California dreaming

I used to work for an American company, which gave me the opportunity, in 1997, of a trip to California to visit the agriculture of the San Joaquin Valley. 

To the east of the agricultural centre Fresno rises the Sierra Nevada, and the 3,000 km2 Yosemite national park - where waterfalls tumble over granite cliffs.

Following the Sierra south leads to the Sequioa national park. Here, in the 'Giant Forest', grow five of the ten largest trees in the world - all giant sequioas, or redwoods, (Sequoiadendron giganteum), which may live for over 3,000 years. Of course, I had to stand in front of the largest tree in the world - the General Sherman.

Common companions in the Sierra were Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)...

...California Ground Squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi)...

...and Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater).

I called into Los Angeles. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just a boring metropolis full of cars and actors. At the Ballona Wetlands Ecological reserve by the airport I saw the beldingi sub-species of the Savannah (as in Georgia, not a grassland) Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). It is confined to southern California, in threatened saltmarsh habitats dominated by Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica).

I then went up the coast to Malibu Beach where, by the lagoon, overseen by pelicans, I saw Snowy Plovers Charadrius nivosus (once considered a sub-species of our Kentish Plover) running from foot print to foot print along the beach. This is their main breeding area, and they are now well protected from human interference.

Then east into the desert, and the Joshua Tree National park. Teddy Bear Cholla cacti (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) poked up from the dry soil. On one I saw perched a Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), which uses the protection of the cactus for nesting. It is only found in southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico.

At the end of the day I sat on my own by a silent oasis. And as the sun set, in front of me objects began dropping out of the trees and scuttling across the ground. They were Gambel's Quails (Callipepla gambelii), sporting their magnificent feather headdresses.

God bless America!