Neighborhood Sightings

Icicles on Dendroalsia Moss

Once again icicles are hanging from some of the mosses in our neighborhood! The reason why the moss itself doesn't freeze, is that during winter moss has a natural anti-freeze (glycerol, sucrose etc.) in its cells! This lowers the temperature at which water freezes, so the plant cells aren't frozen and damaged. Lots of plants use this anti-freeze technique to survive the winter, including most evergreen shrubs and trees, some ferns, succulents, and liverworts!

Pacific Stonecrop - Sedum spathulifolium

In our area, among all the moss, ferns, and lichens, Pacific Stonecrop, a succulent, grows profusely! In addition to the aforementioned "anti-freeze" strategy, these succulents go dormant in the winter, and enter into a state of temporary metabolic inactivity or minimal activity. They are in the Crassulaceae family of plants that have thick succulent leaves, a thick waxy cuticle and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. The thick leaves provide storage areas for water during dry conditions. The thick waxy cuticle helps keep the plant from drying out or freezing. 

The Crassulacean Acid Metabolism is a modified form of CO2 fixation and photosynthesis that takes place at night.  Instead of the stomata being open during the day, in succulents the stomata are open at night. As a result, the loss of water (transpiration) during the day is minimized and carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake occurs in the dark.  

Orbus-seeded Liverworts - Targionia hypophylla

  

Also living among the moss, ferns and lichens are the plants that I thought were fern gametophytes, but are actually liverworts! Like ferns and mosses, Liverworts produce spores rather than flowers and have gametophyte/sporophyte stages. Rather than having distinct stems and leaves, liverworts have a combined structure called a thallus that branches creating flattened lobes.

  

Liverwort Life Cycle ©Wikimedia Commons

The life cycle of a Liverwort is similar to, but different than, a fern life cycle. Refer to my blog "Local Ferns" on 12/11/2021, to compare them!

Microscopic image of a Tardigrade
©https://cloudfront.net/images

Also living among the moss and lichens are one of my favorite tiny critters, the Moss Piglets/Water Bears/Tardigrades. I have written about them in previous blogs, but just had to mention them again because they are so cool!  They are active in the damp, wet time of the year, and dormant in the hot and dry seasons.  They are usually clearish and can be seen with a dissecting microscope, but not with your naked eye.  They have eight legs, with three claws each, and two cell piercing stylets which they use to suck the juices out of plant cells, nematodes, and rotifers. They have nervous and digestive systems, but no circulatory or respiratory systems!  The following detailed information about them is from the website at

https://infinitespider.com/tardigrades-introducing-moss-piglet-water-bear/.  This website also has directions on how to collect and observe Tardigrades if you're curious!

"Tardigrades belong in the phylum Tardigrada.  They're aquatic invertebrates commonly found in the base of mosses and lichens; though they can also be found around the world, from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of hot springs. They are known as extremophiles, meaning that they can live in places on Earth that most creatures couldn't handle. They can endure temperatures of absolute zero, pressure higher than that of the deepest oceans, radiation that would kill all other animals, and they can go without food or water for more than 10 years!

If their little ponds or the water around the base of the mosses where they live dries up then the tardigrades undergo ANHYDROBIOSIS or life without water. The water bear injects sugar into its cells to replace water loss. It then pulls in all its legs, curls into a barrel shape called a 'tun', and enters a death-like state. This can last up to 10 years (but they can also revive with water in about an hour)! Water bears can also enter cryobiosis (dormant state due to cold), osmobiosis (dormant state due to solutes like salt in water), and anoxybiosis (dormant state due to lack of oxygen). The ability to withstand extreme temperature, pressure, radiation, dehydration, toxins and the vacuum of outer space have made water bears highly valued and studied by researchers. They are the only animals proven to survive in space, and they were sent up in the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the Italian STS-134 probe."

Convergent Ladybird Beetles - Hippodamia convergens

Due to the warm temperatures Ladybird Beetles are busy mating and crawling all over the place! They're on tree trunks, twigs, pine needles, leafless bushes, and in the grasses. It's kind of scary to see them active this early! We are all hoping this warm weather is just temporary, and winter storms will return soon!

Downy WP (fem.) - Red-breasted Sapsucker (adult) - Downy WP (male)

Dryobates pubescens - Sphyrapicus ruber - Dryobates pubescens

Downy Woodpeckers live here year-round. They will excavate a roosting cavity for winter, and return to it every night! Yesterday I saw a male and female perching near each other. They are probably a "couple" as Downy Woodpeckers pair bond in the fall. They mainly eat insects, fruits, and berries.

Red-breasted Sapsuckers are also here year-round. This one was visiting the rows of small wells it had drilled in the trunk of an apple tree. It will eat the sap that oozes out of the wells, as well as any insects that get stuck in the sap! They will also eat the cambium layer of the tree, that is just under the bark! I just love its brilliant-red head, neck and breast!

Pacific Chorus/Treefrog - Pseudacris regilla

I went for a short walk down in Canyon Creek and was surprised to see a Tree Frog, in brown camouflage, in one of the shallow ponds! They come in 3 different color phases, green, brown, and gray. They change their color to blend into the background. The less contrast between their color, and their immediate environment, the less chance they will be spotted by predators. The complete color change takes approximately two weeks.

These tiny frogs are only 2" big, but they have loud voices! The male frogs (Female frogs don't croak!) are some of the loudest croakers of the frog world! Right now is the time that males are croaking to attract a mate. Breeding season is from January to May.  Male frogs have a dark patch on their throat, which is their inflatable vocal sack. They usually croak at night, in ponds, where the females will lay their gelatinous eggs after mating. The tadpoles will hatch from the eggs in 1-3 weeks. The newly hatched tadpoles spend 7 to 12 weeks in their pond, maturing into an adult frog.

They spend the winter buried under forest duff. Just like insects, fish, and plants they replace fluids in their body with a type of anti-freeze to keep their cells from freezing. Once they emerge in Spring, they eat spiders, beetles, flies, ants and other insects. When they sense that an insect is near, they commonly twitch a toe to attract it, then snatch it up with their tongue!

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus

I've seen a Red-shouldered Hawk in our neighborhood several times over the last two weeks! I wonder if it's the same one that caught a quail near our garden a few weeks ago. 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. 

Every time I've seen it, it has been perched along the edge of the river.  One time I saw it was quite near the river shore.  It was perched on some branches that were on the ground.  As I watched it, it flew out of sight to the right.  Moments later a Bald Eagle took off from the same area and flew upriver!  WOW!!!  It happened so fast I didn't get a photo, but it was wonderful to watch!  Perhaps the Red-shouldered Hawk was trying to get a fish that the Eagle might have been eating!  I'll never know!

River Otter - Lontra canadensis

Around 4:30 one afternoon we were walking along the river when I spotted a River Otter just upriver from us! It dove underwater, surfaced on the shoreline for a few seconds and then totally disappeared! WOW!!! I only got one lucky photo during the seconds that we observed it! What a treat to see this beautiful animal!

Botta's Pocket Gopher - Thomomys bottae

Up at the cemetery before the big snowstorm, I spotted a Botta's Pocket Gopher flinging out dirt from underground. Now that the snow is melting I'm finding 2" wide, raised mounds of dirt that are a maze of connecting squiggly lines. These raised mounds are the result of the gopher compacting the snow into tunnels, on the surface of the ground under the snow, and then filling them with dirt from underground! They dig tunnels underground while looking for roots and bulbs to eat, as well as to make sleeping/nesting chambers. Their large front teeth are located in front of their "lips", which can close and keep dirt out of their throat! They are called "pocket" gophers, because they have external cheek pouches in which they carry food or dirt!

Damp Earth Art

Once again we had more sunny days in the 50's, cold nights in the 20's, and some very WINDY days! The lack of rain is worrisome, and none is in the  forecast for next week. Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen. I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated.

What's happening down in the foothills?

What's happening on the river?

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

Unfortunately, you can no longer sign up to get my blog via email. Just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com directly. It looks better than the emailed version!

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

A Glimpse of the Sacramento Delta

 Greater White-fronted Geese - Anser albifrons 

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic my friends and I have missed going to the Sacramento Delta for the past two years.  It looked like we weren't going to be able to go again this year, so my husband and I took a quick trip to the Delta last week!  It was wonderful to be back!  Every year that we've gone it's different.  Some years there are thousands of birds close by and a big variety of species.  This year the number of birds was less, and they were mostly far away!  Nevertheless it was still gorgeous with its big sky and extensive agricultural fields, lush with new green growth, stretching on to the horizon. Although the birds weren't as plentiful, there were many species to watch as they foraged in the flooded fields.

These three Greater White-fronted Geese, along with several hundred more geese, were grazing in the corn stubble fields near the road . These large geese breed in Northern Canada and Alaska. They can be easily identified by their size, pink bill, and white feather patch on their forehead. Although they don't mate for life, Greater White-fronted Geese form long-term pair bonds and stay together year-round. Pairs are often accompanied by their young for the first year or more, and the young often help their parents defend the nest.

 Canada Geese - Branta candensis 

There were also several thousand Canada Geese in the fields. These birds have become extremely well-adapted to human developments and tend to stay year-round across the U.S., although some still migrate to Canada to breed. They feed on grasses and sedges in the spring and winter. 

Like the Snow Geese in Gray Lodge, the Canada Geese in the Delta fly up in huge flocks whenever they are startled!  It's so lovely to watch them as they circle around and then drop back down one-by-one into the wetlands!

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

Unlike Gray Lodge, there are many Sandhill Cranes foraging in the stubbled corn fields of the Delta.  They prefer to forage on damp ground, not in the wetlands. These huge graceful birds are fascinating to watch as they slowly walk through the fields!  The best time to see large numbers of them is to be there at dusk when they return to roost together overnight in the wetlands, after foraging in distant parts of the Delta all day.

 American Coot (adult) - Ruddy Duck (females) 

  Fulica americana - Oxyura jamaicensis

In the wetlands we saw many species of waterfowl. Similar to Gray Lodge, they were mainly dabbling ducks, except for the two Ruddy Ducks pictured above. Ruddy Ducks are diving ducks and feed on underwater midge larvae, leeches, annelids, and amphipods, and occasionally plants and seeds! This species breeds primarily in the prairie pothole region of North America and are common winter residents of brackish to saline coastal habitats and large inland bodies of water.

American Coots are not ducks, they are in the Rallidae Family and are classified as rails!  They eat mostly aquatic vascular plants and algae; some grasses, other terrestrial vegetation, and grains; aquatic invertebrates (mollusks, crustaceans, insects and their larvae) and vertebrates (fish, tadpoles, even some carrion). They breed in the same prairie pothole region of North America, that the Ruddy Ducks breed in! 

 Tundra Swans (adults) - Cygnus columbianus

Unlike Gray Lodge, Tundra Swans are commonly seen in the Delta. They do not dive, but tip their bodies or submerge their heads to forage for the leaves, stems, seeds, and tubers of aquatic plants, such as rice. These large swans have 7' wingspans, are about 4.5' tall, and can weigh up to 16 lbs! I find them to be beautifully elegant! They will spend their winters in the Central Valley.  In the spring they will begin migrating to their breeding grounds in the High Arctic. Their annual migration route is a 5,000 mile round trip!!! 

Sierra Buttes - 1/14/22

A Windy Hike in the Lakes Basin!

Yesterday, my friend Nancy and I decided to go up to the Lakes Basin for a hike, we hadn't been there in more than a month!  Luckily Highway 49 was bare and ice free. The roads in the Lakes Basin were packed with several feet of snow and groomed, so we could easily walk on them. We decided to hike up to Upper Sardine Lake, a round trip of about 5.5 miles.  It was SUPER windy and pretty darn cold so it wasn't surprising that we didn't see any other hikers all day!  The last uphill mile of the hike was an icy slip-and-slide, but luckily we made it to Upper Sardine Lake without injury!  

Sierra Buttes - 1/21/22

Because of the cold and wind, the contrasty light, as well as the need to watch where I was stepping the whole way, I didn't take many photos.  But the close-up view of the Buttes was gorgeous from the frozen lake, with snow being blown into the air by the tremendous wind!  It was an invigorating gorgeous day back in our home away from home!  We're so glad that there was several feet of snow on the ground from the beginning to the end of our hike!  For the last few years, we've been able to hike up to Upper Sardine Lake in January with just a few inches to NO snow on the ground!

Dyer's Polypore - Phaeolus schweinitzii

A Few Follow-ups!

I have been neglecting to follow-up on some of the things I've written about in the past, so here are a few updates!

I observed the Dyer's Polypore for nine days after I found it on 11/2/21.  On the tenth day when I went to check it out, it had been uprooted by a wild animal!  Over the next few days it shriveled and hardened up to a dark mass, and that was the end of that observation!

Orbus-seeded Liverwort - Targionia hypophylla

Back in December I wrote about finding some fern gametophytes.  Since then my botanist friend Peggy, as well as iNaturalist.org have identified them as liverworts NOT gametophytes. Apparently fern gametophytes are more heart-shaped than these rather ruffly liverworts. I apologize for my mistake!  I'll have to go in search of fern gametophytes once again!

Non-biting Midges - Chironomidae Family

I first saw some Non-biting Midges on 11/19/21 and promised to let you know how long they were present.  The last time I saw them was a week ago, on 1/14/22!  So apparently batches of non-biting midges have been hatching for almost two months!  That's a LOT of midges!

Sun halo around the Sun

Damp Earth Art

This week we had sunny days in the 50's, cold nights in the 30's, and some very WINDY days! Our local snow has become hard and cement-like, and is gradually evaporating/melting away. I'm really hoping for more rain and snow in the near future. Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen. I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated.

What else is inhabiting the damp rocky slopes in our neighborhood,

besides the ferns, lichen, and moss?

What's happening down in the South Yuba River State Park?

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

Unfortunately, you can no longer sign up to get my blog via email. Just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com directly. It looks better than the emailed version!

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

Central Valley and Foothill Birds

Snow Geese landing at Gray Lodge - Anser caerulescens

In the winter I love to visit Gray Lodge, as well as several areas in the foothills.  It's nice to get out of the snow, and go down to where the grass is green!  I love bird watching in the lower elevations.  I often see birds that visit our neighborhood in the spring, and once in a while I'll see a bird I've never seen before! The weather has been sunny and in the 50's during the day this past week.  Just perfect for being outside all day!

 There are thousands of Snow Geese that migrate down from the arctic to spend the winter at Gray Lodge! If you visit Gray Lodge, you'll notice that the geese aren't feeding! They mainly roost there during the day, and leave at dusk to forage at night in the surrounding wetlands and agricultural fields of California's Central Valley. I never tire of watching thousands of them circle and land in the wetlands, calling to each other the whole time.  Such grace and beauty!

Blue-winged Teal (2 males - female) - Spatula discors

There are also thousands of ducks overwintering at Gray Lodge. Most of them are dabbling ducks, which mainly breed in the north central part of the U.S. and the prairie-pothole region of Canada and Alaska. The following information on their feeding habits is from thespruce.com.

"A dabbling duck is a type of shallow water duck that feeds primarily along the surface of the water or by tipping headfirst into the water to graze on aquatic plants, vegetation, larvae, and insects. These ducks are infrequent divers and are usually found in small ponds, rivers, and other shallow waterways, or else they may stay near the shallow, slower edges of larger waterways and swamps.

Surface Feeding: This involves skimming along the surface of the water with the neck stretched out and the bill parallel to the water. The bill is quickly "chewing" or "nibbling" at the water with little bites, and the duck may sweep its head from side to side at the same time to cover more surface area. This is an efficient way to feed on small aquatic insects that stay on the water's surface or to forage through floating algae and plants. While dabbling ducks do use this technique, many other types of ducks and other waterfowl also use surface feeding.

Tipping Up: This type of feeding is true dabbling, tipping up with the duck's butt out of the water and pointing the tail straight up as the head and neck are below the water to nibble through mud or algae. When tipped up, the duck may wag or spread its feet and legs to keep balanced, or the tail may slowly wave or wag to counterbalance the underwater head movements. Underwater, the duck is stretching to reach either the bottom or may be feeding along submerged plants. This type of feeding is very characteristic and common among all dabblers.

Dabbling ducks also forage on land for seeds, grains, nuts, and insects, grazing with similar nibbling bill motions as surface feeding. These are often omnivorous birds, and will sample a wide range of foods through their different feeding styles."

 Green-winged Teal (female - male) - Anas crecca

Male ducks molt from their eclipse plumage (resembles female plumage) to their colorful breeding plumage between late summer and early winter. Right now most of the males have completely molted and are absolutely gorgeous!  The name "green-winged" comes from the bright green color of the bottom half of their wings, which is visible only when the wings are outstretched.  Which I have yet to see!  Green-winged Teals are the smallest dabbling duck in North America, with a length of 14", and a weight of 12 oz.  In comparison, a Mallard has a length of 23", and a weight of 2.4 lbs!

Cinnamon Teal (male - female) - Spatula cyanoptera

The Cinnamon Teal breeds in freshwater or brackish wetlands in the northwestern half of the U.S., not in the prairie-pothole region of Canada.  The males have such stunning plumage!

Northern Pintail (female - male) - Spatula cyanoptera

Northern Pintails may stay year-round in the Central Valley of California, or they may migrate to breed in the prairie-pothole region of Canada and Alaska. The males are so elegantly feathered!

Northern Shoveler (female - male) - Spatula cyanoptera

The bills of Northern Shovelers have finely spaced projections (lamaellae) around their inner edge, which are used to filter tiny invertebrates out of the water.

They also eat molluscs, crustaceans, seeds and plants. They too breed in the prairie-pothole regions of Canada and Alaska.

Gadwall (female - male) - Mareca strepera

Gadwalls are monogamous during a breeding season.  97% of the females are paired up with males by November, 4-5 months before they breed in the prairie pothole region of Canada and Alaska!

Greater White-fronted Geese - Anser albifrons

You will also see lots of Greater White-fronted Geese at Gray Lodge. These large geese breed in Northern Canada and Alaska. They can be easily identified by their size, pink bill, and white feather patch on their forehead. Although they don't mate for life, Greater White-fronted Geese form long-term pair bonds and stay together year-round. Pairs are often accompanied by their young for the first year or more, and the young often help their parents defend the nest.

Black-necked Stilts - Himantopus mexicanus

There are a variety of shorebirds at Gray Lodge.  This year we mainly saw Black-necked Stilts. The following information is from https://www.birds.cornell.edu.

"Stilts hold the avian record for the longest legs relative to body size. From on high, the Black-necked Stilt uses its excellent vision to scan mudflats for small invertebrate prey. Stilts also feel for prey by sweeping their sensitive bills through the water. In the presence of predators, stilts quickly flock together as one intimidating black-and-white mass. This defense strategy is so effective that birds of other species often try to join the flock."

Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) - Red-shouldered Hawk (juvenile)

 Buteo jamaicensis - Buteo lineatus

We saw lots of perched raptors at Gray Lodge, mainly Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks.  Waterfowl must be good to eat and fairly easy to catch!

Turkey Vulture (adult) - Cathartes aura

There are always lots of Turkey Vultures at Gray Lodge.  Being carrion eaters, they must subsist on leftovers from raptor (and perhaps fox) kills. 

 

Great Egret (adult) - Belted Kingfisher (male) 

Ardea alba - Megaceryle alcyon

Egrets aren't numerous, but are definitely part of Gray Lodge.  They cruise the shallow waters with their long legs, looking for crustaceans, dragonflies, damselflies, frogs, tadpoles, and insects to eat.

We saw a pair of Belted Kingfishers chasing each other, and rattling away their loud calls.  Made me wonder if it's breeding season for them. I'll have to do some research!

 

Sutter Buttes Sunset

We left as the sun was setting over a dark bank of clouds that was enveloping the Sutter Buttes!  Such beauty!  Can't wait to go back again!

For those of you who'd like to go to Gray Lodge the best days to sightsee are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  On Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, there are duck hunters hunting in the area and it is my opinion that the sound of their distant guns is unpleasant. 

Joubert's Diggins 1/13/22 

Local Ponds!

I've been stopping by two of the local ponds I usually visit in the winter and have been pleasantly surprised by what I've seen!   The pond above was totally frozen recently, but is thawing out now with the warmer weather.

Buffleheads (4 females - 2 males) - Bucephala albeola

To my delight I've seen some male and female Bufflehead Ducks almost every time I stop and look.  They are probably using the pond for a winter residence, as they normally breed up in the Lakes Basin.  They are diving ducks, not dabbling ducks, and dive down in the pond to feed on molluscs, amphipods, snails, clams, and the seeds of pond weeds and bulrushes.

Hooded Merganser (female) - Lophodytes cucullatus

The Charles Marsh Pond in Nevada City currently has only one female Hooded Merganser in residence.  I hope more join her soon!  Her glorious wedge of head feathers is amazing, and she is so camouflaged in the pond weeds and their reflections!

Cedar Waxwings (adults) - Bombycilla cedrorum

Just beyond the Charles Marsh Pond I spotted a flock of birds in a distant tree.  I was thrilled when I zoomed in with my camera and realized that it was a group of 13 Cedar Waxwings!  WOW!  The most I've ever seen together!  The reason why they were there is obvious in the blurred background...several trees filled with persimmons!  How lucky I was to spot these fruit-eating beauties!

Pine Siskin (adult) -  Spinus pinus

Wandering in Grass Valley

Last week I had to get some car repairs done and had an hour or so to kill in Grass Valley.  So I wandered in an industrial park area near my mechanic to see what I could see.  Luckily there was lots of vegetation between the buildings and birds were plentiful!

Right away, I came across a flock of Pine Siskins feeding in the seedpods of a non-native tree species.  Yay!  These tiny birds are irruptive in their habits, and in winter can be found anywhere seeds are available.  

California Scrub-Jay (adult) - Western Bluebird (female)

 Aphelocoma californica - Sialia mexicana

I also came across some typical foothill year-round residents, such as the California Scrub-Jay, and a female Western Bluebird. Just lovely!

Downy Woodpecker (female) - California Towhee (adult)

Dryobates pubescens - Pipilo crissalis

I also came across birds that frequent my neighborhood, like the Pine Siskins, such as the Downy Woodpecker and the California Towhee.

  

California Quail (female - male) - Callipepla californica

The most surprising sighting was a female California Quail!  Wow!  I  have never seen one before!  In our neighborhood we usually have Mountain Quail.  However, last summer and fall there were two male California Quail in our neighborhood, but I never saw any females!  The female definitely has different feathering than the male, thus they are called sexually dimorphic.  How lucky it was to see one of these fancy feathered beauties!

Joubert's Diggins in  Winter

Damp Earth Art

This week we had sunny days and cool nights! Really hoping for more rain and snow in the near future.  Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen. I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated.

Sierra Buttes Winter

What's happening in the Lakes Basin?

What else is inhabiting the damp rocky slopes in our neighborhood,

besides the ferns, lichen, and moss?

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

Unfortunately, you can no longer sign up to get my blog via email. Just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com directly. It looks better than the emailed version!

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