Last Tuesday we got an early winter storm that dropped three, heavy, wet inches of snow in our neighborhood, and several feet of colder, drier snow up in the Lakes Basin! Most of the deciduous trees still had their leaves so lots of branches broke off with the additional weight of the snow, which resulted in power lines coming down. This time our power was only out for a day and a half! Yay!!! In the past, our power has been out for up to 12 days in a row!
The precipitation total for the storm was 3.55", and more rain is in the forecast for today! I hope the storms keep coming and we have a wet winter this year! Fingers crossed!
Grizzly Peak in early snow - 11/8/22
In our neighborhood, Grizzly Peak is the dominant feature of the landscape. I have photographed it many many times, but never tire of watching its changes. This week was the earliest I ever remember it being covered in snow!
Cherry tree in snowstorm
The way the snow contrasted with the trees that were still in their Fall colors was beautiful! A lot of the deciduous trees in our neighborhood are not native, such as cherry, apple, locust, and walnut. The native deciduous trees are Black Oak, dogwood, Big-Leaf Maple, and alder.
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
Birds in a Snowstorm
I always worry about how the birds are faring during a storm. During heavy rain or snow, most of them remain as inactive as possible, and take shelter in thick undergrowth, under the cover of evergreens, tree cavities, and manmade structures. Luckily, the trees create a leaky but protective "umbrella" with their branches, and the ground is often bare beneath them. It's these snow-free patches that lots of birds depend upon for foraging areas.
There has been a Red-tailed Hawk hanging around in our area lately! I've seen it perched in open, un-forested areas scanning for small mammals to eat. It may stick around if the winter isn't too harsh, or fly down to lower elevations if prey isn't readily available locally. I was amazed how camouflaged this one was against the wet trunk of a dead tree!
Golden-crowned Sparrow - White-crowned Sparrow (1st year)
Zonotrichia atricapilla - Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-crowned Sparrows spend the winter in our neighborhood. They mainly forage on the ground for seeds. The color difference in the markings of an adult White-crowned Sparrow, and a 1st-winter White-crowned Sparrow is amazing! When I first watched them I thought they were two different species!
Golden-Crowned Sparrows also live here in the winter. They spend their summers up in western Canada and Alaska. They too are avid seed-eaters, mainly feeding on the ground. In the winter they are often seen in flocks with White-crowned Sparrows. It's a good thing that most of the local plants have gone to seed! Lots of birds need seeds to eat!
Fox Sparrow - Hermit Thrush
Passerella iliaca - Catharus guttatus
Fox Sparrows have migrated down from the higher elevations, where they spent their summer. They feed on the ground in a scratch-and-hop method like Spotted Towhees. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, plant buds and insects. They'll stick around until the colder weather arrives, and then migrate down to the foothills for winter.
The Hermit Thrush name comes from its solitary elusive behavior. Right now they are migrating through from their breeding grounds in the higher elevations. They will move on to lower elevations once the weather gets colder and the snow makes the ground inaccessible. Currently they're foraging on the ground for berries and any insects they can find. I've seen quite a few of them lately! They are well camouflaged when foraging in shrubs. Hermit Thrushes flit their wings about and pump their tails when they're perching.
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
To my surprise, I came across a flock of European Starlings foraging for invertebrates, berries and seeds under the trees in my neighbor's grassy field during the snowstorm! They must have been surprised by the storm, as they aren't usually here when it's snowy!! It was interesting to see how closely they stuck together as they foraged! There are four of them in the photo above!
Starlings are not native to the United States. They were introduced from Europe in the late 1800's, and have spread throughout North America. The following quote from Birds of North America states, "Starlings flourished in North America because of their varied diet and ability to adapt to new food sources supplied either directly or indirectly by humans. They mostly feed on the ground and readily devour many types of insects, fruits, cultivated grains, and weed seeds." Starlings have had a significant negative impact on native cavity-nesting birds, because they will take over their nest sites. As yet no one has figured out how to deal with this huge problem."
Dark-eyed Juncos - American Robin
Junco hyemalis - Turdus migratorius
A flock of Dark-eyed Juncos have returned to our neighborhood for the winter! They spend their spring and summer at higher elevations, from 3,000'-10,500'! They are one of the most commonly seen summer birds up in the Lakes Basin. They come down to our neighborhood to avoid the winter snow! They are avid seed-eaters! They search mainly on the ground for seeds, but will also search in shrubs and trees. I love how their return at this time of year is so familiar!
American Robins nest in our neighborhood, but will spend the winter down in the foothills and central valley of California. Right now they're foraging for berries, worms, and insects. Yesterday I watched one pull a worm out of a roadside ditch! They are indeed beautiful birds!
Indian Rhubarb - Darmera peltata
Before the snowstorm and its accompanying cold temperatures, the Indian Rhubarb was gorgeously colored, and thriving along the river edge. The snow and frosty temps have since knocked them down. However, I just had to post some photos of them. They are an intrinsic part of the fall beauty here in the North Yuba River Canyon, and one of my absolute favorites! Enjoy!
Indian Rhubarb - Darmera peltata
The rhubarbs can vary in color from golden-yellow to orange, or even raspberry! Such beauty!
Indian Rhubarb - Darmera peltata
The contrast of the rhubarb against the leafless willows is stunning!
Indian Rhubarb - Darmera peltata
The rhubarb and their reflection creates beautiful borders on the river's edge!
Joubert's Diggins 11/07/22
Joubert's Diggins Revisited
I stopped by one of the ponds I regularly visit, just before the storm hit. There hasn't been much happening in this pond for a while, since the water has been so low. To my delight, the recent rain had raised the water level, and a variety of waterfowl had returned!
Bufflehead (male) - Hooded Merganser (female)
Bucephala albeola - Lophodytes cucullulatus
I was delighted to see a female Hooded Merganser and a male Bufflehead (already in its mating colors) on the pond!
Canada Geese - Great Blue Heron
Branta canadensis - Ardea herodias
I also saw several Canada Geese, and for the first time ever a Great Blue Heron! I'm looking forward to investigating and watching these ponds over the coming winter months!
Cottonwood Tree riddled with Sapsucker wells in the Snow
Damp Earth Art
I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated. Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen.
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What's happening on the river?
What's happening in the foothills?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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