A Hike to Tahquitz Peak

There are a couple of ways to get to Tahquitz Peak. I usually choose the South Ridge trail despite the fact that the last mile is pretty steep. The views are spectacular which makes up for the temporary suffering I endure.

This past weekend, we hiked on Devil's Slide with an extra mile added on along the PCT. I picked this longer route in hopes of seeing a bird I had seen 2 years ago along this section of the trail. My hope was that I'd see it again. Odds were not in my favor.

When we arrived in the high country, we did find this newly arrived winter resident, the Hermit Thrush. He/she is the only thrush that remains in North America during winter. The others fly to warmer grounds further south. Since they are only here in the winter, I never hear their flute-like songs. William Dawson (1923) wrote..."He who has never heard the evening requiem of the hermit has missed the choicest thing which Nature in California has to offer."

At approximately 8,000 feet, this dark bird flew into a tall Sugar Pine tree. At first all we could see was his black head and back. Eventually, he came into view.

I found my "treasure"! The Williamson's Sapsucker came into full view albeit from a tall branch far from where I was standing. It is better than a Loch Ness monster photo but not much better. Wow! It made the extra mile of hiking with a fully loaded backpack all worth it!

Suicide Rock opposite Tahquitz Rock

Most of the Summer skies have been filled with smoke from distant wildfires. Today was different. The skies were clear enabling us to see as far as Catalina Island to the west and the Salton Sea to the southeast. Amazing!

 

"We reached the treeline and I dropped my pack, sat down on my haunches and I looked back down over the mountain, helpless, speechless, breathless, Gaia.

James Taylor

"Gaia"

Discovering Pink Bellies and Chewbaca in Disguise

It's been a great week of discovering new birds and furry animals! I'll start with the Lewis's Woodpecker. This beautiful pink-bellied bird came to our backyard with a couple of his pals twice in one week! We haven't seen this Sierra bird in 2 years so it was a great sighting for us!

 During the same week, we found our very first Red-naped Sapsucker! They are rarely seen in our mountains as well but a few lucky people see them in the Winter occasionally. This one looked like it had just landed from a night of flight. He sat motionlessly on this Jeffrey Pine tree trunk blinking his eyes slowly. Great for us since we could get a good look at him.

We had a couple of new butterflies to add to our list. This one landed on our newly planted Butterfly Bush. It looks quite like the other Swallowtails but remember it's all in the details...this is the Anise Swallowtail. It has dark "shoulders".

The other new butterfly for us was this Common Buckeye. No other butterfly on the mountain looks quite like this one. Yeah! There are a few easy ones to learn.

Coffee Berry bushes are filled with berries now. At Lake Hemet, we found both a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows feasting.

By far, the cutest animals on the mountain this past week were the two alpacas who came to visit at the annual quilt show. If you are in the market for alpacas, they can be purchased from a farm in Anza. These animals are incredibly magnetic! We couldn't leave them. Once they started to make a sound, I heard Chewbaca speaking to me! Wow! George Lucas must have been inspired by these guys!

It's been an exciting couple of weeks down the mountain in the desert for thousands of classic Rock fans. If you listen closely, you can pretend to hear Paul, Mick, Bob, Neil and Roger singing to cheering fans! Enjoy! Tonight is the final night of the historic concert!

 Click on photos to enlarge.

Photos and content by Robin Roberts.

Early Fall Days on the Mountain

South Ridge Trailhead

Seasons are shifting. Clouds fill the blue skies and cooler air has returned.

Seven Pines Trail

In our previous southeastern home, skies like this would precede a rainstorm. As much as I hoped and expected to get wet on our recent Seven Pines Trail hike, not a drop fell. Predicting weather based on 

the clouds here is futile.

Pygmy Nuthatch

While migrating birds are filling up on their southward journeys, our resident birds like the Mountain Chickadee and Pygmy Nuthatch are in constant motion caching seeds from the abundant pine cones.

Merriam's chipmunk

Chipmunks are busy as well. This little guy was at the top of the tallest Limber Pine tree on Tahquitz Peak (8,846feet) stuffing his cheeks with nuts to store in his hiding spot before Winter sets in.

Granite Spiny Lizard - male

It's still warm enough for the lizards. Granite Spiny Lizards are the "big guys" on the mt. They can measure up to 11 inches. In fact, when I returned from Tahquitz Peak, I thought chipmunks were crossing my path but it turned out to be these lizards. This summer a researcher from Loma Linda University stated that he believes our venomous Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes get their extra potent venom from feasting on these lizards.

Red-shouldered Hawk, Juvenile

All the critters need to keep an eye out for the quiet one with a sharp beak and curved, sharp talons!

 For my insect curious friends, here's a new one for us. It is some type of stick bug. Very different from  the ones we see in Georgia. It blends in with pine straw perfectly. Since it was on our house, we could spot it.

At the end of a cloud filled day, the sunsets are spectacular. Welcome Fall!!!