Len's Update - Lower Laurel's Sanicle and Early Birds

My good friend Len was once again so generous to share his field observations with me today. Here's what he writes about Lower Laurel Trail and the birds/plants of special note:

I did lower Laurel this morning with Paul. We were scoping out the birding for his bird walk on Sunday morning. Some spring migrants are there already, some of which are early. We saw Bullock's Oriole, Violet-green Swallow, Cassin's Vireo (early), Black-throated Gray Warbler (early). In addition, Paul heard Pacific Slope Flycatcher.

There is a lot of Sanicle coming up along the trail. It's probably Sanicula arguta (snakeroot or Sharp-toothed Sanicle) or Sanicula crassicaulis (Pacific Sanicle). It's a yellow-flowered herb, about a foot tall, with flowers in an umbel. It's in the carrot family (Apiaceae). We've been seeing the new foliage for the last couple of months. I didn't know what it was, though, without the flowers. There are some look-alikes in the genus, so identification to the species can be tricky.

Blue-eyed Grass is coming into bloom now, too.

Of course, when Len speaks of Paul's bird hike, he is referring to the following hike taking place this Sunday morning from 8-11 AM. Here is the description of the hike, from the Laguna Canyon Foundation's Website (www.lagunacanyon.org):

March 29, Sunday, 8:00-11:00 a.m., Birding Hike: Spot spring and migratory birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists Paul Klahr and Len Gardner on this moderate, but steep, 3.5-mile hike through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States. Bring binoculars. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Rd, just south of El Toro Rd intersection). Reservations required: 949-923-2235. Parking: $3

For more information on Laguna Canyon's activities (such as Paul Klahr's bird hikes and the like) visit Laguna Canyon Foundation at www.lagunacanyon.org. Reservations are required for most activities and we recommend you reserve in advance, so that you aren't put on a long waiting list! LCF's activities are very popular and in demand!

And make sure that you support the Laguna Canyon Foundation with your generous donations - in order to protect, preserve and enhance our beautiful South Coast Wilderness, we need your financial support! Thanks for all you do to help "KEEP IT WILD."