Lake Cunningham, June 26, 2022
Ginger and Karen went on a reserved, guided walk. Here is the description: At the onset of summer, join Arvind Kumar, Ashok Jethanandani, and Vicki Silvas-Young for a beginner's bird and plant identification walk through Lake Cunningham Park. This park provides food, water, and shelter for our local breeding birds and its native garden is utilized by these breeding birds due to its habitat value. On this walk, you will learn how to identify the common birds of our area, as well as the native plants they depend on for food and shelter. The distance is 2 miles round-trip on a level path. Bring a hat, water, your bird+plant list, and binoculars. Wear comfortable walking shoes. This event is organized jointly by CNPS, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.

Click Here for PDF of Bird and Plant list

Wildflower References


Sign identifying our group


Vicki and Ashok with bird identification guide


flower parts for identification


Arvind and Ashok with plant morphology guide


Lake Cunninghame Regional Park plaque


view of Lake Cunningham


Pied-billed Grebes


Canada Geese by the marina


Canada Geese in the parking lot


Peking Duck (domesticated Mallard)


American Coot


Great-tailed Grackle


Great-tailed Grackle


Great-tailed Grackle


Mallard hybrid?


Mallard hybrid


Mallard hybrid


kite stuck in a Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus (non-native)


Narrow-leaf Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus tenuis (non-native)


closeup of Narrow-leaf Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus tenuis (non-native)


Hoary Cress? Lepidium draba along a fence (non-native)


Hoary Cress? Lepidium draba hanging over the water (non-native)


Salt Bush Atriplex lentiformis


closeup of Salt Bush Atriplex lentiformis


Arvind under his favorite Valley Oak Quercus lobata


Valley Oak Quercus lobata leaves


Valley Oak Quercus lobata galls


Fremont Cottonwood Populus fremontii on the right


Fremont Cottonwood Populus fremontii leaves


Zauschneria Epilobium canum


Zauschneria Epilobium canum flowers


Blue Elderberry Sambucus nigra caerulea


Salt Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum


flowers of Salt Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum


closeup of Salt Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum


California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum


closeup of California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum


sign for California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum


Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus ilicifolia


Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia


closeup of Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia


California Goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica


closeup of California Goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica


California Aster Symphyotrichum chilense


California Aster Symphyotrichum chilense flowers


closeup of California Aster Symphyotrichum chilense


Narrow-leaved Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis


closeup of Narrow-leaved Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis


Great Golden Digger Wasp on Narrow-leaved Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis


another view of the Great Golden Digger Wasp


front view of the Great Golden Digger Wasp


side view of the Great Golden Digger Wasp


top view of the Great Golden Digger Wasp


Soap Lily Chlorogalum pomeridianum seed pods


Soap Lily Chlorogalum pomeridianum dried leaves


Western Vervain Verbena lasiostachys


closeup of Western Vervain Verbena lasiostachys


another closeup of Western Vervain Verbena lasiostachys


Salt Marsh Goldenrod Euthamia occidentalis


closeup of Salt Marsh Goldenrod Euthamia occidentalis


California Buckeye Aesculus californica


Saint Catherine's Lace Eriogonum giganteum


Saint Catherine's Lace Eriogonum giganteum flowers


Chaparral Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus


Chaparral Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus flower


side view of Chaparral Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus flower


closeup of Chaparral Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus


Bladderpod Peritoma arborea


Bladderpod Peritoma arborea flowers


Bladderpod Peritoma arborea pods


dried Hummingbird Sage Salvia spathacea

The End!