This hawk was just one of many birds sharing the land with me on Thanksgiving. Of all the inhabitants the only ones missing were the turkeys and osprey...well maybe a few more.
This morning I saw:
Red shouldered hawk, turkey vultures (Maybe they count for T-day birds), doves, acorn woodpeckers, kingfishers, cormorants, Night herons, nuthatches, geese overhead, and others that I could get close enough to even guess. I am sure there were many more...I thought I heard the quail, but didn't spot them.
Sheer bliss.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Augmenting the Come Along
Today we finally got the rest of the tree out of the creek. Only one person from the other side came out to have a look see, and then went back in. There wasn't any sign of life from the people that were the most impacted by the limbs.
AFter pulling it in parts over to my shore, the cut up all the logs, and then put them up on the bank, way above high water. All the brushy limbs and stuff were also pulled way up and put far back from the edge in the snow berry bushes.
Stuart said that aside from the colder water, todays work was easiers than what they did on 10-30.
At least we now have a workable strategy for getting stuff like that out. What would really be best would be a winch on the truck and if this becomes a habit, well, I will buy him one!!!
It was mighty chilly over there this morning, frost all over the field, but on the bank with the eastern exposure, things really warmed up fast. Still I was glad I had put on my long underwear and that Bill had on his sister's 20 year old waders. It is amazing that while water poured in over the tops of his boots and had to be emptied regularly, the waders held up with no holes or leaks.
AFter pulling it in parts over to my shore, the cut up all the logs, and then put them up on the bank, way above high water. All the brushy limbs and stuff were also pulled way up and put far back from the edge in the snow berry bushes.
Stuart said that aside from the colder water, todays work was easiers than what they did on 10-30.
At least we now have a workable strategy for getting stuff like that out. What would really be best would be a winch on the truck and if this becomes a habit, well, I will buy him one!!!
It was mighty chilly over there this morning, frost all over the field, but on the bank with the eastern exposure, things really warmed up fast. Still I was glad I had put on my long underwear and that Bill had on his sister's 20 year old waders. It is amazing that while water poured in over the tops of his boots and had to be emptied regularly, the waders held up with no holes or leaks.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Flagged erosion
This area would be ideal to do a series of small "check dams" made up of rocks, native brush and wood that would stop the slide down into Copsey Creek.
It would be a lot of work, and will probably take years unless I hire a company to do it for me. We will have to see. Just nearby are a lot of willows that would be ideal to stick in here. But they would have to have water the first few years at least.
It would be a lot of work, and will probably take years unless I hire a company to do it for me. We will have to see. Just nearby are a lot of willows that would be ideal to stick in here. But they would have to have water the first few years at least.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Luke putting up numbers on post
We were all ready to put up the numbers for the two addresses on Stagecoach, when I realized that we needed three ZEROES and I hadn't bought any...nothing right? Who buys nothing? Not me I guess. So we had to drive all the way back to ClearLake to buy NOTHING!
And of course, I needed four 0s and they only had three so we only managed to get up two addresses yesterday, but they look nice.
And of course, I needed four 0s and they only had three so we only managed to get up two addresses yesterday, but they look nice.
Walking the land with folks from the NRCS
Today I met with three people from the NRCS, Greg Dills, Korinn Smith, and Erin O'Farrell. What an eye opening walk that was.
I showed them the big gully that has washed from a low spot in the road, and they had several very good ideas for how to deal with it. The first step is to flag the edges so that I can keep track of how much erodes this winter.
They also had some really good ideas on how to stablize the crevass with woody limbs and dirt in little terraces. I will def. be calling them again about references on that issue.
Then we looked at the Tree of Contention and Erin's considered opinion was that we could pull the part on the other bank over and cut it up on the beach using a come along to do the pulling.
I skipped one part...we looked at all the willows along the bank and agreed that it seemed as though someone had planted, or stuck limbs in that part of the bank at some point...they just looked awfully placed.
As to the part of the tree that is on my side of the creek, the general consensus was that it was providing habitat for fish and game and wasn't a general hazard.
When we got out to the point area and they saw Gail's peninsula they felt that there was no way to save that under any circumstances. Eventually Copsey Creek is going to cut right thru that neck. And when that happens, it will change the hydrology on both Cache and Copsey Creek so there would be no point to trying to do anything with that exposed area now. It will be a question of wait and see.
Completing the circuit, we contemplated the main field which is a fine crop of the horrible Medusa Head. Mowing in the early spring is the proposed plan, but to do it early enough might mean trying to do it when the ground is too wet to permit access.
It was a great walk and I sure learned a lot. We even had a brief tour of the Pioneer Cemetery...
When I got home and started to write this, it occurred to me to call Stuart and see if he wanted to tackle the tree again. As luck would have it, he was near by and on his way home so he came over for a quick caulking job and then we headed back over to the land to take another look at the tree.
This time we first went on the far side of the creek down Quarterhorse Lane to Bass Lane, and met Cindy who lives across from me, with her two labs...she allowed us access to her giant garden plot where Stuart could get a little better look at the part of the tree on the East Bank. After looking from that side, we went back over to my land and looked again, and he thinks the come along idea will work. He will try to get Bill and do it on this Monday. The plan is to pull it over to my side and then hack it up!
I hope it works.
I gave Erin the list of proposed seed mixture from Hedgerow Farms for future reference. They thought the mix was a good one for this area, so that was another thing that made me happy. Simple simple me. What a complicated undertaking here, but it is fascinating.
And to make the day really wonderful, on the way home I saw a Piliated Woodpecker on Dam Rd...when I finally raised the camera, he hooting his way into the vines and kept up a wild racket, but wouldn't show himself again. He was enormous!
I showed them the big gully that has washed from a low spot in the road, and they had several very good ideas for how to deal with it. The first step is to flag the edges so that I can keep track of how much erodes this winter.
They also had some really good ideas on how to stablize the crevass with woody limbs and dirt in little terraces. I will def. be calling them again about references on that issue.
Then we looked at the Tree of Contention and Erin's considered opinion was that we could pull the part on the other bank over and cut it up on the beach using a come along to do the pulling.
I skipped one part...we looked at all the willows along the bank and agreed that it seemed as though someone had planted, or stuck limbs in that part of the bank at some point...they just looked awfully placed.
As to the part of the tree that is on my side of the creek, the general consensus was that it was providing habitat for fish and game and wasn't a general hazard.
When we got out to the point area and they saw Gail's peninsula they felt that there was no way to save that under any circumstances. Eventually Copsey Creek is going to cut right thru that neck. And when that happens, it will change the hydrology on both Cache and Copsey Creek so there would be no point to trying to do anything with that exposed area now. It will be a question of wait and see.
Completing the circuit, we contemplated the main field which is a fine crop of the horrible Medusa Head. Mowing in the early spring is the proposed plan, but to do it early enough might mean trying to do it when the ground is too wet to permit access.
It was a great walk and I sure learned a lot. We even had a brief tour of the Pioneer Cemetery...
When I got home and started to write this, it occurred to me to call Stuart and see if he wanted to tackle the tree again. As luck would have it, he was near by and on his way home so he came over for a quick caulking job and then we headed back over to the land to take another look at the tree.
This time we first went on the far side of the creek down Quarterhorse Lane to Bass Lane, and met Cindy who lives across from me, with her two labs...she allowed us access to her giant garden plot where Stuart could get a little better look at the part of the tree on the East Bank. After looking from that side, we went back over to my land and looked again, and he thinks the come along idea will work. He will try to get Bill and do it on this Monday. The plan is to pull it over to my side and then hack it up!
I hope it works.
I gave Erin the list of proposed seed mixture from Hedgerow Farms for future reference. They thought the mix was a good one for this area, so that was another thing that made me happy. Simple simple me. What a complicated undertaking here, but it is fascinating.
And to make the day really wonderful, on the way home I saw a Piliated Woodpecker on Dam Rd...when I finally raised the camera, he hooting his way into the vines and kept up a wild racket, but wouldn't show himself again. He was enormous!
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Tree of Contention via phone
Right while I was trying to deal with mismatched paint, getting a plumber for the hot water heater, the phone rang. It was a new neighbor on Copsey Creek asking about the Tree of Contention.
Apparently, since they are living in a home built on a flood plain, Yolo Water ...the owners of the dam and our water have a sensor on their wall to measure the water levels.
This woman was calling me as she had been told that I had not removed the TREE of Contention from the Creek...she had not looked for herself. I did my best to explain the situation from my point of view and hope she will settle down. But I fear that these people, who live in a flood plain will not try to pin their hopes and dreams...deferred that is, on to my poor little piece of property.
Time to call my attorney I think.
At least there is along history of flooding on their property and I have done my best to clear the center of the creek. With Temps rising into the '80s this week end, it is hard to think that they might do something to help themselves. A little Whining goes a long way with me...or maybe that should be, A Lot of Whining goes a Little way with me.
It has been a stressful day. See the kitchen remodel blog for more
Apparently, since they are living in a home built on a flood plain, Yolo Water ...the owners of the dam and our water have a sensor on their wall to measure the water levels.
This woman was calling me as she had been told that I had not removed the TREE of Contention from the Creek...she had not looked for herself. I did my best to explain the situation from my point of view and hope she will settle down. But I fear that these people, who live in a flood plain will not try to pin their hopes and dreams...deferred that is, on to my poor little piece of property.
Time to call my attorney I think.
At least there is along history of flooding on their property and I have done my best to clear the center of the creek. With Temps rising into the '80s this week end, it is hard to think that they might do something to help themselves. A little Whining goes a long way with me...or maybe that should be, A Lot of Whining goes a Little way with me.
It has been a stressful day. See the kitchen remodel blog for more
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Collected Trash
A selection of the trash. It is amazing how little debris there actually is. Most of what we found appears to have been left by fishermen who trespassed on the land, or kids who creep in at night.
None of it looked to be of recent vintage, which might be wishful thinking on my part.
Some of it, like the High Gravity Lager shown seem to be the high alcohol type drinks of dubious distinction. I had never even heard of that one.
Maybe when the gates and fencing are up, and signs posted and my very random presence noted, the trespassers will slack off. Maybe. I have yet to encounter anyone over there other than John and Connie and they have come in after I arrived.
None of it looked to be of recent vintage, which might be wishful thinking on my part.
Some of it, like the High Gravity Lager shown seem to be the high alcohol type drinks of dubious distinction. I had never even heard of that one.
Maybe when the gates and fencing are up, and signs posted and my very random presence noted, the trespassers will slack off. Maybe. I have yet to encounter anyone over there other than John and Connie and they have come in after I arrived.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Water in Pond
We got almost five inches of rain last week, and this was the result over in the pond on the land. I hope we get lots of rain this year for a lot of reasons, but top of my list is the burning desire to see this pond filled up. I will have to keep an eye on it.
Another bonus today was that in some of the young oaks around the pond, there was a big covey of Quail...first I have seen over there. Usually I see lots of dove, turkey, turkey vultures and rabbits. Today there were two does as well. Luckily I missed the big buck, but we could see some very big tracks.
The Spriets came over and helped me pick up a lot of the cans and bottles that I have been finding. It is a good thing I am keep garbage bags in the back of the car. I didn't see any new debris which is a good thing.
The other exciting item today was a three foot long garter snake right at the gate. Seems sort of late in the year and a bit chilly for a snake to be out like that. It was moving very slowly.
Another bonus today was that in some of the young oaks around the pond, there was a big covey of Quail...first I have seen over there. Usually I see lots of dove, turkey, turkey vultures and rabbits. Today there were two does as well. Luckily I missed the big buck, but we could see some very big tracks.
The Spriets came over and helped me pick up a lot of the cans and bottles that I have been finding. It is a good thing I am keep garbage bags in the back of the car. I didn't see any new debris which is a good thing.
The other exciting item today was a three foot long garter snake right at the gate. Seems sort of late in the year and a bit chilly for a snake to be out like that. It was moving very slowly.
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