Picchetti Ranch Hike, June 8, 2018

Ginger went on a Mid-Peninsula Open Space District sponsored hike in Picchetti Ranch Preserve.

Here is the official description of the hike:

What was that bird you just saw flying across the trail ahead? What is that bird doing in the underbrush? Docents Bill and Marilyn Bauriedel, and Farhana Kazi will cover some of the tried and true ways to help identify birds that tend to frequent this Preserve in late spring and summer. Birding by habitat and behavior are good methods. You'll explore grassland, oak woodland, chaparral, creekside, and up in the thermals. Bring binoculars if you have them. A spotting scope will be available to view perched birds. You'll walk along the Zinfandel and Orchard Loop Trails on this leisurely-paced hike with minimal elevation gain.

Click Here for preserve map.

Wildflower References

All photos copyright Ginger Wolnik


trail entrance sign


information about the preserve


fruit of California Manroot (Wild cucumber) Marah fabeceus


Rough Hawksbeard Crepis vesicaria ssp. taraxacifolia


Rough Hawksbeard Crepis vesicaria ssp. taraxacifolia


reddish new oak leaves


Golden Yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum


closeup of Golden Yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum


Lehigh Permanente Quarry


California Cudweed Pseudognaphalium californicum


closeup of California Cudweed Pseudognaphalium californicum


Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis (non-native)


dead shrew on the path


Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum


Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum


closeup of Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum


Ithuriel's Spear Triteleia laxa


pond sign


the pond was dried up


another view of the dry pond


oak gall


open gall on the ground


Wood Rose Rosa gymnocarpa


closeup of Wood Rose Rosa gymnocarpa


Pink Honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula


Pitcher Sage Lepechinia calycina


Poison Oak leaves turning red already


bird watchers listening and consulting guides


excited bird watchers


The littlest bird watcher!


bird watchers in the distance


California Broom, Deerweed Acmispon glaber next to the trail


California Broom, Deerweed Acmispon glaber


closeup of California Broom, Deerweed Acmispon glaber


Yerba Buena Clinopodium douglasii


Yerba Buena Clinopodium douglasii


closeup of Yerba Buena Clinopodium douglasii


closeup of Yerba Buena Clinopodium douglasii


Coffee Fern Pellaea andromedifolia


Naked Buckwheat Eriogonum nudum


closeup of Naked Buckwheat Eriogonum nudum with butterfly on right


base of Naked Buckwheat Eriogonum nudum


Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule


Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule


Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule


Woolly Indian Paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa


Woolly Indian Paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa


Woolly Indian Paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa


Woolly Indian Paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa


Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor


Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor


Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor


closeup of Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor


Elegant Clarkia Clarkia unguiculata


Elegant Clarkia Clarkia unguiculata


closeup of Elegant Clarkia Clarkia unguiculata


sign at the boundry with the County Park, we turned around shortly past here


California chicory Rafinesquia californica


California Buckeye Aesculus californica next to the trail


Elk Clover (California Spikenard) Aralia californica


Elk Clover (California Spikenard) Aralia californica


closeup of Elk Clover Aralia californica

The End!