Alsea Falls bicycle trip

[Don Boucher]

Hello,

I started on Saturday in Corvallis on a 71-mile loop that took me
through Philomath, Alsea, Alsea Falls, Alpine, Bellfountain and back to
Corvallis. I spent the one night on private land (with permission) west
of Philomath and then two nights at Alsea Falls. Too bad Lisa's vacation
schedule wouldn't allow her to come along with me on this trip.

On my ride through Alsea, I saw a WILLOW FLYCATCHER singing (photo
attached). In the Alsea Falls area RED-CROSSBILLS and GRAY JAYS were
common. There was a noticeable lack of warblers. I didn't hear any songs
and found only a couple WILSON'S WARBLERS. Also there were very few
WARBLING VIREOS. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and BROWN CREEPERS were
numerous. Less numerous but a regular presence were GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS. I would occasionally hear PURPLE MARTINS in the sky and in the
evenings COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were calling. AMERICAN DIPPERS were a regular
presence at Alsea Falls and the nearby Green Peak Falls.

The most commonly seen butterfly was California Sister (pictured) and
Pine Whites were easy to find (pictured here are two on Tansy-Ragwort
with a Woodland Skipper)

On the rocks at Alsea Falls there was a Northern Alligator Lizard
sunning itself. At both falls, I found some Enchanter's Nightshade
(Circaea alpina) and Musk Monkeyflower (Mimulus moschatus) blooming.

--
Don Boucher
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com