Postponed: Coreopsis Hill and the Guadalupe Dunes
Field trip with Larry Ballard
Coast-loving Giant Tickseed, Leptosyne gigantea (formerly Giant Coreopsis, Coreopsis gigantea). Photo by John Evarts.
Postponed
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Participation limited to 15. Advance registration begins February 21 at synature@west.net or 805/ 693-5683
Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5
Crisp Dune Mint, Monardella crispa, is an endangered species we can see on this trip. Photo by John Evarts
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge lies within the largest coastal dune system in California. The hike takes us through dune scrub, a shrub-dominated habitat that includes dune specialist plants along with a number of rare plant species. After a foggy or windy night we’ll see an abundance of mammal, bird, and insect tracks. It’s a relatively short hike to Coreopsis Hill with little elevation gain; however it is in loose sand. We will meander along the way, examining spring flowers, insects, and animal sign.
Past SYVNHS trip to Coreopsis Hill, with its eponymous plant and other wildflowers. Photo by John Evarts
A special use permit granted from the NWR allows us access through the gated entrance at Beigle Rd. along Oso Flaco Lake Road. There are facilities at the parking lot at Oso Flaco Lake about a half mile away. The hike will last from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., so bring a lunch, water, and hat. Dress in layers as weather is changeable and dune winds can be boisterous.
Trip leader Larry Ballard. Photo by John Evarts
Larry Ballard has an interest in all aspects of the region’s natural history and has a special appreciation for dune ecology on the Central Coast. For two decades he has been a trip leader for our organization as well as for other groups and institutions in Santa Barbara County. To prepare for your visit to the dunes, visit our website’s “Program Reports” page and scroll down to see captioned photos and natural history information from our trip to Coreopsis Hill in March, 2016.
