Winter Weather

Clouds before the Storm

Last week we got about 3" of heavy wet snow and some rain. Yahoo! Winter is still here! So far, our water-year total (from 10/1/19) is 22.04" of precipitation. At this time last year the total was 24.68". The river is pretty low, and the flow rate is only 879 cfs. More rain, not snow, is predicted for this coming week. The snow level is supposed to be initially high, around 8,000', and then it will hopefully drop down to around 6,000'. Fingers crossed that the Lakes Basin will get some more snow.  We really need it!

Sierra Buttes 1/19/20

We went up to the Lakes Basin last week after the storm.  There was 2' of newly fallen snow at the 5,500' level and the lakes were frozen!  It was beautiful as always!

Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus

Project FeederWatch!

So far, I regularly see the following birds at our feeding station;

Northern Flicker (2), Steller's Jay (22), Oregon Junco (50+), Fox Sparrow (2), 

Song Sparrow (1), Mourning Doves (8), Spotted Towhee (2), and Mountain Quail (16).  I observe them two days a week, and record the highest number (per species) that I see.  I record my observations online at the Project FeederWatch website.  This information provides statistics for the Cornell Ornithology Lab that they wouldn't have been able to gather on their own. The following quote from Project FeederWatch explains how this citizen science project works.

"It helps scientists track long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. When thousands of FeederWatchers in communities across North America count birds and send their tallies to the FeederWatch database, the result is a treasure trove of numbers, which FeederWatch scientists analyze to draw a picture of winter bird abundance and distribution.

FeederWatch data shows which bird species visit feeders at thousands of locations across the continent every winter. The data also indicates how many individuals of each species are seen. This information can be used to measure changes in the winter ranges and abundances of bird species over time. Importantly, FeederWatch data tells us where birds are as well as where they are not. This crucial information enables scientists to piece together the most accurate population maps.

Because FeederWatchers count the number of individuals of each species they see several times throughout the winter, FeederWatch data is extremely powerful for detecting and explaining gradual changes in the wintering ranges of many species." 

So I am still feeding the birds, but clean my station regularly to prevent build up of feces and mold.  I have to admit, it has been delightful watching these birds!

Varied Thrush - Ixoreus naevius

New this week there was one Varied Thrush at our feeding station!  It was a male, easily distinguished by it's dark navy-blue chest band!  

American Robin - Mountain Quail

Turdus migratorius - Oreortyx pictus

We also have an American Robin that has recently shown up at our feeding station!  I'm not sure if it has just arrived or if it is over-wintering in our neighborhood.  Usually Robins leave in the Fall, and return sometime in late February or early March.  I'll let you know if any more show up!

The number of Mountain Quail visiting our feeding station has increased from 8 to 16 or more!  I love watching and hearing these coveys of beautifully marked birds.

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodius 

North Yuba River Update

The river has been low and slow lately.  I haven't seen any more Minks or River Otters, even though I look for them everyday.  However, I do see our local Great Blue Heron a couple of times a week, as well as a few Common Mergansers.  

 Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

These are either all female mergansers or male mergansers in their eclipse plumage.

The males usually develop their striking breeding plumage by the end of February or early March.  These birds are primarily fish eaters, and dive underwater to catch their prey.

 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula

New this week I spotted 12 Common Goldeneyes on the river!!!  There were adult and juvenile males, and adult females!  They were all in their breeding colors!  The males have the bright white dots on their black heads, and white bodies.  They breed across Alaska and Canada.  They nest in tree cavities or nest boxes, and have one brood per season.  Unlike most ducks, they winter regularly above the foothills of the western Sierra.  They mainly feed on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans in the winter, and aquatic invertebrates in the summer.  They dive to catch prey, while holding their wings close to their body and kicking with their feet.  They can fly up to 40 mph, and the wind "whistles" through their wing feathers!  They were so beautiful to watch, as they swam in a close-knit group along the river!

 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula

Both males and females have golden eyes!

Ladybird Beetles - Hippodamia convergens

Winter Insect Happenings!

I haven't mentioned the local Ladybird Beetles (commonly known as Ladybugs) yet this year. They congregated on the trunks of several large trees last Fall. They will stay here all winter in a dormant state. To keep from freezing, they produce an anti-freeze in their "hemolymph" (insect body fluid). In the Spring, the females will lay their eggs on the underside of a leaf.  In 3-5 days the larvae emerge from the eggs. After 2-3 weeks of eating aphids, the larvae pupate, and turn into an adult ladybug in about a week.  The adult ladybugs continue to eat aphids, mites, and scale insects until the temperatures drop in the Fall, and their winter dormancy starts again.

Bald-faced Hornet Nest before and after Winter's arrival

Dolichovespula maculata

I mentioned this Bald-faced Hornet nest back in November.  The hive has since fallen apart, and the queen has gone dormant under leaf litter, or a tree bark, or in a rock crevice.  Only the queen survives the winter, all the other wasps die off in the cold of Fall.  I find it amazing that ANY of this nest is still hanging, since it is only made of wasp-made "paper"!

Non-biting Midges - Chironomidae Family

The Non-biting Midges are back, swarming above the tops of pine trees near the river!  Midges are often mistaken for mosquitoes due to their similar size and body shape. They lay their eggs in shallow waters. The eggs sink to the bottom. In a few days the larvae hatch out of the eggs and burrow into mud, or construct a small tube in which they live, feed and develop. The aquatic larvae feed on detritus in the water and are a great source of food for fish and aquatic insects. After 2-7 weeks, the larvae turn into pupae. The pupae then swim to the surface and the adults emerge from their pupal exuviae (cast off skin). Adults do not feed and spend their short, 3-5 day lives mating!

Most midges are active from Spring through Fall, but some orders fly in the winter! Adult midges are known for their large mating swarms. Often, these cloud-like swarms congregate in the early evening, when the sun is getting low. Usually they form just above some tall object such as a bush, tree, hilltop, or over a pool, stream, or lake. How lucky I was to watch this incredible spectacle again!

Questionable Stropharia - Chantrelle (?) 

Stropharia Ambigua - unknown species

Mushrooms are still popping up, due to the wet but warm weather!

Who's track is this?

What's happening in the local foothills?

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

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Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com