There was an off shore breeze that pushed out the fog leaving the beautiful blue Santa Cruz sky. As we were getting set up I could smell the blooming Azaleas right outside HQ. What a treat.
Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale)
I was expecting it to be warm so the 9 member crew headed to a cool spot in the park: Last Change trail. Soon after hitting the trail we were greeted by a flock of Chickadees and numerous wild flowers.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
Since we were into the Marbled Murrelet breeding season, we traded the chainsaw for the crosscut saw. This saw works great after you get use to pulling only.
Elk Clover (Aralia californica)
The next blockage was another rotten tree and with a cut from the saw and a few whacks with the Pulaski this was cleared.
As I mentioned there were many wildflower along the trail
White Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea alba)
Red Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule)
Globe Lily (Calochortus albus)
There were a couple of small things across the trail and some brushing to the end of the park boundary.
Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)
California Hedge Nettle (Stachys bullata)
Cricket (ID?)
Hairy Star Tulip (Calochortus tolmiei)
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja linariaefolia)
It did warm up but since the trail runs along East Waddell creek it was relatively cool. The crew put in 65 hours on a shorter than usual day and I would like to thank Dale P., Dale S., Janie, Norm, David B., Shyamal, Curt, and Janette. The bird of the day was hearing an American Dipper in the area I have seen then the last 2 years.
See you on the trails.
Jeff
Birds of the Day
1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [cafer Group])
1 Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
12 Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
3 Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
4 Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
5 Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
3 Common Raven (Corvus corax)
4 Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
9 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
6 Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
1 American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)
3 Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
3 Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
1 Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
1 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
5 Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
11 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group])
2 Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
1 Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
12 Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
3 Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
4 Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
5 Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
3 Common Raven (Corvus corax)
4 Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
9 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
6 Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
1 American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)
3 Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
3 Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
1 Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
1 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
5 Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
11 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group])
2 Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)