For me, the skunk stole the show. Maybe it's because I have my own black and white fur baby. I went with friends early to Huntington Beach Central Park. A jogger passed it without looking. I chased, but from a careful distance so as not to disturb it. It seemed unconcerned by humans. My local trips included El Dorado Park (Duck Pond, Nature Center, and Areas I and II), Huntington Beach Central Park,  Sand Dune Park, Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park, the West Fork of the San Gabriel River, West San Gabriel River Trail, and, of course, my own yard. I saw migratory birds such as Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Hermit Warbler, to name just a few of the 'special' ones. If you don't catch them during the short period when they fly through, then you have to wait until the fall to try again.  I love baby birds, and there were many of them making whiny noises and waiting for mom to feed them. I saw baby Great Horned Owls and Snowy Plovers. Even the common birds thrill me in baby-form: American Coots, Mourning Doves, Black Phoebe, Lesser Goldfinch, and California Towhees. Although I mostly was out on birding trips, and didn't make trips specifically for reptiles, insects, and spiders, I cannot ignore them altogether and photographed the ones that caught my eye. A Valley Carpenter Bee has make residence in my sadly dying fig tree. The tree may be dying but I like that it is giving a home.

On my monthly butterfly count, it was very dry and hot. There were fewer blooming plants and much less diversity of butterflies than in prior years in May. The most abundant were Common Ringlets. It was a lovely hike with good company as always.

On my monthly bird survey at Los Cerritos Wetlands, we were surprised by the number of Western Wood-Pewees that we saw. They may be migrating through, but to see so many, and in the wetlands no less, just wow!

Even on my Pelagic Birding Trip out of Dana Point we saw migratory birds out at sea. Several Wilson's Warblers landed on the boat to rest only to leave us at the oil platforms. There they will have to contend with Peregrine Falcon's and I even saw a Sea Lion snap at one. It is a hard journey. You can see from my photos how tattered they get. We saw, but my photos didn't capture, Townsend's Warblers, a Willow Flycatcher, and a highlight of Black Swifts. Of course there were some sea birds and marine life too!!

I hope that you too are getting out there and enjoying nature. It changes every day.

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Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace.

Enjoy the show! I always appreciate corrections to ID's.

Local stuff:    http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_may_2018 
 

Irvine Ranch butterfly survey:    http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/irc_may_2018

Los Cerritos Wetlands Bird Survey:    http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/hellman_may_2018

Pelagic Birding Trip out of Dana Point:    http://kimssight.zenfolio.com/pelagic_trip_may_2018