Big Creek Reserve

News from Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

seasonal phenology

May 1991-John Smiley

I received a report that Monarch Butterflies marked here at Big Creek in December have been sighted at Esalen (4mi north) and at Plaskett Creek (15mi south). These sightings suggest that central California Monarchs move up and down the coast in the winter, much like their southern California cousins.The spring bloom (what there is of it) is very late this year, probably because of the drought and the cold winter weather. In early April the most common flower on the Gamboa ridge was the shooting star, normally a February/March bloomer. It will be very interesting to see how the spring progresses. The perennial bunchgrasses seem to be doing very well on the ridges. The drought and the elimination of cattle grazing (in early 1980’s) may be favoring their spread.

A second reminder: We are planning our annual open house for Saturday May 11, between 9 and 4. We will have displays about the reserve, including our facilities planning efforts, and I invite you to come and see what we are up to. Like last year, we will lead hikes on the trails, so bring your lunch and plan to spend all day if you can. Unlike last year, we don’t expect to discover a dead mountain lion in the trail, but who knows? (4/x/91)

April 1991-John Smiley

Until the rains in March, Big Creek was as low as anyone had ever seen it (it was running 3-4 cubic feet per second instead of 6-10 which is a “normal” base flow in the fall). On the slopes and ridges the soil was dry, and the annual plant cover on the hillsides was sparse and about one inch high. Even in the canyon bottom the banana slugs were inactive. I have noticed that some weeds seem to be hard-hit by the drought, including Milk Thistle (Silybum sp.). We are trying to control this species and are hoping to really knock back the thistle on our grassy ridges between 500 and 1500 feet elevation and give the bunch grass and native flowers some good soil!

The Harbor Seals are back in full numbers after their annual disappearance in August and September (does anyone know where they go?). Several Mountain Lions returned to the lowland areas of the reserve, after an absence of about 6 months. A group of three lions have been active near Boronda Camp (probably a mother and two young). They were sighted on February 23, and that evening one or more lions made screaming and growling noises around a UCSC environmental writing class. On March 4 a young lion walked through our yard and sat under a cypress tree for an hour while it rained. It was thin and lanky, even for a mountain lion, and had a pretty face with huge tawny eyes and a cream colored chin. Rosie was fascinated! Lions rarely bother people, but children are vulnerable, especially to young animals. We have no dogs and are always careful with our two little ones. We didn’t see our little black cats for two days.

The Black Oystercatchers are beginning to hang around their nest rock in Big Creek cove. Last year they raised two chicks in the nest (one survived). These birds are very sensitive to disturbance because they must guard their nest from gulls 24 hours a day. Gulls seem to “hang around” the nest, and, if the parents are scared off the gulls eat the eggs and chicks immediately.

The bay trees are in full flower now, as are pink flowering currants and manzanitas. The redwood sorrel has sprung up after the rain, and a few milkmaids are blooming. Up on the ridges there are a few buttercups, lilies and yellow violets, but really very few flowers are in bloom. Maybe the rain will make a difference and we’ll get some spring flowers soon.

A reminder: We are planning our annual open house for Saturday May 11 this year, between 9 and 4. We will have displays about the reserve, including our facilities planning efforts, and I invite you to come and see what we are up to. Like last year, we will lead hikes on the trails, so bring your lunch and plan to spend all day if you can. Unlike last year, I don’t expect to discover a dead mountain lion in the trail, but who knows? (3/5/91)