Little Pothole Lake

Start of the trail

On day two we moved up to the Onion Valley campground after breakfast (of freshly caught Trout!) and settled in. Our site was shaded by two of the prominent tree species of this alpine region. The Californian Red Fir Abies magnifica and Foxtail Pine Pinus balfouriana (close relative of the famous Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata).

California Red Fir, bark and cones

Stunted Aspen

Stunted Aspen Populus tremuloides dominated the understory in many parts of the lower valley but many other alpines were evident. Facilities were excellent and we set off on an afternoon walk of 1.5 miles up trail 35 to Little Pothole Lake. The ascent was on a well graded route traversing the steep hillside behind the camp. The lake is at 2824m.

Gnarled pines, many showing lightning stike, and xeritic sagebrush vegetation dominate the early parts of the climb with patches of the buckwheat known as Sulphur-Flower Eriogonum umbellatum. An occasional small meadow along the way, fed by overspill from a tumbling stream, was full of alpine flowers. Pride of the Mountain Penstemon newberryi; Indian Paintbrush Castilleja miniata; Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium; Sierra Lily Lilium kelleyanum and Mariposa Lily Calochortus leichtlinii were some of the many species seen.

Sulphur-Flower, Bridge's Penstemon, Indian Paintbrush, Sierra Lily & Mariposa Lily

Few birds about and strangely no raptors seen but a Northern Flicker was spotted once, flying off, and at least one Violet-green Swallow was circling over the lake. The only tyrant flycatcher I could make out was the Western Wood-Pewee but there were very few of them about. Flashes of bright blue and grey drew attention to occasional sightings of Western Scrub-Jay and often a pair or small party of them was detected by their loud and raucous calls. A feeding party of Mountain Chickadee was enjoyable on the way down.

A Green-tailed Towhee caused a bit of identification difficulty until I saw an adult male the next day. A headless desiccated body found on the way home was a puzzle to identify. It had two conspicuous white outer tail feathers, the inner narrowly bordered black. It seemed finch-like with generally streaked plumage, dark on the back, but I could not readily get a match from scanning my Sibley. The following day it was solved when I was able to watch some Dark-eyed Junco. The form hereabouts seems to be the Oregon subspecies. I think it was probably a recently fledged young and its richly coloured mantle feathering had put me off the scent. The other puzzle in this region was the identity of the Carpodactus Finches which I took to be Cassin’s Finch, rather than the common House or Purple species, simply on sierra alpine distribution. At this time of year with moulting scruffy adults and many youngsters present I was in no mood to try to sort this one out! James took all of this in his stride carried by Tracey in a splendid tailor-made backpack made by 'evenflo'. A Mountain Bluebird was seen near the campsite at the end of the day and I sorted the conspicuous hummer as the Rufous Hummingbird.

Small lycendid, Sierra Angelica, Lightning blasted crown and David with Alice at Pothole Lake