Quick links

Carrizo Plains

Desert candle

Soda Lake

Wallace Creek

California Valley Motel

Shell Creek

Buffalo

Camatta Ranch

April 10-11, 2023

Carrizo Plains

Painted hills

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Yellow hills, blue sky

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Pixel 6 Pro

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Yellow, orange, and purple flowers

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Blazing star

San Joaquin blazingstar (Mentzelia pectinata)
Family: Loasaceae (Stickleaf family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Baby blue eyes

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 9, 2023
Canon R5

Desert lace

Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia )
Family: Boraginaceae (borage family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Tidy tips

Tidy tips (Layia platyglossa )
Family: Asteraceae (aster, sunflower, daisy family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Parry

Parry's mallow (Eremalche parryi)
Family: Malvaceae (mallow and hibiscus family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Blue dicks

Blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus)
Family: Asparagaceae (asparagus and agave family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Purple owl's clover (Castilleja exserta )
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Great Valley phacelia (Phacelia ciliata)
Family: Boraginaceae (borage family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Goldfields and clover

()
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)

Candle among daisies

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Common hillside daisy (Monolopia lanceolata)
Family: Asteraceae (aster, sunflower, daisy family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Fields of desert candles

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Desert candles

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Smoking candle

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Darwin and the candles

Darwin and the species
Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Meadowlark

Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Family: Icteridae
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Meadowlark with bug

Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Family: Icteridae
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Horned lark

Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
Family: Alaudidae (lark)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Family: Passerellidae (New World sparrows)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Red-winged blackbird with beetle

Male red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Family: Icteridae (New World blackbirds and orioles)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Family: Charadriidae (plovers,lapwings, killdeer, queltehue, and dotterels)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Family: Scolopacidae (sandpipers, willets, tattlers, yellowlegs)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Yellowlegs coming and going

Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Family: Scolopacidae (sandpipers, willets, tattlers, yellowlegs)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Checkered white (Pontia protodice)
Family: Pieridae (whites, yellows, and sulphurs)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Crambid

(Metaxmeste phrygialis)
Family: Crambidae (crambid moths)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Little bear (Paracotalpa ursina)
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Beefly ()
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Bob and the bloom

Bob
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5
PC: Sarah Chah

Which direction?

Bob
Flying
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5
PC: Sarah Chah

Sarah taking Bob

Leave the hotel, I met Sarah and Cole Chah and we had a delightful time caravaning through Carrizo and photographing together.
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Sarah and Cole

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Crustose

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Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Darwin under cloud

Common hillside daisy (Monolopia lanceolata)
Family: Asteraceae (aster, sunflower, daisy family)
Darwin
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Trucked

Wrecks
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Sunset

Sunsets
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake

Sign
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Soda fairies

Fairy shrimp (Branchinecta)
Family: Branchinectidae
Order: Anostraca (fairy shrimp)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Golden hills above lake

Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Fields of yellow

Common hillside daisy (Monolopia lanceolata)
Family: Asteraceae (aster, sunflower, daisy family)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

San Bernardino larkspur (Delphinium parryi)
Family: Ranunculaceae (buttercup, columbine, delphinium family)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

San Bernardino larkspur (Delphinium parryi)
Family: Ranunculaceae (buttercup, columbine, delphinium family)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

WCS

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Family: Passerellidae (New World sparrows)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Canine sign

()
Family: ( family)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Avian sign

()
Family: ( family)
Soda Lake
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Gopher's demise

Gopher ()
Family: ( family)
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek

Wallace Creek

Wallace Creek
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Vast fields of fiddlenecks

Common fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii)
Family: Boraginaceae (borage family)
Wallace Creek
Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon R5

Uta

Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)
Family: Phrynosomatidae (phrynosomatid lizards)
Wallace Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Beetle ()
Family: ( family)
Wallace Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

California Valley Motel

Lodge

California Valley Motel
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

California Valley Motel
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
Family: Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)
California Valley Motel
San Luis Obispo County
April 10, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Camatta Ranch

American bison

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Bison profiled

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Bison chillin'

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Bison mouth

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Bison tongue

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

Shell Creek

Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Shell Creek

Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Tidy tips (Layia platyglossa)
Family: Asteraceae (aster, sunflower, daisy family)
Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Chick lupine (Lupinus microcarpus)
Family: Fabaceae (legumes, peas, beans, lupine family)
Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Common fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii)
Family: Boraginaceae (borage family)
Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Corvid

Raven (Corvus Corax)
Family: Corvidae (crows, ravens, jays, rooks family)
Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County
April 11, 2023
Canon R5

May 8-9, 2023

Carrizo Plains

Hills

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Hills

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Hills

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Pursuing the wind in vane

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Hwy 58

Signs
Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Kern County - in the rear view mirror

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

No unting

Signs
Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Trespass

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Moth on mustard

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Brewer

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Bear beetle

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Tarantula

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Phacelia

Carrizo, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek

Wally

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Before the lope

Nelson's antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Nelson's

Nelson's antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon R5

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

When yellow turns to beige

Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Never pass up the opportunity

Toilets
Wallace Creek, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Spider

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Soda Lake, San luis Obispo County
May 8, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Caliente Mountains

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Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus)
Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Here a chick

Chick lupine (Lupinus microcarpus)
Family: Fabaceae (legumes, peas, beans lupine)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Pixel 6 Pro

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

()
Family: ( family)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Gopher snake

Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer)
Family: Colubridae (colubrid snakes)
Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Cellar spider

Caliente Mountain, San Luis Obispo County
May 9, 2023
Canon 7D Mark II

Camatta Ranch - May 7, 2023

Bison shedding

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
May 7, 2023
Canon R5

Bison at sunset

American bison (Bison bison)
Family: Bovidae (bovids)
Camatta Ranch
May 7, 2023
Canon R5

Blow wives

Camatta Ranch
May 7, 2023
Canon R5

Other relevant links

Marine invertebrates

Waddell Beach

Mussel Rock

Año Nuevo