I was in the ER for about 2.30 hours, plus 60 minutes of travel to and
from:
• At 7.30 it was a pleasant 9 degrees with a modest
breeze, clouds and intermittent sunshine; the grass was quite wet after it
rained a lot during the night.
• I saw or heard an amazing 25 bird species for this
time of year including the first Red-naped Woodpecker
in the ER. They are common in this area, but not
on the ER . I also heard a blue-listed Gray Flycatcher, which I believe is the
earliest record to date, and saw a pair of Dusky Grouse ,
confirming a probable nesting record for the BC Breeding Bird Atlas in this
square.
• While many plants were in leaf many were in flower.
There seems to be a good number of Mariposa Lily
plants in leaf; this plants numbers seem to fluctuate from year to year. I
found no knapweed rosettes and it is too early to tell what the toadflax
population will be this year. I found only one Sulphur
Cinquefoil plant that I removed.
• I saw or heard no mammals although I found some
crushed deer leg bones and a small pelvis that were not there in April. surprisingly, these were the first I have found in the ER.
• the new stile that was installed last year still needs
to be stained, to help it last longer, and a small piece of fence just north of
it needs to be repaired.
• all the previously needed fence repairs are still
outstanding.
• the ER sign that was on the fallen fence on the talus
slope has been taken and needs to be replaced as there is an old access trail
leading up the slope at that point.
• the only insect was a fly that looked like a house fly.
• I saw no signs of human activity or vandalism.
• I will be leading my annual ER hike on May 21st for
the Meadowlark Festival.
Cheers..........Laurie