Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2021

Ecological Reserve #7 Warden’s Annual Report 2021
Reserve Name: Trout Creek
Wardens: Kathryn McCourt, Mark Gardiner

Report Date: November 28, 2021 

April 29/21 Kathryn McCourt

Cloudy, calm. 8:20-10:05.

I walked from the brown gate SW to first drainage, down it to E fence on the flats, W along the edge of the canyon to the first rock bluff, then N and E back to the brown gate. There is still a tree down across the E fence.

Birds outside the ER: YRWA, TOSO, RCKI, VESP, MOCH, AMCR, PISI.

Birds inside ER: TOSO, VESP, HOFI, CAFI, PYNU, AMRO, YRWA, NOFL, CLNU, PISI, PIGR.

Plants in Bloom: Balsamorhyza sagittata, Antennaria spp, Lithospermum ruderale, Zigadenus venenosus, Lithophragma, parviflora, Amelanchier alnifolia.

Mammals: Chipmunk.

May 21, 2021    Mark Gardiner

0900 to 1030 (clear, variable N wind, ~12ºC)

I entered the ER through the brown gate. From there I hiked west to the canyon rim then returned to the brown gate.

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

Birds observed within the ER:

CAFI-7                        WWPE-1

CHSP-3                       VESP-2

PISI-4                          GRFL-1

AMKE-1                     AMRO-2

YRWA-1                    RECR-5

PYNU-4                      CLNU-1

SSHA-1                      RTHA-1

VGSW-5

May 24, 2021    Mark Gardiner

0730 to 0900 (cloudy, showers, calm, ~8ºC)

I entered the ER through the brown gate. From there I hiked west following a rising traverse until I encountered the old road that climbs east to the crest of the west N-S ridge. I followed the road to the ridge crest then continued along this ridge to the north a short distance before returning south and descending southeast to return to the brown gate.

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

Birds observed within the ER:

GRFL-2                      CHSP-2

VESP-2                       AMRO-1

CAFI-1                        PYNU-2

WETA-3                     TOWA-1

YRWA-2                    EVGR-1

NOFL-1                      RBNU-1

PISI-1                          TOSO-1

RECR-5

Lewisia rediviva and Penstemon fruticosus were blooming.

May 30/21 Kathryn McCourt

Clear sky, moderate breeze, 10°C.  6:40-8:20.

I hiked W from the brown gate to the canyon, N to the base of the bluffs, then S, E, and N back to the brown gate.

Birds outside the ER: YRWA, BBMA, WAVI, EVGR, VESP, HOWR, CHSP, PISI, AMGO, NRWS.

Birds inside the ER: HAFL, PISI, CHSP, WBNU, CAFI, WWPE, CLNU, YRWA, PYNU, MOCH, RECR, WETA, COHA.

Plants in bloom: Astragalus miser, Tragopogon dubius, Phacelia linearis, Ipomopsis aggregata, Erigeron filifolius, Crepis atrabarba, Lewisia rediviva.

Reptiles: Rattlesnake.

June 29/21   Kathryn McCourt

Clear, calm, 21°C. 5:45-7:08

I hiked from the brown gate S and then W along the fence, NW up the large drainage, then E along the foot of the bluffs back to the gate.

I noticed very little growth on the grasses.

Birds outside the ER: CHSP, MODO, RECR, EVGR, PISI, CORA, WWPE,

Birds inside the ER: CAFI, CHSP, AMRO, MOCH, WWPE, PYNU, VESP, YRWA.

Plants in bloom: Circium undulatum, Achillea millefolium,

Insects: Large black flies.

August 9/21   Kathryn McCourt

Clear, calm. 18°C.  8:55-10:45,

I hiked W to the canyon, NW to the NW corner of the ER, then SE and E across all of the drainages, and N back to the gate.

Birds outside the ER: WWPE, RBNU, RECR, PISI, AMRO, MOCH, WEBL, HOFI, NOFL, TOSO, BCCH, EVGR, CLNU.

Birds inside the ER: WWPE, PISI, RECR., CAFI, PYNU, STJA, NOFL, OSFL, CORA, WBNU, CONI.

Plants in bloom: Circium undulatum,

Mammals: Black bear, young, digging near a large rock.

Insects: Robber fly, grasshoppers.

October 23, 2021    Mark Gardiner

0800 to 0850 (mix of sun and cloud, calm, ~7ºC)

I entered the ER through the brown gate. From there I hiked west following a rising traverse until I encountered the old road that climbs east to the crest of the west N-S ridge. I followed the road to the ridge crest and then I descended southeast to return to the brown gate.

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

Birds observed within the ER:

RBNU-5                      WBNU-1

RECR-12                    EVGR-2

CORA-1                      CLNU-3

CAFI-3                        NOFL-1

I saw two mule deer and heard a coyote.

November 8/21     Kathryn McCourt

Mixed sun and cloud, moderate to strong wind, 4°C. 10:30-12:30.

I followed the fence S from the gate to the SE corner of the ER. The barbed wire needs tightening and there are many bent panels in the page wire, from people crossing over, presumably to recover golf balls. The walk-through is too narrow for anyone to get through.

Birds inside the ER: RBNU, CLNU, CORA, HAWO, RECR, MOCH, NOFL.

Plants in rosette: Artemesia dracunculus, Arabis spp., Ranunculus glaberrimus, grasses.

Mammals: Red Squirrel, deer tracks.

Hours volunteered: approximately 13.

Kilometers traveled: approximately 80