Observers logged 57 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.

American Black Bear seen in Sonoma Valley
American Black Bear — Wildcat Creek Trail, Santa Rosa. © chlosipher, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit seen in Sonoma Valley
Black-tailed Jackrabbit — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Black Phoebe seen in Sonoma Valley
Black Phoebe — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Canada Goose seen in Sonoma Valley
Canada Goose — Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen. © jenniferlchandler, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Cooper's Hawk seen in Sonoma Valley
Cooper's Hawk — Sonoma County. © mikewitkowski, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Western Red-tailed Hawk seen in Sonoma Valley
Western Red-tailed Hawk — Sonoma County. © mikewitkowski, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake seen in Sonoma Valley
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake — Sonoma County. © ediardo, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Southern Alligator Lizard seen in Sonoma Valley
Southern Alligator Lizard — Fairfield Osborn Preserve, Sonoma County, US-. © bushwookiet, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Western Fence Lizard seen in Sonoma Valley
Western Fence Lizard — Hwy 12 & Laurel Ave, Kenwood. © litasrjc, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Large Milkweed Bug seen in Sonoma Valley
Large Milkweed Bug — Randolph Ave, Kenwood. © mtwig, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Mordella hubbsi seen in Sonoma Valley
Mordella hubbsi — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Mylitta Crescent seen in Sonoma Valley
Mylitta Crescent — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
American trailplant seen in Sonoma Valley
American trailplant — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Armenian Blackberry seen in Sonoma Valley
Armenian Blackberry — Nuns Canyon Rd, Glen Ellen. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Belladonna Lily seen in Sonoma Valley
Belladonna Lily — Bardy Rd, Santa Rosa. © sullymt, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Bigleaf Maple seen in Sonoma Valley
Bigleaf Maple — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Black Locust seen in Sonoma Valley
Black Locust — Hwy 12 & Laurel Ave, Kenwood. © litasrjc, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Blue Elder seen in Sonoma Valley
Blue Elder — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood. © shxx60, CC-BY-NC, via iNaturalist.

Also logged this week

  • Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) — the valley (amphibian)
  • European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) — Oak Island Cir, Santa Rosa (insect)
  • Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea) — Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen (insect)
  • Button's Banana Slug (Ariolimax buttoni) — the valley (mollusc)
  • California Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California Spikenard (Aralia californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) — Sonoma County, US- (plant)
  • California torreya (Torreya californica) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Coastal Woodfern (Dryopteris arguta) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Common Madia (Madia elegans) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Crevice Alumroot (Heuchera micrantha) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta) — Penngrove (plant)
  • Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) — Nuns Canyon Rd, Glen Ellen (plant)
  • Large Leatherroot (Hoita macrostachya) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Leather Oak (Quercus durata) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Naked Buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Rosilla (Helenium puberulum) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Scarlet Monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Slender Stinging Nettle (Urtica gracilis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Tall Flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) — Penngrove (plant)
  • Wand Mullein (Verbascum virgatum) — Hood Mountain County Park Rd, Santa Rosa (plant)
  • Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Western Starflower (Lysimachia latifolia) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (plant)
  • Gilled Polypore (Trametes betulina) — Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood (fungus)

For the record: more than 183,708 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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