The best wildlife viewing
times are morning or evening. Coyotes are in this area although I've never known them to be a threat, they
usually stay out in the middle of the adjacent Hellman Ranch property far beyond the chain link fence. But you may catch
a glimpse of them from afar or you might hear them yapping. Other animals not shown on this page are found
here, I've heard a Great Horned Owl has been in the area lately. If you move quietly along the paths you never know
what you might see. This is an excellent nature viewing park, especially considering it's in the middle of the city!
Click any picture on this page for a larger view.
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| I believe this a Gopher Snake (not poisonous) |
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| Monarch Butterfly Catapillars |
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| Monarch Butterfly |
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| Hawk in Gum Grove Park |
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| Rabbit at Heron Pointe Cultural Education Center |
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| Lizard sitting on the wall along the path at Heron Pointe Education Center |
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| Rabbit at Heron Pointe Education Center |
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| Black Pheobe, Gum Grove Park |
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| Birds, they look like juveniles but not sure what type, at Gum Grove Park |
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click here to play video
The video (click above link) shows the view looking at Hellman Ranch from Heron
Pointe Education Center. Although the video does not show much, the background noise heard is a rather large group of
coyotes yapping. A fire truck with sirens blaring drove down PCH...apparently coyotes don't like this sound any
more than dogs do, they all started howling and yapping.
The first row pictures above are dated 4-28-10, the next two
rows and video above are all dated August 1, 2009. About 5pm this day I decided to take a walk since I didn't
have many wildlifes photos to post here. I parked in the lot and just sat in my vehicle for a few minutes. 3 chipmunks
or squirrels popped out of a burrow right in front of my parked vehicle. I walked down the path not more than 100 feet
and noticed at least 4 different types of butterflies and some dragonflys. Birds (swallows, finches, sparrows) were
everywhere. I walked a couple of more minutes and saw the red tailed hawk on the ground eating something. As I
got closer toward the Seal Beach Blvd end of Gum Grove I noticed dozens of squirrels and rabbits. The minute I turned
on the path toward Heron Pointe Education Center right in front me at least 3 squirrels and 4 or more rabbits that all scampered
off onto the Hellman Ranch property. On the brick wall along the path were at least a dozen or more lizards.
Yappying coyotes were out on the Hellman property, more than I've ever heard at once. If you go with a small group
in the morning or evening and walk quietly it's very likely you will see a lot of wildlife.
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| Canadian Geese, 4/11/09 |
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| Mourning Dove, Gum Grove Park, 8/15/09 |
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| Juvenile Lizard, Gum Grove parking lot, 8/15/09 |
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| Squirrel, Gum Grove Park, 8/19/09 |
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| Black Phoebe, Gum Grove Park, 8/19/09 |
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| Animal tracks on the Hellman Ranch side of the fence, Gum Grove Park, 8/19/09 |
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