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The habitat that the Solano Open Space provides is a key consideration in the preservation of this land. The area is home to many rare and endangered species as well as a variety of more common plant and animal specimens. The following guide can help you know what to look for when you visit.
 

Native Plants - GRASSES

Blue wild-rye (Elymus glaucus)


Bunchgrass

 


Purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra)

 

 


Native Plants - TREES

California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
blooms May to June


Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
blooms March to April


Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)

 


Native Plants - WILDFLOWERS

Brodiaea (Brodiaea californica ssp. leptandra)
blooms April to June


California Golden Violet or Johnny Jump-up
(Viola pedunculata)
blooms February to April


California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
blooms February-September, peaking in early Spring


Dwarf Soaproot
(Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. minus)
CNPS*: Rare or Endangered
blooms May to August


Gairdner’s Yampah (Perideridia gairdneri)
CNPS*: on Watch List
blooms June to August


Milkmaids (Cardamine californica)
blooms February to May


Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus)
blooms April to May


Streamside daisy (Erigeron biolettii)
CNPS*: Rare
blooms June to September


Tiburon buckwheat
(Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum)
CNPS*: on Review List


Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
blooms April to July


White Lupine (Lupinus albus)
blooms April to May


Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
blooms March to September


* California Native Plant Society

Wildlife - BIRDS

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
seen year-round in oak woodlands


Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
seen year-round, often near water


California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis)
seen year-round on the ground and near bushes


Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
seen year-round near woodlands


Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis)
State: Special Concern
seen during winter months in areas with scattered trees


Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Federal & State: Fully Protected
seen year-round in areas with scattered trees


Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
seen year-round in marshy or other areas near water


Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
year-round in open grasslands or marshes


Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
seen in summer months in riparian and open woodlands


Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
seen year-round in woodlands near water


Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
seen year-round in areas with scattered trees


Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
often seen during winter months
in open grasslands


Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
State: Threatened
April-September in areas with scattered trees, usually in the early morning or evening


Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
primarily seen in summer months
in riparian woodlands


Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
primarily seen in summer months near water


Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
seen year-round in wooded areas


Western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)
State: Special Concern
primarily during the summer months in grasslands


Western king bird (Tyrannus verticalis)
usually during summer months
near shrubs and trees


Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
seen year-round in grasslands

 

Wildlife - MAMMALS

Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)
most active at dawn and dusk


Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
primarily nocturnal


Coyote (Canis latrans)
primarily nocturnal but often seen during the day


Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
most likely seen at dawn and dusk


Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
primarily nocturnal

 


Wildlife - REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

California newt or Orange-bellied newt (Taricha torosa)
State: Special Concern
usually seen near or in water December to March


California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)
Federal: Threatened
State: Special Concern
primarily nocturnal, most likely seen November to
March near or in streams or riparian vegetation


Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea)
primarily diurnal, prefers cool moist areas under brush, rocks, or other debris; hibernates in winter


Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)
primarily diurnal, often seen sunning itself on rocks
or other exposed areas; hibernates in winter


Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata)
State: Special Concern
seen sunning around or in water, but hide
quickly when approached

 


Wildlife - INSECTS

Callippe silverspot butterfly (Speyeria callippe callippe)
Federal: Endangered
seen mid-May to late July, on or near the California Golden Violet (Johnny Jump-up)


Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle 
(Desmocerus californicus dimorphus)
Federal: Threatened Species
seen March to June, on or near red
or blue elderberry bushes


Woodland Skipper or Napa Skipper
(Ochlodes sylvanoides or Ochlodes sylvanoides napa)
seen late July to October, peaking in August