Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

Sunday, we managed to leave early for the hour drive to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. We arrived at 8 am hoping to see wildlife still out in the open.  The morning was clear and sunny, but there was still frost on the ground.

The reserve covers approximately 8,400 acres, with the majority off limits to bikes, dogs, and horses - yeah!

Right away we heard and saw a Red-shouldered Hawk being mobbed by crows.  Next was an awesome California Ground Squirrel. Did you know that adults have varying degrees of resistance to rattlesnake venom?

As we got further back into the hills we heard the most beautiful chorus of meadowlarks.  They were gurgling all around us!

Gail spotted this coyote hunting for breakfast.  It didn't seem too concerned about us.  Coyotes are quite special when you see them in the wild (as compared to one walking down the street in the middle of the morning with a cat in its jaws).

Something under the ground!  We saw it pounce, but it came up short.  It then trotted off a little, lay down in the grass, and rolled around on its back.  It also yawned a few times and seemed to relish the warmth of the sun.

A few minutes later, I spotted this one.

Hi there!

Moving on, we spotted one of several Say's Phoebes we saw this day.  They perch a little off the ground, then fly off and grab an insect out of the air, often returning to the same perch.

At the old ranch house, we saw White-crowned Sparrows...

and a few Acorn Woodpeckers.

We had lunch near the old adobe ranch house.  That's the old barn and stone corral in this picture.

Near the barn were some wild squash commonly called buffalo gourds.  They are edible and their tap roots are high in oil.  We have seen them out in the desert!

The old ranch house.

The reserve seems like my idea of what California used to be like - at least this part of California.

There are prairies, oak forests, and sycamore studded creeks.

On the plateau, there are several large vernal pools.

Sycamores and sky.

Gnarlness!

So long, SRPER!  We will be back to see you in a couple months when you're grass is green, your pools filled, and your streams running.