Week 1

Date: Saturday, April 5, 2014

Time: 2:30-3:05 pm

Weather: Grey, cloudy skies, slightly humid, small rain shower at 3:00 pm

Temperature: ~55°F

Location: Wolf Tree Nature Trail – Discovery Park

This was my first visit to Discovery Park which was both exciting and terrifying. I was excited because I was eager to explore a place in nature I had never visited but it was equally as terrifying because I had never been on a trail by myself. I have always hiked with at least one other person.  I was completely alone and this made me realize the dangerous feeling nature can induce.  The ironic part was is that I was more afraid of the idea of unfriendly humans than I was of wild animals as I trudged through the muddy and seemingly desolate trails alone.

I began my journey at the Discovery Park Visitor Center where I was convinced by the woman at the front desk that the Wolf Tree Nature Trail would be a pleasant spot to observe nature, and possible see some beaver activity in the nearby pond or get a glimpse of a barred owl nest! Hopefully these treasures will unfold in my weeks of observation to come.

Wolf Tree Nature Trail trailhead sign

Once I arrived at the trailhead, I searched for about 30 minutes until I found a place that I felt comfortable to sit and observe. After settling down on a fallen log, my senses filled with the life of the forest around me. It was overwhelming at first, I didn’t know where to start. I decided to start with the first thing I saw, a Housefly on the log next to me. Not so exciting, but at least I had something. However, the fly’s body was slightly red so I’m not sure if this is the correct identification. 

I heard four different bird calls from various distances, some 10 meters away and others 50 meters away, but was not able to identify any of them based on their song. I wasn't able to see any birds with my eyes because they were too high up in the tall forest canopy. Hopefully, my ID abilities based on bird songs will develop as my journey continues. I did however hear two owls in two different locations. Very exciting! They seemed to be answering one another’s calls. One was about 30 meters away and the second seemed at least 100 meets away by the sound of their calls. I was not able to see them so I couldn't identify them. They had identical calls. I wonder if they are the barred owls I was warned about. 

I noticed some isothecium myosuroides (“Icicle moss”) on the fallen log I was sitting on. 

Icicle Moss

As I sat, a bombus vosenesenskii (“Yellow-faced Bumblebee”) flew circles around me as if it was checking out what new member had entered the forest.  

I saw what may be a Grand Fir tree with dark brown, patchy bark and pine-looking vegetation. 

Grand Fir Tree

Fallen pine from the Grand Fir Tree

I saw was looked to be several bushes of rubus spectabilis (“Salmonberry”) that only consisted of orange/brown stems and green fine-toothed, ovate leaves (no flowers or buds – I assume these will develop as the season continues). 

Salmonberry

I saw hylocomium splendens (“Fern Moss”) on an unidentified tree.  

Fern Moss

It was difficult to identify the trees because they are all so tall in the forest and I could not get a good look at their leaves. I tried to observe the fallen leaves but I didn’t know which leaves belonged to which trees.

Noting the numerous flying insects all around the forest, I opened my field guide in an attempt to identify them. However, after flipping through the several pages of insects and spiders, I soon realized that I did not have as much control over my fear of these creatures as I had previously thought. I'm sure being alone in the forest didn't help this reemerging fear either. I decided that the identification of these insects would need to take place later, in the comfort of my insect-free apartment.

I would like to note the human interference I noticed in this forest, as it is a protected area within a busy city. There was obvious interference by the presence of hiking trails through the forest and the nearby road that lead people through the park. A few beer cans lined the trails and driving cars could be heard from the log where I sat. Hikers moved through the trails rather loudly, as one skipped and the other sang songs aloud. As I observed species, I heard distance sirens on two occasions and an airplane and helicopter flew overhead.

The following photo is of the view that I will take repeat photos of each week to compare the change in vegetation of the season.

I'll be back next week and I will be sure to bring a friend along from now on. Until next week!