Wildflowers in bloom are still hard to come by in the Columbia River Gorge, with fewer species to be found on the Oregon side due to the steep, shady hillsides. Many basal leaves of numerous species are well developed, however. With a week or so of warmer or sunnier weather, the number of species in bloom should increase dramatically!
Wildflower Bloom at Tom McCall Nature Preserve
Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii
Filaree: Erodium cicutarium
Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum
Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii / piperi
Animals Seen at the Tom McCall Nature Preserve
1. a magnificent pair of mature bald eagles along the edge of the cliffs trying to catch some thermals.
2. Red-wing blackbirds (two males)
3. Scrub jay (one)
Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii - Fairly common, but at least several weeks from peaking.
Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum -Fairly common, especially on steep slopes or along the upper edges of cliffs.
Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Numerous plants barely in bloom (No leaves visible yet.).
Pungent Desert Parsely: Lomatium papilioniferum ? - One in bloom.
Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii / piperi ? - Numerous
Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -Not in bloom, but several with well formed flower buds.
Animals Seen along the Three Bench Loop:
1. Golden Eagle (perched on a pinnacle directly above the Doug's Beach parking area).
2. Northern Flicker (two)
3. Ravens (a pair)
4. Scrub Jays (a pair)
5. Canyon Wren (one)
6. Black-capped Chickadee (One)
7. Western Bluebirds (four)
8. Golden-crowned sparrows (about a dozen)
9. Song Sparrow (One)
Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii -Fairly common, but at least several weeks from peaking.
Western Saxifrage: Micranthes rufidula - One in full bloom, several with well developed stalks and flower buds.
Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii / piperi ? - Numerous