California | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

February 7, 2020May 31, 2022

Yosemite Dogwood – Spring in the Sierra

Mountain Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) above the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California — Mountain Dogwood above the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California

Spring is just around the corner and with the regular precipitation we’re seeing (compared to years past) it’s expected that the popular high desert wildflower displays should put on another great show. The typical hot-spots out west including Antelope Valley, Anza-Borrego and Death Valley need rain in January for the flowers to germinate and this year is shaping up nicely.

But for those looking for a more reliable spring fix you just need to set your sights a little higher. All that color, grace, and beauty will make a showing – just in a slightly different form and at a higher elevation. Blooming trees and shrubs like Yosemite’s famous Mountain Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) and the vibrant Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) aren’t as susceptible to seasonal changes and should still be in full glory later in April and May when the desert annuals are starting to wind down.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Yosemite and the Sierra foothills with fewer crowds, mild temperatures, and endless photographic possibilities.

September 3, 2019September 4, 2020

Change is in the Air

Fall aspens under Sierra peaks from South Lake, John Muir Wilderness, California

It’s the first of September – the days are getting shorter, and there is a crispness in the air that definitely signals the close of summer. This is my favorite time of year when the crowds give way to the colors of fall, and the natural world seems to come alive once again with a riot of color.

It’s always hard to predict just when and where the peak of autumn color will occur, and sudden temperature changes play a large part in the timing from year to year. As a general rule the higher elevations in the western mountains tend to peak late September to early October, the eastern hardwoods around mid-October, while desert canyons such as Zion and Capitol Reef typically show their full colors in early November.

If the last two big winters are any indication of what’s to come it’s possible the season may be cut short as early snows cause the leaves to turn brown or drop prematurely. But if your timing is right, you can have the best of both worlds with one season visually ushering in the next.

July 16, 2019September 4, 2020

Northern Elephant Seals

The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris), or sea elephant, ranges from the Pacific coastal waters of Canada to the tip of Baja, Mexico. It is the largest of the fin-footed mammals and with males typically weighing up to 6000 lbs it exceeds the walrus in size. Though they were hunted to the brink of extinction toward the end of the nineteenth century, their numbers have steadily increased in recent years due to protection from both the US and Mexican governments.

Elephant seals feed on fish and squid or other cephalopods and spend upwards of 80 percent of their lives in the ocean. They can hold their breath for nearly two hours and dive as deep as 2,000 feet in search of food. During the three month breeding season, bulls fight to establish territories along beaches and to acquire harems of up to 40 cows.

These juveniles are part of a large rookery at one of several pocket beaches near San Simeon on the Central California coast. As part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary this colony has grown exponentially since the early 1990s, and a well-designed series of boardwalks, interpretive signs and docents offer a unique wildlife experience for anyone visiting the area.