Bernard Field Station

Another sign of spring! Common Fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia) is starting to bloom at the BFS. Although some folks think of Common Fiddleneck as a weed, it provides nectar for lots of butterflies and bees. Yesterday, a White Checkered-Skipper was enjoying some of the first blooms. In some years, nearly the entire East Field is covered with a golden carpet of Fiddleneck.

It's only February but Spring is springing at the BFS. Cabbage White butterflies are out, and the Golden Currents are blooming!

Male hummingbirds often perch on high twigs, keeping a watch over their territory. Today at the BFS, males of both of our year-round resident hummingbird species Anna's and Allen's were out surveying their realm.

Beautiful view of clouds and snow on the mountains yesterday morning from the East Field.

After the storm...

Stormy day at the field station. Rain at the BFS, and snow in the mountains.

Clouds moving in made a spectacular sunset tonight. Viewed over the East Field.

In many years, Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) have a fall flight as well as a spring flight, and that seems to be the case this year. Here's one spotted at the BFS today during the September butterfly survey. It's sipping nectar from Scale-Broom (Lepidospartum squamatum).

The Bobcat Fire had new flare-ups to the west today. Here's the view from the BFS at sunset today of a big plume rising and being blown to the north and east. Stay safe, everyone, and be aware of what's happening where you are!

The Bobcat Fire's eastward march has been stopped, at least for now. So there's no imminent threat to the BFS. Yesterday, however, you could see the smoke from the fire at the BFS. This photo was taken just before sundown. Yesterday backfires were lit to establish a secure line between Highway 39 and the Ranch 2 Fire scar to stop the eastward progress, and some of the smoke is likely from the backfires. Although the threat has ameliorated here, the Bobcat Fire has grown into... a huge monster that is heading into a number of communities on the other side of the mountains. Please keep them in your thoughts! We hope all of you are staying safe through all the fires, heat, bad air quality, pandemic, and oh yes, last night's earthquake! We are so looking forward to things being back or normal or at least normalish and seeing you all at the BFS again!

It was really hot at the BFS yesterday 115.1F! But that wasn't a record. Since we started recording weather data at the BFS in August 2014, the highest temperature recorded was 116.8 in August 2015. The summer of 2015 was really hot in general. We recorded 114.7 in June and exceeded 100 in every month from May through October.... Today is supposed be nearly as hot as yesterday, so stay inside and stay cool!

A few of the butterflies spotted at the BFS in this week's butterfly survey...

Please stay cool, everyone! The BFS weather station reported 105.1F at 12:20 pm today. The BFS weather station feeds data to Weather Underground, so you can always check the BFS weather here: https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCACLARE11

A Red-tailed Hawk on the hunt. Dropped down with outstretched talons, but came up empty-handed (er, empty-taloned?) and flew into the dead elderberry tree. Rested a few moments then took off again presumably for more hunting.

Fall is coming! California Asters (Corethrogyne filaginifolia) are starting to bloom at the BFS. Here's one being visited by an Acmon Blue butterfly (Plebejus acmon).

Cliff Asters (Malacothrix saxatilis) are blooming now at the BFS! Here's a flower complete with tiny native bee from a very large (>6 ft tall) Cliff Aster growing south of the lake.

Signs of research... Although the BFS is currently closed to the public and classes, some research projects are still ongoing, and, if you look, you can spot some evidence!

This is an excellent article highlighting a few of the many ways we can make ecology and science more inclusive. Please read if you are interested: https://www.sciencemag.org//amid-protests-against-racism-s

Seen during last week's BFS Butterfly Survey...

Ah... June at the BFS means bloom time for Scarlet Delphinium (Delphinium cardinale). Always a treat to see these colorful spikes (many 4-5 feet or even taller) sticking up out of the sage scrub.