Looks like more and more of our Pacific Northwest plants are sprouting and summer birds are showing up. Willow pointed out one of the prettiest, poetic, and overlooked flowers we have. Later in the summer look down and enjoy the blushing violet heart that lays close to the duff that is found mostly by the curious and the romantic day dreamers.
March 23rd, 2009:
-On the Northern most loop trail (leading to Etheridge entrance) a carpet of waterleaf (Hyrdophyllum tenuipes) and Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) seedlings have popped up! -Willow
-We saw a rare dark dark brown squirrel. It had a red belly and it was young.
{This sounds like a Douglas Squirrel of Chickaree (Tamiasciurus douglasii)}-FTW
March 27th, 2009
-Two deer right next to this entrance. My dog was on lead. They stood still as we passed.
-Saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, three Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte anna), and a Pileated Woodpecker.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Field Notes March 15th-22nd
We made it to Spring! Looks like lots animals were roaming, flying, and swimming through the park last week. There are a couple mystery birds sighted, perhaps they were similar to the varied thrush another person saw? There has been lots of interest in organizing Ivy and Himalayan blackberry removal team (kudos to those already working hard!), and our poor cedar has been tagged again! Hopefully I will post a copy of a Floral Survey that the City of Olympia conducted in 2002-2003 soon (thanks Willow!). I hope to catch up on the species list this week too. There should be a link to a webpage about every species list eventually. Thanks for all your entries and sharing your experiences.
March 15th, 2009:
-Snow and Slush (~2") everywhere ~34° F 29AM, S wind 5-10. Crows cawing and robins singing. 2 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) male & female quacking where Pine Street crosses wetlands, Roosters heard near Edison entrance. First blossoms I have seen on the Indian Plums.
March 17th, 2009:
-Indian Plum (Olemleria cerasiformis) blooming & leaves coming out. Hazel (Corylus cornuta californica) catkins out in full. Heard roosters Crowing
March 18th, 2008:
-Saw a small black & red butterfly today!♥ Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) beginning to come up by the bridge over the creek. Thank you to the brothers who cleaned grafitti off the cedars♥
-Spied a pair of birds, a bit larger than crows (although not crow shapped) dark back/wings lighter chests, striped tail when it took flight- reddish brown/ dark brown stripes in tail feathers. One was making a sound not unlike a dog's squeaky toy (although not quite as high pitched). Was a little hard to get a good look as they were silloutted against bright clouds. Perched in red alder (Alnus rubra) near San Francisco entrance (somewhere between SF and Etheridge).
March 21st, 2009:
-2 varied thrushes at Edison entrance, 2 towhees at Fir entrance. Skunk cabbages up at San Francisco entrance.
-Pulled some Ivy and Holly. Towhee and other birds were sighted. Flicker call.
March 22nd, 2009:
- Hooligans struck last night spraying names/signs on the large cedar uphill form the San Francisco boardwalk. Have you looked into the Center of the fern and seen the curled up ferns waiting for spring?
-I talked to the young, considerate couple who discovered the huckleberry bushes (vaccinum spp) lying like they had been pulled up and abandoned. They thought they were protecting them from further vandalism.
-11am -Heard a frog "R-I-B-B-I-T" in the marsh to the right of Edison street.
- Haven't been in these woods in a long while. As always, I am welcomed by the chickens down the street, but today I also hear the littlest birds sining the prettiest songs as I begin my walk into one of my favorite spots in Olympia.
-Just saw a deer- on the right side of the main path-about 20 feet between us. We were both surprised-it stared at me for awhile and then looked away-pretending to be relaxed-all the while keeping one gigantic brown eye fixed on me until I moved on. Wow! What an amazing welcome back to the woods. I love it here…Thanks for the books. I've always wanted to write about what I see here.
-Sprinkling. It sounds like spring here… I keep hearing tiny feet running through the crunchy leaves then an a occasional flash of brown wings passes by. Also, frogs are out singing to one another.
- 5pm cool, clear, sunny, windy. Entering at Lybarger entrance I hear lots of wind against the trees & randomly hear some songbirds. (I think this is such a neat project! Writing my observations will add to my observations will add to my walk, and viewing and being part of the neighbors sightings makes me aware of participating in this neighborhood community!J Thank you!)
There are 8 mole hills around the Park Message Board
When the wind dies down I can hear more birds.
The mole hills continue!
Just past the first meadow on the right, there is a (20' tall) tree with small round crimison berries. They look like cranberries of sort of.
I see a couple big cedar trees & lots of beautiful rust-colored branches against blue sky-awaiting spring
- ~9:30pm, partly cloudy cold wind, stars shining. pacific chorus frogs (psuedocris regilla) thrilling throuh out park. 2 ensantina (Ensantina eschscholtzii) under an log. Indian Plum sparkling in flashlight. FISH! Followes a trail of green ribbon & came to an old culvert crossing North of San Francisco boardwalk & saw 2 small Sculpin in pool. Diving beetles and water striders too. -FTW
March 15th, 2009:
-Snow and Slush (~2") everywhere ~34° F 29AM, S wind 5-10. Crows cawing and robins singing. 2 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) male & female quacking where Pine Street crosses wetlands, Roosters heard near Edison entrance. First blossoms I have seen on the Indian Plums.
March 17th, 2009:
-Indian Plum (Olemleria cerasiformis) blooming & leaves coming out. Hazel (Corylus cornuta californica) catkins out in full. Heard roosters Crowing
March 18th, 2008:
-Saw a small black & red butterfly today!♥ Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) beginning to come up by the bridge over the creek. Thank you to the brothers who cleaned grafitti off the cedars♥
-Spied a pair of birds, a bit larger than crows (although not crow shapped) dark back/wings lighter chests, striped tail when it took flight- reddish brown/ dark brown stripes in tail feathers. One was making a sound not unlike a dog's squeaky toy (although not quite as high pitched). Was a little hard to get a good look as they were silloutted against bright clouds. Perched in red alder (Alnus rubra) near San Francisco entrance (somewhere between SF and Etheridge).
March 21st, 2009:
-2 varied thrushes at Edison entrance, 2 towhees at Fir entrance. Skunk cabbages up at San Francisco entrance.
-Pulled some Ivy and Holly. Towhee and other birds were sighted. Flicker call.
March 22nd, 2009:
- Hooligans struck last night spraying names/signs on the large cedar uphill form the San Francisco boardwalk. Have you looked into the Center of the fern and seen the curled up ferns waiting for spring?
-I talked to the young, considerate couple who discovered the huckleberry bushes (vaccinum spp) lying like they had been pulled up and abandoned. They thought they were protecting them from further vandalism.
-11am -Heard a frog "R-I-B-B-I-T" in the marsh to the right of Edison street.
- Haven't been in these woods in a long while. As always, I am welcomed by the chickens down the street, but today I also hear the littlest birds sining the prettiest songs as I begin my walk into one of my favorite spots in Olympia.
-Just saw a deer- on the right side of the main path-about 20 feet between us. We were both surprised-it stared at me for awhile and then looked away-pretending to be relaxed-all the while keeping one gigantic brown eye fixed on me until I moved on. Wow! What an amazing welcome back to the woods. I love it here…Thanks for the books. I've always wanted to write about what I see here.
-Sprinkling. It sounds like spring here… I keep hearing tiny feet running through the crunchy leaves then an a occasional flash of brown wings passes by. Also, frogs are out singing to one another.
- 5pm cool, clear, sunny, windy. Entering at Lybarger entrance I hear lots of wind against the trees & randomly hear some songbirds. (I think this is such a neat project! Writing my observations will add to my observations will add to my walk, and viewing and being part of the neighbors sightings makes me aware of participating in this neighborhood community!J Thank you!)
There are 8 mole hills around the Park Message Board
When the wind dies down I can hear more birds.
The mole hills continue!
Just past the first meadow on the right, there is a (20' tall) tree with small round crimison berries. They look like cranberries of sort of.
I see a couple big cedar trees & lots of beautiful rust-colored branches against blue sky-awaiting spring
- ~9:30pm, partly cloudy cold wind, stars shining. pacific chorus frogs (psuedocris regilla) thrilling throuh out park. 2 ensantina (Ensantina eschscholtzii) under an log. Indian Plum sparkling in flashlight. FISH! Followes a trail of green ribbon & came to an old culvert crossing North of San Francisco boardwalk & saw 2 small Sculpin in pool. Diving beetles and water striders too. -FTW
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Field Notes March 8th-14th
A very special thank you! to the individual(s) who took the time and energy to scrub the cedars and bridge clean this week.
One week until The official start to spring...
Looks like Father Winter and Daughter Spring are having their annual get together these past couple weeks. They are dancing around in circles at their annual reunion and every 2-step brings snow and cold from Father Winter followed by Sunshine and warmth from Daughter. Eventually we hope the old man tires out and goes to bed and Spring will come with her warmth and growth. I'll be willing to bet the old man still has a dance or two left with his daughter though. Have a good next week in the Vernal Equinox!
March 8th, 2009:
-Looks like someone pulled up several huckleberry plants (Vaccinum spp) just West (?) of this sign next to the big dead stump. Maybe they though it was Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)? Please be careful and leave the restoration to folks who know their plants. Otherwise, saw one ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula) among other things & think I heard a hummingbird (Trochilidae Family).
March 9th, 2009:
-Snow and sun @ Lybarger entrance. Sing your own Song
-Temple Entrance, noon. Snow still on ground, blue sky, sunny high breeze from SW. Gorgeous.
March 10th, 2009:
-10am: 3 crows (Corvus spp) chased sharpshin hawk (Accipter striatus) east of San Francisco entrance. Hawk returned to cedar (Thuja plicata) east of path to Lybarger and the crows chased it to tall cedar (I believe) across meadow as I stand at bag dispensers by bulletin board on Lybarger.
- Saw Cleavers (Galium spp), Red Clover (Trifollium pratense), and Plantain (Plantago spp) sprouting up on a side trail.
March 11th, 2009:
-Snowy couple of days. Sun finally shining. Tons of Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) coming up around the creek. Flowers coming out in certain bush, Whole flowers, so pretty, not sure what the plant is. (maybe Indian Plum(Oemleria cersiformis))?
-Lots of Birds singing. 4-5 red breasted birds, 5-6 smal songbirds. Lots of Chirping. Took note of the Ivy choking out many of the large trees. I will bring some clippers to cut or remove some in the coming days/weeks, See someone has been removed.-Thanks to whoever you are! -S
March 12th, 2009:
-Someone noted that the woodpecker at Edison St. entrance was smaller than other years. The Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) that looks like Woody is usually there. I think the person must have seen the red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) that I spied yesterday.
-11am: Absolutely gorgeous spring day 40° + and sunny, deep blue skies.
March 13th, 2009:
-Frost Coated blades of grass winking in the early morning sun.
- Thanks to whoever scrubbed the tags /signs off the trees and boardwalk. Their presence was jarring.
- A Hummingbird (Trochilidae Family)? In this cold? I couldn't believe my eyes, but it levitated straight up and hovered above me. Then it set on a twig and "scree scree"d at me. Definitely a hummingbird, in 42° weather. This was by the rotten cedar stump (just west of the Fir Street entrance) A.K.A. Squirrelopolis.
March 14th, 2009-40's light rain, breezy. Good stream flow, moss is out on trees
One week until The official start to spring...
Looks like Father Winter and Daughter Spring are having their annual get together these past couple weeks. They are dancing around in circles at their annual reunion and every 2-step brings snow and cold from Father Winter followed by Sunshine and warmth from Daughter. Eventually we hope the old man tires out and goes to bed and Spring will come with her warmth and growth. I'll be willing to bet the old man still has a dance or two left with his daughter though. Have a good next week in the Vernal Equinox!
March 8th, 2009:
-Looks like someone pulled up several huckleberry plants (Vaccinum spp) just West (?) of this sign next to the big dead stump. Maybe they though it was Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)? Please be careful and leave the restoration to folks who know their plants. Otherwise, saw one ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula) among other things & think I heard a hummingbird (Trochilidae Family).March 9th, 2009:
-Snow and sun @ Lybarger entrance. Sing your own Song
-Temple Entrance, noon. Snow still on ground, blue sky, sunny high breeze from SW. Gorgeous.
March 10th, 2009:
-10am: 3 crows (Corvus spp) chased sharpshin hawk (Accipter striatus) east of San Francisco entrance. Hawk returned to cedar (Thuja plicata) east of path to Lybarger and the crows chased it to tall cedar (I believe) across meadow as I stand at bag dispensers by bulletin board on Lybarger.
- Saw Cleavers (Galium spp), Red Clover (Trifollium pratense), and Plantain (Plantago spp) sprouting up on a side trail.
March 11th, 2009:
-Snowy couple of days. Sun finally shining. Tons of Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) coming up around the creek. Flowers coming out in certain bush, Whole flowers, so pretty, not sure what the plant is. (maybe Indian Plum(Oemleria cersiformis))?
-Lots of Birds singing. 4-5 red breasted birds, 5-6 smal songbirds. Lots of Chirping. Took note of the Ivy choking out many of the large trees. I will bring some clippers to cut or remove some in the coming days/weeks, See someone has been removed.-Thanks to whoever you are! -S
March 12th, 2009:
-Someone noted that the woodpecker at Edison St. entrance was smaller than other years. The Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) that looks like Woody is usually there. I think the person must have seen the red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) that I spied yesterday.
-11am: Absolutely gorgeous spring day 40° + and sunny, deep blue skies.
March 13th, 2009:
-Frost Coated blades of grass winking in the early morning sun.
- Thanks to whoever scrubbed the tags /signs off the trees and boardwalk. Their presence was jarring.
- A Hummingbird (Trochilidae Family)? In this cold? I couldn't believe my eyes, but it levitated straight up and hovered above me. Then it set on a twig and "scree scree"d at me. Definitely a hummingbird, in 42° weather. This was by the rotten cedar stump (just west of the Fir Street entrance) A.K.A. Squirrelopolis.
March 14th, 2009-40's light rain, breezy. Good stream flow, moss is out on trees
Sunday, March 8, 2009
March 1st-7th Field Notes
March 1st, 2009
~9am: Overcast w/ mist, ~50° F, Calm wind, sun just breaking through.
-Robin, starlings, towhee, chickadees, stellar's jay, sparrow, junco, winter wren
- moles in park
-Trees, shrubs & other flora: Western Red Cedar, Big Leaf Maple, Douglas Fir, Pacfic Willow, Red Alder, Bitter Cherry, Sword Fern, Salmon Berry, American Holly, Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, Oregon Grape, Salal, Bracken Fern, Lady Fern, Grand Fir, Trailing Blackberry, Licorice Fern, Hawthrone, Creeping Buttercup, Indian Plum, Skunk Cabbage.
~ Later: Drizzle, swinging in the maple, and happy for a park to wander
tromped through the rain with my lover; got caught admist the plethora of blackberry bushes which line the maze-like paths… a peace for peace
March 2nd, 2009
-4pm: Last years Equisetum dry and pale in the brambles like a dozen snakes had shed their skin -SRKR
~ 11pm Clear ~35° F: 2 Ensantina under log at Edison entrance one juvenile, one adult. saw slugs and worms mating and heard tree frogs singing. Stars shining and moon a nice crescent.
March 3rd, 2009
~ saw and small woodpecker and an opossum near Edison entrance.
March 4th, 2009
-7am foggy with sun breaks: male and female mallards in standing water North of Edison entrance, yellow catkins on beaked hazelnut trees, towhee in the blackberries
March 5th, 2009
~I think I was the only human, with the only dog, in the whole park this late morning. Ahh, the solitude of windy cold rain in the woods, Yet the birds sing ever more consistently, Spring will prevail despite this last grab attempt by winter.
-Last winter (2007/2008?) neighbors worked with Olympia Parks VIP program to remove fence that separated the meadows from the wetlands at Lynbarger St trailhead. This opened up the area to wildlife and for vistas to enjoy this remarkable habitat- Jack Horton.
March 6th, 2009
~ Some one tagged th ecedar and the San Francisco entrance, & the footbridge, plus a tree at the Ethridge entrance. How do we clean a tree?
~6pm Fox sparrows chirping merrily, robins and towhees too. Tree frogs singing, but not to be seen! Too bad about the tagged Cedars.
-A fine fellow asked me if there was any interest in developing an Olympia specific urban forest restoration project. Because several of you have expressed interest in just that I thought I would share their information and their vision with you. They would be more than interested to hear any of your comments...
~9am: Overcast w/ mist, ~50° F, Calm wind, sun just breaking through.
-Robin, starlings, towhee, chickadees, stellar's jay, sparrow, junco, winter wren
- moles in park
-Trees, shrubs & other flora: Western Red Cedar, Big Leaf Maple, Douglas Fir, Pacfic Willow, Red Alder, Bitter Cherry, Sword Fern, Salmon Berry, American Holly, Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, Oregon Grape, Salal, Bracken Fern, Lady Fern, Grand Fir, Trailing Blackberry, Licorice Fern, Hawthrone, Creeping Buttercup, Indian Plum, Skunk Cabbage.
~ Later: Drizzle, swinging in the maple, and happy for a park to wander
tromped through the rain with my lover; got caught admist the plethora of blackberry bushes which line the maze-like paths… a peace for peace
March 2nd, 2009
-4pm: Last years Equisetum dry and pale in the brambles like a dozen snakes had shed their skin -SRKR
~ 11pm Clear ~35° F: 2 Ensantina under log at Edison entrance one juvenile, one adult. saw slugs and worms mating and heard tree frogs singing. Stars shining and moon a nice crescent.
March 3rd, 2009
~ saw and small woodpecker and an opossum near Edison entrance.
March 4th, 2009
-7am foggy with sun breaks: male and female mallards in standing water North of Edison entrance, yellow catkins on beaked hazelnut trees, towhee in the blackberries
March 5th, 2009
~I think I was the only human, with the only dog, in the whole park this late morning. Ahh, the solitude of windy cold rain in the woods, Yet the birds sing ever more consistently, Spring will prevail despite this last grab attempt by winter.
-Last winter (2007/2008?) neighbors worked with Olympia Parks VIP program to remove fence that separated the meadows from the wetlands at Lynbarger St trailhead. This opened up the area to wildlife and for vistas to enjoy this remarkable habitat- Jack Horton.
March 6th, 2009
~ Some one tagged th ecedar and the San Francisco entrance, & the footbridge, plus a tree at the Ethridge entrance. How do we clean a tree?
~6pm Fox sparrows chirping merrily, robins and towhees too. Tree frogs singing, but not to be seen! Too bad about the tagged Cedars.
-A fine fellow asked me if there was any interest in developing an Olympia specific urban forest restoration project. Because several of you have expressed interest in just that I thought I would share their information and their vision with you. They would be more than interested to hear any of your comments...
Sunday, March 1, 2009
February 21-28, 2009 Field Notes
S
P
R
I
N
G
?
?
Snow and frost graced Mission Creek last week, but we are only 3 weeks away from the offical start to spring now!
Seems like we certainly have a canine visitor in our park, but whether it is a fox (Vulpes vulpes) or a coyote (Canis latrans) remains to be seen. Foxes can be many colors as can coyotes, but foxes are markedly smaller than even young coyotes. Which ever the species I hope it can live peacefully in the park and not come into conflict with pet and property owners. Another great question posed this week is for Olympia natives. Which is the best climbing tree in Olympia? The question is directed towards adults, but it might be interesting to see if a special tree has been climbed by many a generation of Olympians.
Thank you for all your comments and for heralding the coming of spring. -FTW
February 21: Budding trees @ 16:00 pm. Partly cloudy, warm
February 22: Rain the previous night. Birds singing- signs of spring
February 24: Rainbow @ Temple st entrance
coyote/fox (?) sighting
February 25: 8:30 am 44 degrees Breezy w/ rainbow. West rain clouds chasing, sun trying to peek through clouds
Pacific chorus frog (Pseudocris Regilla) calling by San Francisco st entrance.
February 27: Deer tracks by pond trail
February 28: Deer tracks by swing tree (big vine maple), 2 ducks flew over boardwalk
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