Field trip to Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve with Tim Matthews and Christine Thompson.

Sunday, May 1, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participation is limited to 20.
Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683.
Members free/nonmembers free.

This trip will explore plants and birds of the unique ecosystem protected by Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve (BMER), and will include an account of the reserve’s history. The sandy soil of ancient beach sand dunes supports a number of plant species found nowhere else on earth, and several localized species including La Purisima and sand mesa manzanitas (Arctostaphylos purissima, A. rudis), Lompoc wallflower (Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum), and Vandenberg monkeyflower (Diplacus vandenbergensis), an endangered species. May is flowering time for fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), fiddlenecks (Amsinckia species) and Phacelia species. Our field trip is timed for the height of spring bird migration. BMER attracts a number of migrating warbler species, and we may see the arrival of summer species such as pacific-slope flycatcher and black-headed grosbeak, as well as resident species. The trip will cover 4 miles of easy to moderate walking (some in soft sand).

Tim Matthews is the Scientific Aide for California Department of Fish and Wildlife at Burton Mesa and has led many field trips for SYVNHS over the years. Christine Thompson, Environmental Scientist, CDFW, is manager of BMER.

Featured photo: The marsh at Burton Mesa by James Wapotich