Wildflower Mount Diablo Slender Clarkia, Clarkia, Farewell to spring, Graceful clarkia Scientific Name: Clarkia gracilis Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Blooms: April - July Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Wildflower Mount Diablo Clasping Henbit, Henbit Invasive Scientific Name: Lamium amplexicaule Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Blooms: Mar - Apr Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Introduced Native to Europe Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

Wildflower Mount Diablo Charlock, Wild Mustard Scientific Name: Sinapis arvensis Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Blooms: December Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Introduced Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Wildflower Mount Diablo Western Wallflower Scientific Name: Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Blooms: Mar - May Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Jayah Faye Paley

European Starling Waxwings, Phainopepla, and Starlings European Starling Sturnus vulgaris All Year Waxwings, Phainopepla, and Starlings Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Found in or near places of human habitation. In the breeding season, note iridescent black/purple colors on head and underparts, dark brownish wings, and yellowish bill. In the winter, acquires a speckled appearance, and bill is duller. Starlings differ from blackbirds by having a comparatively shorter tail. These birds may mimic vocalizations of other species. Nests in natural cavities, but may also use nest boxes intended for other, native species if the hole is large enough. As a result the introduction of starlings has adversely affected many native species that also nest in cavities (e.g. bluebirds). Diet includes invertebrates, fruits, berries, and seeds.

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides Hesperiidae Skippers Flies June to November Host Plant Grass Nectar Plant Yellow starthistle Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Interior Underwing Daniel Fitzgerald Coastal Underwing

Wildflower Mount Diablo Ruby Chalice Clarkia Scientific Name: Clarkia rubicunda Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Blooms: May-Aug Color: Red-Pink Annual herb, endemic to California Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Ashmeadiella Ashmeadiella Megachilidae Ashmeadiella Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Burly, non-metallic bee with a black head and thorax, and pale stripes on abdomen. Some Ashmeadiella have red abdomens. It has a smooth anterior surface of the thorax separated from the thoracic sides by a sharp ridge, and the back part is hairy and pitted. Small bees – 6 mm in length. Ashmeadiella have an arolium pad between leg tarsal claws (unlike Megachile ). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Many Ashmeadiella are generalist bees, but a few species are associated with specific plants. Habits These bees nest in wood, soil, stems, or spaces under rocks. Some use leaves and petals, bound with nectar, resin, sap, or gum, in nests to separate cells. Season Summer

Wildflower Mount Diablo Diablo Range Dudleya Scientific Name: Dudleya cymosa paniculata Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) Blooms: Apr-Jul Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Variable Checkerspot by Dan Sandri March 24, 2025 Dan Sandri Here's a super-common butterfly - the Variable Checkerspot. Also known as the Chalcedon Checkerspot, the Variable Checkerspot is more commonly seen on Mount Diablo right now as a caterpillar. The caterpillars are black, with orange markings, which warn potential predators that they taste bitter due to the iridoid glcosides they accumulate from the plants they eat. Caterpillars can be seen now feeding on the leaves, flowers and bracts of Indian Paintbrush, Monkey Flower, Penstemon , Plectritis , California Figwort (aka California Beeplant, aka Scrophularia californica ) and many other plants. When they reach full size, they drop off into the leaf litter, or under fallen limbs or rocks, and pupate. They will emerge as adults the following Spring. There is one generation of butterflies per year. Why are they called Variable Checkerspots? The adult comes in many shades, with the top of the forewing colored with a mix of black, orange, or brown, with a mix of yellow, red, or white spots, or some combination of some or all those colors (see the difference in the 2 adults shown here). The smaller male butterflies show mostly in April – June and patrol constantly for the larger females. Soon they will be one of the most common butterflies seen on our hikes/rides. But see the caterpillars now! Catepillar form of Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) BACK TO LIST

Fox Sparrow Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Winter Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Daniel Fitzgerald Frequents hedgerows, chaparral, dense thickets, and undergrowth of forested woodlands. This large, brownish sparrow is typically more heavily streaked below than on Song Sparrow. Lower mandible is usually paler than the contrastingly darker upper mandible. Some birds show gray coloration in head and upper back; most birds show rufous wash in wings, rump, and tail. Diet includes insects, seeds, fruit, and other vegetable matter. Forages by agressively scratching surface of the ground, much like a California Towhee .

White-tailed Kite Diurnal Birds of Prey White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus All Year Diurnal Birds of Prey Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald The long whitish tail and black shoulders make the adult unmistakable. It has long pointed wings and soars and glides. Immatures are similar to adults with buffy breasts.