https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907 <span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">Deer move cautiously away as we enter Escobar Gate. Western Bluebirds flock to the young Blue Oak opposite. Down the hill a bit, Acorn Woodpeckers collect acorns as the morning warms up.</span><br/> <br/><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;">Ancient &ldquo;Phainopepla Tree&rdquo;, a dead Valley Oak, has a commanding view of grassland and forest, even the fog cascading over Windy Hill. (Now it functions as a granary tree for a collective of Acorn Woodpeckers; high on a ridgetop, it also offers a lookout perch for raptors and songbirds.) Birders see more than winged creatures: large empty oak gall remains in Coast Live Oak. Orb-weave Spider lurks in the grassland. Lomatium, Lessingia, and Tarweed add color to the summer palette.</span> en-us Dan Quinn capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:42:42 GMT Sun, 13 Sep 2026 22:46:23 GMT Birds Animals https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-10/p1607592045-10.jpg https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907 120 93 https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E716

]]>Two deer react to the new visitor. Perhaps does? Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma), Escobar Gate, 9/6/2026, 7:20 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Wildlife Welcome to Jasper Ridge https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E716 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:43:53 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E737

]]>A small flock just inside Escobar Gate. Could this be a Mountain Bluebird? 9/6/2026, 7:21:47 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E737 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:43:55 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E75F

]]>7:28:32 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Grooming Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E75F Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:43:57 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7A2

]]>7:22:45 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Young Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7A2 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:01 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7C0

]]>Just inside Escobar Gate. 9/6/2026, 7:30:03 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Bluebird Plus https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7C0 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:03 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7E1

]]>Just inside Escobar Gate. 9/6/2026, 7:30:46 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7E1 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:05 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7F5

]]>Creek Trail (Trail 2), just below Escobar Gate on the short foray with the birders. 9/6/2026, 7:34:22 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Male Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) Holds Acorn https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E7F5 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:06 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E805

]]>Tail down. Creek Trail (Trail 2), just below Escobar Gate on the short foray with the birders. 9/6/2026, 7:34:23 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Male Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) Carries Acorn https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E805 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:08 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E819

]]>Birders pass beneath the Blue Oak Canopy along the Grassland Fire Road just inside Escobar Gate. 9/6/2026, 7:45 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Entering the Preserve https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E819 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:10 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E82C

]]>Ancient snag of a Valley Oak, on a ridge along Grassland Fire Road. 9/6/2026, 8:10 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Phainopepla Tree https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E82C Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:11 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E841

]]>In Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia) along Grassland Fire Road. 9/6/2026, 8:18 am. iPhone photo. Thanks to John Rawlings for pointing this out!

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Large Oak Gall https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E841 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:12 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E851

]]>Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Birding Transect Trail, 9/6/2026, 8:29 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Orb-weaver Spider https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E851 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:14 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E85C

]]>With Hayfield Tarweed flowers below. Serpentine Trail (Trail 15). 9/6/2026, 9:56 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Small-leaved Lomatium (L. parvifolium) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E85C Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:15 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E86D

]]>Serpentine Trail (Trail 15). 9/6/2026, 10:00 am. Tentative ID by iNaturalist.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Woollyhead Lessingia (L. holoeuca) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E86D Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:16 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E879

]]>Serpentine Trail (Trail 15). 9/6/2026, 10:02 am. Tentative ID by iNaturalist.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Woollyhead Lessingia (L. holoeuca) (?) https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E879 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:17 GMT https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E8A5

]]>Leaving Jasper Ridge via Escobbar Gate, just behind. 9/6/2026, 10:17 am.

]]> capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) Blue Oak Canopy https://capturethelight.zenfolio.com/260907/e5FD1E8A5 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:44:20 GMT