The Daily Bucket - January 2016 in Castro Valley

The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group.  It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds and/or flowers.  All are worthy additions to the bucket.  Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment.  Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.

  Castro Valley, CA, 1/1/2016 thru 1/14/2016

Actually, it's mostly my yard and environs and only the first part of January, but such is life.

Weather: The temperatures didn't get out of the fifties until the 12th, when they got to 61. That was the only day above the fifties through the 14th, and it had rained or drizzled for 7 of those 14 days. Several days of frost too.

Foliage and such: We have a ton of oranges and lemons at various stages of ripeness and lots of chard. Beyond that plants in bloom =

Rear Milkweed

Milkweed

Another view

Rear Milkweed

Mexican Sage 

Mexican Sage Flower

Another view

unknown (to me)

Three of these are blooming, I don't know what they are. Frost covers are still up.

Claude the Fuschia

Fuschia

Jade Plant

Jade Plant

One of several Germanium

A Germanium

Pineapple Sage

Pineapple Sage

Another Germanium with Milkweed

Another Germanium with Milkweed

Yet more Milkweed

Yet more Milkweed

Bird species seen, by first day spotted January 1 01 - ANHU - Anna's Hummingbird 02 - CALT - California Towhee 03 - AMGO - American Goldfinch 04 - HOFI - House Finch 05 - LEGO - Lesser Goldfinch 06 - TUVU - Turkey Vulture 07 - CORA - Common Raven 08 - HETH - Hermit Thrush 09 - DEJU - Dark Eyed Junco 10 - WCSP - White Crowned Sparrow 11 - CBCH - Chestnut Backed Chickadee 12 - NUWO - Nuttals Woodpecker 13 - AMCR - American Crow 14 - AMRO - American Robin January 2 15 - PISI - Pine Siskin 16 - RCKI - Ruby Crowned Kinglet 17 - PUFI - Purple Finch 18 - MODO - Mourning Dove 19 - BEWR - Bewicks Wren 20 - WESJ - Scrubbie January 3 21 - RBNU - Red Breasted Nuthatch January 5 22 - DOWO - Downy Woodpecker 23 - GCSP - Golden Crowned Sparrow  

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Now It's Your Turn

  What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.    

Thank you.