Blue Oak Grasslands

This week we went down to another oak woodland in the foothills, which is part of the Spenceville wildlife preserve and recreation area run by the California State Department of Fish and Game. I had never been to this area before. Unlike the South Yuba River State Park, cattle roam the Spenceville preserves. The difference in the landscape and vegetation was immediately obvious. There was a definite lack of shrubs and weeds! It was gloriously open with clusters of Blue Oaks on the hillsides, broad open meadows of short green grass, and beautiful wide vistas of the surrounding hills! It was spectacular!

However, instead of cascades of wildflowers, there were scattered thin patches of tiny wildflowers on the grassy slopes, the small creek and scattered ponds were trampled and polluted, and there were cow pies everywhere! Although I am very glad that this oak woodland hasn't been developed for housing, I wasn't pleased with the effects of the cattle. On the internet, there is a LOT of information on the pros and cons of cattle grazing on public lands. It is a very complex issue, with valid arguments from both sides often on the "opposite side of the fence".

For the "cons" of grazing I suggest the following websites: https://content.sierraclub.org/grassrootsnetwork/sites/content.sierraclub.org.activistnetwork/files/teams/documents/BLM_References_Critique130612-6.pdf

and

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/grazing/

For the "pros" of grazing I suggest the following websites: https://www.ebparks.org/about/stewardship/grazing/benefits.htm

and

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17709

Scattered Wildflowers

 

On the sunny slopes most of the wildflowers were sparsely scattered, and quite tiny.  Surprisingly one area near a pond was carpeted in Frying Pans and Goldfields!  The cattle were right among them, so perhaps these flowers weren't palatable.  So pretty!  

Frying Pans - California Goldfields

Eschscholzia lobbii - Lasthenia californica

All of these flowers were less than an inch in diameter.  Quite little!  The True Baby Stars were only about half an inch across!  It was great to have a hand lens to examine these tiny beauties! 

Butter & Eggs - True Baby Stars - Cowbag Clover

Triphysaria eriantha - Leptosiphon bicolor - Trifolium depauperatum

The Waterways

Most of the canals and small creeks were trampled and polluted.  We were surprised to come across this rather large pond (above) that wasn't too badly damaged!  There were lots of birds in the surrounding reeds and willows and we even saw a turtle (hopefully not a Red Slider!) swimming by!  In another tiny pond, there were surprisingly LOTS of tiny little fish! How they got there, and how they're going to survive is indeed a mystery!

Tiny Fish and Turtle (inset)

The Hillsides and Ridges

As we walked up the hills to the ridgetops we encountered a lot more wildflowers among the ancient looking lichen-covered rocks.  We guessed that the cows can't  easily forage in the rock outcrops, and thus the wildflowers are spared!  The rocks, Blue Oak forest, and wildflowers were absolutely stunning!  We also saw a Coyote run off in the distance!  Too fast and far away for a photo! (Rats!)

Caterpillar Phacelia - Blue Dicks

Phacelia cicutaria - Dichelostemma capitatum

Caterpillar Phacelia - Manroot (fruit) - Dove's Foot Geranium

Phacelia cicutaria - Marah fabacea - Geranium molle

The fruit of the Manroot looks prickly but the spines are soft and pliable.  While we were looking in our field guides, we learned that the origin of the name "Manroot" comes from the fact that its root can reach the size and more or less the shape of a man!  WOW!!!  Never would have guessed that one!

Western Bluebird (male - female)

Sialia mexicana

The Birds!

There were lots of birds in the Blue Oak forests, that were all calling and singing!  It was lovely to hear them!  Other than the Western Bluebirds, I never see these birds in our neighborhood.  We kept hearing a loud repeated call and finally figured out it was the White-breasted Nuthatches! Like the Red-breasted Nuthatches in our area, these little birds climb up and down the trunks and branches of trees, gleaning insects from the surface and crevices.

White-breasted Nuthatch - House Finch (female)

Sitta carolinensis - Haemorhous mexicanus

Lewis's Woodpecker (adult) - Meadowlark (adult)

Melanerpes lewis  - Sturnella neglecta

I really enjoyed our time there, despite the cows!  We probably saw at least 50 cows, but I didn't take a single picture of them!  It was peaceful, beautiful, and so different from where we live!  A lovely, lovely day! 

 

                                                                

                                                                   Spring Umbrellas - ©KoK 2010

More Damp Earth Art!

Since we still need more rain, I am continuing to maintain this blog and am again sending out yet another "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Check out what's already been submitted at dampearthart.blogspot.com

You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.

I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain.

Sierra Buttes and Sardine Lake (frozen) - 3/22/21

Lakes Basin Update

Last Monday I walked up to Sardine Lake on the snow!  The snowmobile track was packed and easy walking.  Off the track I sunk in the snow about 1.5'!  Surprisingly the lake was totally frozen!  It was a gorgeous blue sky day and wonderful to be back up there!  I also drove up to Yuba Pass to see how much snow was there.  On the way, the north facing slopes were still quite snowy!  There was only about 2.5' of snow at the Pass.  So we still have a snowpack, though definitely not a lot.  Sure hope more storms keep coming!

 Dead Man Peak - 3/22/21

Are anymore plants blooming?

What's happening in Sierra Valley?

What kind of insects are out and about?

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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.

Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!

In Celebration of Wildflowers!

Miniature Lupine - Tufted Poppy - Lacepod

Lupinus bicolor - Eschscholzia caespitosa - Thysanocarpus curvipes

The local Native Americans, the Nisenan, traditionally celebrated the beginning of Spring with a ceremonial dance called the Weda or Flower Dance in April.  

Local historian Hank Meals states in his Aug. 18, 2018 blog "Foothill Dancers" (yubatreadhead.blogspot.com): "In Yuba River country the indigenous Nisenan people, for reasons both social and ceremonial, have been dancing for thousands of years. Among the events enhanced by dancing were the arrival of spring flowers featuring miles of blooming meadows that are now covered by housing developments. Obviously the Weda was danced outside with the participants wearing flowers. If I could enter a time machine to revisit a historical event this would be it."

Blue Dicks - Fiddleneck - Bird's Eye Gilia

Dichelostemma capitatum - Amsinckia menziesii - Gilia tricolor

The following quote is from https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/anthpubs/ucb/text/ucp024-005.pdf

"The Valley Nisenan by A.L. Kroeber, 1929:

In Weda feasts-The Nisenan were given to outdoor feasts. They held the yo"we'da and sa"we'da, which were "like picnics," with races, hand-games, play, and a hu'sla or great meal given by the "great people". The yo"we'da was held when all the flowers, yo", were in bloom, and the women wore them on their hair, ears, and hands. The sa"we'da came later in the season, when flowers were gone and everything was in leaf." 

Lacepod - Popcorn Flower - Caterpillar Phacelia

 Thysanocarpus curvipes - Plagiobothrys nothofulvus - Phacelia cicutaria

The following information is from  

https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

"Weda Dance - Exact details of this dance were not obtained, but it seems that the dancers wore wreaths (wotut) of wild flowers and that it was danced in front of the houses in the village, not in the dance house. It might be termed the begging dance. A company of dancers would go from house to house, one carrying a basket. Each family contributed food. When the basket was full the dancers divided the contents among themselves. This seeking of food donations was done by visiting dancers as well as the dancers of the host village. This performance took place in the spring when wild flowers were blooming."

Silver Bush Lupine - Red Maids _ Hansen's Larkspur

 Lupinus albifrons - Calandrinia menziesii - Delphinium hansenii

The following information is from nisenan.org.

"THE ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS OF THE NISENAN…

are situated in Northern California. The southern boundary of the territory begins below the Consumnes River. From there, it runs east to Kyburz and includes both banks of the Sacramento River to the west. From Kyburz, the boundary winds its way north to Gold Lake then west along ridges and canyons to the south fork of the Father River. From there, it moves southwest to the Sacred Mountain, 'Estom Yanim (Marysville Buttes) and finally, finds its way back down the Sacramento River.

In the past, Nisenan lived in towns made up of extended family groups of different sizes and led by a Huk (Headman) or Mayan (Headwoman). Like many other Tribes throughout the United States, the Nisenan have been misidentified and mislabeled. The Nisenan have been lumped together under inaccurate labels such as "Maidu", "digger" and "southern Maidu". However, the Nisenan are a separate Tribe with their own Cultural lifeways, their own leaders and holy people, a distinct geographic territory and their own ancient and unique language."

Dutchman's Pipes - Purple Sanicle - Poison Sanicle

Aristolochia californica - Sanicula bipinnaifida - Sanicula bipinnata

I couldn't agree more with Hank Meals' wish to travel back in time to witness this beautifulWeda ceremony!  It must have been amazingly beautiful!

The above wildflowers were photographed at the South Yuba River State Park 

just this past week!  Get out there if you can and immerse yourself in 

the beauty of thousands of spring wildflowers!

Northern Flicker (male) - Steller's Jay

 Colaptes auratus - Cyanocitta stelleri

More Snow & Rain!

This past week has been snowy and rainy!  On Monday morning we woke up to 3" of wet snow on the ground.  On Thursday and Friday it rained a total of  aproximately 1.5"!  The total precipitation for the week was a little over 2", bringing us to a water-year total of approximately 31"!  I hope March continues to bring lots more wet weather!

 At this time of year the snow melts quickly.  Monday morning I went walking in a blizzard, and every tree was blanketed in snow!  By the afternoon, the trees were totally snow free, and there was an inch or two of patchy snow left on the ground!  I'm grateful for the warmer, longer days and I think the birds are as well!

Northern Flicker (female) - Colaptes auratus 

I haven't discussed our amazing year-round avian residents for a while.  Often overlooked because they are commonly seen, these birds should be applauded for their resourcefulness and hardiness through winter!  

There have been a few Northern Flickers in our neighborhood all winter this year. This is probably due to the general lack of snow on the ground. Unlike other woodpeckers, flickers usually forage on the ground for ants, beetles, moths, snails, flies, larvae, seed and berries! When there is a lot of snow, they migrate to lower snow-free elevations. Measuring 12.5" in length, they are the second largest woodpecker in North America (the Pileated Woodpecker being the largest). They are sexually dimorphic in appearance. The most obvious difference is the bright red "malar" on the male's head, which is absent in the female. More Northern Flickers should be arriving for the breeding season soon!

Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri

There are about 16 Steller's Jays that live here year-round. Every morning they really squawk to each other. Sometimes they sound quite alarmed! They are very inquisitive, and are usually the first to notice anything new in the area. They eat just about anything including seeds, insects, fruit, garbage, carrion, pet food, and small mammals! Lately I've been watching them fly by with Live Oak acorns in their beaks! Yesterday, I heard what I thought was a woodpecker hammering on a tree trunk. It turned out to be a Steller's Jay pecking on an acorn, that he was holding against the top of a branch!

Common Ravens - Corvus corax

We have two Ravens that live in our canyon year-round. I watch them fly by daily as they head down to the highway, from their distant up-canyon roosting area. The highway is a good source of food for these ravens, as roadkill provides carrion. Ravens have a diverse diet that includes arthropods (even scorpions), amphibians, reptiles, birds (adults, chicks, and eggs), fish, small mammals, carrion, grains, buds, and berries. Invertebrates consumed include Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, craneflies, ants, slugs, scorpions, earthworms, snails and diversity of marine invertebrates. There isn't any research available that states that Ravens mate for life.  However, family members usually stick together for years. 

Other year-round residents are the Spotted Towhee, Black Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, American Dipper, Canada Goose, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and sometimes the Common Merganser!

                                                Spring Rain - ©Kok 2015

More Damp Earth Art!

 Since we still need more rain, I am continuing to maintain this blog and am again sending out yet another "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Check out what's already been submitted at dampearthart.blogspot.com

You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.

I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain.

Are anymore plants blooming?

What's happening in the Lakes Basin?

What kind of insects are out and about?

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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.

Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!

The Open Slope Again!

Columbian Black-tailed Deer - Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

At least 4 mornings a week I check out what's happening at the Open Slope.  This week the Columbian Black-tailed doe, was out foraging with her two offspring!  The juveniles bounded off before I got their photo, but the doe stayed and browsed on plants.  Female offspring stay with their mother for two years after birth.  Male offspring stay for one year.  The two juveniles were probably born last June or July, so they'll be with their mom for a while still.  Right now I can't tell if they're male or female.

Mule deer don't have upper incisors or canine teeth and can't nip off twigs.  They must press plants between their upper hard palate and their bottom teeth and jerk their heads up to tear them off.  In winter they mainly eat the growing tips of trees and shrubs, as well as acorns, fruits and berries.  They are ruminants and have 4 stomachs in which food is fermented before it is digested.  Their stomachs are small, so they select the most nutritious parts of plants that are high in fiber but low in starch.  Some of their preferred forage is Ceanothus, Douglas Fir, Stonecrop, Manzanita, Creek Dogwood, Black Oak, and Elderberry.

American Kestrel (male) - Falco sparverius

About two weeks ago I spotted the American Kestrel in a cloud of non-biting midges.  Neither species eats the other, but they both like the tops of trees!  I haven't seen the Kestrel or the midges since.  The Kestrel has probably moved on to greener pastures where food is more readily available.  The midges have possibly finished with their mating flights for the year!  Such a beautiful sight!

Common Goldeneye (male) - Bucephala clangula

The section of the river below the open slope is a favorite feeding area for Common Goldeneyes.  All winter long I have seen them there, diving under water in their search for fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.  They will be leaving for their breeding grounds across Canada and Alaska, in the near future.  Now that the sun in shining on the river in the morning the males look especially gorgeous against the sunlit green river!

River Otter - Lontra canadensis

 It is a ways down to the river from the top of the slope.  You can also see quite a ways upriver from there.  I had been watching the Common Goldeneyes on the river with my camera, when I noticed  a much bigger wake in the river.  Something large was swimming to shore.  Unfortunately the bushes hid the shoreline, so I couldn't see what it was but I suspected it might be a River Otter!!!  I got two quick blurred photos of the mystery swimmer (see orange arrows above) when it was quite distant.  I enlarged them on my camera and thought for sure that it was an Otter!  Since it was headed upriver, I thought I'd take my chances and run to an upriver spot where I'd seen River Otters once before.  If I went fast enough I thought I just might get there in time. 

River Otter - Lontra canadensis

So I hot-footed it upriver about a mile, and bigger than heck the River Otter was sitting on a rock ledge across the river!  WOW!!!  It was rolling around under some leafless bushes on the ledge.  When it saw me it instantly dropped down off the ledge into the river and disappeared!  This was right on a bend in the river, and there was a willow island in the bend that blocked the view of the river.  So I walked upriver past the willow island to see if it would appear, but it didn't. 

River Otter - Lontra canadensis

I knew I should head home as my husband was waiting for me, but decided to take one more look at the rock ledge just in case the otter had returned.  So I walked back past the willow island, and the otter was there again, grooming itself on a tuber and grass hummock on the same river edge!  WOW!!!

It was quite large!  The biggest one I've ever seen!  I have since read that they can reach approximately 5 feet in length, including the tail, and weigh up to 33 lbs!  It posed for me for about 20 seconds and then dove back in the river.  I decided I should leave and let it have its morning to itself.  

River Otter - Lontra canadensis

I was so surprised that the Otter was on the ledge when I got there, as he had a much longer route to swim, than the route I ran.  Swimming is second nature to River Otters.  They are powerful swimmers!  They can travel 440 yards underwater without surfacing, hold their breath for 8 minutes, dive to a depth 70', and swim 26 river miles in a day!  Their nostrils and ears close underwater.  They mainly hunt at night, using their long whiskers to locate prey, but I have seen them catch fish during the day.  They eat fish, crayfish, turtles, muskrats, ducks, frogs, garter snakes, and newts.  

For four years I've been visiting the Open Slope frequently.  Sometimes I walk there, and other times I stop and park on my way home.  I'm always on the lookout for River Otters, but this is the first time I've ever seen one on this part of the river!  I looked it up when I got home, and I had seen a River Otter further upstream a year and a day before, on March 2nd!  Maybe this was the same otter on his annual journey up the river!  You just never know!  What a huge gift it was to see this beautiful wild animal three times in one morning!  WOW!!!

View of the surrounding hills from Quail Valley

Quail Valley

A week ago, my friend Nancy and I went for another foothill hike, down in Quail Valley.  We had never been there before.  It is part of the Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is approximately 7,000 acres (in four parcels) of rolling hills covered with blue and live oak, gray pine, thick brush, and poison oak. Domestic cows also roam free in the area. There are no trails, just cow footpaths and a bunch of dirt roads that meander through the woodlands. It was a beautiful blue-sky day so we headed north on a footpath to see what we could see!

Western Meadowlark - California Quail - California Towhee

Sturnella neglecta - Calipepla californica - Pipilo crissalis

Right away we saw a Western Meadowlark calling from a high branch!  This photo doesn't show its beautiful yellow throat, breast, and belly.  In the right light they are a gorgeous saturated golden-yellow.  I was surprised how long and sharp their beaks were.  In Sierra Nevada Birds, David Lucas states, "Their sharp bills are adapted for "gaping", the ability to forcibly open their bills to pry open crevices or dig in the soil."  They feed on grubs, insects, and seeds on or in the ground.

We heard, but didn't see, a California Quail while we were there.  We also saw a California Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and a Mourning Dove.  There weren't lots of birds yet.  Perhaps in a week or two there will be more in the area.

Red Maids - Nemophila sp. - Pygmy Poppy (?) - Hooker's Saxifrage

Calandrinian menziesii - Nemophila sp. - Eschscholzia minutiflora 

Micranthes integrifolia

We saw a few wildflowers, but definitely more will be in view as Spring progresses.  We'll have to revisit soon!

 Valley Oak - Quercus lobata

Although predominantely a Blue Oak forest we also came across some huge Valley Oaks!  This one was a good 15' in circumference!  In Trees and Shrubs of California by John D. Stuart and John O. Sawyer it states, "Valley Oak is considered to be an uncommon species, largely because of loss of habitat to agriculture and urbanization.  Where it does occur, it provides important habitat for wildlife.  Native Americans ground its acorns into meal."

Pacific Chorus/Tree Frogs - Pseudacris regilla

There were several small ponds scattered throughout the area, probably for cows to drink out of!  One of them was teeming with aquatic wildlife!

Frog eggs with embryos - tadpoles - snail

We found tree frogs, snails, spiders, some aquatic insects, and frog eggs with lots of embryos in them!  Next time I'll bring a bowl and see what else is in the algae covered bottom!

Valley Oak Silhouette - Quercus lobata

 As we left the wildlife area, the beginning of storm clouds started to move in. We had big hopes that the predicted storm would bring much rain and snow!

It's snowing!

More Damp Earth Art!

A cold winter storm just rolled through and we got approximately 2.78" of precipitation in the last four days!  We ended up with about 4" of wet snow on the ground!  Up in Sierra City, they got about 1.5' of powdery snow!  I'm sure the Lakes Basin got even more!  Since we still need more rain, I am continuing to maintain this blog and am again sending out yet another "Call for Art" in celebration of rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. If you would like to submit some art, or writing, or a photo please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Check out what's already been submitted at dampearthart.blogspot.com

You can view what was submitted last year at dampearth.blogspot.com.

I will be posting new art weekly. Check it out and pray for rain.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

In celebration of all things Green!

What's happening in the Lakes Basin?

Are anymore plants blooming?

What kind of insects are out and about?

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

Unfortunately you can no longer sign up to get my blog emailed to you.

Something changed at Blogspot.com. Oh well... However, my blog looks better if you just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com, rather than get the emailed version. I suggest that you just bookmark my blog and visit it every Sunday afternoon!

Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!