Today the weather was in the upper 40s to mid 50s in the Gorge. It was partly cloudy at mid-elevation of the Columbia Hills and mostly clear on the upper slopes although there were many mid-level clouds in the distance so that only the top of Mt Hood was visible while the base and mid-levels of Mt. Adams were visible. It was very foggy eastwards in the gorge. Fortunately, the wind was very light today. The soil here is still quite moist at all levels, so if there is additional precipitation over the next month, the balsamroot and lupine bloom here should be outstanding in mid-April (provided a hard frost in mid-March doesn't knock back the lupines!).
New regulations for use of the Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve!
Complete Plant List for the Columbia Hills (from US Highway 97 west to the Klickitat River and from WA Highway 14 north to the Lyle-Centerville Highway).
* Indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.
* Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii - Blooming in the Columbia Hills State Park below the parking lot for the natural area preserve.
* Obscure Buttercup, The Dalles Mt. Buttercup: Ranunculus triternatus - A few in bloom in the state park.
* Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera
* Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi
* Gorman's Desert Parsley: Lomatium gormanii - Beginning to bloom on the upper slopes of the Columbia Hills.
* Klickitat Desert Parsley: Lomatium klickitatense
Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum - Leaves coming up.
Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule - Leaves coming up at the lower elevations of the state park.
Butterfly-loving (Pungent) Desert Parsley: Lomatium papilioniferum
* Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi - Numerous at lower elevations.
Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum - Leaves coming up.
Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii - Several plants with good sun exposure and good wind protection were getting ready to bloom.
Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - A number of plants were seen with flower buds.
Numerous moths and small insects flying close to the ground.
Numerous horned larks, already in pairs, twittering joyfully. Also observed hunting for insects along the ground.
Several meadow larks, occasionally singing.
Flock of pintail ducks flying low north to south across the ridgetops. No vocal calls but the wing beats made a distinctive noise.
Common ravens
Red-tailed hawks
Rough-legged hawk
Male harrier sitting on a fence post in the fog.
13 mule deer
