https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819 <span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">When many flowering plants have disappeared underground, no evidence we can see &ndash; annual native Hayfields Tarweeds spring to life, providing color (if white is a color) for observers and sustenance for pollinators. White flowers stand out from the season&rsquo;s predominate colors: muted green of Coast Live Oak; tan of dry annual grasses; blue of sky. Brick-red Poison Oak comes into its own. A softer accent: red tail on the eponymous hawk, trailing the black and tan feathers of the soaring predator. </span><br/> <br/><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">More patterns: twisted dark branches beneath dark green canopy of Coast Live Oak. Crack-riddled serpentine rock, circles of light-green lichen over rust-red. Twisted branches of old Valley Oak snag, peeling bark, riddled with acorn-ready cavities. Even in visible light, Hayfields Tarweed presents a bullseye, pinkish-veined white petals guiding gathering insects to the central target of pollen-laden tiny flowers; I wonder, how does this pattern appear to a bee&rsquo;s infrared vision?</span><br/> <br/><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">Sounds? Hawk calls, pigeons too &ndash; but no sign of their interaction. (My fellow birders hear more birdcalls.) Soft breeze, a touch more than a whisper.</span><br/> <br/><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">Aroma of tarweed pervades the air.</span><br/> <br/><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">August birding transect out of Escobar Gate.</span> en-us Dan Quinn capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:56:24 GMT Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:40 GMT Landscapes Scenic https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-10/p1591264904-10.jpg https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819 120 120 https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C677

]]>Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia) comes into its own, providing color and succor for docents and insects. Grassland Fire Road leads under Blue Oak canopy leaving Escobar Gate. 8/19/2026, 7:04 am. iPhone photo.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Welcome to Jasper Ridge -- with Tarweed https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C677 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:57:52 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C688

]]>7:04 am. iPhone photo.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C688 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:57:54 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C696

]]>7:08 am. Focus stack: check out the spiky stem behind the bud. Do you notice the tiny insect at 2 pm?

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C696 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:57:57 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6AF

]]>7:04 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Tangle of Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6AF Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:00 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6BB

]]>Active today. 7:07 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Harvester Ants (Veromessor andrei) Gather Seeds https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6BB Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:01 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6C6

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 7:09 am. Please leave a comment!

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Flowers https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6C6 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:04 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6D6

]]>Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia) tower over Grassland Fire Road; Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum( adds autumn color. 8/19/2026, 7:21 am. iPhone photo.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Sheltering Oaks https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6D6 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:07 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6DB

]]>7:25 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6DB Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:08 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6E4

]]>Old Valley Oak, now a granary for Acorn Woodpeckers. Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 7:26 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Phaenopepla Tree https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6E4 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:09 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6F4

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 7:25 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Granary Tree https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C6F4 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:11 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C714

]]>Sally focuses on a mixed flock of pigeons and doves. Hayfields Tarweed abounds. On the hill beyond, Blue Oaks give way to Coast Live Oaks towards the top. Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:32:21 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Watching Birds https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C714 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:14 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C728

]]>Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) with Band-tailed Pigeons (Patagioena fasciata)? Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:30:47 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Pigeons and Doves Together https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C728 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:16 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C73A

]]>Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) with Band-tailed Pigeons (Patagioena fasciata)? Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:32:38 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Pigeons and Doves Together https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C73A Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:17 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C751

]]>Mixed flock of pigeons and doves. Serpentine Rocks; Hayfields Tarweed abounds in serpentine soil. Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:33:16 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Pigeon in Flight https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C751 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:19 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C75E

]]>Band-tailed Pigeons (Patagioena fasciata)? Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:43:27 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Pigeons https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C75E Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:21 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C76E

]]>Band-tailed Pigeons (Patagioena fasciata)? Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:47:54 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Silhouetted Pigeons https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C76E Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:22 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C779

]]>Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioena fasciata)? Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:49:08 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Pigeon Calling https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C779 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:23 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C796

]]>And Hayfields Tarweeds. Birding Transect Trail, 8/19/2026, 8:53 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Serpentine Rocks https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C796 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:25 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7A9

]]>And Hayfields Tarweeds. Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:11 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Bare Branches, Poison Oak https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7A9 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:27 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7C1

]]>Grassland, chaparral, oaks on hilltop. Red-tailed Hawk keeps watch over it all. Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:28:56 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Panorama https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7C1 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:29 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7C7

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:29:11 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7C7 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:30 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7D2

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:30:06 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7D2 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:31 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7E4

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:30:07 am. am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Calls Out https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7E4 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:32 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7E9

]]>Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:30:32 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Soaring Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C7E9 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:32 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C801

]]>Windy Hill. Grassland Fire Road, 8/19/2026, 9:36 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Phaenopepla Tree https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C801 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:34 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C812

]]>Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia) tower over Grassland Fire Road, casting dappled shadows. 8/19/2026, 9:43 am. iPhone photo.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Live Oak Canopy https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C812 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:37 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C82C

]]>Birders pass beneath the Blue Oak Canopy toward Escobar Gate. 8/19/2026, 9:52 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Birding Accomplished, August 2026 https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260819/e5ED8C82C Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:58:39 GMT