Blue Skies!

Sierra Buttes from Sierra City 3/14/19

On Tuesday we got .14" of rain.  Since then we've been enjoying beautiful, blue-sky days and warmer temperatures this week!  It's been heavenly!  Most of the snow is gone from our neighborhood, but there is still a LOT of snow at the higher elevations.  The Sierra Buttes are plastered in snow, and there is 13' of snow on the ground at Yuba Pass!  The river has slowed down to approximately 1,000 cfs. They are forecasting more wet weather this coming week, but no snow at our elevation.  Yahoo!  Spring is on the way!

Sierra Buttes from the Gold Lake Road 3/15/19

I skied up the Gold Lake Road on Friday and there was 4'-5' of packed snow on the ground!  The skiing was great, and it was incredibly beautiful!!!

Sandhill Cranes - Grus canadensis

   

Recent Sightings

All week long there have been 100's of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead!  I love hearing their loud rubbery honks!  Some of them got close enough that I could see their legs and outstretched necks.  They are migrating north and east to their breeding grounds in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Canada and Alaska.  The higher angle of the sun, the increased number of daylight hours, and warmer temperatures all trigger this migration pattern.  It is such a magical occurrence to watch!  

American Robin - Turdus migratorius

 On Tuesday, when it was raining, 100's of American Robins showed up in our neighborhood!  Some of them will stay here and raise their young.  The majority of them will probably migrate further north to Canada and Alaska to breed.

American Robins - Turdus migratorius

They roamed and fed in our neighborhood for several days, in large flocks.  The previously rainy week probably made the worms come to the surface, just in time for the Robins to eat!  

Western Meadowlark - Sternella neglecta

Also on Tuesday, two Western Meadowlarks landed on the road right in front of me!  They flew off before I got a photo, but I spotted one in the top of a pine tree the next morning!  They are probably on their way over to Sierra Valley, where they will breed and raise their young.  They are such lovely, colorful birds!  I was so lucky to see them!

Western Bluebirds (males)  - Sialia mexicana

I just had to put in some more photos of Western Bluebirds.  They are so beautiful!  I've seen more of them this week, in two local open, grassy areas.    The blue color of the males is dazzling!  Although the foothills are their main nesting area, they are known to nest at our elevation, 2,600'.  

Western Bluebirds (male/left - female/right) - Sialia mexicana

I'll have to go searching for Bluebird nests soon.  Wouldn't that be great if I find one!!!

Gray Fox (youth) - Urocyon Cinereoargenteus

Mammal Update

I'm still seeing foxes several times a week!  They are so beautiful!  I never tire of watching them.  Gray Foxes mate for life. Their breeding season is from January to early March.  Pups should be born around the end of May or the beginning of June.  Wouldn't that be wonderful to see some young pups this year!!!       

Mule Deer - Odecoileus hemionus sp.

I spotted this Mule Deer along Highway 49 one morning.  It is probably a female, as it doesn't have any "buttons" (beginning antlers) on its head.  Male mule deer shed their antlers between January and March.  Antler regrowth begins in April and extends through August.  This female could be pregnant!  Mating occurs in the fall.  Fawns are born sometime between June and July.  Right now, most females are traveling together in small groups.  This one was busy eating roadside plants.

Common Ravens  - Corvus corax

Regularly seen Residents

I finally got a photo of the pair of Common Ravens that have been living here for the past two years!  They fly daily to the highway and search for carrion to eat.  These Ravens are non-migratory and live here all year.  I love hearing their caws in the morning, as they fly by!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Black Phoebe

   Regulus calendula - Sayornis nigricans

Ruby-crowned Kinglets live here throughout the winter and spring, but migrate up to  9,000' in elevation, to breed in Lodgepole/Hemlock forests.  Black Phoebes live here all year.  Both of these birds are primarily insect eaters.  Kinglets search for insects on the twigs of bushes.  Phoebes catch insects in the air, a characteristic of all Flycatchers.  Phoebes supplement their winter diet with seeds and berries.  Kinglets are tiny, 4.25" in length, with a wingspan of 7.5".  Black Phoebes are larger, 7" in length, with a wingspan of 11".  I've been able to spot the Kinglets lately, as the bushes are still leafless.   

Red-tailed Hawks - Buteo jamaicensis

A solitary Red-tailed Hawk has lived in our area all winter.  Just this week I saw a second Red-tailed Hawk (above left) in the same area!!!  Is this its mate?  I've read that non-migratory Red-tails mate for life, and stay together year-round.  Did this hawk lose its mate?  Or is it just not a mature hawk?  The Cornell Lab states that the average age of first breeding is not known.  So I'll have to keep watching, and see if I can find a nest!

   

What's happening on the river?

What's happening in Sierra Valley?

What other birds will migrate through our neighborhood?

What's happening in Gray Lodge?

Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!

If suddenly you stop getting my blog in your email, you need to sign up again. This is a glitch with blogspot.com, and I can't figure out how to fix it. Thanks!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. 

Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com!