Tag Archives: Will Ericson

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Will Ericson found an endangered butterfly, a Behren’s Silverspot.

He wrote, “Here is the endangered Speyeria zerene behrensii, seen on the coastal prairie bluffs near Point Arena, it’s host is Viola adunca.” The common name for the host plant is Western Dog Violet. Here's a photo of the host plant, taken a while ago by Margaret Lindgren.

Will also photographed Dogface Butterflies.

He wrote, “The male has a dark egg yolk color with a metallic purple sheen on the forewing that the females do not have. I’ve never seen so many Dogface Butterflies as I have this year.” Will is seeing these colorful beauties in the Annapolis area. I have never seen one on the immediate coast. Let me know if you have.

More butterflies are appearing and gracing us with their presence.

Thanks to Will and Marg for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's cooler today due to our coastal air conditioning, ie the fog. It's sunny in Anchor Bay and in the low 70s. Perfect!

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Kathryn Arnold and Michael Kleeman sent in a fascinating video of three Yellow-faced Bumblebees. She wrote, “Michael and I came across some bees behaving mysteriously. There is one large bee and two smaller ones. They appear to be the same species. Are the two smaller ones attacking the larger one? Trying to mate? Hitching a ride? Thanks for helping us solve the mystery!”

I sent Kathryn’s video to Peter Baye and he shared it with entomologist Will Ericson. Peter wrote, “That’s was a Bombus vosnesenskii – Yellow-faced Bumblebee - queen copulating with two males. Will said he’d never seen the actual act before!”

Here's the video:

Thanks to Kathryn for allowing me to share her photo and video with you here.

Cloudy and cool-ish today, quite nice for a walk.

Spring doesn't know...

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Ken Browning trained his camera on a beautiful member of the orchid family, a Merten's Coralroot, Corallorrhiza mertensiana.

You will see there is in an insect resting lightly on one blossom. I asked entomologist Will Ericson what is was and he responded, "That looks like some dipteran but I'm not sure. I saw similar midges pollinating Scoliopus flowers."

There are many pollinators in nature! Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Lots of visitors to the Mendonoma coast are here, enjoying the sunny, warm weather!

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Will Ericson has been exploring the Wheatfield fork of the Gualala River and some of its tributaries. He found these rare beauties, a colony of California Fawn Lilies, Erythronium californicum.

Will also found a stand of old-growth Redwood trees in his wanderings.

And while he was there, he startled a Spotted Owl from its roosting place, a thrilling sighting of this endangered little owl.

Thanks to Will for allowing me to shared his photos with you here!

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Western Pond Turtles can occasionally be seen along the Gualala River. They are quite shy so often the only sighting is the ring of circles where the turtle just disappeared in the water. Will Ericson recently saw and photographed one.

Western Pond Turtle by Will Ericson A Western Pond Turtle by Will EricsonThese turtles are only found on the West Coast of the United States and Mexico, from Washington State to northern Baja California. They eat a wide variety of food, including plants, insects, and fish.

Thanks to Will for allowing me to share his photos with you here.