Square Butte Ranch

Friend, Karel, calls himself a Herper. “Herpetology (from Greek "herpien" meaning "to creep") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and reptiles (includingsnakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilians, and the tuataras).” From Wikipedia. Unfortunately, in Alberta, we have only one species of lizard and about four or five kinds of snake, so Karel has turned his attention to wildflowers, fungi, etc. He leads one of our botany outings each week (though I have missed most of them this season) and, if we are lucky enough to have had enough rain for enough mushrooms to grow, may lead a fungi walk or two. This photo of Karel was taken yesterday, 3 June 2016, when a few regulars were invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch, SW of Calgary, to do a Bio-blitz. Karel is holding a little Wood Frog; always a fun find on any trip. The day started very early for us, having to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am, so my alarms were set for 4:30 am. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is also sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. For me, the highlight of the day was when a Morel mushroom was spotted! I so rarely see these and I have been hoping recently that someone would find one somewhere. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/

Yesterday, 3 June 2016, started very early for us, as a few regulars had been invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch to do a Bio-blitz. We had to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am for a day of exploration SW of Calgary. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is also sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. For me, the highlight of the day was when a Morel mushroom was spotted - will post a photo soon! I so rarely see these and I have been hoping recently that someone would find one somewhere. We also stopped to look at this row of small fungi growing on a fallen log. Wish I knew the ID for it. Love the way some of them seem to glow inside. We also wondered what the green plant (?) was, that was growing in between the fungi. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/

This photo of a Barn Swallow was taken on 3 June 2016, when a few regulars were invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch, SW of Calgary, to do a Bio-blitz. The day started very early for us, having to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am, so my alarms were set for 4:30 am. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is also sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. All the grassy areas were a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. For me, the highlight of the day was when a Morel mushroom was spotted! I so rarely see these and I have been hoping recently that someone would find one somewhere. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. This colourful Barn Swallow was busy collecting nesting material by one of the main buildings on the site. “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/ List of birds seen, compiled by our leader: Canada Goose-4 ad/10 juv Mallard-1 f/1 juv Common Merganser-1 m Swainson’s Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 Killdeer-1 Spotted Sandpiper-1 Great Gray Owl-reported by residents Belted Kingfisher-1 Pileated Woodpecker, evidenced by extraction of Carpenter Ants Gray Jay-2 Common Raven-2 Tree Swallow-4 Cliff Swallow-100+ Barn Swallow-6 Boreal Chickadee-1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2 Winter Wren-1 Mountain Bluebird-8 American Robin-3 Tennessee Warbler-4 Chipping Sparrow-2 Clay-colored Sparrow-5 Savannah Sparrow-2 Song Sparrow-1 Brown-headed Cowbird-4 American Goldfinch-1 m

"Coloration varies from pink-tan, gray, olive-green, various shades of brown, to almost black; whitish jaw stripe contrasts with a dark eye mask that extends from the nostril over the eye and just behind the ear; light dorsal stripe is frequently present" From fanweb.ca/resources-services/alberta-natural-history/amph... The following link goes to a short, fascinating video on YouTube, about how Wood Frogs freeze solid in the winter. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjr3A_kfspM The day started very early for us on 3 June 2016, as a few regulars had been invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch for the very first time, to do a Bio-blitz. We had to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am for a day of exploration SW of Calgary. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. This list is sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. List of birds seen, compiled by our leader: Canada Goose-4 ad/10 juv Mallard-1 f/1 juv Common Merganser-1 m Swainson’s Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 Killdeer-1 Spotted Sandpiper-1 Great Gray Owl-reported by residents Belted Kingfisher-1 Pileated Woodpecker, evidenced by extraction of Carpenter Ants Gray Jay-2 Common Raven-2 Tree Swallow-4 Cliff Swallow-100+ Barn Swallow-6 Boreal Chickadee-1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2 Winter Wren-1 Mountain Bluebird-8 American Robin-3 Tennessee Warbler-4 Chipping Sparrow-2 Clay-colored Sparrow-5 Savannah Sparrow-2 Song Sparrow-1 Brown-headed Cowbird-4 American Goldfinch-1 m “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/

The Morel of the story is ... "good things come to those who wait", LOL! I was ecstatic when friend Karel came across this beautiful Black Morel mushroom during a walk through the forest at Square Butte Ranch. There was just the one to be seen. I very rarely see any kind of Morel fungus, so this find really made my day. On the final list, this mushroom was named as Morchella esculenta (Yellow Morel), but was identified as a Black Morel under a photo taken by a very knowledgeable mushroom person who was there. My thinking is that Black Morel is more accurate. Morels are very popular edible mushrooms and are sought by many mushroom hunters. Warning, though: "Morels contain small amounts of hydrazine toxins that are removed by thorough cooking; morel mushrooms should never be eaten raw. It has been reported that even cooked morels can sometimes cause mild intoxication symptoms when consumed with alcohol. When eating this mushroom for the first time it is wise to consume a small amount to minimize any allergic reaction. Morels for consumption must be clean and free of decay." From Wikipedia. The day started very early for us on 3 June 2016, as a few regulars had been invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch for the very first time, to do a Bio-blitz. We had to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am for a day of exploration SW of Calgary. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. List of birds seen, compiled by our leader: Canada Goose-4 ad/10 juv Mallard-1 f/1 juv Common Merganser-1 m Swainson’s Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 Killdeer-1 Spotted Sandpiper-1 Great Gray Owl-reported by residents Belted Kingfisher-1 Pileated Woodpecker, evidenced by extraction of Carpenter Ants Gray Jay-2 Common Raven-2 Tree Swallow-4 Cliff Swallow-100+ Barn Swallow-6 Boreal Chickadee-1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2 Winter Wren-1 Mountain Bluebird-8 American Robin-3 Tennessee Warbler-4 Chipping Sparrow-2 Clay-colored Sparrow-5 Savannah Sparrow-2 Song Sparrow-1 Brown-headed Cowbird-4 American Goldfinch-1 m “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/

The day started very early for us on 3 June 2016, as a few regulars had been invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch for the very first time, to do a Bio-blitz. We had to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am for a day of exploration SW of Calgary. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C. Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed. A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. Also this little Chipping Sparrow, seen way off in the distance. "A crisp, pretty sparrow whose bright rufous cap both provides a splash of color and makes adults fairly easy to identify. Chipping Sparrows are common across North America wherever trees are interspersed with grassy openings. Their loud, trilling songs are one of the most common sounds of spring woodlands and suburbs." From AllAboutBirds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chipping_Sparrow/id List of birds seen, compiled by our leader: Canada Goose-4 ad/10 juv Mallard-1 f/1 juv Common Merganser-1 m Swainson’s Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 Killdeer-1 Spotted Sandpiper-1 Great Gray Owl-reported by residents Belted Kingfisher-1 Pileated Woodpecker, evidenced by extraction of Carpenter Ants Gray Jay-2 Common Raven-2 Tree Swallow-4 Cliff Swallow-100+ Barn Swallow-6 Boreal Chickadee-1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2 Winter Wren-1 Mountain Bluebird-8 American Robin-3 Tennessee Warbler-4 Chipping Sparrow-2 Clay-colored Sparrow-5 Savannah Sparrow-2 Song Sparrow-1 Brown-headed Cowbird-4 American Goldfinch-1 m “In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.” www.squarebutteranches.com/