North Yuba Naturalist: And even MORE snow!

This week was just as snowy as last week, with a total snowfall of 36"! It has since compressed down to a little over 3' on the ground! We spent a lot of time shoveling out our cars, walkways, and doorstep! It was incredibly beautiful, but I must confess that we are glad that rain is in the forecast for the next five days, not snow! Yay!

We got a total of 5.69" of precipitation this week, which brings us to a water-year total of 66.03"!!! We still don't have any power, so this blog will be brief again. Hopefully, next week will be better.

Snowy locust tree and Grizzly Peak

Every morning I went wandering in our neighborhood, relishing the beauty of the heavy snow. Since it is March, the snow didn't last on the roads. Usually by 10:00 am a lot of the snow had fallen off the trees, and their limbs were bare!

Sunshine casting a shadow!

When the sun came out it was always a cause for celebration! Seeing shadows on the snow was pure delight!

Sandhill Cranes - Antigone canadensis

Recent Arrivals!

To my delight the Sandhill Cranes flew over this week, headed north to their mating grounds. I just love their rubbery loud calls! A definite sign of Spring!

Hooded Mergansers (male-female) - Lophodytes cucullatus

This pair of Hooded Mergansers was on the river this week! They don't usually visit the river, and prefer to stay in ponds. They were probably on their way north to their nesting grounds.

Lesser Goldfinches - Carduelis psaltria

I mentioned seeing flocks of Lesser Goldfinches and Pine Siskins a few weeks ago. Just yesterday I saw a large flock of just Goldfinches! So lovely!

Lesser Goldfinches - Carduelis psaltria

Beautiful color!

European Starling - Red-winged Blackbird - California Scrub-Jay

Sturnus vulgaris - Aeglaius phoeniceus - Aphelocoma californica

We had some unusual visitors at our bird feeding area, including a European Starling, a Red-winged Blackbird and a California Scrub-Jay!!!

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis

Revisiting Gray Lodge

Three weeks ago, before all the recent storms arrived, my husband and I went back to Gray Lodge for one last visit. It was an overcast day, and no one else was there! We walked the 4 mile loop and enjoyed the winter landscape and hushed atmosphere. There were lots and lots of waterfowl and many songbirds. We even lucked out and saw a River Otter, and an immature Green Heron! Such incredible beauty! I don't have time to write about all the different birds, but thought you'd enjoy the photos!