California Hedgenettle / Cobweb Thistle (Abbotts Lagoon)

California Hedgenettle - Point Reyes  2026

Cobweb Thistle - Point Reyes  2026

"This native annual species is not really a nettle at all, but a member of the Mint Family."

"Cobweb thistle - Cirsium occidentale is a native plant found in California and parts of Oregon, Nevada and Baja California. . . . The whiteness of the stems and base of the flower heads are your first indication that this is not one of those invasive thistles. This is the real deal - a native thistle."

A couple more photos taken on the Abbotts Lagoon trail. Nice to see some native plants!

Everlasting Pea / Velvet Grass (Abbotts Lagoon)

Everlasting Pea - Point Reyes  2026

Velvet Grass - Point Reyes  2026

So, "Everlasting Pea?" Mike has always identified this plant as vetch. But it's not vetch.

"Unlike the related annual sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, with which it may be confused, it has no scent. While grown as a garden plant it may be pervasive and difficult to remove. Because of this, this species is often considered to be a weed despite its attractive appearance."

Velvet Grass is an invasive species, no question.

"In North America, Holcus lanatus is an invasive species in native grasslands and other ecosystems. In Yosemite National Park it is one of nine priority noxious weeds to control for habitat restoration and regenerating native plant balances. It forms dense stands that can exclude other plants."

Monday River Otter Blogging

River Otter - Point Reyes  2026

River Otter - Point Reyes  2026

Seen first while swimming underneath the trail bridge between the upper and lower lagoons. Then he - or she - got up on land, thought for a while, then went back into the water.

Lupin, Lagoon (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lupin, Lagoon - Point Reyes  2026

Photo taken using the wide-angle option on an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Yes, Mike's spelling of "lupin" (vs "lupine") is idiosyncratic. Although to be honest, Wikipedia shows "lupin" as one of the options:

"Lupinus, commonly known as lupin, lupine, or regionally bluebonnet, is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae."

Driftwood / Ocean (Abbotts Lagoon)

Driftwood - Point Reyes  2026

Ocean - Point Reyes  2026

There's no established trail to the ocean, just walk through the dunes towards the sound of the waves.

Lupin, Fence / Trail (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lupin, Fence - Point Reyes  2026

Trail - Point Reyes  2026

Top: view from the trailhead parking lot.

Next: Abbotts Lagoon trail. Overgrown in some spots . . . my pants got soaked walking through wet grass.

Hills, Clouds / Lagoons, Bridge, Ocean (Abbotts Lagoon)

Hills, Clouds - Point Reyes  2026

Lagoons, Bridge, Ocean - Point Reyes  2026

Changeable weather that day . . . warm sun giving way to foggy mist. At times I wished I had brought a parka.

Top photo taken with a Nikon Z7II. Bottom one with an Olympus E-M1II using a 75-300mm zoom lens.

The bottom photo show both upper and lower lagoons as well as the bridge over them.

Ranch Buildings, Lagoon, Mist (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lagoon, Ranch Buildings - Point Reyes  2026

Hemlock, Lagoon, Mist - Point Reyes  2026

Photos taken during a June hike. I was using a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens.

Hemlock, Lupin / Hills (Abbotts Lagoon)

Hemlock, Lupin - Point Reyes  2026

Fence, Hills, Lupin - Point Reyes  2026

Hiking out to the ocean on the Abbotts Lagoon trail.

Monday Caspian Tern Blogging

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

"The regal Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, easily recognized by its brilliant red fish-knife of a bill and deep, raspy call. Found all over the world, the Caspian favors both freshwater and saltwater environments. It feeds mostly on fish, captured in nimble aerial dives."

I didn't see them diving for fish, but I was able to see them swooping around the Abbotts Lagoon area.

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

Cattails, Barn

Cattails, Barn - Point Reyes  2026

The barn has been on the blog before . . . I regularly stop for photos here before driving on to my day's hike.

Photo taken with a Nikon Z7II.

Five Brooks Stables

Hay Bales - Point Reyes  2026

Stable Sign - Point Reyes  2026

We took Hanna and her friend Amelie out to the stables at Five Brooks in Point Reyes for a one-hour horseback ride.

They enjoyed it! But they were quite sore the following day.

Horse, Waiting - Point Reyes  2026

Surf

Surf - Point Reyes  2026

 After you cross the bridge at the end of the trail you can trek through the dunes till you arrive at the ocean's edge. As usual, there was lots of waves smashing up against the beach.

Ripples

Ripples, Lagoon - Point Reyes  2026

Ripples, Lagoon - Point Reyes  2026

It was a sunny, relatively cloudless day. Under those conditions I often resort to visualizing scenes in black and white, but these photos look OK in color.

Branch / Log (Black and White)

Branch, Sand - Point Reyes  2026

Log Detail - Point Reyes  2026

Nikon Z7II photos. The log in the bottom photo has been seen on the blog before.

Monday Egret and Heron Blogging

Egret - Point Reyes  2026

Heron - Point Reyes  2026

Birds seen on my March hike. They ended up switching places while I watched. 

Point Reyes Dunes

Dunes, Lagoon - Point Reyes  2026

Dune Grass - Point Reyes  2026

Photos taken during a March hike on the Abbots Lagoon trail. I used a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens.

Sky Camp View / Wooden Fence

Ocean from Sky Camp - Point Reyes  1976

Wooden Fence - Mendocino  County  1976

Coming to the end of my March, 1976 photos!

Tent / Surf, Clouds

Tent (Sky Camp) - Point Reyes  1976

Surf, Clouds - Mendocino County  1976

Alas, a large wildfire burnt many of the trees at Sky Camp. There's a previous 2022 blog post with some photos.

I guess that the bottom photo could have been taken in Sonoma County. Hard to say.

March, 1976

Hali, Mike, Elk Cove Bed and Breakfast - Mendocino County  1976

Hali, Mike, Sky Camp - Point Reyes  1976

Unlike most film photos, I can definitely put an exact month and year to these ones. Fun!

Top photo: Hali and Mike at a bed and breakfast in Elk Grove, Mendocino County.

Bottom: Hali and Mike camping out at Sky Camp in Point Reyes. 

50 years ago!