Narrow-Leaved Milkweed

Now at the end of September...

...the seedpods are bursting open.

For comparison, the same plant one month ago...

...in flower, even as some pods were forming.

It began like this: back at the end of July, flowers were first opening...

...no idea what the outlandish orange mites were about.

Tobacco Hornworm

Something caught my eye.

The plant is called "Indian Tobacco"; it's in the same genus, Nicotiana, as regular smoking tobacco.

The caterpillar becomes a very large (5" wingspan) moth called Carolina Sphinx that flies at dawn and dusk and feeds on the flowers of the same family of plants, the Nightshade.  And that's also where it lays its eggs.

If the caterpillar survives predators it will pupate underground for the winter, emerge in the Spring, and the cycle begins again.

The caterpillar's head is at the bottom of the photo.

Great Egret

The seasonal pond is no more than a puddle, but he tried to fish...

...until I disturbed him. Some species of birds do not like to be watched by humans, even from a safe distance.

Note the green line under the eye. And massive beak.

Acorn Woodpecker, Displaying

As the weather cools, Acorn Woodpeckers seem to confuse the season with Spring.

The photo is blurry, but the spiny fin-like tail is apparent.

Gray Hairstreak

Feeding on doveweed and horehound...

... one wing has been nibbled, letting us glimpse the opposite wing's topside marking.

The trailing "spurs" are decoy antennae.  Looks like it worked for this guy.

Another day, another Hairstreak, now upside down.
Look how elaborately it says "My butt is my head!"

The Crystal Range

While drinking coffee with a friend, sitting on a deck, mountains in the distance... I realize I don't know what I'm looking at.  It's a snowy ribbon on the horizon... it's where you drive to go skiing... it's "the mountains"...

I take a picture and resolved to study it, to identify the features, and answer questions that have nagged me.

Here's a zoom of "the mountains" -- 3/4 of the year they are bright white, snow-covered.

I've always wanted to know:

• I see these peaks every day - what are their names?
• Where is Tahoe in relation to the jagged line?
• Does the road to Tahoe cut through one of these gaps or notches?
• Is this the ridge line of the Sierra, or are there higher peaks beyond these?
• How far away is it?

A first look at Google Satellite Map:

I took the photograph from the left end of the red line, and know  "the mountains" are roughly East North East.  So, the light gray area is probably what I'm looking at.  It is a vast area of exposed granite.

That makes sense: in late summer, when the snow melts, the far mountains do not become green - they are a powdery gray.

Google's Terrain Map settled several questions.

• The silhouette is the crest of the Sierra Nevada; there are no higher peaks behind.
• This section is known as the "Crystal Range"
• It is about 45 miles away, as the crow flies.

But even when I magnify the topographic map, I can't be sure which peak is which.

I want to see the same profile of the mountain against the sky, to be certain of the mountains, and to get names for the peaks.

I download Google Earth and fly from my location towards the Crystal Range, hoping to see the exact silhouette that's on the photograph.

Close enough.
Actually, one flyby was a perfect match but I'm having trouble precisely recreating it.

Result:

After living here 10 years, I finally know that I'm looking at the Crystal Range.

The bleak bleached granite area is the Desolation Wilderness.  And the prominent peaks have names.

The road to Tahoe bypasses the highest mountains and crosses the crest to the south.

Tahoe Basin is right behind the north part of the range.

American Yellowrocket

Beside a seasonal creekbed, dry for months.

Note the twinning, "broken" stems.

Mustard family.

California Goldenrod

On our walking circuit, we've noticed only one stand of goldenrod.  Blooming in September.

Bluebirds & Elderberry

A commotion draws our attention to a small Elderberry at the side of the road.

Five bluebirds (and a couple of house finches) frantically feed as if they've been waiting for  today.

From the perch of a shed roof they leap & snatch a berry and bring it back in their beak.

They always first attempt to hover beneath a bunch -- but in the end they must grab on and hang upside down.

Chaparral Honeysuckle

There are several varieties of honeysuckle in the Motherlode.  My daughter says she remembers the blossoms were yellow. 

Note the leaves completely encircle the vine.  That was the clue when identifying.

A photo of this honeysuckle in bloom is found HERE.

Mournful Dusky-Wing

...on a Coffeeberry bush

Chickory

A lone bloom on a lone plant in a big empty field.

Each "petal" is actually a distinct flower, with male and female parts.

Horseweed

This year it lines every roadside.

Mid-July, a foot or two high

Now early September they stand 7 feet and blooming

This wasp seems the most common pollinator:

Spanish Clover, Spanish Lotus

A green tangle of vines in the dry brush...

...with flashes of purple.

A member of the pea family.

Tarweed, Spikeweed

There are many species of "tarweed"...

...but "Fitch's Tarweed" seems a match; see Calflora: Hemizonia fitchii

Fiery Skipper

Early morning, wet cut lawn.  There were many.

Movement within 10 feet triggers flight; best to stand still and let them wander close.

I believe Skippers are the ones that form the spontaneous swirling balls of 3 or 5.

Identified at FloraLore

Autumn Willowherb, Fireweed

Roadside, 5 feet tall.

Identified at Calflora: Epilobium brachycarpum

Acmon Blue

A small flitter. 

Identified via the El Dorado FloraLore butterfly page.

Praying Mantis

Approximately 4" long.

This shell, left behind after a molting, shows the barbed clasping arms.