October 7, 2020
It’s been a full month since I took a walk out in the Leonhardt Ranch Learning Landscape, located just across the way from where I live. It being well into Fall it was time to go see what was up out there. This is one of my favorite places to get out and look for birds and other wildlife.
The Feather River Land Trust protects critical headwaters and habitat for thousands of wildlife and plant species in the Sierra Nevada’s largest watershed—a source of drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower for 27 million people.
Since 2000, FRLT has protected 59,000 acres of ecologically and culturally important landscapes in the Feather River Watershed. We’re working with private landowners to conserve priority lands in three regions across the watershed: Lake Almanor, Spanish & Indian Creeks, and Sierra Valley.
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The 46-acre property is centrally located in the town of Quincy and extends outdoor education and recreation options from the bike path and nearby schools.
The preserve includes meadow, riparian, wetland, and pasture habitats with a diversity of wildlife and birds including beavers, coyotes, frogs, trout, raptors, Sandhill Cranes, Red-winged Blackbirds, waterfowl, and unique songbirds like Bullock’s Oriole and Yellow-breasted Chat.
The trail is approximately 1.3 miles out and back, and features interpretive signs with natural history and wildlife information made by Quincy High School students.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow.
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I’m always hoping to see something new or unusual or unexpected while I’m out here and today did not disappoint. About two-thirds of the way out I spied something out in front of me. I knew it was an animal, but what kind? I zoomed in and snapped this photo:
Out across the valley, almost a quarter-mile away from the very end of the walk there is a bare snag tree where I have been seeing a pair of Red-tailed Hawks since May. They’re still here:
It was quite cool this morning when I set out, 40f at my place. But down in a creek ditch it obviously gets a little colder:
I had taken my small folding chair (it fits nicely in my backpack) and sat for about an hour at the end of the walking path, getting up occasionally, walking around a bit and deeply enjoying the beauty and peace and solitude of the morning and seeing a lot of small birds flying about, but my feet were getting cold and nothing much else seemed to be happening so it was time to head back and get some breakfast. The big hawk that had flown in just as I approached my sitting area was no longer to be seen. I often get my better photos walking back anyway as now the sun is behind me. Sure enough:
And a couple of new birds, for me, ones that I haven’t noticed or photographed out here before:
Some favorites, from previous walks:
And of course, the Beaver. You know how I feel about Beavers.
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Now It's Your Turn
What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.