July 6, 2004
Independence Day weekend Day 2: Lava Beds
Today I was awakened at 6am by the sound of singing American Robins and Western Wood-Pewees, so decided to explore the woods and lakeshore around the campground. In addition to yesterday's sightings, I had excellent prolonged views of a female MacGillivray's Warbler, Rufous Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Tanager, and heard a calling Sora from the nearby marsh.
After breakfast we drove through Klamath NWR, and were treated to the remarkable sight of a Long-tailed Weasel successfully capturing a Valley Garter Snake. I had never heard of weasels eating snakes - in fact, I thought it would be the other way round!
As we approached Lava Beds National Monument, I noted the only Sage Thrasher of the day. The landscape consists of huge tracts of black lava flows punctuated by the occasional cinder cone, all part of a massive shield volcano. Our first port of call was the Cave Loop, a series of accessible caves carved out by magma many millennia ago.
Here I am in the Sunshine Cave...
... and here's the rest of the group in the aptly-named Hopkins Chocolate Cave!
The caves were not devoid of wildlife either. This butterfly sp (post a comment below if you know the ID) was collecting mineral salts from a cave entrance....
... while this confused Checkerspot was making amorous advances at our car sidelights!
We saw this bat sp in the entrance of the Catacombs (again, ID help appreciated).
A Canyon Wren was nesting in the vast entrance of the Skull Cave. To get a sense of scale, note the people in the bottom right of the picture.
Captain Jack's Stronghold held a nice variety of wildlife, including several Monarch butterflies, a Blue-eyed Darner (dragonfly), Purple Finch, Spotted Towhee and numerous Rock Wrens. The drive to Petroglyph Rock allowed more nice looks at White Pelicans and White-faced Ibis, while Anna our driver was hard at work trying to dodge suicidal California Quails, Jackrabbits and this Gopher Snake!
Petroglyph Rock is an impressive monolith dotted with ancient paintings by the Modoc Indians and droppings from the huge colony of Cliff Swallows and White-throated Swifts.
Common Nighthawks accompanied us to our last destination - the climb up Schonchin Butte in time to see the sunset over the mountains.
These Ravens were watched soaring around the Butte...
... before heading off to roost past Mount Shasta.
As we started or descent, a lone Purple Martin was still hawking high above our heads. One of the highlights of my day was fulfilling a lifelong dream of seeing my first Rattlesnake (a Western) curled up under a bush - apparently it was out on the path on the way up, and miraculously I managed not to step on it!
We arrived at our lodgings just in time to see a Great Horned Owl sitting on a telegraph post, and rounded off a very satisfying day watching the July 4th fireworks in Tulelake.
Posted by rjhall at July 6, 2004 8:12 AM