February 20, 2015
0800 – 1300, sunny

Field trip to the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, with A Watershed Year freshman experience class. I hiked up to Kelly Pond with a group of students so they could collect field data for a research project. It’s quite a hike up to the pond, which is near the northern end of the preserve. Covered with Azolla Water Fern, the pond is a peaceful and lovely place to visit. The pond is also surrounded by Bulrush (maybe California), Coast Live Oak and California Bay. I also saw Spreading Rush and Dendroalsia Moss at this location.

To the north of the pond is more of the Oak Savanna so characteristic of our region.

After leaving Kelly Pond, we made a quick stop at Turtle Pond, which is covered by Azolla and surrounded by Broad-leaved Cattail.

On the way back to the vans, we found some Scurfy Twiglet and California Slender Salamander.

Species List

• Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) Kelly Pond was covered almost entirely by rust-colored Water Fern.
• Spreading Rush (Juncus patens) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
• California Bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
• Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) ID Uncertain; at Kelly Pond.
• Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) At Kelly Pond.
• California Bay (Umbellularia californica) At Kelly Pond.
• Dendroalsia Moss (Dendroalsia abietina) At Kelly Pond.
• Scurfy Twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea) Found in the woods south of the Nature Center.
• California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) Found in the woods south of the Nature Center.
• Broad-leaved Cattail (Typha latifolia) ID Uncertain; at Turtle Pond.