Trout Creek Ecological Reserve Warden’s report April 10, 2016

ER Warden Laurie Rockwell submitted this warden’s report on his latest monthly tour of the reserve near Summerland BC.

• cool at 9c at 7.30,some light wind under a sunny,clear sky. My tour was cut short by a sore leg.
• I saw or heard 15 bird species,most expected. I was delighted however to hear my first of the year Cassin’s Finch,Vesper Sparrow, hooting Dusky Grouse and and a late Varied Thrush.
• I saw no insects or mammals, but lot of deer tracks. 4 Mule deer were seen outside the reserve.
• Of the invasive plants,I dug out 1 Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) and saw only 3 Diffuse Knapweed (Centaura diffusa)plants.
• In bud was the red listed Dalles Milk Vetch (Astragalus sclerocarpus).
• In leaf: Maraposa Lily (Calochortus macrocarpus), Wavey-leaved Thistle (Cirsium undulatum), Timber Milk-Vetch ( Astragalus miser),  Prickly Phlox (Liananthus pungens), Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus),  Lemon Weed(Lithophragma ruderale), Silver-leaved Phacelia (Phacelia hasta) and Shrubby Penstomen (Penstomen fruiticosa).
• In flower: Saskatoon (Amelanchia alnifolia), Waxberry (ribes cereum), Meadow Death Camus (Zigadensus venenosa), Lemonweed (Lithofragma ruderale) and Small Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsa parviflora).
• there was no sign of human activity