Last year, the same amount of rain probably fell in the back country as this year, but there were late storms last year that allowed late bloomers a chance to flower for a reasonable amount of time. This year, the rainfall on Figueroa Mountain was 51% of normal with very little rain later in the season. On May 4th, the soil wetness was 10.0, where anything over 9.0 is characterized as dry. Hence late blooming plants probably had a brief or no flowering period. The grasslands on hills and slopes are now covered by pale, dry, non-native grasses, that would provide instant kindling for any wildfires, unfortunately. I hope that we get a good amount of rain next year, otherwise we could be starting a decline into desertification.

(Dried Grasses near Tunnel Road, May 21, 2009)

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Thanks to Liz Muraoka’s post (on SBCO Yahoo Birding) about the oystercatchers and surfbirds at Coal Oil Point, two species that I have not photographed in Santa Barbara, I decided that my Sunday walk would be around Coal Oil Point. Positioning myself at a close, but not-too-near position, I was able to get reasonable shots of the oystercatchers – so much so, that after standing quietly for a while, one of them walked toward me. Unfortunately, the shutter sound of the camera is distracting for the birds. I also photographed a number of other birds in breeding attire on the walk.

(Coal Oil Point – Sands Beach – Black Oystercatcher)

(Coal Oil Point – Sands Beach – Surfbird)

Slideshow

• Please click here for a slideshow of Coal Oil Point birds