Sierra Buttes 5/21/25
The Gold Lake Road opened two weeks ago on May 7th! I was busy going over to Sierra Valley and didn't make it up there until two days ago, on May 21st! I went on a solo hike up to Long Lake and it was a gloriously beautiful day! Surprisingly the trail was 95% snow free! There were four large areas of packed snow that I walked on, up near the lake, but they were cinchy to walk on. I didn't see another person on the trail all day! However, I saw and heard lots of songbirds and came across several blooming wildflower species! It was wonderful to be back in the Lakes Basin, surrounded by beauty and peace once again!
Long Lake 5/21/25
Long Lake was still partially frozen, but mostly thawed out. The ridge to the west was still pretty snowy, but the temps are up into the 80's now, so it will probably be snow free in a few weeks. The water over the dam was only a few inches high, but REALLY cold, so I didn't cross it. Maybe next week we'll go back, cross the dam, and do the loop. It was fabulous to be up at Long Lake! It is so familiar to me, that it's like reuniting with an old friend! I lingered for quite a while before I headed back down the trail.
(Hiking tip: There were LOTS of biting flies on the trail, so if you decide to venture up into the Basin, make sure too use bug repellent!)
American White Pelicans - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Lakes Basin Birds!!!
The first birds I noticed as I drove up into the Lakes Basin was a large group of beautiful American White Pelicans circling in the sky near the road to Salmon Lake! WOW!!! Such beauty! There were about 60 pelicans in the group! These pelicans were probably migrating to Anaho Island in Pyramid Lake, Nevada, which is one of their primary inland breeding areas. Or they may be returning to nesting grounds in northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Canada! Nesting colonies can be quite large, with up to 5,000 pairs of Pelicans! Wherever they're going, they may stop over in Sierra Valley along the way! I think I need to go over there again just in case.
American White Pelicans migrate through here in the Fall and Spring. They spend their winters on the California coast, in estuaries, marshes, and lagoons, or even as far south as Central and South America!
American White Pelicans are one of the largest birds in North America. They are approximately 4 feet tall, weigh 16.4 lbs., and have a wingspan of 9 feet! They eat up to 4 lbs. of fish daily, which they scoop up in their bills as they swim along. They do not dive to catch fish. They work in groups and corral the fish to shore, where shallow water makes them easier to catch.
Wilson's Warbler (in the shade and in the sun) - Cardellina pusilla
As soon as started walking to the Long Lake Trailhead, I heard lots and lots of songbirds! The first one I saw was bright yellow, and perched on an alder along a wetland! I was able to get one photo (above left) which iNaturalist identified for me as a Wilson's Warbler!!! I have only seen a few of these in my lifetime, so it was a thrill to see one again.
Wilson's Warblers migrate from their winter home in Central America, a distance of approximately 3,500 miles, to breed and raise their young here! Apparently, they are fairly common nesters from about 4,000' and up in the Sierra!
Yellow-rumped Warbler (male - female) - Setophaga coronata
I saw several Yellow-rumped Warblers during the course of the day! The male on the left I had to photograph through my car windshield so it's a bit distorted, but it shows the yellow-rump quite well! In the Spring these beautiful warblers migrate up to coniferous forests to breed, from their winter range in the desert southwest, or even from as far south as Costa Rica! Their breeding range extends across the western states, up into Alaska, and across Canada. The Lakes Basin is one of the southern most areas in which they breed.
They mainly feed on insects and other small invertebrates in the summer, and switch to insects and berries in the winter.
Brown Creeper - Spotted Sandpiper
Certhia americana - Actitis macularis
The Brown Creeper in the photo on the left is so camouflaged it's hard to see! If you look carefully you'll see it right in the middle of the photo. These tiny birds live year-round in the Lakes Basin. They are small in size, approximately 5" in length, with wingspans of approximately 8". The Brown Creeper spirals up (not down or sideways) on tree trunks and tree branches. The feed on a large variety of insects, insect eggs, and some seeds.
Spotted Sandpipers are the only shorebird found commonly in the Sierra, from the foothills to timberline. They migrate up from their winter grounds in Mexico, or from as far south as Central or South America, to breed and raise their young!
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Western Spring Beauty - Claytonia lanceolata
Lakes Basin Wildflowers!!!
There weren't lots of flowers in bloom in the Lakes Basin, but there were a few early bloomers! Here are the ones I enjoyed seeing! The Spring Beauties weren't numerous, but they are bound to be in the near future.
Sarcodes sanguinea - Erythronium purpurascens - Castilleja applegatei
I only saw two different groups of Snow Plants this year! And, the Fawn lilies were really tiny, only a few inches tall!
California Waterleaf - Greenleaf Manzanita - Spreading Phlox
Hydrophyllum occidentale - Arctostaphylos patula - Phlox diffusa
The fragrance of Spreading Phlox is just lovely, well worth kneeling down to smell! The manzanita flowers smell like honey, and the waterleaf flowers have amazingly long stamens!
I'll be back up in the Lakes Basin again this coming week! Can't wait to see what other birds and flowers will show up!
Finally here's some local natural history news! Canyon Creek Trail is about 8 miles from my neighborhood, but only a little bit lower in elevation. It parallels the North Yuba River for 3.8 miles and ends where it joins Canyon Creek. After the first, sunny, half mile, it is a mostly shady, flat walk through a Madrone, Tan Oak, Black Oak, Douglas Fir, and Ponderosa Pine forest. My husband and I like to walk the first half mile and picnic where there's a great view of the North Yuba River. It is quite lovely there!
American Dipper (nestlings and adult) - Cinclus mexicanus
Near the beginning of the Canyon Creek Trail, there is an American Dipper Nest on a bridge pillar. I've seen one there every year at this time. One time I observed the Dippers building their nest from start to finish. Amazingly it only took them 7 days to build it!
I first noticed the nest pictured above on 2/21/25. No babies were visible at that time. Typically 6-15 days pass after the completion of the nest and the laying of eggs. I'm don't know when they started building this nest. The first time I noticed the nestlings was on 4/17. The parents were flying into the nest with insects for the young, and then quickly departing to find more for them. Typically the nestlings fledge after 25 days in the nest.
American Dipper (1st and 2nd nest with adult) - Cinclus mexicanus
American Dipper (3rd nest with adult) - Cinclus mexicanus
White Brodiaea - Triteleia hyacinthina
Because of its southern exposure, the first half mile of the Canyon Creek Trailis usually in bloom at this time of year. Every week several new species bloom, while older ones dry up and fade away. This week the most notable wildflowers were lots and lots of White Brodiaea! These clusters of white flowers are perched on the ends of long thin stalks. Each petal has a striking green midvein. They are so lovely!
White Brodiaea with two Common Checkered Clerids and unknown beetle.
Triteleia hyacinthina with Trichodes ornatus and an unknown species
To my delight, many of the blossoms had tiny beetles sleeping in them! Beetles are one of the most important pollinators in the insect world.
The following information is from http://ucanr.edu/sites/PollenNation/.
"Beetles make up the largest group of pollinating animals because there are so many of them! They are responsible for pollinating 88% of the 240,000 flowering plants around the world! Research has shown that beetles are capable of seeing color, but they mainly rely on their sense of smell for feeding and finding a place to lay their eggs. Many beetle species eat pollen, so the plants they visit must produce a lot of pollen to make sure that there is enough left to pollinate the flower after the beetles are done eating!"
Roundtooth Ookow - Dichelostemma multiflorum
The Roundtooth Ookows are also plentiful in the dry grassy slopes!
Bridge's Triteleia - Triteleia bridgesii
There is only one patch of Bridge's Triteleia on the trail, and it's right in the parking lot. These are stunningly beautiful, especially when you look at them up close!
Showy Phlox - Phlox speciosa
About a half-mile from Canyon Creek Trail, on a steep, north-facing, rocky slope there are several small patches of these lovely Showy Phlox! This is the only location that I've ever seen them. They are not fragrant, but are a lovely peppermint pink! So pretty!
North Yuba River 5/24/25
Large patches of Sky Lupine still border the trail, and enhance the view of the North Yuba River! Such beauty!
Can you see three Canada Geese in this photo?
What's happening on the River?
What's happening in Carman Valley?
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 June 7th 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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