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Erysimum capitatum
Western Wallflower (aka Sanddune Wallflower, Wallflower)
With a visitor ... a Variable Checkerspot butterfly

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Coastal Hedge Nettle


Pinnacles NM_Hedge Nettle3, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Stachys chamissonis
Coastal Hedge Nettle (aka Coast Hedge Nettle)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Elegant Clarkia


Pinnacles NM_Elegant Clarkia, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Clarkia unguiculata
Elegant Clarkia (aka Woodland Clarkia)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Padre's Shooting Star


Pinnacles NM_Shooting Stars1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Dodecatheon clevelandii
Padre's Shooting Star

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Goldfields


Pinnacles NM_Goldfields, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Lasthenia californica
Goldfields (aka California Goldfields, Valley Goldfields, Common Goldfields)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Cream Cups


Pinnacles NM_Cream Cups2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Platystemon californicus
Cream Cups (with Goldfields in the background)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Woodland Star


Pinnacles NM_Woodland Star1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Lithophragma heterophyllum
Woodland Star (aka Hillside Woodland Star, Hill Star)

Pinnacles National Monument - Seep Monkeyflower


Pinnacles NM_Seep Monkeyflower, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Mimulus guttatus
Seep Monkeyflower (aka Common Yellow Monkeyflower)
These flowers typically grow near streams, rivers, other water sources and wetlands.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Purple Vetch


Pinnacles NM_Purple Vetch, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Vicia benghalensis
Purple Vetch

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Blue Fiesta Flower


Pinnacles NM_Blue Fiesta Flower1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Pholistoma auritum
Blue Fiesta Flower

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - White Fiesta Flower

Pholistoma membranaceum
White Fiesta Flower

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Chinese Houses


Pinnacles NM_Chinese Houses4, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Collinsia concolor
Chinese Houses (aka White Collinsia)

Pinnacles National Monument - Miner's Lettuce


Pinnacles NM_Miner's Lettuce2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Claytonia parviflora
Miner's Lettuce (aka Streambank Springbeauty)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Johnny Jump Up


Pinnacles NM_Johnny Jump Up1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Viola pedunculata
Johnny Jump Up (aka California Golden Violet)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - California Poppy


Pinnacles NM_California Poppy, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy - the state flower of California

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Red Stem Filaree


Pinnacles NM_Red Stem Filaree, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Erodium cicutarium
Red Stem Filaree (aka Coastal Heron's Bill, Redstem Stork's Bill)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Broadleaf Filareee


Pinnacles NM_Broad Leaf Filareee, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Erodium botrys
Broadleaf Filaree (aka Longbeaked Filaree, Longbeak Stork's Bill)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Blue Dicks


Pinnacles NM_Blue Dicks1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Dichelostemma capitatum
Blue Dicks (aka Wild Hyacinth)

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Juniper Canyon Trail


Pinnacles NM_Juniper Canyon, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
A view from the Juniper Canyon Trail on the west side of the Pinnacles.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Juniper Canyon Trail

Another view of the Juniper Canyon Trail

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Juniper Canyon Trail

A view from the Juniper Canyon Trail on the west side of the Pinnacles.

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Juniper Canyon Trail


Pinnacles NM_Juniper Canyon (3), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

A view from Juniper Canyon Trail on the west side of the Pinnacles.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Pinnacles National Monument (West) - Barn


Pinnacles NM_Barn, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Just a pic of a cool looking barn near the entrance to the West Pinnacles National Monument.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - Lupine


Pinnacles NM_Lupine, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - California Towhee


Pinnacles NM_California Towhee3, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Melozone crissalis
California Towhee

Pinnacles National Monument - (East) - Spotted Towhee


Pinnacles NM_Spotted Towhee5, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Pipilo maculatus
Spotted Towhee - there were quite a few of these guys at the East Pinnacles campground.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - California Quail (female)


Pinnacles NM_California Quail_fm, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Callipepla californica
California Quail (female) - the female's plume looks more like an apostophe, whereas the male's plume looks like a question mark. The female also is duller in color than the male.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - California Quail


Pinnacles NM_California Quail1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.
Callipepla californica
This male California Quail gives his best runway pose. He is more boldly colored than the female. He has a black head, whereas the female is grey/brown all over.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - Cottontail Rabbit - 4/22/12


Pinnacles NM_cottontail2, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Pinnacles National Monument (East) - Cottontail Rabbit - 4/22/12


Pinnacles NM_Cottontail1, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The tail end of a Cottontail Rabbit (no pun intended - lol)

17 Mile Drive - The Lone Cypress - 4/23/12


IMG_2298, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

17 Mile Drive - 4/23/12


IMG_2291, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

17 Mile Drive - 4/23/12


IMG_2379, originally uploaded by kimberzy.