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Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2020

Posted December 1, 2020 | Categories : 7,Warden Reports |

Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2020

Reserve Name: Trout Creek

Wardens: Kathryn McCourt, Mark Gardiner

Report Date: December 1, 2020

February 21, 2020    Mark Gardiner

1440 to 1600 (overcast 6ºC) about 40% snow cover

I parked at the GC and entered the ER through the brown access gate then proceeded west to TC canyon. I descended to the creek then retraced my route back to the brown gate and on to the GC 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 within the ER:

RBNU- 1                     MOCH- 8

PYNU- 4

feather remains of a DUGR

I saw about 12 Ranunculus glaberrimus flowers.

March 4/20 Kathryn McCourt

Temp 7°C. Calm. Overcast. Time: one hour

I hiked through the ER from the gate to the W side overlooking the canyon, then N and E along the foot of the bluffs. Followed the barking of a coyote but by the time I reached the W side s/he was up in the bluffs. I saw/heard no birds. In bloom:Ranunculus glaberrimus. Lewisia rediviva rosettes in several places.

March 7, 2020   Mark Gardiner

1345 to 1600 (mix of sun & cloud 5ºC) about 5% snow cover

I parked at the GC gate and hiked up to the north boundary of the ER. From there I descended west to the west N-S ridge. I hiked south along the ridge and eventually descended west to the canyon rim before heading back to the brown gate and on to the GC 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 within the ER:

TOSO- 1

June 6, 2020    Mark Gardiner

0700 to 0815 (sunny 9ºC)

I parked a little north of the GC then hiked directly up to the crest of the east N-S ridge north of the ER. I descended SW and entered the ER on the west N-S ridge. From there I descended S along the west N-S ridge and eventually descended southeast back 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.

Birds observed within the ER:

YRWA- 2                   CAFI- 4

WBNU- 1                   CHSP- 5

MOBL- 2                    WETA- 2

BRBL- 1                     AMRO- 2

EVGR- 1                     BHCO- 1

VESP- 7                      MOCH- 1

WWPE- 1                   GRFL- 1

OSFL- 1                      AMCR- 2

Plants in bloom:

Penstemon fruticosus (nearing the end of the bloom)

Lewisia rediviva

Chaenactis douglasii (just about to bloom)

Phacelia linearis

 June 17, 2020    Mark Gardiner

1210 to 1310 (a mix of sun and cumulous clouds 22ºC) breezy

I parked just N of the GC gate and hiked directly up to the east N-S ridge entering the ER just S of the north boundary of the ER. From there I descended S along the east N-S ridge  eventually reaching the brown gate. From the gate I walked back to the GC 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.

Birds observed within the ER:

WWPE- 1                   CAFI- 3

WETA- 1                    PISI- 2

VESP- 3                      CONI- 1

CHSP- 3                      MOCH- 1

AMRO- 2                    YRWA- 2

June 28, 2020    Kathryn McCourt

18:55-20:56, 19°C., cloudy, wind calm.

I hiked W along the base of the ridge and circled back to the NW corner of the S fence and back to the gate.

Birds: CAFI, PYNU, VESP, YRWA, CHSP, PISI, AMRO, WWPE

Insects: Moth spp., Bumble bees

Plants: Crepis spp.,Gaillardia aristata, Vicia americana (a large area), Linaria spp.,Limonium macrocarpum (seed), Opuntia fragilis, Phacelia linearis, Erigeron corymbosus, Circium undulatum, Arabis holboelii.

July 8, 2020    Mark Gardiner

1545 to 1700 (a mix of sun and cumulous clouds ?ºC)

I parked a little north of the GC and hiked directly up to the crest of the east N-S ridge near the north boundary of the ER. I descended W along the N boundary to the west N-S ridge. From there I descended S along the west N-S ridge and eventually descended southeast back 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.

Birds observed within the ER:

CAFI- 6                       CONI- 1

TOSO- 1                     WETA- 2

YRWA- 1

Plants in bloom:

Orobanche (species?)- a few plants (yellow flowers)

Opuntia fragilis

Pyrrocoma carthamoides

Linanthus pungens

Chaenactis douglasii

Ipomopsis aggregata

Rhinanthus minor (near the end of bloom)

Stephanomeria tenuifolia

July 31, 2020    Kathryn McCourt

7:10-7:40, 19°C,

I hiked up to the NW corner of the S fence and looped back to the gate.

Birds outside of ER: WWPE, MODO, RECR, HOWR, PISI.

Birds inside ER: NOFL, PYNU, WBNU, AMRO, CHSP, CAFI, HAFL?, PISI.

August 3, 2020    Mark Gardiner

0650 to 0830 (sunny 20-24ºC) breezy

I parked a little north of the GC then hiked directly up to the crest of the east N-S ridge just S of the N boundary of the ER. I descended W and hiked to the west N-S ridge. From there I descended S along the west N-S ridge and eventually descended west along the old road and on to the canyon rim. I followed the rim S then head E back 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.

Birds observed within the ER:

CAFI- 3                       PISI- 4

AMRO- 2                    RECR- 8

TOSO- 2                     VESP-4

AMCR- 2                    MOCH- 2

RBNU- 2                     WBNU- 2

CAQU- 15                  PYNU- 5

GRFL- 1                     WWPE- 2

NOFL- 1

Plants in bloom:

Stephanomeria tenuifolia

Chrysothamnus nauseosus (just beginning)

September 22, 2020    Mark Gardiner

1110 to 1400 (~ 1.5 hours in ER) (mostly sunny 17ºC)

I parked at GC and entered the ER through the brown gate. From there I hiked west toward the canyon rim until I intersected the old road that climbs up onto the west ridge. I followed this road onto the west ridge then headed north along the west ridge to the ER north fence. I continued north outside the ER for a short distance then headed east (and up) to the east ridge. Once on the east ridge I hiked further north (outside the ER) for a while before retracing my steps and re-entering the ER along the crest of the east ridge. I continued south and descended the east ridge eventually reaching the brown gate. From there I returned 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.

Birds observed within the ER:

NOFL-3                      PISI-23

WBNU-2                    RBNU-2

PYNU-5                      CLNU-1

YRWA-3                    WEBL-3

DEJU-2                       BBMA-1

Plants in bloom: Chrysothamnus nauseosus

September 25, 2020    Kathryn McCourt

10:35-11:30, 13°C., mainly cloudy, stiff gusty south wind.

I hiked W to the NW corner of the S fence and continued W until overlooking the canyon. I then headed N and then E along the base of the ridge back to the gate.

Birds: NOFL, CAFI, AMRO, YEWA, WBNU, RECR, RBNU, PYNU, MOCH, PISI, CORA.

Plants: Most were dry, including a very large area of Vicia americana, much more than I had realized in June.

October 24, 2020    Mark Gardiner

1215 to 1345 (~ 1 hour in ER) (cloudy / -1ºC / 15cm snow)

I parked a little north of the GC and hiked toward brown gate staying above and north of GC. Once in ER I headed north and hiked up onto west ridge. I followed west ridge until I reached the north fence of the ER. I then headed east and ascended to crest of east ridge. From there I continued east descending slopes toward the GC and my vehicle.

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

Birds observed within the ER:

RBNU-3                      RECR-5

GCKI-2

There were numerous fresh deer tracks in the new snow.

November 4, 2020     Mark Gardiner, Kathryn McCourt

15:00-16:30, 11°C., mixed sun and cloud, gusty south wind.

We entered the ER from the north, hiking out onto the top of the west ridge, then descending towards the east, crossing the drainage and continuing to descend along the side of the east ridge towards the east fence. We left the ER north of the brown gate.

There was no evidence of human activity within that section of the ER.

Sections of the north fence are down on both the east and west ends.

Birds encountered:

PYNU, MOCH, CORA, BAEA,

Mammals: Many deer tracks and scat, small amounts of bear scat, not fresh.