Ecological Reserve #130 Warden’s Annual Report 2021

Photos Mahoney Lake ER Fall 2021

ER Name: Mahoney Lake
Warden: Kathryn McCourt
Report Date: November 23, 2021

March 28, 2021

12°C., Scattered clouds, SE wind, 10:25-11:25

Birds: NOFL, RWBL, AMCO, RNDU, CAGO, PBGR, PYNU.

Plants in bloom: Ranunculus glaberrimus, Fritillaria pudica,

Foliage: Balsamorhyza sagittata, Lithophragma parviflora,

There is a new trail at the NE end of the lake.

There were many cars around the lake: North parking,6, East, 3, South, 12.

April 26, 2021.

10°C., calm, clear skies, 9:35 – 10:50.

Birds: CAFI, NOFL, RCKI, PYNU, PISI, SPTO, AMCO, SOSP, AMGO, YRWA, BUFF, KILL, MALL, SPSA, PBGR, SAPH, CAGO, GWTE, AMWI, AMRO, RWBL, RNDU.

Plants in Bloom: Lomatium dissectum, Vicia spp., Ribes cereum, Balsamorhyza sagittata, yellow-flowered Lomatium spp., Lithospermum ruderale, Fritillaria lanceolata.

There were 13 cars in north parking lot. Very little garbage at East pullout.

The wire fence was down along the East side of the lake north of East pullout

at 10:30, a school lbus and car, 15 people and a dog arrived and hiked from the East pullout along the lake and across the north end from East to West..

The water level at the South end is receding.

May 29, 2021

10°C., clear sky, moderate South breeze. 7:30-8:50.

Birds: PISI, SPTO, WWPE, REBL, RECR, WAVI, AMGO, NAWA, AMRO, YHBL, TOSO, MODO, YRWA, MALL, CAGO, CHSP.

Plants in bloom: Achillea millefolium, Gaillardia aristata, Rosa spp.,

There was very little garbage at the parking areas.

The acrylic on the interpretive sign has been badly scratched.

June 25, 2021

25° C., clear skies, strong gusty North wind,8:15-9:07.

Did first waterfowl survey.

July 3, 2021

26° C., 40% cloud cover, smoky, light North breeze, 9:05-10:09.

Did second waterfowl survey.

July 10, 2021

28°, clear skies, strong North breeze. 9:45-10:50.

Did third waterfowl survey.

Other breeding birds: MAWR, YHBL, WWPE, AMRO, PYNU, MOCH, AMGO, HAWO.

October 1, 2021.

13°C. Calm, clear. 11:15- 12:30.

Took photos at pins or pin areas. Couldn’t locate SW pin, S pin, or NE pin.

Birds: MALL, RNDU, AMCO, NOFL, RBNU, HAWO, MOCH, CLNU.

Plants in bloom: Grindelia squarrosa, Aster ericoides ssp. pansus.

November 13, 2021

6°C., calm, overcast. 12:08-1:02.

Birds: BAEA, BUFF, MALL, CORA, RECR.

Numerous white irregularly shaped mushrooms emerging along trail North of lake.

Very little garbage at parking spots.

Hours volunteered: approximately 8

Kilometers travelled: approximately 500

 

Here are three photos of Mahoney Lake in flood, where it has been for much of the past four years, although there was some reduction in water level in the summer of 2021, given the extreme heat.