News/Reports

Trout Creek Ecological Reserve Wardens report July 2, 2016

Posted July 2, 2016 | Categories : 7,Human Disturbance,Invasive Species,Warden Reports |

Laurie Rockwell submitted this wardens report in July, 2016

Here are the news after a 2 month absence due to a Bakers cyst:

  • warm at 18c with a cool breeze at times under a cloudy sky. It was very quiet.
  • I saw or heard 15 species of forest birds, none unexpected,including 4 blue listed Gray Flycatchers.
  • the bio control beetles have largely decimated the invasive Dalmation Toadflax(Lineria genistifolia).  I found only one small Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) plant and no Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta).
  • In flower were: Brown-eyed Susan (Gailardia aristata), Scarlet Gilia (Gilia aggregata),Douglas Knotweed (Polygonum douglasii), Threadleaf Fleabane (Erigeron filifolius),Prickly Phlox (Lianantus pungens),Wavy-Leafed Thistle (Cirsium undulatum) Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa),American Vetch (Vicia americana)with some seed pods,Yarrow (Achillia millefolium) and many Mariposa Lily (Calochortus macrocarpus).
  • In bud:Tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus),Columbia Goldenweed (Pyrocoma carthamoides).
  • In leaf: Rabbitbush (Ericameria nauseosa).
  • In seed: Dalles Milk Vetch (Astragalus sclerocarpus). I found a new invasive species, White Sweet-Clover (Melotus alba),that I missed for a few years judging from the height of the plants and the size of the community,about 30m.
  • I saw no insects and mammals.
  • the fence at the #12 green of the golf course is being broken down by golfers looking for balls on the reserve. Further,the watering of the fairway and green are also watering about 10m of the reserve,encouraging the growth of non-native vegetation. Fence repairs are outstanding,notably just before the talus slope.


    • Cheers…..Laurie