June 2011 in the Sierra

Spectacular snowfalls late in the year meant the high country was still covered in snow, while the valley was full of water.  Spring came late and happened fast, so the first class, the second weekend in June, experienced winter, while the third weekend class finished in summer.  Both classes enjoyed a dinner at the SF State Sierra Campus.  Check out their classes!

First Weekend Class

Gold Lake Road was plowed for the first time just before the class met at Yuba Pass.  The Pass meadow was covered with snow, and both side roads were under about 5' of the white stuff!  The Valley was magical, with a great deal of water.  Harriott Lane had lots of baby shorebirds, and we found the first Short-eared Owls we'd had on these trips, ever!

Inter-session Photo Group

A few friends came up between the birding classes to photograph.  Most interesting were shorebirds at Harriott and hummers in Carman Valley, along with the owls and raptors in Sierra Valley.

Second Weekend Class

Spring came with the second group.  The shorebird babies were now teenagers, the owls increased to at least five Short-eared in the Valley.  Snow on Gold Lakes Road melted so the trip back from Plumas-Eureka to the SFSU campus was uneventful - but the Sierra Buttes were still snow covered and spectacular on our walk up Sardine Lake trail.

Links to photos, lists, etc

Class I Birdlist
Class II Birdlist

Photos Class 1 by Bob Stokstad
Photos Class 1 by Sandy Steinman

Sandy's Blog with flower lists

SF State Sierra Campus classes

Photo Sites of "Breaktime" Photographers
Eddie Bartley & Noreen Weeden
Eleanor Briccetti
Obie Gilkerson
Bob Lewis
David Moore