Observers logged 78 research-grade sightings across Sonoma Valley in the past week — from the ridgelines of Sonoma Mountain and Trione-Annadel to the creeks of Glen Ellen. Here is a gallery of what is out there right now.

California Towhee seen in Sonoma Valley
California Towhee — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © jzupan, CC0, via iNaturalist.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake seen in Sonoma Valley
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake — Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen. © jozaki, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Western Fence Lizard seen in Sonoma Valley
Western Fence Lizard — Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood. © nattrow, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Rough-skinned Newt seen in Sonoma Valley
Rough-skinned Newt — Sonoma County. © dlevitis, CC-BY, via iNaturalist.
California Laurel Aphid seen in Sonoma Valley
California Laurel Aphid — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove. © kschnei, CC-BY, via iNaturalist.
Common Ringlet seen in Sonoma Valley
Common Ringlet — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
F-winged Barklouse seen in Sonoma Valley
F-winged Barklouse — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove. © kschnei, CC-BY, via iNaturalist.
Flame Skimmer seen in Sonoma Valley
Flame Skimmer — Sonoma Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen. © bdandrews, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Gerrini seen in Sonoma Valley
Gerrini — Sonoma County. © dlevitis, CC-BY, via iNaturalist.
Gray Buckeye seen in Sonoma Valley
Gray Buckeye — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Pacific Spiketail seen in Sonoma Valley
Pacific Spiketail — Glen Ellen. © titannh27, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Small White seen in Sonoma Valley
Small White — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Sphex lucae seen in Sonoma Valley
Sphex lucae — Randolph Ave, Kenwood. © mtwig, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Vivid Dancer seen in Sonoma Valley
Vivid Dancer — Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen. © aquariusheartcake, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Western Honey Bee seen in Sonoma Valley
Western Honey Bee — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © jzupan, CC0, via iNaturalist.
Western Polished Lady Beetle seen in Sonoma Valley
Western Polished Lady Beetle — Sonoma County. © dlevitis, CC-BY, via iNaturalist.
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee seen in Sonoma Valley
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee — Randolph Ave, Kenwood. © mtwig, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Alder Leaf Gall Mite seen in Sonoma Valley
Alder Leaf Gall Mite — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © eh-outings, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.

Also logged this week

  • California Flattened Jumping Spider (Platycryptus californicus) — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove (arachnid)
  • Long-bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove (arachnid)
  • Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei) — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove (arachnid)
  • Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) — Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen (fish)
  • American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) — Kenwood (plant)
  • Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California Spikenard (Aralia californica) — Canyon Trail, Kenwood (plant)
  • California cudweed (Pseudognaphalium californicum) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California dodder (Cuscuta californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California skullcap (Scutellaria californica) — Pony Gate Trail, Kenwood (plant)
  • Canyon liveforever (Dudleya cymosa) — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Sonoma County, US- (plant)
  • Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) — Santa Rosa (plant)
  • Durango Root (Datisca glomerata) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Hairy Vetchling (Lathyrus hirsutus) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Hooker's fairybells (Prosartes hookeri) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Kellogg's yampah (Perideridia kelloggii) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Mountain Phacelia (Phacelia imbricata) — Santa Rosa (plant)
  • Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) — Glen Ellen (plant)
  • Pacific poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) — Glen Ellen (plant)
  • Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Scarlet Monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Shortpod Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Spanish clover (Acmispon americanus) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Tall Flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) — Glen Ellen (plant)
  • Van Houtte's Columbine (Aquilegia eximia) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Water Parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Wavy-Leafed Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Woolly Angelica (Angelica tomentosa) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Turkey-Tail (Trametes versicolor) — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Lichau Rd, Penngrove (fungus)

For the record: more than 183,543 wild observations and museum specimens have been logged in this stretch of the valley over the decades, according to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Sightings from research-grade observations on iNaturalist; photographs used under their Creative Commons licenses, credited to the observer. Records are community-submitted and identifications may be revised. Please observe wildlife respectfully and keep to the trails.

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