Snapshots of Spring: A Naturalist's Explorations of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge

We're experiencing a beautiful spring here in California's Great Central Valley, with an abundance of water, wildflowers, and more butterflies than I've ever seen at one time!  One of my favorite places close to home to get out and explore a small piece of the Central Valley's grassland, wetland and riparian forests is the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.  A walk through its varied habitats is always an enjoyable experience, but there is something special about visiting during the spring.

The San Joaquin River

For those interested in botany, the looping, four-mile Pelican Nature Trail leads visitors through a mosaic of restored habitats, from upland vegetation to wetland and riparian plant communities where thousands of planted willows, oaks and cottonwoods are growing and thriving.

View across restored riparian floodplain habitat toward the Coast Range.

Native elderberry shrubs and wild roses are in bloom now, along with naturalized tree tobacco (which hummingbirds love).

California Wild Rose

Our wet winter has produced a bumper crop of introduced poison hemlock, which comes by its name honestly - use caution around this plant!

Poison Hemlock

Budding herpetologists will be interested in the reptiles and amphibians that call this area home.  One of my very favorites is our native Pacific chorus frog (or Pacific tree frog).

Pacific Chorus Frog

The Western pond turtle, California's only native turtle, can be seen swimming in the water or basking on logs along the edges of the San Joaquin River and it's adjacent creeks and sloughs.

Western Pond Turtle

Also likely to be encountered are populations of red-eared sliders, popular pets that are often released into the wild where they quickly establish themselves.  Probably the strangest thing we've seen along the river was a spiny softshell turtle, spotted last spring.  These large turtles (which can attain lengths of 18 inches) are native to North America east of the Continental Divide, and this individual was likely raised as a pet and released when it became an inconvenience.  

Pardon my grainy, Loch Ness Monster-like photo of this unexpected spiny softshell turtle along the San Joaquin River!

For those who prefer warmblooded fuzzy critters to herps, a handful of interesting mammals may also be encountered at the San Joaquin River NWR.  One of my favorites to watch are river otters, as they gambol in the water, or roll and slide along the sandy banks.  If you're lucky, you may also spot coyote and beaver.

North American River Otter

Lagomorphs (hares and rabbits) are something of a specialty at the San Joaquin River NWR, where an unprecedented three species can be found living side by side.  In fact, it's entirely possibly to see all three species together at one time!  Black-tailed jackrabbits and desert cottontails are common throughout the valley, but you will have to look more carefully for the endangered (but recovering) riaprian brush rabbit.

Desert Cottontail

For entomologists of all ages and skill levels, the refuge offers an array of delightful insects, from flashy floating gems like butterflies to the threatened Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, whose life history is intrinsically linked to the blue elderberry and riparian forests of the Great Central Valley.

Red Admiral

It's a bumper year for butterflies, and I've probably never seen so many in one place as I did recently along the Pelican Nature Trail!  Red Admirals, Painted Ladies, Cabbage Whites and more were absolutely everywhere!  One of the most impressive butterflies in our area is the Western Tiger Swallowtail, which has a wingspan of nearly four inches!  This year, butterfly numbers are remarkably high due to our wet winter and, for species like the Painted Lady, an abundance of desert wildflowers (food sources for hungry caterpillars).  The passing swarms of fluttering butterflies is certainly a sight to behold!

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Whatever your interests are, from the desire for a quiet walk in nature to the quest for rare species, the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge is sure to deliver.  And spring is certainly the most enjoyable time to visit, while the grasses are green, the birds are singing and the temperatures are mild.  

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