Subject: Black Canyon in the lower Wenas Valley
Date: Apr 6 16:51:12 2003
From: Andy Stepniewski - steppie at nwinfo.net


BLACK CANYON
5 APRIL 2003

Ellen and I hiked up Black Canyon (north of Hardy Canyon in the lower Wenas)
today. It was coolish and overcast. On the approach, through Big Sagebrush
habitat, we noted one Loggerhead Shrike, several Western Bluebirds, and
singing Western Meadowlarks.

On the lower portion of the hike, along willow-lined Black Canyon, were
Chukar (2), California Quail (2), Common Raven (6), Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(3), Mountain Bluebird (10 up the scree slopes, flycatching), and Townsend's
Solitaire (1).

Higher, the route passes alongside Quaking Aspen groves, with scattered
Ponderosa Pine on the sidehills. Vigorous Bluebunch Wheatgrass and Big
Sagebrush covers the hillsides here. Blue Grouse seemed to be hooting
everywhere. We noted four males in one "hooting group," each bird separated
by perhaps 150 yards. We flushed one female in this area, too. I became
curious about the apparent close proximity of these grouse, so delved into
Johnsgard (Grouse of the World. 1983. Nebraska Univ.), who states a group of
hooting Blue Grouse may indicate an area of favorable habitat or, a variant
of lekking behavior, but leaning to the former.

Other birds noted in this stretch included Northern Flicker (5),
Black-capped Chickadee (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), American Robin (5),
Varied Thrush (1), and Dark-eyed Junco (5).

Higher, in the Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir forests, we encountered still
more Blue Grouse (4), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (4), Steller's
Jay (3), Clark's Nutcracker (1), Mountain Chickadee (15), Red-breasted (5),
White-breasted (2), and Pygmy (10) Nuthatches, Golden-crowned Kinglet (10),
Dark-eyed Junco (10), and Red Crossbill (2 flyovers).

Finally, we crested the ridge and reached the summit (4,224 feet) at the
head of Black Canyon. The weather was closing in quickly with snow falling
to the west and a cold wind blowing, We descended quickly, dallying only to
dig up samples of the abundant biscuitroots (Lomatium), many in full bloom,
on the lithosol ridges, for later identification. My ploy was to ask Don
Knocke and Phelps Freeborn, plant experts, on tomorrow's Native Plant
Society trip up the nearby Yakima Skyline Trail. They willingly helped in
this regard, noting two quite dissimilar "salt and pepper" biscuitroots
(with purple anthers) as being both Lomatium geyeri, a variable species.
They also ascribed as geyeri another different looking plant, but at least
left us off the hook, stating it was sort of an albino. Our prize was
Lomatium quinteplex, an uncommon to rare and local species, with a massive,
almost carrot-sized taproot. I decided identification of biscuitroots is
akin to identification of Empidonax flycatchers, with many pitfalls and not
to be undertaken casually.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
Steppie at nwinfo.net