Last Saturday I went for a guided walk on the Rios Trail at San Elijo Lagoon. I wanted to learn more about some of the habitats surrounding the lagoon. The docent leading the walk was very knowledgeable and I learnt a lot.

Harlequin Bug at San Elijo

Looking out over the lagoon before the walk

Desert Elderberry

Datura or Jimson Weed

Squirrel gorging on Lemonade Berry

Lemonade Berry

Many plants like this Sage – as well as Sagebrush – go dormant during the hot summer months – but they still retain their wonderful aromatic scent.

Varieties of insect galls

Silver Argiope Spider

Salty Susan Plant

Saltgrass

Alkali Heath

Pickleweed

Salty Dodder

Fiddler Crab

Three photographs of a Fiddler Crab waving its large right claw

Sand Aster  – probably the endangered Del Mar Sand Aster

Cassin’s Kingbird

Cochineal – scale insect  – when squashed produces red liquid – used in the Americas as a red dye for centuries.

                       Harlequin Bug on Bladderpod