Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2019

Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2019

Reserve Name: Trout Creek

Wardens: Kathryn McCourt, Mark Gardiner

Report Date: November 12, 2019

On February 8, 2019, Kathryn McCourt broke her ankle and was unable to visit the ER until August 13^th.

April 3, 2019    Mark Gardiner

16:15 to 18:20 (cloudy with showers  11ºC)

I parked at the GC and entered the ER through the brown access gate then proceeded north up the east (north-south) ridge until I reached the north boundary. From there I proceeded west to the west (north-south) ridge then followed this ridge south until I met the road that descends to the west. I followed this road and continued west to the edge of the TC canyon. I descended down to the creek. From there I retraced my route back up the canyon rim before working toward the GC and then traversed back to the brown gate.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER.

Birds observed between GC and ER:

AMRO-2                     RECR-2

PISI-4

Birds observed within the ER:

NOFL-3                      PISI-5

GCKI-2                       CAFI-4

CORA-1                      AMRO-2

WBNU-1                    TOSO-1

MOCH-1                     PYNU-2

Plants in flower:

Ranunculus glaberrimus

Antennaria dimorpha

Lomatium geyeri

May 17, 2019    Mark Gardiner

16:30 to 18:30 (cloudy with moderately strong north wind)

I parked at the GC and entered the ER through the brown access gate then proceeded north up the east (north-south) ridge until I reached the north boundary. From there I proceeded west to the west (north-south) ridge then followed this ridge south until I met the road that descends to the west. I followed this road and continued west to the edge of the TC canyon. From there I worked toward the GC and then traversed back to the brown gate.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER.

Birds observed between GC and ER:

HOWR-1                    VESP-1                       WTSW-2

CAFI-1                        WETA-1                     CAQU-1

CHSP-2                       VGSW-1

Birds observed within the ER:

DUGR-1                     MODO-1                    NOFL-6

CORA-1                      MOCH-1                     WBNU-3

PYNU-2                      TOSO-1 (nest)            AMRO-2

CAFI-4                        RECR-6                      PISI-48

CHSP-4                       VESP-4                       YRWA-3

WETA-1

Common plants currently in bloom:

Ipomopsis aggregata

Lewisia rediviva

Zigadenus venenosus

Phacelia linearis

Penstemon fruticosus

July 30, 2019    Mark Gardiner

13:00 to 14:10 (sunny with light south wind  27ºC)

I parked at the GC and entered the ER through the brown access gate then proceeded west to the Trout Creek canyon rim. I followed the canyon upstream for a short distance before turning around and walking to the fence along the west boundary of the GC. From there I returned to the brown gate and back to the parking area.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER. Access trail from GC didn’t show any sign of recent use. While still in place, the fence along the border of the GC showed damage from people climbing over it.

Birds observed within the ER:

WEWP-2                    RECR-3

WBNU-2                    EVGR-1

NOFL-1                      DUGR- 1 ad + 2 young

RBNU-2                      PYNU-2

CAQU-1                     CHSP-2

CAFI-3                        VESP-1

August 13/19 Kathryn McCourt, Mark Gardiner

 September 02, 2019    Mark Gardiner

0630 to 0800 (sunny 15-17ºC)

I parked at the GC and entered the ER through the brown access gate then proceeded north up the east N-S ridge to the north boundary of the ER. From there I descended west to the west N-S ridge. I hiked south along the ridge eventually descending southeast back to the brown gate and on to the parking area.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER. Access trail from GC didn’t show any sign of recent use.

Birds observed outside the ER:

YRWA- 10                 RBNU- 2

WEBL- 5                    AMCR- 1

VESP- 2                      CAFI- 2

RECR- 2

Birds observed within the ER:

YRWA- 8                   CAFI- 6

RBNU- 3                     RECR- 2

MOBL- 7                    CORA- 1

PYNU- 4                     AMRO- 1

September 29/19  Kathryn McCourt

10:45-12:05. 7°.Wind calm, cloud cover 100 %

I walked diagonally from the gate to the mid-corner of the east fence and followed it down to the SE corner of the ER, then west along the flat and back up the old road to the mid area and back to the gate.

Birds: NOFL, RECR, CORA,CLNU, YRWA, PYNU, SACR (A large flock flew NW/SE, then circled for approximately 15 minutes until three more smaller flocks appeared from NW. All then headed SE. Another large flock flew NW/SE approximately ½ hour later.

Plants in bloom: Aster ericoides ssp. pansus, Ericameria nauseosa, Stephanomeria tenuifolia, Linaria sp., Medicago lupulina, Melilotis alba, Vicia Americana (last four non-native).

October 08, 2019    Mark Gardiner

1610 to 1750 (cloudy, moderately strong north wind, 5ºC)

I parked in the parking lot at the GC main gate and hiked straight up from there to the north ER boundary on the east N-S ridge. From there I descended west to the west N-S ridge. I followed the ridge south until I came to the end of the ridge above the cliffs. I then retraced my route until I could descend the old abandoned road to the west. When terrain permitted I hiked east around the south end of the ridge to the brown gate and on to the parking area.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER. Access trail from GC didn’t show any sign of recent use.

Birds observed outside the ER:

PYNU- 1                     MOCH- 3

STJA- 1                       MOBL- 1

Birds observed within the ER:

DEJU- 1                      TOSO- 1

RBNU- 1                     PYNU- 1

Also heard a group of coyotes vocalizing somewhere toward the western boundary of the ER along the rim of the canyon.

October 31/19    Kathryn McCourt

9:50-11:20. 4°. Wind calm, cloud cover 85%.

I walked W along below the cliffs until I could overlook the canyon, then SE along the canyon, E along the S edge of the middle bench to the E fence and N back to the gate.

Birds: HAWO, CORA, NOFL, AMRO, CLNU (outside the ER).

Plants in bloom: Linaria sp., Gaillardia aristate.

I saw no garbage or golf balls.

 November 10, 2019    Mark Gardiner

12:50 to 15:00 (mostly sunny, light north wind, 9ºC)

I parked in the parking lot at the GC main gate and hiked straight up from there to the north ER boundary on the east N-S ridge. From there I descended west to the west N-S ridge. I followed this ridge south until I came to the old abandoned road then I descended this road to the west. Eventually I left the road and continued west to the rim of the canyon. Following a steep game trail I descended down to Trout Creek. After ascending back to the canyon rim I hiked east around the south end of the west N-S ridge to the brown gate and on to my vehicle.

I saw no sign of recent human activity within the ER. Access trail from GC didn’t show any sign of recent use.

No birds were observed along my route to or from the ER boundary.

Birds observed within the ER:

RUGR- 1                     RBNU- 5

NOFL- 1                     PYNU- 3

MOCH- 2                    BEKI- 1 (along creek)

Time spent: approximately 11.5 hr

Distance traveled: approximately 90 km

submitted by Kathryn McCourt