Field Notes – Cypress Mountain, July 14, 2013

<p><i>Phyllodoce empetriformis</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Pink Mountain-heather

Phyllodoce empetriformis, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Ambystoma gracile</i>, Ambystomatidae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Northwestern Salamander

Ambystoma gracile, Ambystomatidae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Abies amabilis</i>, Pinaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Amabilis Fir

Abies amabilis, Pinaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Haliaeetus leucocephalus</i>, Accipitridae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Accipitridae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
July 14, 2013

<p>Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Dragonfly Nymph

Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Carex pallescens</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Pale Sedge

Carex pallescens, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Luetkea pectinata</i>, Rosaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Partridgefoot

Luetkea pectinata, Rosaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Phyllodoce granduliflora</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Yellow Mountain-heather

Phyllodoce granduliflora, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Lupinus arcticus</i>, Fabaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Arctic Lupine

Lupinus arcticus, Fabaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Elliottia pyroliflora</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Copperbush

Elliottia pyroliflora, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Lilium columbianum</i>, Liliaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Columbia Lily

Lilium columbianum, Liliaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Penstemon serrulatus</i>, Plantaginaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Coast Penstemon

Penstemon serrulatus, Plantaginaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
July 14, 2013

<p>Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Nature Vancouver at Eagle Bluffs

Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Hieracium albiflorum</i>, Asteraceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

White Hawkweed

Hieracium albiflorum, Asteraceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Corallorhiza mertensiana</i>, Orchidaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Western Coralroot

Corallorhiza mertensiana, Orchidaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Cryptogramma acrostichoides</i>, Pteridaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Parsley Fern

Cryptogramma acrostichoides, Pteridaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Panthea virginarius portlandia</i>, Noctuidae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Panthea Moth

Panthea virginarius portlandia, Noctuidae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Rubus pedatus</i>, Rosaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Five-leaved Bramble

Rubus pedatus, Rosaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Cassiope mertensiana</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

White Mountain-heather

Cassiope mertensiana, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Eriophorum angustifolium</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Tall Cotton-grass

Eriophorum angustifolium, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Menziesia ferruginea</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

False Azalea

Menziesia ferruginea, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Bombus vosnesenskii</i>, Apidae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Vosnesensky Bumble Bee

Bombus vosnesenskii, Apidae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Rhododendron albiflorum</i>, Ericaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

White Rhododendron

Rhododendron albiflorum, Ericaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p>Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

The Lions

Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Saxifraga ferruginea</i>, Saxifragaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Alaska Saxifrage

Saxifraga ferruginea, Saxifragaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Carex pachystachya</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Thick-headed Sedge

Carex pachystachya, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Carex canescens</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Grey Sedge

Carex canescens, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Carex lenticularis</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Lakeshore Sedge

Carex lenticularis, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Nephrophyllidium crista-galli</i>, Menyanthaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Deer-Cabbage

Nephrophyllidium crista-galli, Menyanthaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Erigeron peregrinus</i>, Asteraceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
July 14, 2013</p>

Subalpine Fleabane

Erigeron peregrinus, Asteraceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
July 14, 2013

<p><i>Veratrum viride</i>, Melanthiaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Indian Hellebore

Veratrum viride, Melanthiaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Carex mertensii</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Mertens' Sedge

Carex mertensii, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Juncus ensifolius</i>, Juncaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Dagger-leaved Rush

Juncus ensifolius, Juncaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Perisoreus canadensis</i>, Corvidae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Gray Jay

Perisoreus canadensis, Corvidae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Tofieldia glutinosa</i>, Tofieldiaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Sticky False Asphodel

Tofieldia glutinosa, Tofieldiaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Pinus monticola</i>, Pinaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Western White Pine

Pinus monticola, Pinaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Nuphar lutea</i>, Nymphaeaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Yellow Pond-lily

Nuphar lutea, Nymphaeaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Platanthera stricta</i>, Orchidaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Slender Bog Orchid

Platanthera stricta, Orchidaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Symphyotrichum foliaceum</i>, Asteraceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Leafy Aster

Symphyotrichum foliaceum, Asteraceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Carex echinata</i>, Cyperaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Star Sedge

Carex echinata, Cyperaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Rhionaeschna multicolor</i>, Aeshnidae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Blue-eyed Darner

Rhionaeschna multicolor, Aeshnidae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p>Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Bowen Lookout

Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Tanacetum parthenium</i>, Asteraceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium, Asteraceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

<p><i>Mimulus lewisii</i>, Phrymaceae<br />
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6<br />
August 5, 2013</p>

Lewis' Monkeyflower

Mimulus lewisii, Phrymaceae
Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
August 5, 2013

Over the last month I have taken a couple of trips up to Cypress Mountain. About a month ago I joined a group of Nature Vancouver members for a hike up to Black Mountain Plateau and Eagle Bluffs. The birding was fair with several high elevation specialties like Sooty Grouse and Hermit Thrush. I was also lucky enough to to see a flock of Vaux’s Swifts (Lifer!) just outside the lodge. Even still, I think the birding highlight of the day was seeing a Anna’s Hummingbird mobbing a Juvenile Bald Eagle. Over the course of the day we saw a total of 13 species. For a complete listing see the KMZ file below.

I was hoping to see a bunch of interesting sub-alpine butterflies, so I brought along my butterfly net. Unfortunately for me my net got much more use as a walking stick then it did as a net. Our group did see a few butterflies including a parnassian and a swallowtail when we stopped at Eagle Bluffs for lunch but they were far to energetic to catch or photograph. I was similarly frustrated by the few darners and a damselfly I saw but I did take a halfway decent photo of a dragonfly nymph. I did have some luck with Bumblebees like this Vosnesensky Bumble Bee

I was really impressed with the flora at Cypress Mountain. This was perhaps the first place I’ve visited near Vancouver where I went all day without finding a weed. Some botanical highlights from the day were three species of Mountain-heather including the locally rare Yellow Mountain-heather, my first BC Orchid, and the previously mentioned White Rhododendron.

On my second trip up the mountain, Sara and I walked the Yew Lake Trail, with a side trip up to Bowen Lookout. We didn’t see too many birds but I was able to add Gray Jays to my previous trip’s sightings. I had slightly better luck with dragonflies on this outing. I was able to get this shot of a Blue-eyed Darner but I never got a good look a the Emeralds that were zooming around. The wildflowers seemed to be winding down for the season but I was still able to find some interesting plants including some more orchids.

P.S. – To the botanists, the sedge IDs are tentative and I would welcome feedback.


Leave a Comment