Silver lining

 

 

Light near the western horizon, 28 March 2021

Near full

 

 

Near full moon photographed from Cotati on 27 March 2021.

Cup of gold

  

I've been working on some indoor projects recently, so here's a photo from the archives.  Since the spring flowers are starting to bloom, enjoy this golden California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica).  (This one was photographed in May 2011.)

The lily and the fly

 

 

Eric and I came across a nice patch of Death Camas or Fremont's Star Lily (Toxicoscordion fremontii, formerly Zigadenus fremontii) recently.  Eric wondered what might pollinate them.  I wasn't sure, but I had seen flies pollinating other lilies, so we started to look around.  

As we kneeled down for a closer view, we started noticing some small flies nestled among the petals of the lilies, and sometimes they'd rest out towards the tips:

 

  

With a zoomed in view, you could really see the pollen grains on the flies, especially on the thorax and the eyes:

 

 

Eric did a little research and narrowed down the identification to a group of hoverflies, perhaps in the genus Cheilosia.  These flies are sometimes referred to as "blacklets."  [If anyone knows more about these flies and can confirm the i.d., we'd appreciate any assistance.]

Here's another view, this time from the side.  It's fun to think about what a nice spot these flies have for feeding and resting as well as the assistance they provide to the lilies!

 

Chocolate bells

  

 

 Chocolate Lilies (Fritillaria affinis) photographed in Marin County on 21 March 2021

 

 

 

 

Cast ashore

Spring winds pushed some gelatinous animals on shore yesterday.  Here are some examples, shown in order from the animals we encountered most frequently to those that were less common during a walk on Salmon Creek Beach on 19 March 2021:

 

 

Giant Bell Jelly (Scrippsia pacifica)

 

 

 

By-the-wind Sailor (Velella velella) — most of these were small, only ~5-6 mm long

 

 

 

 

Nectophore of the siphonophore, Hippopodius hippopus

 

 

 

 

Comb jelly, or sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia bachei)

 

 

 

 

Moon jelly (Aurelia sp.)

 

Soon to be spring

 

 

Soon to be spring along the Sonoma Coast, 19 March 2021