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Wildflower Mount Diablo Shooting Star (Henderson's) Scientific Name: Dodecatheon hendersonii Family: Primulaceae (Primrose Family) Blooms: February - April Color: Red-Pink Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Deer Flat Hike by Steve Smith Reprinted from the MDIA E-Newsletter December 2024 December 1, 2024 Steve Smith As wet weather and winter sets in the question arises, where to hike with limited mud? One of the best options is to head up Mitchell Canyon Road to Deer Flat (and beyond). This hike is a 7.3 mile out-and-back with 1550 feet of climbing and features a fabulous surprise along the way. Starting at Mitchell Canyon, head up the canyon for a couple of miles. It is so lovely this time of year to have the constant melody of Mitchell Creek running alongside you. Watch for pops of color from Snowberry and Toyon, or even a myriad of fungi. But the true surprise awaits you 2 miles in as you will start to notice the bare twigs and trunks have taken on a unique coating...ladybugs! In their winter 'hybernation' are millions of convergent lady beetles in huge masses of color. Enjoy them here, and perhaps have a stop at the picnic tables, before you begin your ascent up the many switchbacks. Just before you start climbing you will see a volunteer trail off to your left heading to the creek. Take this lovely spur and have a quiet moment next to the old springbox dam just 50 yards up. This is a great place for a video with full sound of the rushing waters to share later. Now comes the climb! You will start up the crookedest road on Mount Diablo as you navigate 15 or so switchbacks. No matter how many times I hike this trail I'm always convinced that the next corner is the last corner...it never is. Take breaks along the way to gaze over at Eagle Peak looming above. In the latter part of December you should start seeing the urn-like blooms of Big Berry Manzanita. As you continue to climb you will be rewarded by either the views of the valley behind you, or the quiet solitude of a fog bank enveloping you. Once you finally do navigate that last corner, you will be greeted by a rest stop at Deer Flat with several tables to enjoy, and lovely views of Eagle Peak, Black Point and Mitchell Canyon. Take a moment. Your route back from here is simple, retrace your steps back the way you came and take notice of all the things you missed with a different perspective than on the way up. Of course if you want to extend your journey there are a multitude of ways back which incorporate a loop. Buyer beware, those other routes can be a bit tricky in the winter (Eagle Peak, Back Creek, Meridian Ridge). Ladybugs Switchbacks Map of Deer Flat Hike BACK TO LIST

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.

Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exilis exilis Lycaenidae Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Flies June to November Host Plant Pigweed Nectar Plant Alice Castellanos Bob Hislop Daniel Fitzgerald Underwing

Wildflower Mount Diablo Golden-carpet Buckwheat, Wicker Buckwheat Scientific Name: Eriogonum luteolum luteolum Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Blooms: Jul-Sep Color: White Annual herb Native, and endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Western Meadowlark Blackbirds, Orioles, and Meadowlarks Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta All Year Blackbirds, Orioles, and Meadowlarks Daniel Fitzgerald Drab, mottled brown back color contrasts with yellow breast and V-shaped black band on the underparts. In flight, note the white outer tail feathers. Song is distinctly flute-like. Nests on the ground. Grasses and plant-stems are used to build a cup-shaped nest that is often domed. Feeds on seeds and insects.

Wildflower Mount Diablo Hairy Bird’s Beak Scientific Name: Cordylanthus pilosus ssp. pilosus Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family) Blooms: July Color: White Annual herb Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Nymphalidae Brushfoots Flies All year Host Plant Thistle, Lupine, many more Nectar Plant Italian thistle Daniel Fitzgerald Male Michael Woodring Underwing

Mountain Lions by Michael Sewell Mount Diablo State Park January 1, 1999 The animal population I am most frequently asked about is that of the mountain lion, also called the puma or cougar. There are twenty-seven different subspecies. The local variety is one of the largest subspecies, but it has become extinct in may of the areas where it once thrived. It would not be entirely accurate to say that there is a mountain lion population on Mount Diablo. Lions have been known to range over 20 miles in one night. They use Mount Diablo as part of their range. No other animal presents a stronger case for the importance of wildlife corridors, such as the one connecting Mount Diablo with Morgan Territory park, and with Black Diamond Mines Regional Park. Over the years, there have been many mountain lion sightings. Here's a glimpse of a few recent ones: a very large, dark-colored mountain lion was seen on Mount Diablo in the Pine Canyon area; a mountain lion and cub tracks appeared around my photography blind while I slept one night in 1989 on Mount Diablo, and; a mountain lion and cub (I believe the same pair) were spotted a few weeks later near Danville. Still another sighting of an adolescent occurred on the road near Juniper campground in 1990. All three of these young lion sightings were probably the same lion. I also got a fleeting glimpse of an adult last year in the Morgan Territory area. Based on these sightings and others, I believe a handful of mountain lions use Mount Diablo as part of their range. While it may be true that Mount Diablo is the most important part of their range, without corridors to other protected lands, they will probably not survive in the area. Download Common Mammal Tracks of Mount Diablo (pdf) BACK TO LIST

I Hiked Them All by Stephen Smith, MDIA President Reprinted from Mount Diablo Review, Spring/Summer 2018 July 1, 2023 Stephen Smith Hiking is my passion. It sustains me, brings peace, provides adventure and satiates the explorer within. Hiking has been a part of me for most of my life, and so too has Mount Diablo. It wasn’t until 2016 that I began to really devote my free time to this hobby which quite literally has its ups and downs. Exploring the trails has informed how I see myself and the world around me, and has brought me infinite joy and reward along the way. I purchased my first Trail Map of Mount Diablo State Park from the visitor center and studied it, learning how the network of trails interconnected. Then I saw it: hanging on the wall of the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center was a t-shirt that had the map of the mountain on it and the words “Hike Them All” emblazoned across the bottom. One of the volunteer docents explained to me that there is an elite group of hikers who endeavor to hike every trail in the park and upon completion purchase the shirt and alter it to read “I Hiked Them All”. I was sold on the idea, but I would have to wait to be sold the actual shirt. How hard could it be? The first clue was in discovering that there are 162 miles of hiking trails in the park! So I developed a game plan. I would complete the challenge in one calendar year, I would hike every trail and utility road listed on the official park map, I would not trespass onto any private property without permission, and I would keep track of my progress along the way. Beginning in January 2016, I set off on the first of many outings, covering 8 miles and 1,800 feet of elevation that first day. When I got home, I got out my map and a pink highlighter and retraced my steps. It would become a much anticipated ritual following each hike, highlighting the trails I had completed and planning the route for the next adventure. A couple of months into my quest, I learned from some hiking companions that there was a Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP) on the mountain. I completed a half-day training session and began volunteering as a backcountry docent, armed with a vest and the knowledge necessary to help out any lost or troubled hikers. I started encountering hundreds of other volunteers along the way. There were groups removing barbed wire and other debris as part of the Trash Removal Project (TRP). I ran into a large group of red-shirted volunteers who were part of the Trail Crew and learned that they maintained our trails twice a month. A small group who were handy with tools called the Maintenance Volunteer Group (MVG) was fixing some of the aging buildings and picnic areas. Still more were staffing the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center as docents, while others were out leading nature hikes for the public. The list went on and on, and I was enamored by their conviction, passion and devotion to this state park. All the while, my journey continued. It would take over 450 miles of hiking in order to cross off the vast network of trails in the park. I once hiked 17 miles just to cross off a remote 0.1 mile long trail at Windy Point. My well-worn map was soon covered in pink highlighter. Equally well-worn were my hiking boots, yet my mind and spirit were energized and invigorated. I had met so many wonderful people along the way and reignited a love affair I have had with this mountain my entire life. My final trail was Castle Rock Trail, and in September 2016 I was joined by 40 fellow hikers who shared in a milestone I will not soon forget. I was so entranced by being a part of the mountain that I wanted to become more involved in the interpretive side of the park and joined the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in its mission of Preservation through Education. I write to you proudly as MDIA’s Board President. You certainly don’t need to set out on a journey like mine in order to appreciate the sheer beauty of Mount Diablo. There are trails here for every hiker, casual or experienced. A great companion to our park map is the Hiker’s Guide to Mount Diablo, available in our visitor centers and online for $15. It has 50 spectacular hikes to embark on, from the 0.7 mile Mary Bowerman loop all the way up to our 26.2 mile (and 6,948 foot) Mount Diablo Marathon hike, and everything in between. It has route maps, elevation plots, descriptions of natural and cultural history as well as photographs of the scenery. I urge you to get out on the trails today, as this time of year is spectacular with wildflowers and waterfalls to behold. Check out our website at mdia.org where we feature some of our premier hikes that you can print out and take along with you. Or download our Audible Mount Diablo guides and take an audio tour of the mountain as you hike along the trail. And if you want to join the elite group who has hiked every trail, get out your highlighter and set your sights on that commemorative t-shirt! Steve on his completion of hiking all trails. Diablo and North Peak | by Stephen Smith Foxtails are a good reason to stay on the trail. Back country section of Red Road Poppies | by Stephen Smith North Peak | by Stephen Smith Summit Building | by Stephen Smith BACK TO LIST

Yellow-rumped Warbler Warblers Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata Winter Warblers Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Can be found at almost any wooded habitat, and low brushy areas, and in weedy fields. There are two subspecies – Audubon’s (S. c. auduboni) and Myrtle (S. c. coronata) which hybridize. Key features are white wing bars, yellow rump and yellow at sides of breast. The throat color of Audubon’s is yellow and Myrtle is white. Females are duller. The ‘chip’ call note can be heard throughout the winter and is required learning for all serious birders; once learned it becomes easy to locate other warblers simply by listening for a different sounding call note. Mostly eats insects, but also fruit or nectar.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps All Year Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald The rufous cap and black “whiskers” help to identify this plain breasted sparrow. It has a whitish circular eye ring with a dark line behind.