Grizzly Peak 3/14/25
In the last two weeks we've had both snowy and sunny weather! The sunny days were quite warm with highs in the 60's! The snowy days were in the 30's, with mixed rain and snow showers. The total amount of precipitation over the past two weeks was approximately 6"! The most snow we had on the ground was around 5". The higher elevations got a lot more snow, and now have a much better snowpack.
Grizzly Peak earlier this week
Visible from our neighborhood, Grizzly Peak is at 4,596' in elevation. This photo shows how the snow level usually stayed fairly high. Down at our elevation, 2,674', not a lot of snow stayed around, and usually melted within a day. The last day of the storm was an exception. It and had colder temps and droppped approximately 7" of snow at our doorstep!
Pitman Road - Spenceville Wildlife Preserve
Back down in the Blue Oak Woodlands!
On the sunny days, I managed to go hiking down in the Spenceville Wilderness Preserve twice! It was gloriously green and beautiful once again!
Coyote (Canis latrans)
On one of the hikes, to our complete surprise, two Coyotes bolted out of an oak woodland and ran up a sunny slope!!! The one in the lead briefly turned back to check on the other fox, possibly its mate, when I got this photo! This all happened in a less than 10 seconds, and then they were gone! WOW!!! How lucky we were to see them! I've never seen them here before! The following information about Coyotes is from the Friends of Spenceville website at http://spenceville.org.
"Though the coyote resembles a collie-sized dog, it moves across the hillsides with an independence and grace that clearly identifies it as wild. The valley subspecies coyote differs from the mountain coyote in that it is smaller and has a lighter buff-gray to rusty fur color. For shelter, it finds a natural den, enlarges a rodent burrow or digs its own hole. It gives birth in spring or early-summer to 3 to 11 furred young. Both parents feed the pups but by fall they are grown, and the family members scatter to begin life on their own. Coyotes are omnivorous, eating manzanita berries, and other plants, various rodents, including mice, gophers and squirrels, an occasional bird, or even deer killed by a mountain lion. This wide range of diet, their lack of predators and their wily adaptability have made them one of the few animals to increase in number and extend their range, in spite of western man's attempt to eradicate them."
Coyote - Canis latrans
Coyotes are native to California. The California Department of Fish and Game estimates a population range of 250,000 to 750,000 individuals. Coyotes are very adaptable and inhabit most areas of the state, including the desert. Coyotes are most active at night and during the early morning and late evening hours. In areas where they are not disturbed by human activities and during the cooler times of the year, they may be active throughout the day.
There are lots of other critters that inhabit the Blue Oak Woodlands, such as Bobcats, Gray Foxes, Long-tailed Weasels, Raccoons, Squirrels, Skunks, and Ringtails, as well as a large variety of birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. The following information about them is from the Friends of Spenceville website at http://spenceville.org
"Surveys that have been conducted at Spenceville Wildlife Area (SWA) document the presence of 42 mammals, 160 birds, 12 reptiles, 4 amphibians, and 20 fishes including lamprey and crayfish (Rogers et al. 1996). Most of these species are permanent residents, but some are seasonal migrators such as anadromous fish and various birds including 26 as neotropical species (Rogers et al. 1996).
Of the 43 mammals at SWA, 9 are carnivora. The river otter has been documented in the last 2 years. The Columbian black-tailed deer population is estimated at 150-220 animals and wild pigs occur occasionally (Rogers et al. 1996). Seventeen rodent species are residents of the wildlife area, the black-tailed jackrabbit the most common. Ten species of bats also reside and 2 of those species Townsend's big-eared bat and the pallid bat, are Species of Special Concern (Rogers et al. 1996).
The Pacific tree frog is the most common amphibian of SWA.
Spenceville Wildlife Area has a very diverse reptile population. The Western pond turtle is a Species of Special concern and is common to the reserve. Gopher snakes and rattlesnakes are the most commonly observed snakes (Rogers et al. 1996).
The primary fishery resource of the SWA are largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. Brown and rainbow trout occur in colder habitats along Dry Creek although they are not numerous. Fall chinook salmon and steelhead are also present in Dry Creek (Rogers 1997) entering by ladder over a small dam on Beale Air Force Base, and salmon fry have been stocked in Dry Creek in recent years (Rogers et al. 1996). The passage of Anadromous fish into Dry Creek depends on adequate water flows existent when adult fish are present and migrating (Rogers et al. 1996)."
Western Yellow-bellied Racer - Coluber constrictor mormon
Although we saw lots of birds, the only other critter we saw was a Western Yellow-bellied Racer! It was a fast mover and quite long! I barely got a photo as it slipped through the grasses. The following information about them is from www.californiaherps.org.
"Diurnal, often seen actively foraging in the daytime with head and forward part of the body held up off the ground searching for prey with its acute vision. Climbs vegetation and seeks shelter in burrows, rocks, or woody debris. Very fast-moving and alert, quickly fleeing when threatened, this snake is difficult to get close to.
Eats lizards, small rodents, small birds, frogs, salamanders, small snakes. Lays eggs in late spring or early summer which hatch in two to three months."
Bedrock Mortar Site
We were privileged to be lead to two bedrock mortar sites within the preserve, by local writer, historian, and friend, Hank Meals! The following information about the local Nisenan People is from Hank's blog at https://yubatreadhead.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-spenceville-wildlife-area-rolling.html
"THE NATIVE NISENAN PEOPLE"
"The Spenceville area has a rich history that begins thousands of years before the Spanish, Mexicans and European gold seekers arrived. Bedrock mortars for pounding acorns and other foods are plentiful especially near springs and streams and they are a visible legacy of the Nisenan people who have lived here for at least 1,500 years. By the time of European contact, acorns and pine nuts were a major part of the Nisenan diet. They manipulated the environment by frequently burning the landscape to improve the gathering of acorns, to facilitate collection of grass seeds, to stimulate growth of shoots used for basketry, to clear brush for hunting and to create nutritious browse for deer. These deliberate fires helped maintain open oak savannas where succession would have led to coniferous forest.
The Nisenan interacted with the largest oaks and sustained an intimate relationship with them for centuries. They were aware that they provided sustenance, shade and continuity for generations. Ancient oaks were living monuments that witnessed the history of the indigenous people unfold. Generations of Nisenan met in the shade and splendor of special oak trees. To the colonizers, these gigantic oaks were viewed simply as trees without any inherent wisdom. With the commoditization of oak trees, not only did their importance as food decrease, but their spiritual significance to the Nisenan diminished."
Bedrock Mortars and Hank Meals
"Naturally, such reckless damage to the flourishing ecosystem that was their homeland was resented by the Nisenan. The invaders ridiculed the natives, stole from them, abused the women and could be extremely violent. When the Nisenan resisted, the foreigners formed militias and declared war on the natives – their paranoia and hatred was so intense that they petitioned for, and received, a small military garrison called Camp Far West, located a few miles southwest of SWA.
In 1850 the Camp Union Treaty was negotiated with the Nisenan, who by now realized that they were hopelessly outnumbered. This was one of 18 treaties made with California Indians – not one of these treaties was ever ratified (but this is a story for another time). The proposed reservation for the Nisenan included the current SWA."
by Hank Meals ©2018
Tree Swallows - Tachycineta bicolor
We we're thrilled to see several magenta bellied Lewis's Woodpeckers (that I mentioned in my last blog) during the course of the day. A new sighting was a pair of Tree Swallows, that looked like they were indeed establishing a nest in a manmade box!!
Tree Swallows spend their winters in Baja California, Mexico and Central America. They return in Spring to breed in California, Oregon, Washington, parts of the North Central U.S., and most of Canada and Alaska. They are cavity nesters, but don't excavate their own cavities. Instead, they nest in old woodpecker nests as well as manmade nest boxes. Their main food is a wide variety of insects. They also seek out calcium rich foods during breeding season, such as bird eggshells, crayfish exoskeletons, fish bones, and clamshells!
The female makes a nest with mainly grasses, lines it with the feathers of other birds, and then lays 4-7 eggs. In California, both the male and female have been known to share the incubation period of 11-20 days. The nestlings fledge in 15-25 days. Fledglings may have poor feeding and flying skills, and receive post-fledgling feedings by parents for several days. However, fledglings are also seen flying and feeding independently of parents soon after they leave the nest.
Double Crested Cormorant
There are several large manmade ponds in the preserve that are maintained for cattle. To my surprise, I spotted a Double-crested Cormorant in one of them! In California, these Cormorants are listed as common inhabitants of the sea coasts and inland waters. The ones seen in California, may live here year-round or perhaps migrate to breeding grounds in north-east California and up into Oregon. They are primarily fish eaters, and are frequently seen diving in pursuit of fish.
Another verdant Blue Oak woodland!
Blooming flowers were still uncommon, but the lush green grass was brilliant!
The Sutter Buttes from Pitman Road
Such Beauty! Can't wait to come back here in a few weeks!
Pipevine in bloom - Aristolochia californica
South Yuba River State Park
On the way home from Spenceville, we stopped briefly at the South Yuba River State Park to see what was happening. It was indeed starting to bloom! One of my absolute favorite wildflowers are the Pipevines. They are so unusual looking! They have a unique relationship with Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfiles!
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly - Battus philenor
Here's what I wrote about them in my blog on March 12, 2022.
"The Pipevine or Dutchman's Pipes is one of the earliest blooming native wildflowers. We were lucky to find many of the flowers, being green and brown in color they are somewhat hard to detect! These plants are not carnivorous, but they have an odor that attracts carrion-feeding insects that crawl inside the pipe-shaped flower and pollinate the blossom! Amazing!
We saw several Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies in the park. Just like birds, the blue color in butterflies is from structural coloration not pigment. If the light is right, the hindwings can be a beautiful blue in color! These butterflies are inedible to predators, because they ingest toxic aristolochic acids from their Pipevine host plant when they are caterpillars. These acids stay in their bodies even when they pupate into adults!
After Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies mate, the female lays her eggs (which also contain toxic acids) on the underside of Pipevine leaves. When the caterpillars first hatch, they stay together in small groups and feed on Pipevine leaves. When they grow larger they head out on their own to feed and pupate. It takes approximately one week for a caterpillar to change into an adult and emerge from its chrysalis. The adults usually live for a month, feeding solely on wildflower nectar."
Common Fiddleneck - Red Maids
Amsinckia menziesii - Calandrinia menziesii
Wildflowers!
Unfortunately the Buttermilk Bar Trail is closed about a half a mile in due to a mudslide. However, there are lots of flowers in bloom already in the open half-mile section. Here are some of the flowers we saw!
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Zigzag Larkspur - Delphinium patens
Manroot - Canyon Nemophila
Marah fabacea - Nemophila heterophylla
Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
What's happening on the River?
Where are all the mammals?
Check back in two weeks for 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 every TWO weeks from now on. Check back in two weeks, on March, 29th for my next natural history blog.
Also, check out my latest post on my newly re-opened Damp Earth Blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com
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