The Gavan ibuttons were overdue for a data download, so a friend and I spent the better part of the morning on a walk to take care of them. The weather was pleasant for walking, light overcast with comfortable temperatures.
The older gravel section at the start of Gavan Hill seems to have had an impact on the surrounding muskeg. Over the years since it was put in, there has been a transition to more grasses and a meadow-like character adjacent to the trail. I am not sure if this has to do with altered water levels/drainage or perhaps other changes due to the gravel (maybe availability of minerals?). It was striking to me today how far out the more meadow looking area extended.
Getting to where the Gavan Hill trail starts uphill has become a little less direct with the new trail completed last year, but the new route goes through some areas that seemed to be popular with birds. We had some nice views, including a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, and male Rufous Hummingbird. I was also interested to see both native and introduced mountain ash trees growing. It appeared the native ones were already bloomed out, while the introduced ones were still at their blooming peak.
Further up, it was fun to notice two forms ofMertens’ Coralroot (Corallorhiza mertensiana) getting ready to bloom side by side.
I also noticed a tree that was rotting away, but in an interesting way. I suspect it was still fungal, but the way it appeared there were many tubes hollowing out the wood made me wonder if perhaps it was a lot of insect larvae doing some excavating.
(pictures to come)