By Jeff Johnson. Photos by Jeff Johnson except as indicated.
We had a very pleasant walk through the San Joaquin Marsh in Irvine on August 16, which I had never visited before. Like most visitors there, we came hoping to see birds, but we saw more than just birds.
This freshwater wetland is where the Irvine Ranch Water District releases treated wastewater from its adjacent Michelson Water Reclamation Plant. The water runs through wetlands and woodlands, recharging aquifers, supporting wildlife and plants, and eventually runs out into San Joaquin Creek, and then into the ocean. The water district manages the wetland to provide habitat for native fauna and flora, particularly waterfowl. But judging from the scat and owl pellets we saw on the trails, other wildlife abounds.
GLS walkers arrived with birding binoculars and Leah had her handy bird guides that we referred to at each stop. Below are some pictures of what we saw along the way. Unfortunately, no one had a camera with a long lens to take pictures of some of the distant and interesting birds. I enjoyed seeing so many familiar and unfamiliar native plants growing there, so some pictures of those are included below as well.
After the walk, Kirk treated us to a homemade baked treat at the picnic tables by the Audobon House. Thanks, Kirk, for organizing this outing!
Starting at the Audobon House, home of the Sea and Sage Audobon Society. The building was the bunkhouse for the old San Joaquin Gun Club until, as Irvine development encroached on the wetland, the club’s permit was not renewed. Photo Barry Klein.First viewpoint over one of the ponds at San Joaquin Marsh.One of the many gates the Irvine Ranch Water District uses to manage water flow through the San Joaquin Marsh.A Brown Pelican landing in one of the ponds. Photo Barry Klein.Starting on the well-marked Lost Trail, which we were able to find on the map.A Snowy Egret in a channel just below the Lost Trail.A rabbit running across one of the trails. Photo Barry Klein.A Great Egret waiting for a few minutes on a bridge railing.We saw Black Necked Stilts and Ruddy Ducks from this viewpoint.
Some plants we saw at the San Joaquin Marsh
Menzies’ Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii)Mule Fat (Baccharis salicifolia), with a visiting beetle.Alkali Mallow (Malvella leprosa). This plant was low to the ground, but the flowers look related to the flowers of other mallows that are big shrubs.Salt Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata). San Joaquin Marsh is a freshwater marsh, but this “salt marsh” plant was growing in many spots in the water and next to the water.California Primrose (Eulobus californicus)Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia)Bladderpod (Cleomella arborea). Bladderpod grows in the desert and also here in wetlands.Chinese parsley (Heliotropium curassavicum). Despite the common name, apparently this small, low plant is a local native plant.California Sunflower (Encelia californica), one of the brightest and most common California wildflowers.Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)California wild rose (Rosa californica), with a visiting bee. Lots of roses all over the place here. Unlike most modern garden roses, these roses smell like roses.Rose hips on a rose bush. The roses by the marsh were in bloom and in fruit at the same time.California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Buckwheat is ubiquitous in southern California. Though there are some distinct genuses of buckwheat that grow near the shore and on the Channel Islands, the buckwheat we saw here appeared to be Eriogonum fasciculatum, the most common variety seen across southern California. When the marsh was restored after it came under the management of the Irvine Ranch Water District, local nurseries provided appropriate native plants of choice. Perhaps somewhere else around the marsh we could have found some of the distinctly coastal genuses of buckwheat?
