4/1/2022
10:00 – 13:00
Distance traveled: 1.5 km
Today, I took my Vertebrate Biology students up to the university’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve to survey part of the preserve’s network of coverboards, and to explore the creek with SSU alumna Julie Wittmann, who is now the Community Naturalist Program Coordinator for the preserve. The coverboards weren’t particularly productive, but by the end of our visit, I don’t think anyone left disappointed.
We started by walking through the grassland near the lower parking lot where several coverboards were set up. Under one of the boards, we found our first reptile of the day: a Western Skink. Under another board we found a nest of dried grasses: evidence that a California Vole was making a home here. Some of my students actually spotted a vole under a different coverboard, but I didn’t see that animal. I also saw a few birds, including some Steller’s Jays calling and flying around the tops of the trees near the lower parking lot. Birds singing in the area included a Wilson’s Warbler, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Black-headed Grosbeak.
Next, we headed to Copeland Creek to look for amphibians. I was poking around the area looking (unsuccessfully) for trilliums, and instead found a California Slender Salamander underneath a fallen branch. In the creek, my students found a good diversity of animals, including at least one Rough-skinned Newt, several California Giant Salamanders, and a gorgeous Foothill Yellow-legged Frog just below the “dam” (very near where I’ve seen one in the past). A Northern Pileated Woodpecker called several times over the course of about 15 minutes, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of the bird (or make a recording of the vocalization). I also found a Wing-tapping Cicada on a log near the creek.
It was time for us to start heading back to the vans, which we did by way of Turtle Pond, and then along the Marsh Trail. We caught a lovely Western Fence Lizard near the wooden dock on the pond, and heard some new birds, including a Song Sparrow, and an American Crow.
As we walked single-file along the marsh trail, someone near the front of the line spied a snake near the path, and was able to capture it. Although there was some controversy about the subspecies identification on iNaturalist, based on the labial scales and condition of chin shields, I’m calling this a Coast Garter Snake. With the snake in hand, everyone had the chance to get some nice up-close views.
We still had one more reptilian friend to meet before we left the preserve . . . one of my students back-tracked a bit the way we’d just come and spotted something just off of the path: a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake that was coiled up beneath a Himalayan Blackberry bush. Funny to realize that we’d all passed right by the snake without noticing – to be fair, it is pretty cryptic. The snake was super cooperative, not seeming to be bothered as we took turns taking a closer look (and getting some great some photographs). What a gorgeous, gorgeous snake! This is one of the most exciting sightings I’ve had a in long time, and the closest I’ve even been to one of our local rattlesnakes in the wild, up until now.
After our exhilarating visit with the snakes, we ate the packed lunches we’d brought with us, and then it was time to head for home. What a great day at the preserve – the first time I’ve seen a rattlesnake here, and it was such a magnificent sighting.
Species List
Birds and wildlife: Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), Red shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)*, Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)*, Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)*, Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus), California Vole (Microtus californicus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), Northern Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus abieticola)*, Wing-tapping Cicada (Platypediaon sp.), Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii), Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)*, Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)*, Coast Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris), Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus), Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
*heard
Notable plants and fungi: Turkey-tail (Trametes versicolor), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Let me know what you think!