It was a very nice morning and 7 crew members started out with 2 others being behind their time and they never caught up to us. We decided to clean up after last months work on the East Ridge Trail. The first tree to finish up looked a little strange in that the saw dust looked a little large for a hand saw and this would be confirmed a little farther down the trail. We stopped by a grove and noticed that a Tan Oak was obstructing the dedication sign.
It didn't take long to clean up the area and we were off. This section of the park was very birdy with the Hermit Thrushes and Pacific Wrens singing their heart out.
Farther down the trail we came across an area we left a 20" oak across the trail. This and all the other clean up work was done and with a chain saw. So much for the Marbled Murlets.
We came across a small patch of Wintergreen along the trail. Along with other great sights of a charred grove and an old cut Redwood mostly likely cut after the 1900 San Fran earthquake.
Along Shadowbrook we came across this monster blockage that took about 2 minutes to clear.
We head toward the Redwood loop to take care of a Tan Oak that was partially on the trail and then headed back where we found another Tan Oak on the STS/Hihn Hammond Connector trail.
I was carrying the crosscut saw all day and we finally were able to use it. Three cuts, 2 with the crosscut, and the trail was cleared. The larger section was moved behind the old Redwood (see below) by pivoting it while balancing on the Redwood. Monkeys use tools and there was much rejoicing and chest bounding.
I would like to thank Dale S., Micheal, Norm, Dale P., Gene, and Mike with a tip of the hat to Fran and Francis for showing up although not being able to connect the the rest of the crew. We put in 63 hours but it was a great day for a walk in the woods since must of our work was taken care of over the last month.
See you on the trail.
Jeff
Birds of the Day
Mother of the Forest on the Redwood Loop.
See you on the trail.
Jeff
Birds of the Day
1 Anna's
Hummingbird Calypte anna
10 Acorn
Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
3 Hairy
Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Nest hole in a dead fir next to the Redwood
Loop and Hwy 236
2 Pileated
Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
9 Pacific-slope
Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis
One fledgling calling peep
1 Warbling
Vireo Vireo gilvus
8 Steller's
Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
2 Common
Raven Corvus corax
8 Chestnut-backed
Chickadee Poecile rufescens
2 Pygmy
Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
8 Brown
Creeper Certhia americana
9 Pacific
Wren Troglodytes pacificus
1 Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
10 Hermit
Thrush Catharus guttatus
1 American
Robin Turdus migratorius
7 Wilson's
Warbler Cardellina pusilla
2 Spotted
Towhee Pipilo maculatus
5 Dark-eyed
Junco (Oregon) Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]
1 Black-headed
Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus
1 Purple
Finch Carpodacus purpureus