THE GOALS OF LOS OSOS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The formation of the Los Osos Natural Environment was necessary so that critical land along the bay, and elsewhere in the Los Osos area, could be acquired, studied and maintained for the use of people and nature. Without swift action to preserve such property, it will be lost to homes, commercial use, or other development. LONE desires to preserve existing recreational uses of such land. It also wants to preserve wildlife corridors and restore habitat, in order to protect native wildlife species, including several that are endangered. LONE will work toward raising or otherwise acquiring funds to purchase such property and will maintain, protect, and restore the property so that people and nature will enjoy it for generations to come. (For  more information about LONE, call Jim Royer at 805-748-7895. We are working on a permanent website.)

BUTTERFLIES OF PECHO WILLOWS (INCLUDING CUESTA INLET)

Anise Swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon

Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus

Pale Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon
Pontia Species (Becker's/Spring White), Pontia beckerii/protodice

Cabbage White, Pieris rapae

Pacific Orangetip, Anthocaris sara (2/25/15)
Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme (4/15/15)
Cloudless Sulphur**, Phoebis sennae

Acmon Blue, Plebejus acmon
Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa

Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui

West Coast Lady, Vanessa annabella

Red Admiral, Vanessa antalantaCommon Buckeye, Junonia coenia
Lorquin's Admiral, Limenitis lorquini (4/15/15)
Common Ringlet, Coenonympha tulle (4/15/15)
Monarch, Danaus plexippus

Queen**, Danaus glippus

Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus

Sandhill Skipper, Polites sabuleti
Umber Skipper, Poanes melane

(** vagrant species, 9/22/13 record for Queen Butterfly, 10/1/14 & 12/18/14 (specimen) records for Cloudless Sulphur)

UPDATES:

1. Bayside Property is a national bird hotspot!

The Cornell sponsored online bird data project "ebird" (ebird.com) has designated the property from Pecho Willows to Cuesta Inlet a "birding hotspot." It is one of the top such hotspots in the Central Coast area. We knew it was a great bird spot, but its nice that others agree. The hotspot has a list of 249 bird species recording on the property or in the nearby bay!

From January 16 to January 19, 2015, the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival took place. The Pecho willows Hotspot was visited by numerous groups who were not disappointed by the number and diversity of birds! Two festival groups were sometimes birding there at the same time.

Festival Keynote Speaker Scott Weidensaul explains the finer points of bird identification to participants, during their visit to Pecho Willows on a festival field trip (Photo by Chris Cameron).