Laurie Rockwell, Ecological reserve warden visited the Trout Creek Ecological reserve today with the intent of surveying the foot of the rock bluff on the east side. He writes, “
- ◦ I had not spent concentrated time in this area and wanted to survey flora,fauna and the landscape.I went roughly NW from the gate for about 75-100m and then traversed the steep grass and talus slope until I got to the 700m level. I walked SE,S and W in a sort of half circle until I got to a point midway on the W side. At this point I climbed to the top of the ridge and gradually descended the steep slope until I got to the fence.
◦ Laurie found this Mock Orange Philadelphus lewisii) and small Ponderoa Pine ,Pinus ponderosa
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- This small Mock Orange, (Philadelphus lewisii) clinging for survival in a cleft in the rocks
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- A small Ponderoa Pine(Pinus ponderosa) doing the same,but at a right angle!
Pictures of two of the grasslands on the W side.
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- View to the west from the rocks
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- Grasslands to the west.
◦ Laurie goes on to say ” I found no new flora of fauna, but was delighted to casually count 41 red-listed DALLES MILK-VETCH (Astragalus sclerocarpus) on the SW and S slope in their diagnostic seed pods. I did however, find a new insect on a Wavy-leaved Thistle (Cirsium undulatum), 6 beetles that ranged in colour from amber to orange to burnt red. They had varying black marks on the dorsal surface that hinted at wings, The largest had ant-like pincers and antennae. I saw this insect 2 weeks ago on the reserve on a Hoary False Yarrow plant (Chaenactus douglasii). I also found some very large scat on a game trail leading up to the bluff. Scatology is not my forte, but it appeared to be bear scat consistent with a low carb diet of grasses.”