Clouds over San Jacinto

[Florian]

Went for a short hike up and down the Shannon trail in Palm Springs today. The Shannon trailhead is very close to my house. Thought this shot with the clouds turned out nicely ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fboyd/8718 ... /lightbox/

-Florian

[towbradley]

Nice pic's, love the horned toad,at least thats what we used to call them. Are they now protected? Havnt seen one in years.

[Backwoods]

Great pick's. It look's peacefull out there.

[arocknoid]

Magnificent panoramic San Jac cloud photo, Florian.Striking contrast of light and shadow and topography.

And towbradley, as for the paucity of horned lizards,

Nice pic's, love the horned toad,at least thats what we used to call them. Are they now protected? Havnt seen one in years.

invasive Argentine ants have displaced the native ant species which form a staple of the diet of the coastal horned lizard. (The Argentine ants are unpalatable to them.)

Urbanization and human impact on habitat have facilitated the rise of this tramp species (biol term for transient spp.). There are scattered refuge 'islands' of horned lizards and favored ant species, but these spiky fellows are not nearly as widespread nor populous as before.

This has been under study for over fifteen years; solution suggestions are solicited...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... threaten-c

Thanks for the photos, Florian.

kind regards,
Arocknoid

[HH8]

n the Shannon trail in Palm Springs

Yerba Santa by °Florian, on Flickr

The butterflies by Monterey Bay last weekend were lovin those purple flowers.