First snow on the Sierra Buttes - 11/4/24
The first snows in the Lakes Basin happened about two weeks ago! My husband and I drove up to go for a hike, only to find that the trails around 6,000' had 2"-4" of snow! It was lovely to see, but a bit too slippery to go hiking! Since then we've had several rainy, cold days with a total of 1.07" of precipitation locally, which probably brought additional snow to the Lakes Basin. Luckily the Fall color is persisting and orange, maroon, pinkish-red, golden-yellow, amber, ochre, and burnt sienna leaves are still painting the landscape!
Sierra Buttes from the Deer Lake Trail - 11/6/24
Sierra Buttes from the Ramshorn Trail - 11/12/24
The Halls Ranch to Fiddle Creek Trail
Every Fall, for the past four years, my friend Diane and I hike the Halls Ranch to Fiddle Creek Trail. The trail initially climbs to a ridgetop, with a 2,105' gain in elevation in the first two miles. Once you reach the top of the ridge, there is a glorious view of the distant Sierra Buttes! This year we saw the Buttes with its first dusting of snow! Well worth the steep hike! The trail then passes through a gorgeous mixed deciduous/conifer forest, containing Black Oaks, Tan Oaks, Canyon Live Oaks, Big Leaf Maples, Dogwoods, Douglas Firs, Sugar Pines, Ponderosa Pines, Incense Cedars, and White Firs, for the next seven miles.
Merlin - Falco columbarius
To my surprise and delight, I spotted a Merlin perched on a pine tree on the ridgetop! Wow!!! It posed for us for a short time and then flew off! These tiny falcons are uncommon in our area! What a thrill it was to see one!!!
These falcons are only 10" long including the tail, with a wingspan of 6.5", and a weight of 6.7 ounces! They're tiny! Their main diet is small to medium size birds. They usually hunt from a perch. Prey is pursued with lightning speed (30 mph or more), and caught mid-air. In the fall they eat a lot of dragonflies! Sometimes they even hunt cooperatively with another Merlin!
It turns out that these little falcons don't breed here, they breed farther north across Alaska and Canada, as well as Russia! They are not numerous in population, but they are widespread. They are uncommon visitors to our area in the fall and early winter, during their migration to their winter residence in Mexico/So. America.
Morning Mists above the North Yuba River Canyon
We were up on the ridgetop early enough to watch the mists rise from the forest as the sun rose! Such graceful beauty!!!
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Townsend's Solitaire (adult) - Myadestes townsendi
In the winter, Townsend's Solitaires are uncommonly seen on the western side of the Sierra where we live! They mainly live and breed on the eastern side, and feed on juniper berries in the winter. However, I usually see one or two of these birds on our annual hike. Apparently some drop down to the western foothills to spend the winter! So this one was probably just passing through on its way to lower elevations for the winter. They mainly eat insects and spiders in the summer, berries and fruit in the winter.
California Black Oaks - Quercus kelloggii
California Black Oaks are one of the many native, deciduous trees in our forests. Even though it has been an extremely dry year, the local oaks still have incredible fall color. I just love how the navy-blue background of the shadowed river canyon showcases the golden-yellow and orange oak leaves! Just stunning!
There were tons of acorns on the trail this year, literally 1,000's of them on the ground! Last year there were hardly any! They made hiking a bit of a challenge, and more than one of us slipped on them!
Acorn crops vary greatly from year to year. Some scientists have actually estimated that in a high yield year, there can be as many as 250,000 acorns per acre!!!! Bumper crops apparently occur, on average, 2 out of every 10 years. Since so many critters eat acorns, scientist think that oaks may vary their acorn production levels to control critter populations. If they had bumper crops of acorns every year the critters that eat them would also increase in population. This population increase could potentially decrease the amount of new trees sprouting from uneaten acorns.
Western Bluebird (male) - Sialia mexicana
We also saw several Western Bluebirds on our hike. In the summer Western Bluebirds are primarily insectivores. In winter they eat fruits and berries, such as juniper, poison oak, mistletoe, wild grapes, and elderberry. They like to live on the edge of open areas, such as meadows or burned areas. They are short-distance migrants, and generally move down slope in winter.
A meander on the North Yuba River!
At some points on the trail we got fantastic views of the North Yuba River. This is one of my absolute favorites, where the river makes a hairpin turn! So cool! Can you get a sense of how high we had climbed?
Alders and Indian Rhubarb on the North Yuba River
North Yuba River Update!
The overnight temps have been in the 30's this week, and we have had several hard frosts. The leafy plants along the North Yuba River have taken a bit of a hit! Although the Indian Rhubarb has lots its vibrant yellow colors, their new frost-touched orange color is gorgeous!
Common Mergansers - Mergus merganser
There are three Common Mergansers still on the river! They are probably this year's juveniles, and will be taking off soon for their winter habitat in southern California or Arizona. I hadn't seen any in a while, so it was fun to have these show up!
Frost affected Indian Rhubarb on the North Yuba River
Their beauty still lingers even after the frost!
Canada Geese - Branta canadensis
There are four Canada Geese on the river that will probably stay here through the winter if it doesn't get too cold and snowy. They forage on aquatic plants and land plants, such as grass, all year.
Joubert's Diggins - 11/9/24
Revisiting Joubert's Diggins!
I haven't written about Joubert's Diggins in quite a while even though I check on it every week! Right now the winter residents have started moving in! I'll keep you updated throughout this winter on this pond, as well as Charles Marsh Pond and Wood Duck Pond. I find it fascinating to watch the changes that happen!
Hooded Merganser (male) - Lophodytes cucullatus
Just this week I saw four male Hooded Mergansers! I imagine the females will arrive soon! These ducks will fly north to western Canada to breed, in the spring. In the meantime, I love seeing them in our local ponds! Their diet consists of fish, crayfish, aquatic insects, amphibians, as well as a small amount of plants.
Buffleheads (female - male) - Bucephala albeola
Buffleheads are fairly common at Joubert's Diggins in the winter. This week I saw 2 males and 2 females. They must be pairing up by now. In the spring the majority of them will migrate north to Alaska and northern Canada to breed, while some may stay and breed in our local Lakes Basin!
Mallard (male) - Anas platyrhychos
A pair of Mallards also showed up this week! I wonder if they're the same pair that's been here in the winter for several years. They will stay and raise their young in these ponds. They feed on a wide variety of plants and animals.
Cattails and Cloud Reflections - Joubert's Diggins
One afternoon the reflected clouds were moving quickly over the ponds at Joubert's Diggins. It was beautiful to watch!
What about mushrooms?
After that recent rain have they popped up yet?
What are the local mammals doing these days?
Check back in two weeks to find the answers to these questions and more!
After 8 years of posting my blog, I've decided that I'm only going to post my blog twice monthly from now on. My next post will be on the weekend of November 29th. See you then!
Also, check out my latest post on my newly re-opened Damp Earth Blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com
Your questions and comments are always appreciated. Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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