Hot & Smoky

Sierra Buttes - 7/29/21

For the past two weeks we've had heavy smoke from the Dixie/Jarbo Gap Fire coming into our area. Yesterday, the smoke was so thick that you could just barely discern the silhouette of the Sierra Buttes! The fire has burned over 240,595 acres, and is in its 16th day. 6,079 people are actively engaged in attempts to contain it, but do they not expect to succeed until August 13. This fire is threatening many small rural communities, as well as numerous historical and Native American sites.  Incredible damage has already been sustained by the local railroads.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to the firefighters that are risking their lives daily, in their courageous battle against wildfire.  

North Yuba River - 7/26/21

I am so grateful that there aren't any wildfires in our immediate area.  

However, the smoke has restricted our ability to be outdoors.  

The following information about the effects of wildfire smoke on human health is from the Placer County Public Health and Air Pollution Control District, "Poor air quality from wildfire smoke has the potential to cause negative health impacts, particularly for sensitive groups and when exposure is prolonged. Smoke contains very tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. While all people may experience varying degrees of symptoms, the more sensitive individuals – such as young, aged and those with respiratory conditions – are at greatest risk of experiencing serious symptoms. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, coughing, watery and itchy eyes, headache, scratchy throat, and difficulty in breathing.

If you can see or smell smoke, avoid all unnecessary outdoor activities, especially if you are in an area where visibility is greatly reduced."

Rain, Rain, come on down.....

North Yuba River raindrop ripples and reflection - 7/27/21

Scattered Showers!

On Tuesday morning the temperatures had dropped, the smoke had mostly cleared, and the sky was overcast with a gray cloud cover!  The forecast was for a 40% chance of scattered showers, but a scant amount of rain.  I headed out that morning with my fingers crossed, and for several hours I wandered blissfully along the North Yuba River.  Every once in a while raindrops would fall creating ripples in the river, and unleashing that wonderful damp-earth fragrance.  It was fabulous!  I didn't see any Spotted Sandpipers or Common Mergansers, but a few other birds caught my attention! 

Black Phoebe (adult) - Sayornis nigricans

I haven't mentioned this before, but Black Phoebes are just as much a part of the river ecology as American Dippers!  I see them perched along the river every day. They are flycatchers, and spend most of their day hawking insects out of the air above the river.  The river has lots of insects flying and hovering above it, such as adult black flies, mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, stoneflies, and midges. Phoebes eat flies, dragonflies, damselflies, moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, beetles, spiders, small fish, as well as fruits and berries in the winter. Black Phoebes are typically non-social and solitary, except during breeding season. Their nests are made out of mud mixed with plant material, or even horse hair, and cemented to a vertical wall (like a swallow). On several occasions I've seen them feeding their young on the river shoreline! They prefer to live near water. They are year-round residents in our neighborhood, and do not migrate.  

Western Wood Pewee (adult) - Contopus sordidulus

About a month ago, I spotted this Western Wood Pewee on her nest.  Unfortunately, no nestlings ever hatched.  I suspect it was the extremely hot weather that made that clutch fail.  This week I was on the same stretch of the river, but on the other side, and watched a Western Wood Pewee (probably the same one) fly into a tree and not come out.  I carefully searched with my telephoto lens and spotted her on a new nest!  Wow!!! I'll bet it's the same pewee!  The new nest is just a tree away from the old nest, but it's on the shady side of the tree!  I was so excited!  I'm so hopeful that this clutch is successful! 

 Violet-green Swallow feathers (male) - Violet-green Swallows (male/female)  

Tachycineta thalassina

On that same morning, there were several hundred Violet-green Swallows perched on the power lines over the river! The Cornell Ornithology Lab states, "These birds are often highly gregarious during foraging, migration, and when away from their nests, and flocks of several hundred birds are commonly observed in these contexts."  So apparently it's not uncommon to see them together in a large group! I just hadn't seen that before! They feed exclusively on flying insects, including true bugs, bees, wasps, ants and beetles. The males are beautifully colored with green and violet feathers. The females are a drab grayish-brown. Both males and females have white throats, breasts, and bellies. They do not stay here year-round. Their winters are spent in southern Mexico.

Violet-green Swallow (male) - Tachycineta thalassina

I was able to get photos of the feathers of a male Violet-green Swallow, because my sister sent me a dead one she found on her property.  It is totally dried out with all its feathers intact!  I was sorry that it had died, but was thrilled to see its beautiful feathers up close.  Such beauty!

Red-shouldered Hawk (juvenile) - Buteo lineatus

As I was walking across the bridge that morning, I noticed a bird land on the river shore. It then flew up into a small tree on the river bank and stayed there a while searching for prey. I quickly zoomed in with my camera, and was delighted to see that it was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk!  I hadn't seen one in our neighborhood for months. Typically they live in lower elevations, but have increased their range up into our area. Riparian areas are their preferred habitat. Red-shouldered Hawks eat reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and occasionally birds, such as Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, and Starlings. Their feathering is so striking and beautifully patterned! Such beauty!

Cumulonimbus Cloud

Sometimes in the morning, we are blessed with smoke-free air and beautiful clouds before the smoke arrives.  I've been missing clouds!  Clouds create such beauty when they fill the sky. The shadows they cast can create such dramatic lighting on the landscape. Even when they form a uniform overcast, the soft, even light they create is beautiful. I don't know much about clouds so I did some research and here's what I learned!

Altocumulus undulatus clouds

The following information is from https://scijinks.gov/rain/.

"Clouds form from water or ice that has evaporated from Earth’s surface, or from plants that give off water and oxygen as a product of photosynthesis. When it evaporates—that is, rises from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere—water is in the form of a gas, water vapor. Water vapor turns into clouds when it cools and condenses—that is, turns back into liquid water or ice. In order to condense, the water vapor must have a solid to glom onto. This solid “seed” may be a speck of dust or pollen, or a drop of water or crystal of ice. Dew is water vapor that has condensed back onto Earth’s surface—on grass or a car’s windshield, for example. In the cloud, with more water condensing onto other water droplets, the droplets grow. When they get too heavy to stay suspended in the cloud, even with updrafts within the cloud, they fall to Earth as rain. If the air in the cloud is below the freezing point (32 °F or 0 °C), ice crystals form; if the air all the way down to the ground is also freezing or below, you get snow."

Cirrus uncinus ("horsetail") clouds

The following information is from https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/clouds/cloud-types.

"Most clouds can be divided into groups (high/middle/low) based on the height of the cloud's base above the Earth's surface. Other clouds are grouped not by their height, but by their unique characteristics.

The highest clouds are formed above 18,000' and are called Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, and Cirrostratus. The mid-level clouds are formed between 6,000' and 20,000' and are called Altocumulus and Altostratus. The low-level clouds are formed below 6,000' and are called Cumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus, and Nimbostratus. The lowest clouds are called Fog! Thunderheads build up vertically from near ground level to 50,000,and are called Cumulonimbus."

The forecast is for a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms today, but luckily we haven't heard any thunder or seen any lightning. If you're out in stormy weather, avoid high exposed places and AVOID shelter in caves or under lone trees. To estimate the number of miles to a lightning strike, count the seconds between the lightning flash and the thunderclap and divide by five: thus ten seconds is 2 miles away!!

Rain spattered river rocks

More Damp Earth Art!

Wildfires and wind are a constant worry these days. It is turning into a devastating, early fire season already. Anytime I think of it, I think about rain, rain, 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 rain inspired 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!

The foam around these rocks isn't whitewater! 

It's billions of fluff-covered, female, willow seeds! Wow!

What's happening in the local ponds?

Is anything blooming at the lower elevations?

What's happening down in the garden?

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

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