tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393523083398147172024-02-01T22:23:57.586-08:00In Desperate Need of AdventureJacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-50756195893927590292018-05-15T13:31:00.000-07:002018-06-05T13:33:27.401-07:00Denge Wood, Canterbury<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFwZ6JmbpXUz82R1VJrLpyFglAJlnQ72MZQ9BRm9Ms5x_L3FUESD1OFdTTGFYM3qr4NwcFCSiVqL2XTm0d1BlnRT0aEufTLqQGdsnNKIkwlYcI7ML9IT5xEfjJkH20_6P6aWkgO21P3M/s1600/Whitebeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFwZ6JmbpXUz82R1VJrLpyFglAJlnQ72MZQ9BRm9Ms5x_L3FUESD1OFdTTGFYM3qr4NwcFCSiVqL2XTm0d1BlnRT0aEufTLqQGdsnNKIkwlYcI7ML9IT5xEfjJkH20_6P6aWkgO21P3M/s320/Whitebeam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Whitebeam, Sorbus aria flowers</i></td></tr>
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Denge Wood is a large complex of broadleaf and conifer plantations and the remnants of native broadleaf woodland situated on dip slope of the North Downs. The underlying geology is Clay with Flints, over chalk bedrock rising to a maximum altitude of 140m.<br />
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A couple of dry valleys hold the remnants of native woodland, mainly comprising of Beech, Ash and Oak with an understory of Hazel and scarce trees such as Whitebeam <i>Sorbus aria</i>, whilst most of the plateau has been converted to Sweet Chestnut coppice and areas of conifer plantation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtO5tOr__WPYKtEREMQnk90kpLpJI8CQwsX476JO0CauXU904V7w20xr0wNFCGBxr-Q_ckhY3iQNWzzGALgvrh980Ba5WF_wCRsHj1x4XNBseBXI6foWTVYZcCYOE970OkEwtEARkimg/s1600/Denge+Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtO5tOr__WPYKtEREMQnk90kpLpJI8CQwsX476JO0CauXU904V7w20xr0wNFCGBxr-Q_ckhY3iQNWzzGALgvrh980Ba5WF_wCRsHj1x4XNBseBXI6foWTVYZcCYOE970OkEwtEARkimg/s400/Denge+Woods.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of the cleared areas within Denge Woods, perfect for the rare orchids, <br />such as these Lady Orchids, Orchis purpurea <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">and butterflies</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> Lady Orchid, Orchis purpurea flowers</i></td></tr>
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The reason for the visit was for both its floral and lepidoptera interest, it is particularly notable for the range of orchid species which can be found at the site. It was little early in the year for some of the present species and late for Early Purple Orchids although one was still in fine flower. In total four species were seen in flower and one species was found in bud.<br />
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Of the orchids on show the most impressive was the Lady Orchid<i> Orchis purpurea</i>; a real speciality of Kent with the majority of the UK's population found on the chalky slopes of the North Downs.<br />
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Although slightly obvious it gets it common name due to the distinctive shaped flowers which look like ladies in petticoats and bonnets. It can grow to quite an impressive size with some plants growing to 70cm in height and can in preferential conditions reach a meter in height.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Common Twayblade, Neottia ovata</i></td></tr>
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The other species of orchid which was putting on a show was the Common Twayblade<i> Neottia ovata</i>, a very different and much plainer looking species. It is one of Britain's commonest orchids and can be found in a diverse range of habitats. Its common name is derived from Old English and means 'Two-Leaves', referring to its pair of basal leaves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crosswort, Cruciata laevipes</i></td></tr>
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It wasn't just orchids which were in flower, Crosswort <i>Cruciata laevipes </i>is a plant of calcareous waysides and could be found alongside the tracks.</div>
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The real reason we visited the site though was to see the Duke Of Burgundy<i> Hamearis lucina, </i>the only member of the 'metalmark' family to be found in Britain. These delicate butterflies only live for around five days and the adults are rarely seen feeding.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>A fresh Duke Of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">mating</span> pair of Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages.</i></td></tr>
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Traditionally it was a species of coppiced woodlands, which provide the best conditions for its foodplant, Primrose needs to thrive. Due to the decline in woodland management it has undergone a 52% decline and can no only be found in 20 sites throughout the UK. If suitable conditions occur, such as recently cut rides and newly coppiced areas the Duke has good dispersal capabilities with females flying up to five kilometres to lay eggs.</div>
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A few other species were also on the wing, good numbers of Brimstones were seen flitting along the rides. A single pair of Dingy Skippers <i>Erynnis tages</i> were also seen mating within an area specially cleared for the Dukes. </div>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-81260107444629849902018-04-28T10:29:00.000-07:002018-05-21T02:34:58.294-07:00Samphire Hoe, DoverWith early spring flowers starting to pop up all over the place an afternoon trip to Samphire Hoe was in order to see the hundreds of Early Spider Orchids<i> Ophrys sphegodes </i>which have appeared on this man-made site. Samphire Hoe was created in 1997 using the 4.9 million cubic meters of chalk marl excavated by the building of the Channel Tunnel, creating a 30ha of new chalk down land in front of the cliffs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Beach at the end of Samphire Hoe, Dover</i></td></tr>
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It didn't take long to find the Early-Spider Orchid with at least five plants in the overflow car park and then hundreds of plants along the paths towards the beach. It is thought that the disturbance caused by the creation of the site allowed windblown seed from nearby to take a flourish into what is currently Britain's most impressive site for this species.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes</i></td></tr>
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It was just the orchids which we saw, although early in the season there were still a few other species in flower. Common Milkwort <i>Polygala vulgaris</i>, is a small perennial plant with interesting blue or pink flowers. I was rather hoping to find a related species, Chalk Milkwort <i>Polygala calcarea</i> but had no luck this time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW9iMokXx9tbXR9rkkeYe0q1wAkbnxGAKCmdephorReoMy6tkr6C2FanHh_e3GQFE4WDu8DW2qR6BS7ZrM6gnvViQKS9bjY2M-9vOuxXJvR88XSEECPtjKywIkF4GztfCBKMnUQYIX7g/s1600/Common+Milkwort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW9iMokXx9tbXR9rkkeYe0q1wAkbnxGAKCmdephorReoMy6tkr6C2FanHh_e3GQFE4WDu8DW2qR6BS7ZrM6gnvViQKS9bjY2M-9vOuxXJvR88XSEECPtjKywIkF4GztfCBKMnUQYIX7g/s400/Common+Milkwort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Common Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris</i></td></tr>
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Areas of scrubby vegetation, most of which was alongside the railway line contained the large flowering heads of Wayfaring Tree<i> Viburnum lantana</i>, a common species on calcareous soils. It white flowers will eventually give way to spays of red berries.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Wayfaring Tree, Viburnum lantana</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wild Cabbage, Brassica oleracea oleracea</i></td></tr>
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All along the cliffs, sometimes clinging out of tiny crevices were plants of Wild Cabbage <i>Brassica oleracea oleracea</i>, a spindly declining species in Kent. It is currently thought that the species has been domesticated for thousands of years giving us the cultivars for cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower. Flowering alongside were the first of the years Bird's Foot Trefoil <i>Lotus corniculata </i>which will soon be carpeting the cliffs.<br />
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Apart from the floral interest, a Fox scaling the cliffs by the visitors centre, which then disturbed nesting Kestrels and a pair of Ravens with their recently fleged brood it was rather quiet fauna wise.<br />
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-15800896045562195982018-04-23T12:01:00.000-07:002018-05-21T02:35:54.144-07:00Postling Wood, Postling & Folkestone Warren, FolkestoneHaving spent most of the last couple of months on the shingle at Dungeness, it was time to get away for an afternoon exploring some ancient woodland up on the North Downs. With David and Gill as guides for the day and Matt visiting we made our way to the first stop, Postling Wood which had a few botanical treasures.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSt3BhV9LMuB1ZniDIAqRqfAjnnZ0lDr2WbzJY6gISm47Wko1cT-dnz0GkvhXodV6x0QNaXGaNDzCtKNN3VARjgb4udNm4SJzFrCU4sLFUTL2NzkeY4WL30BwFDRoe-KbbMqjRnpO6I4o/s1600/Postling+Wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSt3BhV9LMuB1ZniDIAqRqfAjnnZ0lDr2WbzJY6gISm47Wko1cT-dnz0GkvhXodV6x0QNaXGaNDzCtKNN3VARjgb4udNm4SJzFrCU4sLFUTL2NzkeY4WL30BwFDRoe-KbbMqjRnpO6I4o/s400/Postling+Wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Postling Wood, A woodland full of Ancient Woodland Indicators (AWIs)</i></td></tr>
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Due to being up on the chalk, the canopy comprised mainly of Ash<i> Fraxinus excelsior</i> with an under story of Hazel <i>Corylus avellana</i> providing the perfect for common spring ephemeral species such as Bluebells<i> Hyacinthoides non-scripta</i>, Wood Anemone<i> Anemone nemorosa</i> and Primrose <i>Primula vulgaris</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>although beautiful plants to see it wasn't why we'd made the pilgrimage.<br />
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Although we were a little late in the year, there was still evidence of the Green Hellebore<i> Helleborus viridis </i>which grow along the road verge. Although all of them had gone to seed it was still nice to see their delicate green nodding heads and large palmate leaves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLCWopJSIRLox0tcksIlaos9G4DBBbNYG-aUWxOn5-p37Lsm3wJSMSBbILB0s_acqeQwvKbRVBDsM5GIwnpkIGM83rur9J3LFwDZM9IdnLxNL3CSkYxt-QTmGi1yItgbOsZbKt3XZkls/s1600/Green+Hellebore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLCWopJSIRLox0tcksIlaos9G4DBBbNYG-aUWxOn5-p37Lsm3wJSMSBbILB0s_acqeQwvKbRVBDsM5GIwnpkIGM83rur9J3LFwDZM9IdnLxNL3CSkYxt-QTmGi1yItgbOsZbKt3XZkls/s400/Green+Hellebore.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Green Hellebore, Helleborus viridis</i></td></tr>
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Second on the list to find was Toothwort<i> Lathraea squamaria</i>, a species I have seen before in Wales but never before in England. It's unusual colour comes from the fact it is a saprophyte and has no chlorophyll, instead it gets its nutrients parasitically from its host plant, often Hazel.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisT9XoTXjK5-jjAutDZgNRKUnlyF6_dzpw61QZh3GIcL2hZoPfKZuYSPomyxvh_wHqm21CRHcZjOC0fb5fnweFvnx27PSPUnW6krYUxAPaaTCk42gJKL9HMmfvBj8SAUT9IMsc-A-V-s/s1600/Toothwort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisT9XoTXjK5-jjAutDZgNRKUnlyF6_dzpw61QZh3GIcL2hZoPfKZuYSPomyxvh_wHqm21CRHcZjOC0fb5fnweFvnx27PSPUnW6krYUxAPaaTCk42gJKL9HMmfvBj8SAUT9IMsc-A-V-s/s400/Toothwort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria</i></td></tr>
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A few other plants of note were also seen, the deep purple flowers of Early Dog-Violet <i>Viola reichenbachiana </i>which is often found in chalky dry woods. It is distinguishable from the Common Dog-Violet <i>Viola riviniana</i> due to its flowers having dark centres, dark spur and rounded leaves.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79PVtT93TrbqQ_9v4hskxZKjEQfwE_0XVTpF8_ZGk1oY9bRkhbSbFISD9lBosxUQ8tXk35RsgSApoCKnY6PAicEtBdDMijLwXoOpi2Bq0w9HqOvZu6lPzETGQgdknZurUsP28z8U7nCE/s1600/Early+Dog+Violet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79PVtT93TrbqQ_9v4hskxZKjEQfwE_0XVTpF8_ZGk1oY9bRkhbSbFISD9lBosxUQ8tXk35RsgSApoCKnY6PAicEtBdDMijLwXoOpi2Bq0w9HqOvZu6lPzETGQgdknZurUsP28z8U7nCE/s320/Early+Dog+Violet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Early Dog-Violet, Viola reichenbachiana</i></td></tr>
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The odd looking flowers of Goldilocks Buttercup <i>Ranunculus auricomus</i> were quite common along the bank by the road. Another basic soil lover it's distinctive misshapen and often missing petals give it a shabby look.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA_xqytCy1NdOPzViKDmdWPuuYWfQuAkCtpEb9ZnKOMgdanIOpoDJSGVVyC-R6JWJCfQ9RJFlxHkkfWVN8islSowVyRnTSo210luhnp0aRtaiCwPV5B493bRcNNPuHJbTfj9-oH69hoI/s1600/Goldilocks+Buttercup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA_xqytCy1NdOPzViKDmdWPuuYWfQuAkCtpEb9ZnKOMgdanIOpoDJSGVVyC-R6JWJCfQ9RJFlxHkkfWVN8islSowVyRnTSo210luhnp0aRtaiCwPV5B493bRcNNPuHJbTfj9-oH69hoI/s400/Goldilocks+Buttercup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Goldilocks Buttercup, Ranunculus auricomus</i></td></tr>
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Also present were several large patches of Moschatel <i>Adoxa moschatellina</i>, also known as Town-Hall clock due to its for faced flowers.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpwiB6RpI59uDP8QQmkWwW8gK6zLQbzMuavwPsgyaKiELR50LuRnpoGoitEg8SQ_97fY3dD0UWomnfTv-hRFZT8LdAQPr7ed5Z4Uv56cdFN9EDgjZ8YgYZ9c3y9TN5Ahn1oEHFsN79Ys/s1600/Moschantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1041" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpwiB6RpI59uDP8QQmkWwW8gK6zLQbzMuavwPsgyaKiELR50LuRnpoGoitEg8SQ_97fY3dD0UWomnfTv-hRFZT8LdAQPr7ed5Z4Uv56cdFN9EDgjZ8YgYZ9c3y9TN5Ahn1oEHFsN79Ys/s400/Moschantel.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina</i></td></tr>
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Once we'd finished looking at the flora we took a quick trip into Folkestone to try our luck seeing the Common Wall Lizards<i> Podarcis muralis </i>which inhabit the cliffs there. Although non-native to Britain, it only got as far a the Channel Islands before the channel flooded after the last inter-glacial period, there are several populations around the UK.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm5b12XgXQtm4reOdlHe4wJZZ1EhIkQiBPvyITY_MS3OfKTVV6lE4-dIoRAoPEE9S5jGcc0yddeQ8m9gmanXWQiVW6KS2CCiygZg5LiiWKcZ_Fc7ApHPyXz0vMbShrH1CEsj-nWh5OdU/s1600/The+Warren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm5b12XgXQtm4reOdlHe4wJZZ1EhIkQiBPvyITY_MS3OfKTVV6lE4-dIoRAoPEE9S5jGcc0yddeQ8m9gmanXWQiVW6KS2CCiygZg5LiiWKcZ_Fc7ApHPyXz0vMbShrH1CEsj-nWh5OdU/s400/The+Warren.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>The view from the top of the Warren, Folkestone</i></td></tr>
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At least six individuals were seen at the top of the warren, close to a nearby cafe, where they frequenting several of the buildings. The males are beautifully marked with emerald green mottling along its back, often scuttling off quickly when anyone approached. How this population became established has been lost to history but the local story is that they were released by a local pet shop owner who failed to sell them. Now they're thriving and they're here to stay.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHh4ugkdDBhG4Zo4yJ0z_7TtncYg-hFbdAKG1SOBHWnSnXLNccTdel9jzwaVZla8bVm-PXTKGKjhRzAbtDU2xwop5UWx_qcTOyK3YOuYKXUT75-4ZzL1IRHAUe1lG5uy5MhYhOr8HVeU/s1600/Wall+Lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHh4ugkdDBhG4Zo4yJ0z_7TtncYg-hFbdAKG1SOBHWnSnXLNccTdel9jzwaVZla8bVm-PXTKGKjhRzAbtDU2xwop5UWx_qcTOyK3YOuYKXUT75-4ZzL1IRHAUe1lG5uy5MhYhOr8HVeU/s400/Wall+Lizard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Common Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-73084153691040437902018-02-13T02:54:00.001-08:002018-02-13T02:55:42.807-08:00Conyer Creek, Kent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the weather being so pleasant a trip to Conyer was on the cards with the hope of seeing two lovely wintering species.<br />
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Conyer located on the north Kent coast is a small hamlet at the head of the Conyer creek which flows into the Swale. It's the site of one of the CES sites I ringed at last summer with rich variety of warbler species and a few breeding Turtle Doves in the scrubby vegetation, comprising of <i>Salix spp. </i>and <i>Buddleja</i> which has formed on site of the old brickworks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXThbFGAfAh7l7-vwGl5bLTG3xrEswd-yNu9AXhKkoZVJE3BVhXTVlSSq1wnfenFrtQgK71vY47oJErjNaiBKAWpukjCAsywGBwk7DvDe3MHyytkly4M6_CR2S8th-bYmzbRJmySPnM-s/s1600/Conyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXThbFGAfAh7l7-vwGl5bLTG3xrEswd-yNu9AXhKkoZVJE3BVhXTVlSSq1wnfenFrtQgK71vY47oJErjNaiBKAWpukjCAsywGBwk7DvDe3MHyytkly4M6_CR2S8th-bYmzbRJmySPnM-s/s400/Conyer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Conyer Creek, looking towards the old brickworks.</i></td></tr>
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On the other side of the creek behind the sea wall contains expanses of low lying grazing marsh, intersected with vegetated ditches. With the recent wet weather many of these fields had small pools, and it was around these that a group of 10 Shore Larks <i>Eremophila alpestris </i>were feeding, although I could get good views through the scope, it was way to distant for photographs.<br />
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Having arrived at high tide, many of the waders and waterfowl were roosting out on the mud as it was exposed. Large numbers of Dunlin <i>Calidris alpina</i>, Redshank <i>Tringa totanus</i>, Black-Tailed Godwit <i>Limosa limosa, </i>Oystercatcher <i>Haematopus ostralegus, </i>Teal <i>Anas crecca</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>and Wigeon <i>Mareca penelope</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>were present in the creek itself and occasionally flushed by a female Sparrowhawk <i>Accipiter nisus</i>. Out at the creek mouth a large flocks of Avocets<i> Recurvirostra avosetta </i>were roosting on a small island whilst the large numbers of Brent Geese <i>Branta bernicla </i>were flying up and down the Swale.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZNMgCryVIVlDGCzEdfl8yauKI41moLjgELaizipXsOvsrroEjz2Okzi0v-IPCxYFvtZCgI2plwXdJ5Mw8xee7Cb7HduTPbMuyaO9QKmtRdwGzWqlLeeZC4jFPHWLfk5UI3HILNDPuWc/s1600/Conyer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZNMgCryVIVlDGCzEdfl8yauKI41moLjgELaizipXsOvsrroEjz2Okzi0v-IPCxYFvtZCgI2plwXdJ5Mw8xee7Cb7HduTPbMuyaO9QKmtRdwGzWqlLeeZC4jFPHWLfk5UI3HILNDPuWc/s400/Conyer+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Saltmarsh alongside the sea wall</i></td></tr>
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Halfway along the Saxon shore way, close to where the shore larks were feeding strand line detritus and halophytic grasses were two Snow Buntings<span class="_xdb" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Plectrophenax nivalis</i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">. </span></span></span>These dumpy little confiding birds, often appear on the eastern coast of the UK to feed in sand dunes and saltmarshes on the seeds of weeds and grasses which grow there.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxXnQ0gHCEqJgXf6qrALklkibVb-dpufp3O3pbKlS_OYk0cXVCTbq_l401lebN0VizbyIAv_Q-ItVE03m6ZVn2XXyTLcb3ULgbpW2FRInmKxVVX36Ef8M_AoqGn9jA9htFaZbSB7F7dY/s1600/Snow+Bunting+%2528Conyer+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxXnQ0gHCEqJgXf6qrALklkibVb-dpufp3O3pbKlS_OYk0cXVCTbq_l401lebN0VizbyIAv_Q-ItVE03m6ZVn2XXyTLcb3ULgbpW2FRInmKxVVX36Ef8M_AoqGn9jA9htFaZbSB7F7dY/s400/Snow+Bunting+%2528Conyer+1%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUwIDxvMvIWOLK53Diz6niCyphqw_opurb0DZf82Q1UoEkt-9vk6Zj3Xz_PJ5PytngkaZN4zLn4oQPzinWxlrp4vZkvwh1Oj4-NGS3L7H2OzcSHr0O-0g446e0YtvWljAs4Zuf_VB3MM/s1600/Snowbunting+Conyer+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUwIDxvMvIWOLK53Diz6niCyphqw_opurb0DZf82Q1UoEkt-9vk6Zj3Xz_PJ5PytngkaZN4zLn4oQPzinWxlrp4vZkvwh1Oj4-NGS3L7H2OzcSHr0O-0g446e0YtvWljAs4Zuf_VB3MM/s400/Snowbunting+Conyer+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Snow Bunting busy feeding on seeds.</i></td></tr>
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Having sat down to watch these two feed, it didn't take them long to get within a few meters of me, making it pretty difficult to get any photographs with my 400mm lens. after half an hour in the presents of these little birds it was time to wander back along the creek to the car.Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-41692393012678678682017-12-11T14:07:00.002-08:002017-12-11T14:07:58.862-08:00Sgwd Yr Eira, Brecon Beacons National Park, PowysWith the recent heavy snowfall across Wales it was the perfect time for Bethan and I to visit Sgwd yr Eira, a magnificent waterfall deep within the valleys of the Brecon Beacons National Park.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tFHtUNzQByHzVBvOIafqSij6mRUgbpkH-3Dm5B5pZ7Q7zFfUuAKYvfuSe-y6x-4jVkz9w22DmQWr-4DwuuSksG8oPpg2qIsZghEs8jaJxzZGK0UNaC1my3VoS0po3hN2qJv6vEn1Obo/s1600/Dinas+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1058" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tFHtUNzQByHzVBvOIafqSij6mRUgbpkH-3Dm5B5pZ7Q7zFfUuAKYvfuSe-y6x-4jVkz9w22DmQWr-4DwuuSksG8oPpg2qIsZghEs8jaJxzZGK0UNaC1my3VoS0po3hN2qJv6vEn1Obo/s400/Dinas+Rock.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Craig y Dinas, 'Fortress Rock'</i></td></tr>
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Many geological and natural features which can be seen from the path to the falls, which follows the Afon Mellte and form the Dyffrynnoedd Nedd a Mellte, a Moel Penderyn SSSI which is listed due to its important semi-natural woodlands which contain a wide assemblage rare bryophytes and lichens as well as it old quarry faces, cliffs and gorges which give a window into Wales geological past.<br /><br />From the car park your immediately met with a huge contorted slab of Carboniferous Limestone, known as Craig y Ddinas which roughly translated means 'Fortress Rock' due to the presence of Iron Age earthworks on the summit, although today much of this was covered by snow. The scrubby woodland which features around the base of the rock was mainly Sessile Oak<i> Quercus petraea </i>Ash <i>Fraxinus excelsior </i>Hawthorn <i>Crataegus sp.</i>, Hazel <i>Corylus avellana </i>and at least one Small-Leaved Lime <i>Tilia cordata. </i>The north facing cliff face was covered in Maidenhair Spleenwort <br /><i>Asplenium trichomanes </i>and Hart's Tongue Fern <i>Asplenium scolopendrium </i>which thrive in the cool damp conditions.<div>
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The path skirts the top of the wooded valley, with only the background noise of running water. Some areas of native semi-natural woodland remain along the top in a rough mixture with moorland although large areas look like it was planted up with Larch between the wars, which has recently been clear felled, perhaps due to<i> Phytophthora </i>although the evidence of this was lost in the deep blanket of snow. The odd old Ash or Oak tree was left in the middle of these clear fell, too old to be planted with the larch, these were a hark back to a time when large blocks of conifers became a blight in the landscape, acidifying the rivers and reducing the native flora.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vvuSmw994bRkO-F2vtSYNDmT_eNtK6tpqBy0RmruD2sOIEzXD6iywkc7tFTncjdYEYh6klhbBEvWyTBVWnc1owhmnX6SMY1nqQE9k3HqGiP-joT_PQCpA1H3duiMFgZx6z9-CTnXrg4/s1600/Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vvuSmw994bRkO-F2vtSYNDmT_eNtK6tpqBy0RmruD2sOIEzXD6iywkc7tFTncjdYEYh6klhbBEvWyTBVWnc1owhmnX6SMY1nqQE9k3HqGiP-joT_PQCpA1H3duiMFgZx6z9-CTnXrg4/s400/Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>The gorge at the meeting of the Afon Hepste and the Afon Mellte. <br />Significant stands of conifers can be seen on the horizon</i></td></tr>
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With the snow covering much of the flora, we made it relatively quickly to the path leading down the face of the gorge towards the falls. Even from quite a distance we could hear the roaring of the waterfall. The setting of the waterfall is in a deep gorge where the Afon Hepste plunges over a band of resistant gritstone to form Sgwd yr Eira or Fall of Snow, the obvious choice of waterfall to visit in this kind of weather condition. An old drovers track passes behind the falls, the walls of which are covered with bryophytes, Green Spleenwort <i>Asplenium viride</i> and a species of <i>Dryopteris</i>. The track would have witnessed the shepherds moving their flocks to the hills in the summer and back to lower grounds in winter but these are merely ghosts of the past, now its just used by curious walkers and tourists, its previous use consigned to history.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sgwd yr Eira, the Falls of Snow</i></td></tr>
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Although there were no Dippers in the river there were plenty of Robins<i> Erithacus rubecula </i>about, they seemed drawn to us, hoping a misplaced step would turnover a rock and expose some worms. Most sat attentively in the trees close, never more than a couple of meters away and we wandered about the falls, although occasional it flashed past to skirmish with an intruder. Even after leaving the falls one stuck close for a good 20 minutes, occasionally swooping down to grab an unseen morsel. Up on the higher ground there were very few birds about, most likely due to the snow which has forced them down into the valleys. A pair of Bullfinch <i>Pyrrhula pyrrhula</i> were busy nipping off buds, a single Jay <i>Garrulus glandarius</i> crossed the open ground into a copse of trees. A pair of Red Kites <i>Milvus milvus </i>circled in the fading evening light,.signalling our time to leave this wonderful valley.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>An attentive Robin Erithacus rubecula, never far behind us</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-88363433112327499342017-11-25T14:29:00.000-08:002018-12-27T14:32:45.728-08:00Not With A Rush But A Trickle, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, OnatarioThe cold weather we were hoping for never really materialised with the weather being unseasonably warm and pleasant and well above freezing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYjYUSKmNloI4UQYyJi8UOtwhRJEayJMQeYlQzr5fodCCvdit6vY7BlOJv5KET8Wok3BDZ-daVzPXuBfseelRqL8TANwbvkEKlYrXK3tBggoU1uDWHdQ86kpZh1FjyQgEbDvxR7vu3vg/s1600/American+Pipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYjYUSKmNloI4UQYyJi8UOtwhRJEayJMQeYlQzr5fodCCvdit6vY7BlOJv5KET8Wok3BDZ-daVzPXuBfseelRqL8TANwbvkEKlYrXK3tBggoU1uDWHdQ86kpZh1FjyQgEbDvxR7vu3vg/s400/American+Pipit.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The second American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) to be caught at <br />Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory</i></td></tr>
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This strange and unusual temperatures meant that the trees never really turned the wonderful reds and oranges that Canada is envied across the world for, with many leaves just turning brown and shrivelling in the heat on the trees and falling off, on the upside the weather was good for finding reptiles and amphibians late into the season which will be detailed below.<br />
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Luckily we still managed to catch a few good birds, the stations second American Pipit <i>Anthus rubescens </i>was caught on the 24th September. Although these can often be seen flying over, often at lofty heights, rarely coming down low enough to get caught so it was a nice surprise to get in the nets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNidS7TQl1KFKGqTmUWXh9sF9SiPqY9pr1pKNTEOzKHrTNhp_hmABljVApdwMQYYBM8d2f1STHPckUKAyzljSUZbo3EOtlTeW4Jtrkl-M36b0Vzq5V_t77hNukJEfjJMNase5PDc0V04g/s1600/White-Eyed+Vireo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNidS7TQl1KFKGqTmUWXh9sF9SiPqY9pr1pKNTEOzKHrTNhp_hmABljVApdwMQYYBM8d2f1STHPckUKAyzljSUZbo3EOtlTeW4Jtrkl-M36b0Vzq5V_t77hNukJEfjJMNase5PDc0V04g/s400/White-Eyed+Vireo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>White-Eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)</i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The 6th of October was a two bird day with a stunning White-Eyed Vireo </span><i style="text-align: center;">Vireo griseus </i><span style="text-align: center;">almost immediately followed by a Eastern Meadowlark</span><i style="text-align: center;"> Sturnella magna</i><span style="text-align: center;">, a species which was much larger in the hand than I realised. The vireo even managed to make the front page of the Wellington Times!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCv_eEeVIBi1KpWI8ID-yrMTCkTapLeKCzhVT088nEfA0U2fW-91503AP6mZXtU4oyglmtXztejZETF-jGTQIkJ6_meDA9xDeQSvXjXBW4kgdbaS6fzmQbJOYWPZ6uJaF11PTOjhaF1s/s1600/Eastern+Meadowlark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1009" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCv_eEeVIBi1KpWI8ID-yrMTCkTapLeKCzhVT088nEfA0U2fW-91503AP6mZXtU4oyglmtXztejZETF-jGTQIkJ6_meDA9xDeQSvXjXBW4kgdbaS6fzmQbJOYWPZ6uJaF11PTOjhaF1s/s400/Eastern+Meadowlark.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf7by81f4bejL8KwqZiQqdKEAGxdfB607Iwkthiih_ybwo2W0TXcV0Iy7u5hnp4q27zrGedG8oaLw5S3cx35CQyiW2bfZ4-CX2btJFlsGLN6uUzIG2uTHh06gMrm7BG3AUKW4FCmMU-w/s1600/Red-shouldered+Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf7by81f4bejL8KwqZiQqdKEAGxdfB607Iwkthiih_ybwo2W0TXcV0Iy7u5hnp4q27zrGedG8oaLw5S3cx35CQyiW2bfZ4-CX2btJFlsGLN6uUzIG2uTHh06gMrm7BG3AUKW4FCmMU-w/s320/Red-shouldered+Hawk.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)</i></td></tr>
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A Red-Shouldered Hawk <i>Buteo lineatus</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>was spotted by David on the 13th of October and managed to get caught in one of the normal mist nets, after flying underneath the first set of hawk nets an impressive hawk and the last big hawk of the year. Due to the warmth many of the species we'd expected to move south spent the entire migration period further north!</div>
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The warmth also affected the number of owls we'd been catching, a bit of a problem due to the numbers of visitors we were now getting specially to see the owl banding. 123 people turned up for the Thanks Giving owl banding and typically we caught ZERO owls during the standard period whilst the next night we caught 4 owls with only four lucky visitors for the entire evening. A few Long-Eared Owls<i> Asio otus</i> were caught but only singles of both Barred Owl <i>Strix varia</i> and Eastern Screech Owl <i>Megascops asio</i>. The Northern Saw-Whet Owl <i>Aegolius acadicus </i>total came in at 589, over a hundred less than the 2016 total but we did finish the season a few days early due to the weather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIZ6YbYPRE6IPIUvlnaEFWvnwLThyphenhyphenJrZmJmQBLcKg5dVR2rqJpNc4Ag_bIO8L_Y69dvtCyO0jqEuD7TY1pHNpfnOmY8CVS6vr6-ed9AOHN60tYeJy8OS3dvkR4ZMDmoipLh4L7iEuVJQ/s1600/Long-eared+owls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIZ6YbYPRE6IPIUvlnaEFWvnwLThyphenhyphenJrZmJmQBLcKg5dVR2rqJpNc4Ag_bIO8L_Y69dvtCyO0jqEuD7TY1pHNpfnOmY8CVS6vr6-ed9AOHN60tYeJy8OS3dvkR4ZMDmoipLh4L7iEuVJQ/s400/Long-eared+owls.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Long-Eared Owls (Asio otus) roosting within<br /> the Wildlife Area</i></td></tr>
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On the 14th Bethan flew out to join me. Allowing her to finally get to see the saw-whets she'd wanted to see and also getting to band a selection of late fall migrants. She also got to extract and band her first raptor, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk <i>Accipiter striatus, </i>not an common occurrence back in Britain but she managed to band a few in the end.<br />
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The highlight for me came mid morning on the 21st of October during a very slow day, although David had spotted one early in the morning by now I thought it was to late to catch one, although having seen plenty throughout the spring and early fall I'd almost given up hope. From down the path I could hear a woodpecker calling, slowly in my head I went through the calls of species I knew, it was too raucous to be a Northern Flicker, it could only be a Pileated Woodpecker <i>Dryocopus pileatus</i>! A species I really hoped I'd get to see in the hand.<br />
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Half running along the track I met Robyn at the clearing and lucky for me holding a male Pileated! They really are quite something, after seeing the size of the holes they can cause in their search for carpenter ants I was a littler worried about my hands but it only managed a to cause a few small holes, the chisel sharp claws also caused a bit of damage but it was worth it and probably my personal highlight or the air boating, its hard to pick one thing in such an amazing trip!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7XY7f-MvKYeeWq0dTcFqIXV-n1ce9H7jZ23mXetWDxaWccuSkj4hvBSOPnRtwm3BwFt9HuPrDzIwPV6O75DFUyCGejWs-Tlj1c0WXsSz7dQt67SZGOZE0t60Iy0k-BEkzzUBY7q_jyY/s1600/Pileated+Woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7XY7f-MvKYeeWq0dTcFqIXV-n1ce9H7jZ23mXetWDxaWccuSkj4hvBSOPnRtwm3BwFt9HuPrDzIwPV6O75DFUyCGejWs-Tlj1c0WXsSz7dQt67SZGOZE0t60Iy0k-BEkzzUBY7q_jyY/s400/Pileated+Woodpecker.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Star catch! A Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)</i></td></tr>
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After the excitement it quietened down at the observatory with the final few weeks being filled with American Robins <i>Turdus migratorius</i>, Myrtle Warblers <i>Setophaga coronata coronata, </i>Kinglets, including one Golden-crowned Kinglet <i>Regulus satrapa </i>which seemed to have some form of deficiency, causing it to have a very pale plumage. The biggest mystery of the season seemed to be the sparrows, much like the hawks, they seemed to be enjoying the warmth and didn't see any reason to move southerly very quickly.<br />
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With the warm weather it was no surprise that many of the reptiles and amphibians were out much later than normal, Northern Leopard Frogs<i> Lithobates pipiens</i> could be seen down by the edge of the lake in their thousands, many of them juveniles although a few huge adults could also be seen. Also present were Green Frogs <i>Lithobates clamitans</i> with their large distinctive tympani. With some careful searching Grey Treefrogs could also be found along the cliffs, matching the stone and tucked into crevices.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQJLyvqCqFI4ksNGYGCvd1b1D8t9Wi4jnjAxt_xzSIiYrgvlVw9CNq1X_TjWyPzi4C4MfgLGcMJPhswb36aRtsHL9-5xjjktrvbvywmg2OjjDBJtdhwlD0wY5HNZXG2fSfl_14ZspDiY/s1600/Green+Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQJLyvqCqFI4ksNGYGCvd1b1D8t9Wi4jnjAxt_xzSIiYrgvlVw9CNq1X_TjWyPzi4C4MfgLGcMJPhswb36aRtsHL9-5xjjktrvbvywmg2OjjDBJtdhwlD0wY5HNZXG2fSfl_14ZspDiY/s320/Green+Frog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i> Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans)</i></td></tr>
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A few large Snapping Turtles<i> Chelydra serpentina </i>and Midland Painted Turtles<i> Chrysemys picta marginata </i>were present in the swamp although both eluded photographs until on the 7th October a tiny hatchling snapper was found along the path to the nets, its strange to think that eventually it will grow to be the size of a dustbin lid and capable of slicing through skin and bone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg0WMNnDPRX2tUFtOd7mo5CeiazyAuKVL6DhQ15legopuZ2Wt4JZd2pZIf79-ChU-EbjBcCy08hOn-y-qgn-EFjyI44vtsyiiXHLWYFzVRmQEFQWefHanIFBTODyOYj0oQ-buXliYzQs/s1600/Snapping+Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg0WMNnDPRX2tUFtOd7mo5CeiazyAuKVL6DhQ15legopuZ2Wt4JZd2pZIf79-ChU-EbjBcCy08hOn-y-qgn-EFjyI44vtsyiiXHLWYFzVRmQEFQWefHanIFBTODyOYj0oQ-buXliYzQs/s400/Snapping+Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>A Tiny hatchling Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina)</i></td></tr>
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Mammal wise it was pretty quiet. American Beavers<i> Castor canadensis</i> could still be seen in the dock, often busy collecting willow ready for the long winter. Coyotes <i>Canis latrans </i>could be heard calling on several evenings, sometimes eerily close whilst Saw-whet netting and Eastern Cottontails<i> Sylvilagus floridanus </i>were often seen in the net lanes at night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CCZaZ2oF0IGIuPtyHLCar4RA_u6kU6-Thv0lymftK2pY_ZRovqoIAq3Rteh_DIX0hFIyzfgsaXocPGrraFsKMTtPj0-WtxxzQ7EXK36GohRKMP4Rs8kTDCTYjH5qep43mclpQyIXIxw/s1600/American+Beaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CCZaZ2oF0IGIuPtyHLCar4RA_u6kU6-Thv0lymftK2pY_ZRovqoIAq3Rteh_DIX0hFIyzfgsaXocPGrraFsKMTtPj0-WtxxzQ7EXK36GohRKMP4Rs8kTDCTYjH5qep43mclpQyIXIxw/s320/American+Beaver.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>American Beavers (Castor canadensis) in the harbour.</i></td></tr>
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Raccoons<i> Procyon lotor </i>were seen occasionally, more often evident was what they had been up to the previous evening although I did get amazing views of one just outside Milford on the 2nd of October after it had crossed the road and came very close .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5NlXKKsNFHyA98a06LCbPqhGEIVQvafxrHhCC4-JQJS0wtU_IhINA2Z8WljMNTmpVTdKmcTVX36iAzUyYjcTQV-Hu5tAgzxhOarW8SFGqhKPjxTyLBUxd0Nz8uDXgLCWG52A7snU4k8/s1600/Racoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5NlXKKsNFHyA98a06LCbPqhGEIVQvafxrHhCC4-JQJS0wtU_IhINA2Z8WljMNTmpVTdKmcTVX36iAzUyYjcTQV-Hu5tAgzxhOarW8SFGqhKPjxTyLBUxd0Nz8uDXgLCWG52A7snU4k8/s400/Racoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Raccoon (Procyon lotor) close to Milford.</i></td></tr>
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There was one stand out mammal I was lucky enough to find, it was the first record for the observatory and I was a little wary of it after some of the stories I had heard about them, easily chewing through mist nets. The Northern Flying Squirrel <i>Glaucomys sabrinus </i>is a small nocturnal mammal found in forested areas in northern North America. With incredible sharp incisors I was glad when Dave offered to take it out of the net for me, I think it could have easily bitten through the four bird bags I'd formed into a rudimentary gauntlet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT55Ri37QmJY5Gh31JRkGkCN5X7Adp4Q2m0QSa1emKuZBZ_QLt-BAl-sL7KlhvTy_0yDA7_INkIcIbxyd7TqA_rZ-JhnYYKWLD15nH0rdMkWvl2ZOHyaZwWo9EvXaoY65PP2PGAWdq2o/s1600/Shagbark+Hickory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT55Ri37QmJY5Gh31JRkGkCN5X7Adp4Q2m0QSa1emKuZBZ_QLt-BAl-sL7KlhvTy_0yDA7_INkIcIbxyd7TqA_rZ-JhnYYKWLD15nH0rdMkWvl2ZOHyaZwWo9EvXaoY65PP2PGAWdq2o/s320/Shagbark+Hickory.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)</i></td></tr>
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With the onset of Autumn plenty of fruits and berries were forming on the trees, by far the tastiest were the nuts of the Shagbark Hickory<i> Carya ovata</i>, which although tiresome to process tasted amazing. The stands of aster and goldenrod were particularly impressive this year mainly due to the high water levels and continuing warmth at the end of the season but my time at the Observatory was coming to an end and it was soon time for me to visit other parts of Ontario.<br />
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-56790531713726785052017-10-07T08:16:00.000-07:002017-10-07T08:16:17.133-07:00The Asters of Prince Edward Point, OntarioAsters are one of two genera of plant families to bloom in Autumn in temperate North America, they also happen to be one of the harder families to distinguish due to the diversity and similarities shared between the species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOd0Tilc3_lwrRDhK7W-rAy0yIcxzurDqbbeWKSAGdxU9pBAGggUHogvT15PPJZOUZzQs-P81yqbMlFXz-7O1irNADm69APXR6N-Fi5IHynqrY3TtLkMwBXoAVR8r-XzH9TWj5eu7XmA/s1600/Asters+of+Prince+Edward+Point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOd0Tilc3_lwrRDhK7W-rAy0yIcxzurDqbbeWKSAGdxU9pBAGggUHogvT15PPJZOUZzQs-P81yqbMlFXz-7O1irNADm69APXR6N-Fi5IHynqrY3TtLkMwBXoAVR8r-XzH9TWj5eu7XmA/s400/Asters+of+Prince+Edward+Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The two books used, and a selection of Aster species.</i></td></tr>
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With a range of different habitats found at the point there's a number of aster species which could be present. Although I'm in no way an expert and I've been slowly keying out (with many wrong answers) some of the species out using '<i>The Common Asters Species of Southern Ontario'</i> which was lent to me by Sheila, <i>'Newcomb's Wildflower Guide'</i>. and the brilliant guide by Walter Muma on <i><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com%20/">ontariowildflowers.com</a></i><br />
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One of the most obvious <i>Aster </i>species present at the point is the New England Aster <i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae.</i> This is mainly due to its intense purple flowers which allow it to be easily identified in the field as no other common aster would look similar.<br />
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<b><i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae </i>(New England Aster)</b><br />
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As mentioned this species is very obvious and easy to identify due to its large purple flowers. It is often one of the few plants any of the visitors can identify, which may be in part due to its common use as a garden plant. Its leaves, when crushed have a distinct spicy smell which can also be used as an identification feature.<br />
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At the point it is often found in the more open areas in full sun, helping to make it even more obvious than many other species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGafqqlsp_1xZgt8ggH1AZyXv8bG-F6rEIHIkz8LyX70p4OrI9bPREOVyil2ovdTW2T5TlWY1Kq2LZ_S15bo-6Aor1gkMGmPZM2VdlUM-wl837tsVTHXjFEgWI5_2w_sE19nCQO4Jkbhc/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGafqqlsp_1xZgt8ggH1AZyXv8bG-F6rEIHIkz8LyX70p4OrI9bPREOVyil2ovdTW2T5TlWY1Kq2LZ_S15bo-6Aor1gkMGmPZM2VdlUM-wl837tsVTHXjFEgWI5_2w_sE19nCQO4Jkbhc/s400/IMG_6790.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae flowers</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEwVW7XQy6YIzcALUvKmxNiEXYchG5NSOO6epVniWgVoE_tgzqLSKiephRDzUvw3ZD4qJjhZJQAAvqnMDQX8CVT476Ka_NJZs8fG-2Iu6vxDnLzxJ8dfJeuTDB9jCzobeJKWI2xr8hCc/s1600/Arrow-Leaved+Aster+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1002" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEwVW7XQy6YIzcALUvKmxNiEXYchG5NSOO6epVniWgVoE_tgzqLSKiephRDzUvw3ZD4qJjhZJQAAvqnMDQX8CVT476Ka_NJZs8fG-2Iu6vxDnLzxJ8dfJeuTDB9jCzobeJKWI2xr8hCc/s320/Arrow-Leaved+Aster+leaves.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Leaves of Symphyotrichum urophyllum</i></td></tr>
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<b><i>Symphyotrichum urophyllum </i>(</b><b>Arrow-Leaved Aster</b>)<b></b><br />
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A common aster of woodland edges, I found the specimen photographed at the edge of the lake, under a thicket of prickly ash but it can be seen all over the point, often within the woodland<br />
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The leaves of this species are relatively distinctive with alternatively, shallowly toothed leaves and winged petioles.<br />
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It's flowers are on upright panicle shaped heads with stiff stems. Its flowers are usually white although they can be pale pink or bluish. the flowers change from having yellow centres to purple centres like most Asters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQucQvSh4zob6S81BjIXRVYeZ0admhvDEdfIVuU-D0DFcmhJu0jw0evYzSb1sCeG4Ej24cassO5ukhLswduoCBjWxKUrDE-hMZNt9PEbjK1oKnp8goIyoxlKF1unctlPpBfsJSXnYeX0/s1600/Arrow-Leaved+Aster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1075" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQucQvSh4zob6S81BjIXRVYeZ0admhvDEdfIVuU-D0DFcmhJu0jw0evYzSb1sCeG4Ej24cassO5ukhLswduoCBjWxKUrDE-hMZNt9PEbjK1oKnp8goIyoxlKF1unctlPpBfsJSXnYeX0/s400/Arrow-Leaved+Aster.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Flower head of Symphyotrichum urophyllum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD-7oyET5SWvOoysR6G6iNVX-vjYzRq051f1PaIlfzjGNAFE78ToqV00rfAHIevrWbsr2_AxiMIX2YoEvC-rjw1qp56tUlFP8VTwcDXYoFBdRDk0lQAWFWGefQ5071XRttU_IfzcBicg/s1600/Panicled+Aster+dead+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD-7oyET5SWvOoysR6G6iNVX-vjYzRq051f1PaIlfzjGNAFE78ToqV00rfAHIevrWbsr2_AxiMIX2YoEvC-rjw1qp56tUlFP8VTwcDXYoFBdRDk0lQAWFWGefQ5071XRttU_IfzcBicg/s320/Panicled+Aster+dead+leaves.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Distinctive<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> dead leaves of</span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> S</span></i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">ymphyotrichum lanceolatum.</i></td></tr>
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<i><b>Symphyotrichum lanceolatum</b></i> <b>(Panicled Aster)</b></div>
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A very common species which is often found in moist open or lightly forested areas. At the point it could commonly be found close to the swamp or the lake in areas which were more likely to inundated with a little more water.</div>
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By the time it is in flower many of its lower leaves have dried and fallen off whilst smaller dead leaves higher up the stem tend to be rather curly. Its flowers are often spread out along the branches in a rather open manner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN76PxiY6SwOgMjDV5A0pAlpTYIdbbmqNFiIg5ud78jSdqbOBuqh7DZOflEJvaczEY4ZTmqeCToVD37bIMbJIEjKMeGfMYkyQ9NokG0ODWt4OLwEaPWkKyIfLihpcHRoANx-oNFr2rS0/s1600/Panicled+Aster+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN76PxiY6SwOgMjDV5A0pAlpTYIdbbmqNFiIg5ud78jSdqbOBuqh7DZOflEJvaczEY4ZTmqeCToVD37bIMbJIEjKMeGfMYkyQ9NokG0ODWt4OLwEaPWkKyIfLihpcHRoANx-oNFr2rS0/s400/Panicled+Aster+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Flower of S</i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">ymphyotrichum lanceolatum </i></td></tr>
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<b><i>Symphyotrichum lateriflorum </i>(Calico Aster)</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8QxjivzRVZ-RNWMQQ42CaX-POwjO6D_1ObuIbES8vHClrKBjaHHzws3QcJiVZn6xNWeUCApaDTi1Cj_8vXfX94pvSujomkiyOMH76WdQYyz8n0euUzqSR4ztHsL5RBYIbILgU0QhBXs/s1600/Calico+growth+form.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8QxjivzRVZ-RNWMQQ42CaX-POwjO6D_1ObuIbES8vHClrKBjaHHzws3QcJiVZn6xNWeUCApaDTi1Cj_8vXfX94pvSujomkiyOMH76WdQYyz8n0euUzqSR4ztHsL5RBYIbILgU0QhBXs/s320/Calico+growth+form.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Symphyotrichum lateriflorum growth form</i></td></tr>
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A common, and very easily identifiable aster due to its unusual form. Also known as the starved aster due to this form once you know what it looks like its an easy one to pick out. With its long horizontal spreading branches with its sparse flowers its not the nicest aster to look at.<br />
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This species was most often found within the woodland and along the paths and on the edges of the fields where it gets the dappled light it prefers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLlb8qOAjuQw3Iao0rKqdWfmU8SAcdfu15Vk3aZVuLx5Ya_HUMan6ztsCjBiPfwkGRzod6qS1IANnEWC6lwBVtB80l-5DEGIvKuNRb7hIdP5xVGNAZdXQmzpXkl7_Gp8QWHdyTC-APW4/s1600/Calico+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLlb8qOAjuQw3Iao0rKqdWfmU8SAcdfu15Vk3aZVuLx5Ya_HUMan6ztsCjBiPfwkGRzod6qS1IANnEWC6lwBVtB80l-5DEGIvKuNRb7hIdP5xVGNAZdXQmzpXkl7_Gp8QWHdyTC-APW4/s400/Calico+Flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Flower head of Symphyotrichum lateriflorum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy9ijzoA3X0Uik7STC9YWRg1O2gwIdjd2rS9zBfA-hhyphenhyphen0FhmYO5kanYNxNdqYjG4uX9cr7O5lAh0I2SRL6jHVlGOFr4Mdf-IIDU_aN_0DYwwLGp1wVkF-QKpcJ4f5_lLM4-aLR2aNi5Y/s1600/Heart-leaved+aster+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1062" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy9ijzoA3X0Uik7STC9YWRg1O2gwIdjd2rS9zBfA-hhyphenhyphen0FhmYO5kanYNxNdqYjG4uX9cr7O5lAh0I2SRL6jHVlGOFr4Mdf-IIDU_aN_0DYwwLGp1wVkF-QKpcJ4f5_lLM4-aLR2aNi5Y/s320/Heart-leaved+aster+leaves.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Symphyotrichum cordifolium leave</i></td></tr>
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<b><i>Symphyotrichum cordifolium </i>(Heart-Leaved Aster)</b><br />
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Another fairly common species, which was again often found within the woodland at the edge or paths or the woodland edge. It's pale blue flowers are arranged in a dense rounded panicle.<br />
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Its jaggedly toothed, heart shaped leaves also help aid identification and are present on the plant throughout the flowering season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQUOYgkEXplu0gJMDgceaYFlINLFONT3y4Omg9HQRI92pU9jviJ92BlQwT_tIWUkT03RcSqF8w0wbQ2HN9l3UNLaBP0O4mhnnG2Fr8IYcEalMSG8ZiKRvEaQeaW2n5s5u5j3PD49J0XE/s1600/Heart-leaved+aster+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQUOYgkEXplu0gJMDgceaYFlINLFONT3y4Omg9HQRI92pU9jviJ92BlQwT_tIWUkT03RcSqF8w0wbQ2HN9l3UNLaBP0O4mhnnG2Fr8IYcEalMSG8ZiKRvEaQeaW2n5s5u5j3PD49J0XE/s400/Heart-leaved+aster+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Flowerhead of Symphyotrichum cordifolium</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<b><i>Symphyotrichum ericoides </i>(Heath Aster)</b></div>
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Probably the commonest aster on the point, this species can be found across the large areas of abandoned fields and drier areas. It gets its name from its small crowded leaves which are similar to Heather <i>Calluna </i>leaves.</div>
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The white flowers are small and often overlap each other on the flowering stems which gives this species the alternative name of Many Flowered Aster. Unlike other species its mainly reproduces by runners and roots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbHufvFRaw44hhzQXFxuIS2WWNePl8X8X2-tlN18jrSxXJEP71L_1wqjrmJILv8_kBqWYRImoRprDYMSYKtjJXC0M4mk5b4tqSGY9fcsSPxzMcUGHTkOMNFVYGkXaLgl90wnh5Vf8rfg/s1600/Heath+Aster+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbHufvFRaw44hhzQXFxuIS2WWNePl8X8X2-tlN18jrSxXJEP71L_1wqjrmJILv8_kBqWYRImoRprDYMSYKtjJXC0M4mk5b4tqSGY9fcsSPxzMcUGHTkOMNFVYGkXaLgl90wnh5Vf8rfg/s400/Heath+Aster+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>A stand of Symphyotrichum ericoides flowers</i><br /></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-51525819236094757992017-09-26T18:23:00.000-07:002017-09-26T19:01:02.530-07:00The Dog Days of Summer, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, OntarioIts been a pretty exciting time at the observatory, between August and the 22nd of September we've been experiencing the dog days of summer. Its definitely turning into a Indian Summer with temperatures hovering around +25°C and with more sunshine than you'd expect at this time of year.<br />
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Although the weather hasn't always been settled. On the 7th September a huge front of thunderstorms moved up through Lake Ontario creating the perfect conditions for the formation of waterspouts. I hardly expected to see one let alone the which formed at the front of the storm offshore.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicIAR6EXJPSZlIOjsHygMrUQVFDsaVeq_8Jy6CnBEJp600D7DSz-U1Qc_2Ns_cvGtxsYXSXKbeuWbITXFdEuZ5rjNwaVrp0pMu6ZB4wON29QqGS18l9TxthsyTCPsbX1wwOKyqg0U-0w/s1600/Waterspout+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicIAR6EXJPSZlIOjsHygMrUQVFDsaVeq_8Jy6CnBEJp600D7DSz-U1Qc_2Ns_cvGtxsYXSXKbeuWbITXFdEuZ5rjNwaVrp0pMu6ZB4wON29QqGS18l9TxthsyTCPsbX1wwOKyqg0U-0w/s400/Waterspout+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waterspout over False Duck Island</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Nu8aBBOY0ypHUS6NA9SG6JglZkdrMFmzHmeoTn_Ta0yhtaxc9KZNwSzy1Bez3-qXGAAoPeIJTyWciLoySLiHpTqOgpZuB7TTPNaCkRuPfGw1DHvdZdhDze9A8m22UePkZlizcqO0mV0/s1600/Dog-day+Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Nu8aBBOY0ypHUS6NA9SG6JglZkdrMFmzHmeoTn_Ta0yhtaxc9KZNwSzy1Bez3-qXGAAoPeIJTyWciLoySLiHpTqOgpZuB7TTPNaCkRuPfGw1DHvdZdhDze9A8m22UePkZlizcqO0mV0/s320/Dog-day+Cicada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dog-Day Cicada, Tibicen canicularis</i></td></tr>
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To me the dog days are characterised by warm lazy days, the constant hum of cicada's and crickets and the disappearance the local swallows, heading south to a warmer climes. The cicada, although obvious to the ear took quite a while of searching.With one eventually turning up as by-catch in one of the mist nets. The species present at this time of year is the aptly named Dog-Day Cicada<i> Tibicen canicularis, </i>which as suggest is far more often seen than heard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GvO1T9P4S_UrmAifI79l0u32STW400sVwcw6GmnVOOzwIyRsTXoWs8w9zlMwtANsUgUNL7aGpxKOlikMCg8yMwqNnCncIIA3zt4Q7lfsitHXs33SeGaFhT1h5X6R_JXGCHWPxnEmD50/s1600/New+England+Aster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GvO1T9P4S_UrmAifI79l0u32STW400sVwcw6GmnVOOzwIyRsTXoWs8w9zlMwtANsUgUNL7aGpxKOlikMCg8yMwqNnCncIIA3zt4Q7lfsitHXs33SeGaFhT1h5X6R_JXGCHWPxnEmD50/s400/New+England+Aster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae</i></td></tr>
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Late summer is also when the once dry Alvaar comes to life. A sea of yellows and white with the blooming of several species of Aster and goldenrod. One of the most distinctive species is the showy purple flowers of New England Aster <i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, </i>A common and unmistakable species, unlike many of the other members of the family which I will detail in a later blog post.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAEcC_RAaVbZM2B4VueOeLnSt94_1_5oKj13WQH2dJh6n0NXR5QkEhHJdkAT_XK_RFmDVznm8Ybx0hWs4p3w8s5GVAavV_baPUczAsR89Am0n2KSCqyjOM1e31oxuRCkT5lQdnETrvLI/s1600/Milk+Snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAEcC_RAaVbZM2B4VueOeLnSt94_1_5oKj13WQH2dJh6n0NXR5QkEhHJdkAT_XK_RFmDVznm8Ybx0hWs4p3w8s5GVAavV_baPUczAsR89Am0n2KSCqyjOM1e31oxuRCkT5lQdnETrvLI/s320/Milk+Snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum</i></td></tr>
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It's still a good time of year to see plenty of reptiles and amphibians. Northern Leopard Frogs <i>Lithobates pipiens </i>are everywhere, making it difficult to avoid stepping on them. Garter Snakes and Northern water snakes often quickly slither off the path but it was the Eastern Milk Snake<i> Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum </i>I was hoping to find. It is an uncommon species in the county, where it is often associated with old barns and meadows. I was lucky enough to find two individuals which were close to the observatory in early August but haven't found any individuals since.<br />
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There was still one species of Amphibian which I was also hoping to find. The Blue-Spotted Salamander<i> Ambystoma laterale, </i>a common woodland species which had managed to elude me in the spring. Luckily for me when a group of volunteers came to build a new fence at the observatory, they uncovered one under a piece of cedar rail and brought it to me. Quite an impressive looking animal and the first salamander I've managed to see in any country!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLaryq9eVSTqok8ANXq5vQEulUnxwN3ZpZSyiNMHmXCiCs9XKyPMYLahqweINXQViA82qD0jdkMxhsPtUmP5YMOc1aSQ1hyphenhyphenSlUDArkYcw18zgHFvz0XX9hI96j42uFUyElQ6Jy3QQiWQ/s1600/Blue+Spotted+Salamander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLaryq9eVSTqok8ANXq5vQEulUnxwN3ZpZSyiNMHmXCiCs9XKyPMYLahqweINXQViA82qD0jdkMxhsPtUmP5YMOc1aSQ1hyphenhyphenSlUDArkYcw18zgHFvz0XX9hI96j42uFUyElQ6Jy3QQiWQ/s400/Blue+Spotted+Salamander.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Blue-Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma laterale</i></td></tr>
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Its been a relatively busy month for birds as well. Large numbers of Bobolinks caught in August and early September and arriving with one of these flocks was a less familiar species. A Dickcissel <i>Spiza americana, </i>a species your much more likely to encounter on the prairies. It was caught right towards the end of the bobolink period on the 5th September.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI-YqeeyCARcwjTTcgQ49Zn954lMZBfHLr7Uh8Ydk9S06EflFNtdpisH3KreoE02mwUY30HL5_0mpiBWsJWE8EtsPg1hWrNsVG4Dry9mr9bPIgD83hIX_CEH3LzruoR3L8s3GvnStYB0/s1600/Dickcissel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI-YqeeyCARcwjTTcgQ49Zn954lMZBfHLr7Uh8Ydk9S06EflFNtdpisH3KreoE02mwUY30HL5_0mpiBWsJWE8EtsPg1hWrNsVG4Dry9mr9bPIgD83hIX_CEH3LzruoR3L8s3GvnStYB0/s400/Dickcissel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i> HY Male Dickcissel, Spiza americana</i></td></tr>
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Other notable species caught included a HY Northern Rough-Winged Swallow <i>Stelgidopteryx serripennis</i> on the 13th August, a AHY American Woodcock <i>Scolopax minor</i> on the 18th, a HY Broad-Winged Hawk <i>Buteo platypterus</i> on the 19th and several Cape-May Warblers <i>Setophaga tigrina </i>between the 22nd and the 29th of August.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF8Ww4LSCFxoHF-5YxUYYZYg-oIg0fY_gVLvjYTH93O5o5e3Ns23UJw9s6ogoa87VZybgCmGbs6MS6-EAky2CiQ-CFE84MmAFzCCFPMlePnf5SP2P9zHQQU8ALanQ49kBgaHR3lMBt2g/s1600/Broad+winged+Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF8Ww4LSCFxoHF-5YxUYYZYg-oIg0fY_gVLvjYTH93O5o5e3Ns23UJw9s6ogoa87VZybgCmGbs6MS6-EAky2CiQ-CFE84MmAFzCCFPMlePnf5SP2P9zHQQU8ALanQ49kBgaHR3lMBt2g/s400/Broad+winged+Hawk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Broad-Winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1Hnj-zUcdy7ea02PO_YDp5gwJFEzX8Q_47eKarwV4W6aoB457i3H8VgmtZCSRbsZwshj595fKHtEQxnQa9zKxX4H_IZknG_Ac9HLHA87f6LAV-RxM3FACsB-3nBoFi-wgss0jANhcL4/s1600/Connecticut+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1Hnj-zUcdy7ea02PO_YDp5gwJFEzX8Q_47eKarwV4W6aoB457i3H8VgmtZCSRbsZwshj595fKHtEQxnQa9zKxX4H_IZknG_Ac9HLHA87f6LAV-RxM3FACsB-3nBoFi-wgss0jANhcL4/s320/Connecticut+Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agilis</i></td></tr>
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A Connecticut Warbler <i>Oporornis agilis</i> was the first of six caught on the 11th of September. As well as a HY Semipalmated Sandpiper <i>Calidris pusilla,</i> which was caught in the afternoon on the lake shore.<br />
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A Clay-Colored Sparrow <i>Spizella pallida</i> was caught on the 14th alongside a Chipping Sparrow <i>Spizella passerina</i> allowing us to see a nice contrast between the two species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJATdHGPN55Iu9duQa3xas8NdnOWPfi85NEB-V_nNkUNKL2mBsOMDbUlmwShg3GeJyEwTFtmNXii-2quNRRIAhfmC_sFpckVIjfE_qiiwCur1kCxwXd26utZRoezZnPamG4cCP6CGzQHo/s1600/Semipalmated+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJATdHGPN55Iu9duQa3xas8NdnOWPfi85NEB-V_nNkUNKL2mBsOMDbUlmwShg3GeJyEwTFtmNXii-2quNRRIAhfmC_sFpckVIjfE_qiiwCur1kCxwXd26utZRoezZnPamG4cCP6CGzQHo/s400/Semipalmated+Plover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpDFLHJO1_TfIZA6EX52PfDqa3zqDX9ATzhcHAzhy27G5rVZzKsJz5ITjrSm_Tul9c3Su2gKheX-wLVPGDEDnMH39_RktLSKpX51VEOHZmNam5u6DDa82fHyXdplwcos3r5zEJzOa5w/s1600/Monarch+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpDFLHJO1_TfIZA6EX52PfDqa3zqDX9ATzhcHAzhy27G5rVZzKsJz5ITjrSm_Tul9c3Su2gKheX-wLVPGDEDnMH39_RktLSKpX51VEOHZmNam5u6DDa82fHyXdplwcos3r5zEJzOa5w/s400/Monarch+Butterfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Monarch, Danaus plexippus</i></td></tr>
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It wasn't just birds which are on the move, the final brood of Monarchs <i>Danaus plexippus</i> has hatched out and some are on their way south. Similarly the huge numbers of Green Darners have been somewhat astonishing, with tens of thousands present some evenings and mornings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQMhjAaFnQJG0KmP4Y91Yp3OtAWpvLzYPGxAJOzxvjWwZ3vs6VExerVjsdlXEjrNryAYPcf0ilmWQ9HlPbBfHgjjf_FfE8ajkr8GsYYTkGQIc3GqkO2hcewZiGOTNJwAYx_kVCEvhT4/s1600/Giant+Swallowtail+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQMhjAaFnQJG0KmP4Y91Yp3OtAWpvLzYPGxAJOzxvjWwZ3vs6VExerVjsdlXEjrNryAYPcf0ilmWQ9HlPbBfHgjjf_FfE8ajkr8GsYYTkGQIc3GqkO2hcewZiGOTNJwAYx_kVCEvhT4/s400/Giant+Swallowtail+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes</i></td></tr>
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Plenty of other species of butterfly and dragonflies have also been seen at the point, one of the most impressive species is the Giant Swallowtail <i>Papilio cresphontes</i>, the largest butterfly in Canada. It<i> </i>can regularly be seen laying its eggs on Northern Prickly-Ash <i>Zanthoxylum americanum, </i>where its bird dropping like caterpillars are common or feeding on thistles.<br />
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Down close to the lake, plenty of small damselflies are seen flitting from cattail to cattail. Occasionally the much more colourful Twelve-Spotted Skimmer<i> Libellula pulchella </i>wizzes past on its constant search for food. Although a common North American species, its surprisingly colourful, mainly due to its spotted wings which are an uncommon feature on species found in the UK.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs0oxiMZPGyQA9GFc8GgT1j7cANRIWUd0Bik6y4oIF8vvNjItUqufMjDJ-hcvB4FT-bhfPPZp64HT0BtjnTs4m8kE7hRmnUjfT0Z3FMyv2KG58SybixN7xdb8NJ7DPeSEZKVLq6yB-ww/s1600/Twelve-Spotted+Skimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs0oxiMZPGyQA9GFc8GgT1j7cANRIWUd0Bik6y4oIF8vvNjItUqufMjDJ-hcvB4FT-bhfPPZp64HT0BtjnTs4m8kE7hRmnUjfT0Z3FMyv2KG58SybixN7xdb8NJ7DPeSEZKVLq6yB-ww/s400/Twelve-Spotted+Skimmer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Twelve-Spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella</i></td></tr>
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All in all its been a good start to the season, with the weather looking warm for a while yet hopefully it won't be long until the colder wind starts to blow and we'll be inundated with migrants and saw-whet owls.<br />
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-2368607278844142672017-08-01T08:10:00.001-07:002018-06-08T10:11:32.916-07:00Blackpill SSSI, SwanseaHaving spent the weekend in Breacon Beacons with friends from France and sadly not being able to follow them onto Mid Wales it was nice to bump into a small patch of vegetated dunes on the edge of Swansea Bay at Blackpill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnj66jkiuPMCjLAgcyud7APwXFYe8DwL5nTLJIMorReREtojUwfaKlYMqN2mU0u938G-nfDxFcJKVcDEwAZuq3oo6ed9M6Whk_xoxwqP2WbTQNxftItd3nNg0e8jqmlwdQg1mTKqijfg/s1600/Blackpill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnj66jkiuPMCjLAgcyud7APwXFYe8DwL5nTLJIMorReREtojUwfaKlYMqN2mU0u938G-nfDxFcJKVcDEwAZuq3oo6ed9M6Whk_xoxwqP2WbTQNxftItd3nNg0e8jqmlwdQg1mTKqijfg/s400/Blackpill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sea Holly Eryngium maritimum dominated dunes at Blackpill beach</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgjoxch5-jPfs62bKkrcRUPWyirf9EyUlBMO23dkNC_yfUk-6LztNoOndPmr2mfZ8YuoTL8XJQvcl8LwjdK0p6UVqhlNgD_s-KPG39zwxgNBAHU7r78J96Q4luCfTQZTAmrB9cBrteMg/s1600/Sea+Holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgjoxch5-jPfs62bKkrcRUPWyirf9EyUlBMO23dkNC_yfUk-6LztNoOndPmr2mfZ8YuoTL8XJQvcl8LwjdK0p6UVqhlNgD_s-KPG39zwxgNBAHU7r78J96Q4luCfTQZTAmrB9cBrteMg/s320/Sea+Holly.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sea Holly, Eryngium maritimum</i></td></tr>
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Although designated as a SSSI due to its importance for hosting internationally important numbers of wading birds they were all way to far away to photograph due to the tide being out, so I stuck around the vegetated dunes to see which species I could find, unsurprisingly there was nothing of too much note but it was nice to see the Sea Holly <i>Eryngium maritimum </i>in flower.</div>
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The sea wall was largely covered in Sea Sandwort <i>Honckenya peploides</i>, a common coastal plant and plenty of Rock Samphire <i>Crithmum maritimum. O</i>nce a highly prized foraged herb but now sadly out of fashion, probably due to its intense salty, parsley taste but I quite like it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7Rnddrv7x_G1zbHCOpnQ6yoE80ys3LeuJSCYm_w_QxgA6s_R4Qqfr_sAajvi7AFLfipeXixdN-Dtap0Y74UAZEkEsM_SE4lB5duh1sIwc8WWHJMlKOmim20tpZbxPY64avXBnEbKsBg/s1600/Sea+Sandwort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7Rnddrv7x_G1zbHCOpnQ6yoE80ys3LeuJSCYm_w_QxgA6s_R4Qqfr_sAajvi7AFLfipeXixdN-Dtap0Y74UAZEkEsM_SE4lB5duh1sIwc8WWHJMlKOmim20tpZbxPY64avXBnEbKsBg/s400/Sea+Sandwort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sea Sandwort,Honckenya peploides</i></td></tr>
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Where the Marram Grass <i>Ammophila arenaria </i>was most abundant, Sea Spurge<i> Euphorbia paralias </i>was often dotted around and close to the edge of the dunes the delicate pink flowers of Sea Rocket<i> Cakile maritima </i>was abundant.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7DlDXYspO-DaOpZJkPmAR8Y_yoXL_G13WYtvXZRFArizgQEfXds7btKTHxIHww5akHLCiQB52kcS8kqqdUpVd2NxIX4SDB5dCCAiN0PRCWcMpuOn0YS4Nktlb71B7P9PjNnJrP-vJCs/s1600/Sea+Rocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7DlDXYspO-DaOpZJkPmAR8Y_yoXL_G13WYtvXZRFArizgQEfXds7btKTHxIHww5akHLCiQB52kcS8kqqdUpVd2NxIX4SDB5dCCAiN0PRCWcMpuOn0YS4Nktlb71B7P9PjNnJrP-vJCs/s400/Sea+Rocket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sea Rocket, Cakile maritima growing amoung the Marram, Ammophila arenaria</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBAi8MLP6d6qOwL4VyMhnrtkz8D0ug9mRCawFmGZ4qum8J8j2Raqm2I9vhHojF7ay_JdJuXli2slkFfR-AK6R3FC-4GOdXzTz4FdXF-km9h1ZEVWMf-jJ0k8Jph7ROYuxt3pSAj_HufA/s1600/Canadian+Fleabane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBAi8MLP6d6qOwL4VyMhnrtkz8D0ug9mRCawFmGZ4qum8J8j2Raqm2I9vhHojF7ay_JdJuXli2slkFfR-AK6R3FC-4GOdXzTz4FdXF-km9h1ZEVWMf-jJ0k8Jph7ROYuxt3pSAj_HufA/s400/Canadian+Fleabane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Canadian Fleabane, Conyza canadensis</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNHV6iOvT-QmxxLKejbb8nMMPpCwWmf3aWEvU-mhvICzNfhaZgjbi4Bm3CGaFJARRtRtH7258R2Ro6TVI8LRHxPLurWoEjj5tJs7_FxIRO1QG1yVY4HegJqNcDmc8F00leKUlU_NjIkw/s1600/Fennel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1057" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNHV6iOvT-QmxxLKejbb8nMMPpCwWmf3aWEvU-mhvICzNfhaZgjbi4Bm3CGaFJARRtRtH7258R2Ro6TVI8LRHxPLurWoEjj5tJs7_FxIRO1QG1yVY4HegJqNcDmc8F00leKUlU_NjIkw/s320/Fennel.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare</i></td></tr>
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The sea wall which runs along the entirety of the bay sadly cuts short the majority of the dune habitats which would normally be present and forms an unnatural climax vegetation. This was comprised of a number of non-native species including Canadian Fleabane,<i> Conyza canadensis </i>and Fennel<i> Foeniculum vulgare, </i>another herb I regularly seek out to forage due to its lovely aniseed taste. </div>
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One native species could be seen among all the invaders the small Autumn Hawkbit<i> Scorzoneroides autumnalis.</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Autumn Hawkbit, Scorzoneroides autumnalis</i></td></tr>
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Down below the high tide mark were a few islands of vegetation, these were comprised of an endemic species which only originated in the 1870's in Southern Britain. </div>
Common Cordgrass <i>Spartina anglica </i>is an allotetraploid species derived from the hybrid <i>Spartina × townsendii </i>which came about due to the introduction of Smooth Cordgrass <i>Spartina alterniflora</i>, most likely in bilge water which then hybridised with the native Small Cordgrass <i>Spartina maritima. </i><br />
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Although at first it was seen as a key species for fighting coastal erosion it then went on to stabilise tidal mudflats, a key problem for wading birds however the species has since had a natural die back of unknown cause has reversed the spread.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OUe-UigUyrJkJoT5xCFY2XRYkwnjY4UzxMGlBpj_YFAooMe9pOejppVDE3NWHJ4gFs3hqIH5kgYEiY9icjMTawqmu8vnAJeZajv7IhRuQOOyR1SgnRkv9htKFRJluHzz5LgtM7ixfhs/s1600/Common+Cordgrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OUe-UigUyrJkJoT5xCFY2XRYkwnjY4UzxMGlBpj_YFAooMe9pOejppVDE3NWHJ4gFs3hqIH5kgYEiY9icjMTawqmu8vnAJeZajv7IhRuQOOyR1SgnRkv9htKFRJluHzz5LgtM7ixfhs/s400/Common+Cordgrass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An Island of Common Cordgrass, Spartina anglica</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-87048921053504934342017-07-02T02:40:00.000-07:002017-09-23T08:51:47.863-07:00Skomer, PembrokeshireFor a few years now, Bethan has been nagging me to take her to Skomer to see the Atlantic Puffins <i>Fratercula arctica </i>but when ever we've attempted to go either the weather hasn't played ball when we've tried or I've been tied up with work during the peak puffin season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgsShx9CywGdly7sZdhqke9VP2R6zXmTl4ygnfNJBChKd03S5Mm_pYlIu0AhP4Bs_roKnyRDoK-vYPpHfzxhM8xiYFuOJz_WXr6rDb4LFPqStwe6VTKmEpZ2r4eDEGDWlcVgn39q1MOs/s1600/Skomer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgsShx9CywGdly7sZdhqke9VP2R6zXmTl4ygnfNJBChKd03S5Mm_pYlIu0AhP4Bs_roKnyRDoK-vYPpHfzxhM8xiYFuOJz_WXr6rDb4LFPqStwe6VTKmEpZ2r4eDEGDWlcVgn39q1MOs/s400/Skomer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Middleholm and Skomer from Martin's Haven</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2RkkkrLnhMe4sk8ZcU6LvDElDyQ0rMJy_bR9Vf8yWH0bvYeEEL_EhJl2KamG3G4tuKiN7-EzBXXKZnNzCFXFtcPDl-Y9kA5RF3gv7RT7ZtgYq_51NfLFjBDqT323O5HbhDDkiCYwR9g/s1600/Puffin+Raft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2RkkkrLnhMe4sk8ZcU6LvDElDyQ0rMJy_bR9Vf8yWH0bvYeEEL_EhJl2KamG3G4tuKiN7-EzBXXKZnNzCFXFtcPDl-Y9kA5RF3gv7RT7ZtgYq_51NfLFjBDqT323O5HbhDDkiCYwR9g/s320/Puffin+Raft.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Puffin Raft off Skomer</i></td></tr>
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So with a couple of days off we went, before hand we stayed with a lovely couple (who we found on Airbnb) in . An early start at Martin's Haven and a long wait in the queue but we manage to make the first boat of the day and the weather was perfect.<br />
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It didn't take us long to spot the first puffin, as soon as we were near Middleholm we started to see birds busy bringing fish in to their chicks. By the time we'd reached Skomer rafts of hundreds of Puffins could be seen offshore, all waiting to come in. After bumping into two friends after landing, we wandered to the far side of the island past the old farm. The previous time I'd been to Skomer was early in the season when the Bluebells <i>Hyacinthoides non-scripta </i>were at their peak, this time it was the Sea Mayweed <i>Tripleurospermum maritimum </i>which was at it's peak. It was everywhere and provided a wonderful backdrop to any photographs being taken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6x8KJhu6swY3OvqbcesYqR9WMnylkYjAjnheYOT6YS6Ar_OCXVllLF6NYrhqffM1XPuXN3G2Vd6Nt5fHnrwx8QA-V8TYDgWxUz7FYnydDjmg_usZ7cavA50n4yWtFPGwDFxvK3_RW-g/s1600/Skomer%252C+mayweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6x8KJhu6swY3OvqbcesYqR9WMnylkYjAjnheYOT6YS6Ar_OCXVllLF6NYrhqffM1XPuXN3G2Vd6Nt5fHnrwx8QA-V8TYDgWxUz7FYnydDjmg_usZ7cavA50n4yWtFPGwDFxvK3_RW-g/s400/Skomer%252C+mayweed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sea Mayweed, </i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tripleurospermum maritimum </i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">covered slopes</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKrGdcKh5pAQRKmgLQXsSBT5rEYzIReK98-zxc8qEk1X6YYTByvLoBqrO41SndnXh-1QPuqEKJYIwXgbsKyOvH8vpjI3F-PowKmTl8If5QlI_ZcZwrfgEf9BDaV0tYzjBtHGuuzPbyqA/s1600/Sea+Mayweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKrGdcKh5pAQRKmgLQXsSBT5rEYzIReK98-zxc8qEk1X6YYTByvLoBqrO41SndnXh-1QPuqEKJYIwXgbsKyOvH8vpjI3F-PowKmTl8If5QlI_ZcZwrfgEf9BDaV0tYzjBtHGuuzPbyqA/s400/Sea+Mayweed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sea Mayweed, Tripleurospermum maritimum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9cwvUIk4G6nGLdYK455MzqGgwruIfO846pmjUpM_Imjh5jVKKpOPOgeXGZKDl4FJdFLsgqDQdrMFwmNwIJdfQyF_hwVkQ8DuMuoJzu6kL9asfLQrTwis5aOmjX4rcFpFXsPaX0Sku9M/s1600/Rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9cwvUIk4G6nGLdYK455MzqGgwruIfO846pmjUpM_Imjh5jVKKpOPOgeXGZKDl4FJdFLsgqDQdrMFwmNwIJdfQyF_hwVkQ8DuMuoJzu6kL9asfLQrTwis5aOmjX4rcFpFXsPaX0Sku9M/s320/Rabbit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Young Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus </i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">feeding in the Sea Mayweed </i></td></tr>
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After wandering around the North of the island and seeing the usual Seabirds we made our way towards the Wick. By far the best place to see breeding seabirds on the cliff ledges and the puffins which nest in the deep soil close to the path.<br />
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Rabbits<i> Oryctolagus cuniculus </i>also burrow here and had obviously had been breeding judging by the number of young about. Some happily feeding next to visiting tourists, although it was the puffins they had come to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0echUmEgmVkgubBwhqaf-dCK7Ff9ln5FMtryesex51biyfW02nKaZuxltjqFUVH0ahzp7viGljMw1HfKq5lA4JoZFF-Y9O5zuQ2hpAenvJLSZxYeyFn7XicHCmMT7h9qQto0ps1hIrg/s1600/Puffin+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0echUmEgmVkgubBwhqaf-dCK7Ff9ln5FMtryesex51biyfW02nKaZuxltjqFUVH0ahzp7viGljMw1HfKq5lA4JoZFF-Y9O5zuQ2hpAenvJLSZxYeyFn7XicHCmMT7h9qQto0ps1hIrg/s400/Puffin+flight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Puffin, </i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fratercula arctica</i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"> coming into land on The Wick</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Puffling looking out of its burrow</i></td></tr>
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Puffins are always top of peoples lists, admittedly their striking colours and character makes them a joy to watch but I think people would think the same if they sat down and watched any species for an extended period of time. Skomer has around 10,000 pairs of puffins making this the largest population in the southern Britain. The Puffins around the Wick don't have much fear of people and are quite happy to wander across the path in front of people. Many with fish for their chicks, Some of which were taking their first tentative look at of life outside the burrow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica</i></td></tr>
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Although the puffins are what Skomer is known for its the birds that many visitors don't see which the island is more important for. With 310,000 pairs on Skomer and 40,000 more on its sister island Skokholm, around half the worlds population of Manx Shearwater, <i>Puffinus puffinus </i>can be found breeding here. Although this time I didn't see any. Whilst walking back to the quay, deep within a burrow we could hear the distinctive eerie call of a shearwater, a lovely end to a lovely day.<br />
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<br />Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-68804499299327355732017-06-29T08:34:00.000-07:002017-12-13T08:35:15.925-08:00Seabirds of the Mountain, Pico do Arieiro, MadeiraMadeira is the top of a massive shield volcano that rises 6km from the sea floor in the northern Atlantic Ocean forming an archipelago of four islands. It is roughly 520km away from north western coast of Africa. Madeira is well known for its unusual plants and endemic species although throughout its history it has been changed by man. Due to the climate the island was once covered by subtropical rainforest known as laurisilva (laural forest) which has existed for 1.8 million years. Sadly it is now only common in a few areas of the island but is home to few species of endemic birds and plenty of plants which will be detailed in another post.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pico do Arieiro at sunset</i></td></tr>
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I'd been lucky enough to be invited by Mark Cutts with the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society (RNBWS) for a week of birding (and botany for me),and with luck and the help of Frank Zino to hopefully see one of the island rarest inhabitants.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A sea of cloud below the peaks</i></td></tr>
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Running through the spine of the island is an area of jagged peaks, one of these is particularly special due to an unusual breeding species. At 1,818 m (5,965 ft) Pico do Arieiro is Madeiras third highest peak, high above the clouds its the last place you'd expect to find one of the rarest bird species in Europe . Its also a treasure trove of endemic plant species which either cling to the rocky cliffs or survive on the narrow shallow ledges.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pride of Madeira, Echium candicans</i></td></tr>
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One strange thing about travelling up towards Pico do Arieiro is the layer of cloud which you have to travel through to get to the top, the mountain sitting within a sea of cloud making it seem you were at a much lower elevation. Although barren looking, any crevice or ledge was covered in plants. Of these by far the most spectacular in flower was the Pride of Madeira <i>Echium candicans, </i>a large sub-shrub member of the family Boraginaceae.</div>
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Everywhere I looked it seemed another stunning endemic plant which had managed to get a foothold in the crumbling rock making it seem like a botanist paradise, which of course it was. Many of the plants had adapted to the extremes of temperature which can occur daily at Pico do Arieiro. Succulents were common and well adapted with fleshy leaves, although not easy to identify. The Disk Houseleek <i>Aeonium glandulosum</i> was one such plant, endemic to the islands which make up the Madeira archipelago where it is limited to these high barren rock faces. Many species look similar to plant species found withing Europe and North Africa but have eventually evolved due to their thousands of years of isolation, one such species was Madeiran Thrift <i>Armeria Maderensis </i>which looks superficially similar to the species I regularly see on the sea cliffs of Mid-Wales.<br />
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Although I was distracted by all the flora, it was really the fauna I had come to see but for that we'd have to wait until it got dark. Whilst waiting we had plenty of time to watch the endemic Plain Swifts <i>Apus unicolor</i> screaming over the ridges and into the valleys below. A male Spectacled Warbler <i>Sylvia conspicillata </i>was announcing his territory from a dense bit of scrub, while his partner was busy collecting caterpillars to feed their brood in a low gorse bush. A few tattered Macaronesian Red Admiral <i>Vanessa vulcania</i> bathed on the eroded summit, gathering the last warmth from the sinking sun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata</i></td></tr>
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After setting the nets along a narrow ridge, all we had to do was wait. Just like clockwork, at 10.45 each evening we heard some strange sounds calling from the inky blackness. For many years the shepherds of Curral das Freiras mistakenly thought this to be the sounds of suffering souls of the shepherds or nuns who lost their lives in the mountains. The source of the noise probably never went silent but was forgotten about, believed extinct until in 1969 Alec Zino played a call of Fea's Peterel to a local Shepard who recognised the eerie walling and took them to the area now regarded as the breeding ledges. For us the journey was easy, well maintained paths allow us to view the area in relative safety, for Frank and his father back in 1969, a narrow shepherds track was all that separated them from a drop into the deep valleys on either side, a treacherous place for a nocturnal walk. I don't think i'll ever forget the first time I heard that strange wailing in the distant inky blackness or the occasional shadow pass over the starlit sky. To me the calls didn't sounds eerie, they sounded almost friendly. Frank noted the number of calls each 15 minutes, keeping count with a clicker. Although the calls were regular for a couple of days all I managed to see was a few glimpses of these mysterious birds.<br />
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Then at 11pm on our third night as I was walking to the far end of the net something hit the net in front of me, a pale bellied shape hanging in the gloom. A Freira <i>Pterodroma madeira</i>, more commonly known as Zino's Petrel, named after the family which have done so much for the identification and conservation of this species. Originally the birds found breeding within macaronesia were thought be part of the Soft-plumaged Petrel <i>Pterodroma mollis</i> complex but but mitochondrial DNA analysis and further differences in size, vocalisations, breeding behaviour have shown that the macronesian birds are not closely related to <i>Pterdroma mollis</i>. Sangster further recommended splitting between the macronesian birds, which was further supported by Nunn & Zino based on analysis of feather lice on birds from Madeira and Bugio Island which have been estimated to have split 850,000 years ago. More recent work has splitting the birds found on the Desertas islands from the birds found on Cape Verde Island creating the Desertas Petrel <i>Pterodroma deserta</i> and the Fea's Petrel <i>Pterodroma feae </i>although the identification of this complex of species is still confusing, especially in the field.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Freira, Pterodroma madeira. Europes rarest seabird.</i></td></tr>
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The Freira is the most endangered species of sea bird in Europe with an estimated population of 80 known pairs. Due to this it was a little surprising then that the bird we caught was a new un-ringed bird allowing Mark to ring it. The population is well monitored with majority of chicks ringed in the nest and many of the adult bird caught during the previous years, even more surprising was the second bird caught a couple of nights, during quite a blow, I watched nervously as it bounced out of the net, only to go in again seconds later by which time I was already upon it. Being a new bird gave me the opportunity to ring a bird, under the supervision of Frank. They really are a very pretty bird with an amazing wingspan, their webbed feet and sharp claws, their delicate soft plumage which gives the name to their relatives is evident in the hand.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Madeiran rings, you know its special if you find one of these</i></td></tr>
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Freira's are one of two species to be ringed using Madeira rings (the other being the <i>Deserta/feae</i> Petrel complex). Although the moult sequence, and ageing birds is currently not feasible, if anyone would know it would be Frank who seemed to think both of these birds were likely to be third year birds checking out the breeding colony before breeding themselves. Blood samples and bio-metrics were taken for each of the birds before they were released back in the night, hopefully to be re-caught in a subsequent years. As each individual is an important breeding bird, which will help to increase this fragile population.</div>
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Although the birds breeding ledges are protected within the Parque Natural da Madeira national park and they have shown an increase in productivity over the last 20 years they are still at risk. The fact that only six ledges are used for burrowing and nesting means that degradation to the vegetation from grazing goats, wildfires and predators could still spell disaster for this species. A fire in August 2010 swept through the breeding site killing three adults and 25 of the 38 chicks. Vegetation around the nest sites were destroyed, leaving them open to predators and at risk of erosion. For an island which evolved without ground dwelling mammals, its no surprise that they can cause huge problems. Rats played a significant role in decimating the petrels numbers early on but active trapping has helped eliminate them as such a risk. Feral Cats are now the main cause for concern, previously these were trapped after 10 adults were killed by a single cat in 1990. The government of Portugal have since made trapping cats illegal leaving this delicate population once again at risk from these troublesome tabbies. While up at the breeding ledges we saw several cats but little can be done about it until permission from the government is granted, sadly it may be a long time coming.<br />
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This really was one of the most special experiences I've had and will always be one of my birding highlights and it was an honour to be allowed to ring one of these special birds. Frank Zino is tireless in his effort of furthering the protection of these and several other seabirds species in Macronesia, its not often you get to see a species named after the family of the person who shows you but now I needed to see a <i>Pterdroma </i>at sea.<br />
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-19080389701514207502017-06-02T08:46:00.000-07:002017-09-23T08:50:41.526-07:00Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Woodville, Ontario<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the migration season over it was time for a bit of rest and relaxation, I was lucky enough to be staying with Mike and Kathy in the County but they decided to take me out for the day to the wonderful Petroglyphs Provincial Park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beaver pond close to Minnow Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wild Sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicauli</i></td></tr>
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Petroglyphs Provincial Park was designated a historical class provincial park in 1981 due to the large assemble of first nations petrogylphs present on the site. The rock carvings were rediscovered in 1954 by a prospector and contain about 1200 carvings, representing humans like figures, animals and a dominant figure whose head may represent the sun. The carvings were made using Gneiss hammers around 900 to 1100AD by either Algonkian or Iroquian speaking people. Today first nations people<br />
call the petrogylphs, Kinomagewapkong which means "the rocks that teach" or "the Teaching Rocks".<br />
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The forest which surrounds the petrogylphs is rich in Red Pine<i> Pinus resinosa </i>and Wild Sarsaparilla <i>Aralia nudicaulis. </i>Creating a rich acidic soil, although plenty of other species could be found growing on the smooth granite rocks which surrounded Minnow Lake<i> </i>and form Islands between stands of pines.<br />
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The plants were similar to many of the species I'd come into contact with in Scandinavia allowing me identifying many of them relatively quickly although some species such as White Trillum <i>Trillium grandiflorum </i>are North American specialists.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOWjxl37bzqerYq2soW4-E98QLBXRftiAVyr6sCDjB1PKABbSd0M5jdS2gtBN9zN_n8KXuR02gw5D3yewCs_jhIT5MyRdDaeFRBLFCcBlYBDV_lLneN55ZIjySMLuHZMHya8lLXJrua0/s1600/White+Trillium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOWjxl37bzqerYq2soW4-E98QLBXRftiAVyr6sCDjB1PKABbSd0M5jdS2gtBN9zN_n8KXuR02gw5D3yewCs_jhIT5MyRdDaeFRBLFCcBlYBDV_lLneN55ZIjySMLuHZMHya8lLXJrua0/s400/White+Trillium.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>White Triulliums, Trillium grandiflorum</i></td></tr>
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One of the more attractive species to be found was the Winged Polygala or Gaywings <i>Polygala paucifolia</i>, which can be found over much of Eastern North America. With its delicate Winged purple flowers it was a lovely little plant to see spread across the forest floor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QB3PNmxvgx9ZStbaBr9PtH9uVXPGQabf7Qh2ya5mFCZB_5o09Z5c_Gs9RHWH56BwmJcBbZQzs8JmeNUVVBRkG52FU76Td9cannT3sIdS8c87LjjcPIxnYOTrrPwKaJkpFYQNlLQjO8E/s1600/Fringed+Polygara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QB3PNmxvgx9ZStbaBr9PtH9uVXPGQabf7Qh2ya5mFCZB_5o09Z5c_Gs9RHWH56BwmJcBbZQzs8JmeNUVVBRkG52FU76Td9cannT3sIdS8c87LjjcPIxnYOTrrPwKaJkpFYQNlLQjO8E/s400/Fringed+Polygara.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Winged Polygala, Polygala paucifolia</i></td></tr>
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Out on the more open areas where the granite broke through the substrata drifts of Pale Corydalis <i>Capnoides sempervirens </i>could be found. It is<i> </i>also known as the Rock Harlequin due to it habit of growing almost out of the smallest of cracks in the rock.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yJozx3yZobZHRYH-Df5cDZLmUS-lZPpInsxQk2ra3VgZUM_jVtWPuUD0HiAhnNyLpfbHKiwPWnloo6XNyjrZA8yDxy59UY-t6yXyPO06fE2e7NS-MYz7ycrKGFiMa5fyn2Z6Wuhgmfo/s1600/Pale+Corydalis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yJozx3yZobZHRYH-Df5cDZLmUS-lZPpInsxQk2ra3VgZUM_jVtWPuUD0HiAhnNyLpfbHKiwPWnloo6XNyjrZA8yDxy59UY-t6yXyPO06fE2e7NS-MYz7ycrKGFiMa5fyn2Z6Wuhgmfo/s400/Pale+Corydalis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Pale Corydalis, Capnoides sempervirens</i></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2jL34Xw-UqoRsDWk9X40WmEMRi_xMa-baM6v1eqejnaFYxFPN7Zk6le6E34zJS6DKfPsUZVxbWS0KfVD7s_ET3mW__rZM2vzOiYFH0qxX8S_hTlD0fCykXTDu8w87xoRTz2TAZw85_E/s1600/Canada+Mayflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2jL34Xw-UqoRsDWk9X40WmEMRi_xMa-baM6v1eqejnaFYxFPN7Zk6le6E34zJS6DKfPsUZVxbWS0KfVD7s_ET3mW__rZM2vzOiYFH0qxX8S_hTlD0fCykXTDu8w87xoRTz2TAZw85_E/s400/Canada+Mayflower.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Canada May-Lily Maianthemum canadense</i></td></tr>
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Three other species of plant were common on the edges of the gloomy moist pine forest, Starflower <i>Lysimachia borealis</i> named after its distinctive shaped flowers and Canadian Bunchberry, <i>Cornus canadensis</i> which was often found growing on old moss covered stumps and logs, later its edible red berries would later be an important food source for migrating birds. Canada May-Lily<i> Maianthemum canadense </i>is another sub-boreal specialist species and could be found growing in abundance.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8gljYAk6t1IMmNCb7eUhhP58vjSSCSJrgrVXWdT9UpVLZuMH3VoYV8W09MCenflrwwDOlHTV7lt0s4d03TsubWTj1csQl8aTwCgvVP3EbdKuNcEAHDiqtAL7ESobToPfJhU3qRo_juE/s1600/Starflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8gljYAk6t1IMmNCb7eUhhP58vjSSCSJrgrVXWdT9UpVLZuMH3VoYV8W09MCenflrwwDOlHTV7lt0s4d03TsubWTj1csQl8aTwCgvVP3EbdKuNcEAHDiqtAL7ESobToPfJhU3qRo_juE/s400/Starflower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Starflower, Lysimachia borealis<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkoLKpClKud9lKckvncyG0xLe9smfSQvY-YSx_338Yzcv6oGliAag38sln-PNRUEnYR2m0ufgbwZnHVv7l8D-N4vT8vWfExSFfqKykEK89XqJMolvHcuPLF7IElGi_YOtVlukppm2BYQ/s1600/Bunchberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkoLKpClKud9lKckvncyG0xLe9smfSQvY-YSx_338Yzcv6oGliAag38sln-PNRUEnYR2m0ufgbwZnHVv7l8D-N4vT8vWfExSFfqKykEK89XqJMolvHcuPLF7IElGi_YOtVlukppm2BYQ/s400/Bunchberry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><br />Canadian Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis</i></td></tr>
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It wasn't just plants which could be found in the sunny glades, Dragonflies of all sizes were busy hunting the plentiful mosquitoes which provided a constant hum in the background. The first species I came across was the Twin-spotted Spiketail <i>Cordulegaster maculata</i> a large and impressive species which perched for a long while on a dead stick. A more plentiful species was the Common Baskettail <i>Epitheca cynosura,</i>which were busy catching small insects in almost every clearing we encountered. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDiVX_sfeYbxpEQhN48mQMtCp1fRabiXl3WLK0N6tzonNjw40xNi_CCujnOAP0uoRY4sYwd-DYCTNi1iyW9CQdxh58a_nN9DhZKVrFjsW0ox87tFZD8a4elTvizgj2g1loWkq9Z3aCUo/s1600/Dragonfly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDiVX_sfeYbxpEQhN48mQMtCp1fRabiXl3WLK0N6tzonNjw40xNi_CCujnOAP0uoRY4sYwd-DYCTNi1iyW9CQdxh58a_nN9DhZKVrFjsW0ox87tFZD8a4elTvizgj2g1loWkq9Z3aCUo/s400/Dragonfly+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Twin-spotted Spiketail, Cordulegaster maculata</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><br />Common Baskettail, Epitheca cynosura<br /></i></td></tr>
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All in all it was a lovely wander through the sub-boreal forest and a chance for me to see some interesting flora and fauna.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9MI1nzuxR7bYthVRBCcHnyqzRDkVvfAzJJ6cCY84cTSqvezQDTJwzTVJUiUaSInJj31E1VyvpJuMFxSAY5l6ycw5M3khzkcAqiuACwwfj6GQUpNajg_9ujhSqUr-gmaJ9PFnlZf3n7k/s1600/Petroglyphs+Provincial+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9MI1nzuxR7bYthVRBCcHnyqzRDkVvfAzJJ6cCY84cTSqvezQDTJwzTVJUiUaSInJj31E1VyvpJuMFxSAY5l6ycw5M3khzkcAqiuACwwfj6GQUpNajg_9ujhSqUr-gmaJ9PFnlZf3n7k/s400/Petroglyphs+Provincial+Park.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Minnow Lake</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-70326458510762388072017-06-01T18:13:00.000-07:002017-09-08T18:14:18.492-07:00Four More Weeks, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, OntarioWith the weather continually warming but it still seeming to rain a lot (eventually with some consequences), it was soon starting to feel a bit more like the spring I knew.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9HV58pYX-S-Ef-nFvau0VpDqbMEXaV3-02sGVX0aq6ZKL53SzQH8a6s8ltByHUJy5QhBlKEHZhirWW9BaA4zDomZ_M8-2MuEF-GC1sXDIWVpjr-hSieN5sLts4nyjf0DirnMiHtA1qI/s1600/Blood+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1105" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9HV58pYX-S-Ef-nFvau0VpDqbMEXaV3-02sGVX0aq6ZKL53SzQH8a6s8ltByHUJy5QhBlKEHZhirWW9BaA4zDomZ_M8-2MuEF-GC1sXDIWVpjr-hSieN5sLts4nyjf0DirnMiHtA1qI/s400/Blood+Moon.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Blood moon rising over Lake Ontario</i></td></tr>
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With this mixture of weather came the midges <i>Chironomidae spp.</i>, bad news for us, these huge swarms covered everything, it's almost like driving through rain when trying to get to town but its good news for the birds, high in fat these tiny insects allow the birds to rapidly put on weight, becoming little butterballs allowing them to continue their northerly migration, many back to the boreal forest which covers vast swaves of the northern landscape.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNsd3ZWGHiLs6QOCH3JsoTUFhmq5u4l9wEo-E7sfKMygCz4b6aUZVDONG-6n-BfVb__olzVc6-FPd7KMDPsV41z_JEy1RcXipE7Bp1eVPY8rpQvEbU3ZiIKRdIl_jdq6M_HkNkn22pq4/s1600/Blackburnian+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNsd3ZWGHiLs6QOCH3JsoTUFhmq5u4l9wEo-E7sfKMygCz4b6aUZVDONG-6n-BfVb__olzVc6-FPd7KMDPsV41z_JEy1RcXipE7Bp1eVPY8rpQvEbU3ZiIKRdIl_jdq6M_HkNkn22pq4/s400/Blackburnian+Warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Blackburnian Warbler, Setophaga fusca one of the stars of the show</i></td></tr>
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Day by Day the numbers of sparrows were now getting less and less, many of these species with only the local breeders being heard and seen by the end of the month but replacing the sparrows were what I had really come to see, the New World Wood-Warblers <i>Setophaga spp. </i>in Spring.<br />
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This really is a spectacle worth the travel, many of the species I had seen last fall, they were ugly in comparison to what they now looked like. Prime examples of this were Blackpoll <i>Setophaga striata</i>, Chestnut-Sided <i>Setophaga pensylvanica </i>and Blackburnian warblers <i>Setophaga fusca</i>, all of which looked amazingly different to their drab autumnal selves. Some species change very little, Orange-Crown <i>Vermivora celata</i>, Chestnut-Sided <i>Setophaga pensylvanica</i> (my favourite fall warbler) and Black-Throated Blue Warblers<i> Setophaga caerulescens </i>don't feel the need to change and look much as they do all year round.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebZ5aAtATaVQMgm4YrHrvsTGL5IxhrdcHSlIlylRofaZo_39HAnHCqXP1yb8lGaijVFnGApOkSuMf2nD92jUCraWspiGkLqqEFgX8nDbyIJOPSQQVMvy0sQqV6Ca571G94BNtN17yhgM/s1600/Scarlet+Tanager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebZ5aAtATaVQMgm4YrHrvsTGL5IxhrdcHSlIlylRofaZo_39HAnHCqXP1yb8lGaijVFnGApOkSuMf2nD92jUCraWspiGkLqqEFgX8nDbyIJOPSQQVMvy0sQqV6Ca571G94BNtN17yhgM/s400/Scarlet+Tanager.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>A jewel, an adult male orange morph Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea</i></td></tr>
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The most noticeable difference to the fall is the noise, no simple confusing chips now, the birds had found their voices and were belting out a cacophony of song. Confusing songs and whole new learning curve and eventually I managed to learn the most obvious and distinctive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiDcZmXVkzEGNDCijIvfrWBkMIrXMv5dvXpTTfcWaxD7moASBBAoMw4S6FS9yBDG-c-h-LOOKovseFDXzt6kQ8V_UEGSWXzGdYt2vWtqKil2Bn6jD0m3r0sjFShrqiQMt21_Wnf3JBEY/s1600/Lighthouse+in+flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiDcZmXVkzEGNDCijIvfrWBkMIrXMv5dvXpTTfcWaxD7moASBBAoMw4S6FS9yBDG-c-h-LOOKovseFDXzt6kQ8V_UEGSWXzGdYt2vWtqKil2Bn6jD0m3r0sjFShrqiQMt21_Wnf3JBEY/s400/Lighthouse+in+flood.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lighthouse, now with additional water</i></td></tr>
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By mid-May the woods were a riot of sound, colour and smells. Birds of all colours had moved up from the south, Scarlet Tanagers shared trees with Baltimore Orioles, looking like last years left over Christmas decorations. Dormant seeds had sprouted into ephemeral spring flowers and Bursting buds bathed the forest floor in soft spring light but still the water levels on the lake kept rising.<br />
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In the end the water levels were the highest recorded on Lake Ontario for a 100 years, causing flooding in many low lying areas, the net lanes often had water running through them and the swamp was filled to the brim. A westerly breeze caused huge problems, the fisherman lost their dock, the cottage opposite lost several foot of shoreline and eventually the lighthouse became stranded and surround by water.<br />
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The change in flora was also noticeable, the Dutchman's Breeches and trout Lillies gave way to Woodland Phlox <i>Phlox divaricata, </i>which enjoyed the wet weather and formed a mauve carpet all through the woods. Canadian Columbine <i>Aquilegia canadensis </i>grew along the paths. One of my favourite flowers and a key nectar species for hummingbirds in the spring, A truly lovely species to find.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBv6LZkgPYXW2Nol7lPGATVEdHlSRze_cHQuIx04X4RElFRraxoOOBlyLQKVQo-d7E_R_pG9OsewVs2j6SB98PsL7AWhnlTvQVrbZpF6xR79UZN_pamZsL6o6HCCiCP5CJ0YrinMCcFI/s1600/Canadian+Columbine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBv6LZkgPYXW2Nol7lPGATVEdHlSRze_cHQuIx04X4RElFRraxoOOBlyLQKVQo-d7E_R_pG9OsewVs2j6SB98PsL7AWhnlTvQVrbZpF6xR79UZN_pamZsL6o6HCCiCP5CJ0YrinMCcFI/s400/Canadian+Columbine.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Canadian Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oeiXGWvgLNCjsD5GZDdUbAsiCeCdahs33-FyGMb3ep0Z31U182T0RBxZx8yL_puqqtAwqLFHz5Lho6lyo7MtpkVHHhkQGT33glp9SNI6zUiY9fPfoaI34icFlMZ1p8FPdZlUcAolbTg/s1600/Eastern+American+Toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oeiXGWvgLNCjsD5GZDdUbAsiCeCdahs33-FyGMb3ep0Z31U182T0RBxZx8yL_puqqtAwqLFHz5Lho6lyo7MtpkVHHhkQGT33glp9SNI6zUiY9fPfoaI34icFlMZ1p8FPdZlUcAolbTg/s320/Eastern+American+Toad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus</i></td></tr>
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More fauna was also becoming more noticeable, especially snakes which could often be seen basking on in the shrubs and on the paths. Northern Water Snake <i>Nerodia sipedon sipedon</i> had taken to basking in the dogwoods above the flooded pools around the harbour area. A Raccoon<i> Procyon lotor </i>was found sleeping in one of the larger trees on the 4th of May. Eastern American Toads <i>Anaxyrus americanus </i><i>americanus </i>started showing up early in May and could be found occasionally for the rest of the month.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOHduuHvJ4Zv3mB-oRtLzJIByJO6KCEr_dJQDup7Jf2WHaeBEV0E_kIhhnM_UsLX6NtbWkAsYwY0k05G9iymnZAsSS0xX4UHXGPvjGytKaAKr-LUYLpjQ_xIsmCXHJpR3SLAWIWZVGgk/s1600/Golden-Winged+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOHduuHvJ4Zv3mB-oRtLzJIByJO6KCEr_dJQDup7Jf2WHaeBEV0E_kIhhnM_UsLX6NtbWkAsYwY0k05G9iymnZAsSS0xX4UHXGPvjGytKaAKr-LUYLpjQ_xIsmCXHJpR3SLAWIWZVGgk/s320/Golden-Winged+Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Male Golden-Winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera</i></td></tr>
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A number of notable species were caught, including many I wasn't really expecting to be extracting out the nets.<br />
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An Eastern Kingbird <i>Tyrannus tyrannus</i> was caught on the 10th May, a male Golden-Winged Warbler <i>Vermivora chrysoptera</i> on the 11th and a female banded on the 23rd.<br />
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An Evening Grosbeak <i>Coccothraustes vespertinus </i>on the 15th, Mourning Warbler <i>Geothlypis philadelphia </i>on the 16th, Carolina Wren <i>Thryothorus ludovicianus</i> on the 20th after several days of two being present on the site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkSOXf5gl6sPjOhDPXDymsgPSSACKpfftkwoJZb9rivlBAEkVGqS7ogsdDHkY3VxhsQAW_QdQ45EHdykJaA36YbMDppyqiK-EjpyonLPpjwbjo9dfyr0pUTUG-WG6PW6CBFHcTU-ojbE/s1600/Yellow-Breasted+Chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkSOXf5gl6sPjOhDPXDymsgPSSACKpfftkwoJZb9rivlBAEkVGqS7ogsdDHkY3VxhsQAW_QdQ45EHdykJaA36YbMDppyqiK-EjpyonLPpjwbjo9dfyr0pUTUG-WG6PW6CBFHcTU-ojbE/s320/Yellow-Breasted+Chat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yellow-Breasted Chat, Icteria virens</i></td></tr>
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A Yellow-Breasted Chat <i>Icteria virens </i>on the 21st, Hooded Warbler <i>Setophaga citrina</i> on the 22nd, Orchard Oriole <i>Icterus spurius</i> and finally an Olive-Sided Flycatcher <i>Contopus cooperi </i>on the 26th. In the end a very busy month!<br />
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By far the most special was what most people would class a boring species, a corvid but not your ordinary crow. A week prior to being caught Dave had thought he had seen a Fish Crow <i>Corvus ossifragus. S</i>imilar looking to the related American Crow, it has a distinct nasal call and is generally much less shy. He was right and a few days later it was confirmed. Now we had to catch it, eventually after a couple of days feeding on some stale crisps left by some children it was caught in a bow net. This is the first case of the species being banded in Canada and a species Dave had never banded, not a common occurrence in the slightest!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-89619523421445141052017-05-22T08:11:00.000-07:002017-07-27T08:12:57.394-07:00A Day Out in the County, Sandbanks Provincial Park & Kaiser Crossroads, Prince Edward County, Ontario<br />
With the afternoon off, Ketha had agreed to take me on the tour of the county and finally I could see Sandbanks, a well known Provincial Park on the north western end of the county and also visit a couple of the vineyards.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdUxDcL7lWdUYLGlIru0CfJ07frDJs-wo_aAt7YnPbfLn5ULr4iQOcJqFTMFARXzUjy-svHicWXklUvmNzwT0qUyT9gI3RN6E8H6lyOH_JxVYL0Oxdwe04DW-RCtIsf8PnLcLQY-KKK4/s1600/Sandbanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdUxDcL7lWdUYLGlIru0CfJ07frDJs-wo_aAt7YnPbfLn5ULr4iQOcJqFTMFARXzUjy-svHicWXklUvmNzwT0qUyT9gI3RN6E8H6lyOH_JxVYL0Oxdwe04DW-RCtIsf8PnLcLQY-KKK4/s400/Sandbanks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sandbanks Provincial Park</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy1emwKO9upJ5SQBVi3pZPy_NUoJIUj47lXNk0J4oyi_AHePZCBfeIJVeb0mg8dJqtrWq5xUTxRFAyLOsSNT89DAV80HzxhT8EVOsdHS5gEnhsJe1xmj3bbPUO4eDFIqpK59-hA4ktAM/s1600/False+Solomon%2527s+Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy1emwKO9upJ5SQBVi3pZPy_NUoJIUj47lXNk0J4oyi_AHePZCBfeIJVeb0mg8dJqtrWq5xUTxRFAyLOsSNT89DAV80HzxhT8EVOsdHS5gEnhsJe1xmj3bbPUO4eDFIqpK59-hA4ktAM/s320/False+Solomon%2527s+Seal.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum stellata</i></td></tr>
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With the temperatures soaring and the sky being largely cloudless we thought we couldn't have picked a better day. We weren't quite right as the the lake soon became shrouded in a thick fog. Sandbanks can be found on the edge of Lake Ontario, it became a park in the 70's and contains world's largest freshwater sand bar and dune system. Historically the site was cleared for pasture in the mid-1850's with cattle predominately grazing the dune system, causing the dunes to become mobile and destabilised and burying everything in its path. efforts to stabilise them have been ongoing since 1911.<br />
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Another current problem was the lake...which was at its highest level in 100 years causing there to be no beach (although Ketha assured me there normally is). Off shore there were large flocks of Ring-Billed Gulls<i> Larus delawarensis </i>and a few Bonaparte's Gulls<i> Chroicocephalus philadelphia </i>but very little else. The dune system's flora consisted largely of American Beach Grass <i>Ammophilla breviligulata </i>which helps to stabilise the dune system, amongst the grass False Solomon's Seal <i>Maianthemum stellata, </i>an attractive plant with small star shaped flowers. Sand Cherry <i>Prunus pumila </i>was one of the few shrubs in flower and could be found along most of the shore. Close to the car park the invasive non-native Greater Celendine <i>Chelidonium majus </i>could be found.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2EIRNu14E1QH1nQouwJ4fTJ_3neFkaCEy3L40dngks5enu9cSCwp69qzeYUXwq-PofYkHbX3Lp1rkazrdLutp0Ceqm7oh8oRQc5tbo5bWFDrEETWooqhJSQclnVimWPwebJNqSxNIGU/s1600/Sand+Cherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2EIRNu14E1QH1nQouwJ4fTJ_3neFkaCEy3L40dngks5enu9cSCwp69qzeYUXwq-PofYkHbX3Lp1rkazrdLutp0Ceqm7oh8oRQc5tbo5bWFDrEETWooqhJSQclnVimWPwebJNqSxNIGU/s400/Sand+Cherry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sand Cherry, Prunus pumila</i></td></tr>
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After leaving Sandbanks and quickly visiting Black Prince and getting a bottle of Mary Jane's Magical Hemp Wine and visiting the cooper next door who had visited the observatory in the fall we made our way to Kaiser Crossroad, a well known local birding spot.<br />
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Although not much to look at, a series of maize fields with flooded depressions, its an amazing place for birds and seems to draw in large numbers of shorebirds, gulls and terns. A few days before the place was heaving with shorebirds but it was pretty quiet apart from large numbers of Ring-Billed Gulls and a few Caspian Terns<i> Hydroprogne caspia </i>but there was one wader present and it was a good one, a Marbled Godwit <i>Limosa fedoa</i>, a good bird for the county and a lifer for me. It soon became very clear why there was very little about when a large female Peregrine came over doing a sorty, causing the godwit to lift giving me ever better views of all its distinguishing features.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm13ibM24dO1S4V2E_05HXwqy-W3lxfIEYnfdOSF82YIjchum7iJjvi2aSAhrvti2Cw8zTiJspsdUtazAo3AhB0tfxwBYvqVWhLeOMG-gM82Wu9EiCmQa9sk71PcRklHo5dve1TAF3i-o/s1600/Marbled+Godwit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm13ibM24dO1S4V2E_05HXwqy-W3lxfIEYnfdOSF82YIjchum7iJjvi2aSAhrvti2Cw8zTiJspsdUtazAo3AhB0tfxwBYvqVWhLeOMG-gM82Wu9EiCmQa9sk71PcRklHo5dve1TAF3i-o/s400/Marbled+Godwit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><br />Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa and two <br />Ring-Billed Gulls, Larus delawarensis</i></td></tr>
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All in all not a bad afternoon away from the Obs!</div>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-35148405305122274002017-05-16T05:37:00.000-07:002017-09-07T18:44:08.187-07:00Mountain View & Point Petre Woods, Prince Edward County, Ontario<br />
With the afternoon off and rain threatening to disrupt banding the following day I took the opportunity to go and visit a couple a local botanical sites with sheila, one of the observatory volunteers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqeiKBOsdL-8g4oU7tt9hK2lvnZH_PheBO8hL1p8QOvYp8y5WnQzxglDDGLpHbZPMahwHvv6lBDymo97iWbm1k26HdH5AfHb3T-1qqt1gxgaEktahRrbdhp1DYP17D7ThkauqslEb_xg/s1600/Woodland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqeiKBOsdL-8g4oU7tt9hK2lvnZH_PheBO8hL1p8QOvYp8y5WnQzxglDDGLpHbZPMahwHvv6lBDymo97iWbm1k26HdH5AfHb3T-1qqt1gxgaEktahRrbdhp1DYP17D7ThkauqslEb_xg/s400/Woodland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mountain View Woods, showing the stream running down from the escarpment.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1MLZwaCNVG7fjcnJXdcJb-tOu7EpMTOCFswbpSASOTmoZ-1Au7_BnviUOUXhlS8ZrbhImkqQjQSDxFiXxNnyEMfwDk8DEV0QP8xJjg0EEmJfIXabV6V-x50uykHkaJ3xgvMDtyzv73E/s1600/Jack-in-the-Pulpit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1055" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1MLZwaCNVG7fjcnJXdcJb-tOu7EpMTOCFswbpSASOTmoZ-1Au7_BnviUOUXhlS8ZrbhImkqQjQSDxFiXxNnyEMfwDk8DEV0QP8xJjg0EEmJfIXabV6V-x50uykHkaJ3xgvMDtyzv73E/s400/Jack-in-the-Pulpit.jpg" width="262" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><br />Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum</i></td></tr>
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The first port of call was a private property, located in the north of Prince Edward County in the small community of Mountain View. The habitat consisted of a deciduous woodland, consisting of a beech and maple canopy which have enabled rich soils edged on one side by an escarpment providing good drainage for the slopes. A small stream ran through the middle of the wood creating an area of damp ground which was suitable for Jack-in-the-Pulpit <i>Arisaema triphyllum</i> to grow. The rich soils found on the rest of the site provide the perfect habitat for a range of spring ephemeral species including a couple I had been looking forward to seeing since I arrived.<br />
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As well as plants the woods were also home to a few species of amphibians. I had hoped to find a salamander and spent a large amount of time flipping logs in the hope of finding one but it wasn't to be. I did manage to find a Northern Spring Peeper <i>Psudacris crucifer crucifer</i> a tiny species of frog which is more often heard than seen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr1v3aqKOYDGn3yURL_rnGx0UDPjaEkHObuerSA9x4Mc-_cqvjka1reXFtYd_yzD7dcY3ngbPY-oZTvSialI7NnRmU0QjdT5dIJDh2-EcqYusIMQylnnJDEOeW85P9zw5_7IGfjKiqKU/s1600/Spring+Peeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr1v3aqKOYDGn3yURL_rnGx0UDPjaEkHObuerSA9x4Mc-_cqvjka1reXFtYd_yzD7dcY3ngbPY-oZTvSialI7NnRmU0QjdT5dIJDh2-EcqYusIMQylnnJDEOeW85P9zw5_7IGfjKiqKU/s400/Spring+Peeper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Northern Spring Peeper, Psudacris crucifer crucifer</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqvXW2op-2kNRIeLe97FBKNRu_lTXQgOoKQSDhKDTBWtQJr-F-8eDR_BeaR-Tp6OtLPptht2Zhw9hl6fsa-IsK7y7F7H6HVAiCIVxDflUq8A8kNgwzJN8QSo8p-F-V0Mbc7_I6KmphfE/s1600/Trillium+Wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqvXW2op-2kNRIeLe97FBKNRu_lTXQgOoKQSDhKDTBWtQJr-F-8eDR_BeaR-Tp6OtLPptht2Zhw9hl6fsa-IsK7y7F7H6HVAiCIVxDflUq8A8kNgwzJN8QSo8p-F-V0Mbc7_I6KmphfE/s400/Trillium+Wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trillium spp. growing in the wood below a Beech tree</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQe_biXtKMrBaXbGNA1bR0MeyjckhF-cVmEDC7LXCFaic0yU_coIcWrCafat5Rl7zTELGyqH3u7AQ2m3VfAcPty2buph7LVdLBRaw4DZtMChzNq52YygSIHNYM60o-YRQLeVq9ntQ17o/s1600/White+Trillium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQe_biXtKMrBaXbGNA1bR0MeyjckhF-cVmEDC7LXCFaic0yU_coIcWrCafat5Rl7zTELGyqH3u7AQ2m3VfAcPty2buph7LVdLBRaw4DZtMChzNq52YygSIHNYM60o-YRQLeVq9ntQ17o/s400/White+Trillium.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>White Trillium, Trillium grandiflora</i></td></tr>
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Trilliums <i>Trillums spp.</i> were by far the most flamboyant plant present. Trilliums are an interesting family of plants and seems to be one of the relatively few plant families to rely on ants to help disperse their seeds. <i>Trillium grandiflora </i>was the commonest species found throughout the wood and formed dense stands in some of the areas. It really is a grand flower, with its large distinctive 3 petal flowers its easy to understand why its the provincial emblem of Ontario and has been since 1936.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4xIeqvpzyfgSpcUkm7j8nUjqHyvYnR20x2oIehnFx7_DBIX-674mp1bKXlXDg01Kk9E5Fj5RjwB8lXIhLnOKFFqi79JaWOOnJPFTHQnAiNUfY_1iT1BUQFza2G2_0H_xIP7wEVqNQ20/s1600/Red+Trillium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4xIeqvpzyfgSpcUkm7j8nUjqHyvYnR20x2oIehnFx7_DBIX-674mp1bKXlXDg01Kk9E5Fj5RjwB8lXIhLnOKFFqi79JaWOOnJPFTHQnAiNUfY_1iT1BUQFza2G2_0H_xIP7wEVqNQ20/s400/Red+Trillium.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Red Trillium, Trillium erectum</i></td></tr>
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Just as pretty were the Red Trillium <i>Trillium erectum, </i>although It wasn't as numerous it could still be found in good numbers. With it's deep red flowers it easy to see how it got it's folk name Woke-Robin due to its analogy with the European robin <i>Erithacus rubecula. </i>Although close to being over a few Sharp-lobed Hepatica <i>Anemone acutiloba </i>were still in flower along with swathes of Trout lilies, <i>Erythronium americanum </i>so named due to their distinctively patterned leaves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh1D_Q3pqGCouL4TeK-_l8__tIbsYpDEMoRgccI1jBOBzYnelpAC5DpnMhlAH-Vov60T9PbgwUTePLFkY5XP4wkDQQHPeXtdo3xSOEla14NIdKCFSWKdqURh5Y1rxNoQr64Fzf9zBTCA/s1600/Sharp-lobed+Hepatica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh1D_Q3pqGCouL4TeK-_l8__tIbsYpDEMoRgccI1jBOBzYnelpAC5DpnMhlAH-Vov60T9PbgwUTePLFkY5XP4wkDQQHPeXtdo3xSOEla14NIdKCFSWKdqURh5Y1rxNoQr64Fzf9zBTCA/s400/Sharp-lobed+Hepatica.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Sharp-lobed Hepatica, Anemone acutiloba</i></td></tr>
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The real reason for going to Mountain View was to see the Squirrel Corn<i> Dicentra canadensis</i>, a small unassuming <i>Dicentra</i> which looks superficially similar to Dutchman's Breeches<i> Dicentra cucullaria</i>, a very common woodland flower. With it's delicate white heart shaped flowers and fine foliage it really was a beauty!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc34HCBKGojfHRrDmoPkSz0dSs9mTVYasCBKYcyQsBoCRK6-SMAJqklhxW215JUodSKfosQOFHbHZHQckd9Pzl14OLd6P8z4teNtIBvcHGMvg5XsJ9HAWllOR-OJVQdC587uWZWP37XE/s1600/Squirrelcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc34HCBKGojfHRrDmoPkSz0dSs9mTVYasCBKYcyQsBoCRK6-SMAJqklhxW215JUodSKfosQOFHbHZHQckd9Pzl14OLd6P8z4teNtIBvcHGMvg5XsJ9HAWllOR-OJVQdC587uWZWP37XE/s400/Squirrelcorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis</i></td></tr>
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A few other species could also be seen in whilst wandering about including Blue Cohosh <i>Caulophyllum giganteum, </i>Small-flowered Crowfoot <i>Ranunculus abortivus</i><br />
Large-Flowered Bellwort<i> Uvularia grandiflora</i> , Early Meadow-Rue <i>Thalictrum dioicum, </i>Milterwort <i>Mitella diphylla </i>and Long-Spurred Violet <i>Viola rostrata.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBJrcmjAxogW_K0NfSRJRw_UW-l-5irppZbksOdFYlqnx5Kj2nRT_fiqLl0O8fyWQM411RY3emKVHvcQghCK04UjvKjHGDAdfbDSEh4CglWzCGBIoIjVJiPEkfD348PBaIAFskMU_9Ks/s1600/Blue+Cohosh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBJrcmjAxogW_K0NfSRJRw_UW-l-5irppZbksOdFYlqnx5Kj2nRT_fiqLl0O8fyWQM411RY3emKVHvcQghCK04UjvKjHGDAdfbDSEh4CglWzCGBIoIjVJiPEkfD348PBaIAFskMU_9Ks/s400/Blue+Cohosh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum giganteum</i></td></tr>
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With the weather getting wetter we had to cut short our trip but it allowed us to quickly visit Point Petre woods in the search for one last rarity, Twinleaf<i> Jeffersonia diphylla </i>which can only be found in southern Ontario. Sadly due to the rain the plants weren't out in full flower but at least I got to see them!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXFoEhO5bg15TeL3ypj5eN9spfSer5135n5Jq3igD2BQDY5UQGU3twrZzOprZ2bmgxslUttnitT1c-e4XPytC9lk7dPYKuK479Fthjop-3MWM52WZLEwexMd-6zgwjJM3xSp3yXaoNhs/s1600/Twinleaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXFoEhO5bg15TeL3ypj5eN9spfSer5135n5Jq3igD2BQDY5UQGU3twrZzOprZ2bmgxslUttnitT1c-e4XPytC9lk7dPYKuK479Fthjop-3MWM52WZLEwexMd-6zgwjJM3xSp3yXaoNhs/s400/Twinleaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla</i></td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-20502207898584088132017-05-04T17:58:00.002-07:002017-05-07T16:40:20.454-07:00Three Weeks of a Canadian Spring. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, OntarioLeaving what already felt like a reasonable advanced spring in the UK, I'd flown across the Atlantic expecting similar weather and conditions (after all, Prince Edward Point is roughly on the same latitude as Paris) but boy was I wrong.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqxP-BK2K8u6p0NcTBq_QW99vXfW0JVFGJn-kAj3-smg0KJ00_GB1aaYV72xTg-XRnRe_eNEzg-n_hyphenhypheniiurC5piicSPVGBVM9xvQ6_6CKd0Rn-3NY-D3V-UeR4vPp7SU6Ss2c5GItKk/s1600/PEPBO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqxP-BK2K8u6p0NcTBq_QW99vXfW0JVFGJn-kAj3-smg0KJ00_GB1aaYV72xTg-XRnRe_eNEzg-n_hyphenhypheniiurC5piicSPVGBVM9xvQ6_6CKd0Rn-3NY-D3V-UeR4vPp7SU6Ss2c5GItKk/s400/PEPBO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>The Point Lighthouse, Prince Edward County</i></td></tr>
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Arriving to torrential rain, which quickly turned to sleet and eventually snow was a bit different to the sunshine I'd left in the UK. Dave picked me from the airport and had already planned the first bird tick for me to see nearby. A second year male King Eider <i>Somateria spectabilis </i>which had wintered at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on the outskirts of the city (and also where I twitched a Cattle Egret <i>Bubulcus ibis</i> in November last year when I was volunteering at the observatory in the fall). It was quickly spotted and seemed relatively at home with the Mallard<i> Anas platyrhynchos, </i>Gadwall<i> Anas strepera </i>and Ruddy Ducks<i> Oxyura jamaicensis </i>it shared the marina with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqbY77Af5Xq9etcxobSzo6qKVIHfkweLFNjXnb9BUUZ_Uo2CbR7jt98Z2B7zBaLVP1-fPWQSapC6JjFMXrord3wfQSGIXsbsQOtUXe3u8pWiYsjgFr129vFFePT7aZAZiHLfkFH0RKM/s1600/Fence+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqbY77Af5Xq9etcxobSzo6qKVIHfkweLFNjXnb9BUUZ_Uo2CbR7jt98Z2B7zBaLVP1-fPWQSapC6JjFMXrord3wfQSGIXsbsQOtUXe3u8pWiYsjgFr129vFFePT7aZAZiHLfkFH0RKM/s400/Fence+line.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i>The old fence line, probably about 100 years old,<br />Prince Edward Point.</i></td></tr>
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After staying at a friends for the night, the next morning we started to get the observatory up to running order. Whilst picking up groceries and driving through Milford we spotted a number of vultures circling, not unusual but Dave rapidly stopped and pointed out a bird which was flying in a different manner with its wings seemingly tucked in, a Black Vulture <i>Coragyps atratus</i>, an unusual record for the county but not all that surprising as they are slowly expanding their range north.<br />
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It took a couple of days to get the nets up (consisting of 8 standard net lanes and the 100mm swamp net) as we weren't in a hurry and the ground traps all set we were ready to start at 6.30am on the 10th April. Although still cold, the sun was out and it was warm enough for the first few Blanding's Turtles <i>Emydoidea blandingii </i>to emerge from hibernation and sun themselves in the swamp. The first morning certainly wasn't a disappointing with 91 birds of 17 species banded. I'd previously caught many of the species in the fall although it took a short while to get used to Eastern American species again (and having to open rings!) I was soon back into the swing of it.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpPSt5Ar5qpvPKp917ohK-x7YrWYANI6lcenrkbvUOeJ3Ay-g_sPGvtTOuUctAjoIQ9jCsxGRKBw0CWZEkYO38QMdXASnLPJXNN9cfuG5vZAe0XU1m5DvftUaZpywqCH7uEY_JHzy3bo/s1600/Blanding%2527s+Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpPSt5Ar5qpvPKp917ohK-x7YrWYANI6lcenrkbvUOeJ3Ay-g_sPGvtTOuUctAjoIQ9jCsxGRKBw0CWZEkYO38QMdXASnLPJXNN9cfuG5vZAe0XU1m5DvftUaZpywqCH7uEY_JHzy3bo/s400/Blanding%2527s+Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQzlBsdcfuWFXf2Rsl2yBkKX48bjGYizniNdRHSkqfCL_SZKm5FKIhGH2qugeXKV3GWanD5LN9jLx3APyhr1p-hMPHxDVhyXm6v_Rm-1qxo49mKsnMCAM6nXytgLI7TFSizEiiOLa_7A/s1600/Loggerhead+shrike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQzlBsdcfuWFXf2Rsl2yBkKX48bjGYizniNdRHSkqfCL_SZKm5FKIhGH2qugeXKV3GWanD5LN9jLx3APyhr1p-hMPHxDVhyXm6v_Rm-1qxo49mKsnMCAM6nXytgLI7TFSizEiiOLa_7A/s200/Loggerhead+shrike.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus migrans</i></td></tr>
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After a tip off about a large owl just east of Belleville, we quickly made the trip up to see it. On reaching the area Dave immediately suggested the area of habitat it would likely to be in, although even then it still took a couple of attempts to eventually see it. To pass the time waiting for dusk, one evening we took a quick trip to Napanee Limestone Plain an Important Bird Area (IBA), a large area of Alvar habitat protected specifically for the endangered Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes <i>Lanius ludovicianus migrans. </i>A species Dave had previously worked on which allowed me to see where the species could previously be found, where it once nested and understand what habitat it preferred. In total 3 individuals were seen including a bird singing close to the road. Whilst viewing the shrikes a group of Greater Yellowlegs <i>Tringa melanoleuca </i>dropped into to a temporary pool in a stubble field on the other side of the road giving great views.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTGnkbjtj-yEkoq0ZM-F7g78GVkd5CXQfsEQz1JogSdmTVNDeF_mFwE0rqYRiAxUXOQhdYIb4Tor3pnFxd73dqFQ0D3UK-V5lNw8ynobEPtFpLFppY-DYG8VaLmRR5_rNkeuHUSDP0Zo/s1600/Great+Grey+Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTGnkbjtj-yEkoq0ZM-F7g78GVkd5CXQfsEQz1JogSdmTVNDeF_mFwE0rqYRiAxUXOQhdYIb4Tor3pnFxd73dqFQ0D3UK-V5lNw8ynobEPtFpLFppY-DYG8VaLmRR5_rNkeuHUSDP0Zo/s400/Great+Grey+Owl.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i>Great Grey Owl, <span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;">Strix nebulosa</span></i></td></tr>
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With the day fasting coming to a close and the sun dipping lower on the horizon, we made our way back to where the owl had been seen. Sure enough it was exactly where Dave had suggested it would be. Sitting on a fence post, 6 foot from the road sat the Phantom of the North, the Great Grey Owl <i>Strix nebulosa. </i>It was surprisingly camouflaged for such a large bird. Although the species can be found across the whole of the northern hemisphere, it was first described in Canada in the late 18th century before also being discovered in Northern Europe.<br />
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It showed little fear of us, hunting whilst I was photographing it. The bird left with a size 8 band on, it turned out to be a second year bird (SY pattern shown in the secondaries and primary feathers, the beige look of the bird also suggested this) hopefully it'll provide us with an interesting recovery in the future.<br />
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The next morning with the nets set,a smart male After Second Year (ASY) Sharp-Shinned Hawk <i>Accipiter striatus </i>was the first bird caught, it gave me a run about but eventually got stuck in the pocket of one of the mist nets. Although we catch a large number of raptors in the fall, we only catch a small number in the spring.<br />
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The first warbler of the year was also caught, a male Pine Warbler <i>Setophaga pinus</i>, although plenty had been hanging around the observatory, it's still the only one we've managed to catch this spring. The first few weeks was characterised by good catches of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets <i>Regulus calendula</i>, Brown-headed Cowbirds <i>Molothrus ater</i>, American Goldfinches <i>Spinus tristis</i>, Purple Finches <i>Haemorhous purpureus</i> and Slate-Coloured Juncos <i>Junco hyemalis </i><i>hyemalis,</i><i> </i>with the number caught much lower than when we first arrived. From around the 20th of April Myrtle Warblers<i> Dendroica coronata coronata </i>have been increasing in number and by the 27th. The trickle became a landslide with 8 species of warbler being seen around the observatory including early Blackburnian Warbler <i>Setophaga fusca</i> and Blue-Winged Warblers <i>Vermivora cyanoptera</i>.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBGXcF0s-neSiZf5lWdsOBO5mPV4HhMHU5gwVkz1sq3GeL0P_U3xhyBpDe4oqaTUMHcyyGMEhVMQEhTrrUFMJQ4IHS9sWi59vFJ6IDG1MEetvDFILaqRFlbs0ZA_9qEEC7XnUeJjbXu0/s1600/Blue+winged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBGXcF0s-neSiZf5lWdsOBO5mPV4HhMHU5gwVkz1sq3GeL0P_U3xhyBpDe4oqaTUMHcyyGMEhVMQEhTrrUFMJQ4IHS9sWi59vFJ6IDG1MEetvDFILaqRFlbs0ZA_9qEEC7XnUeJjbXu0/s400/Blue+winged.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Blue-Winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera</i></td></tr>
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Numbers of hirundines increased daily with Cliff Swallows <i>Petrochelidon pyrrhonota</i> busily rebuilding their nest on the side of the building. Tree Swallows <i>Tachycineta bicolor </i>have been investigating the nest box traps daily although only 3 have been caught so far . 6 Purple Martins <i>Progne subis</i> have returned and are starting to using the boxes provided. Barn Swallows<i> Hirundo rustica </i>can often be seen down at the harbour and are rebuilding their nests in the abandoned sheds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Le1dOAXN0k8QPvhLqdDFuusif9mOxAg5GFIBGWlUXzOUwekiPWvI89FdI7xkm2tJg4P-KPrvRBnKZABXsLOiNs_Qph3bigigh2RqF4aPzqwWKHHis_q99X3o9fNsq8aAo-K6ZXvebYo/s1600/Tufted+Titmouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Le1dOAXN0k8QPvhLqdDFuusif9mOxAg5GFIBGWlUXzOUwekiPWvI89FdI7xkm2tJg4P-KPrvRBnKZABXsLOiNs_Qph3bigigh2RqF4aPzqwWKHHis_q99X3o9fNsq8aAo-K6ZXvebYo/s320/Tufted+Titmouse.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Eastern Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor</i></td></tr>
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Notable birds caught over the month include two European (invasive) species rarely caught down at the observatory. A female House Sparrow <i>Passer domesticus</i> was banded on the 16th April and a European Starling <i>Sturnus vulgaris</i> was banded on the 23rd. Both species are rarely caught and are by no means annual at the observatory. Other notables included an Eastern Tufted Titmouse <i>Baeolophus bicolor </i>was banded on the 13th and was also present on the 14th . It was the first banded since 2009. A female Red-Bellied Woodpecker <i>Melanerpes carolinus </i>was caught on the 20th, a Vesper Sparrow <i>Pooecetes gramineus</i> on the 23rd, a notable early Great Crested Flycatcher <i>Myiarchus crinitus</i> on the 25th (2 days after it had first been seen and about a week earlier than the earliest record for the area), a Yellow Warbler <i>Setophaga petechia</i>, a Rusty Blackbird <i>Euphagus carolinus</i>, a Pine Siskin <i>Spinus pinus</i> and a stunning Blue Winged Warbler<i> Vermivora cyanoptera</i> on the 27th. Finally a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher <i>Polioptila caerulea </i>was trapped on the 29th (about six individuals have been calling in between several nets).<br />
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It hasn't just been birds which have been appearing for the spring. As the weathered warmed more and more species of reptile have emerged from their winter hibernacular. 5 species of snake have been seen including Eastern Garter Snake <i>Thamnophis </i><i>sirtalis </i><i>sirtalis</i>, Northern Water Snake <i>Nerodia sipedon sipedon</i>, Smooth Green Snake <i>Opheodrys vernalis</i>, Northern Redbelly Snake<i> Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata </i>and Northern Brown Snake <i>Storeria dekayi dekayi. </i>Two other species of turtle have also been seen. Two Snapping Turtles <i>Chelydra serpentina </i>can be seen in the swamp and a group of Midland Painted Turtles <i>Chrysemys picta marginata</i> can be found at the end of the harbour. Frogs are still remaining elusive with the majority calling far out in the swamps and can only be heard and not seen but a Grey Treefrog<i> Hyla versicolor </i>and a Northern Leopard Frog <i>Lithobates pipiens</i> was found in the net lanes on the 28th.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFVaDjqCZYqCHdznNn8K6fqbBSIiAnaCKI2AJdCNTiDEYlAY39cCYuV3rC3s1VjzATo7mZr3pE1qZnqXIVhxE-Vcq-8WKOOmdGmw1V5cdXbgrSGdWOI-d0PgKyu8iuQmyudHNdOQjUK4/s1600/IMG_8530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFVaDjqCZYqCHdznNn8K6fqbBSIiAnaCKI2AJdCNTiDEYlAY39cCYuV3rC3s1VjzATo7mZr3pE1qZnqXIVhxE-Vcq-8WKOOmdGmw1V5cdXbgrSGdWOI-d0PgKyu8iuQmyudHNdOQjUK4/s400/IMG_8530.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Grey Treefrog, Hyla versicolor</i></td></tr>
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Red Admirals<i> Vanessa atalanta </i>are by far the commonest butterfly currently found around the point with many congregating with large numbers of diptera around the distinctive holes formed by sapsuckers. Mourning Cloaks <i>Nymphalis antiopa,</i> Grey Comma <i>Polygonia progne </i>and American Painted Lady<i> Vanessa virginiensis </i>have also been present in the area with many taking advantage of the abundance of spring flowers which have been profusely blooming for the last week or so. The bulk of the spring flowers are comprised of Dutchman's Breeches <i>Dicentra cucullaria</i> and Trout Lily <i>Erythronium americanum </i>which are currently carpeting the woodland floor, with small patches of Spring Beauties <i>Claytonia virginica</i> and Bloodroot<i> Sanguinaria canadensis</i>.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5PM5-qy4K_3SXrVf9yj7j1_Xd2Mva9fIxGAFY8VQsRGH_73DKPYhzvaGL44nTRYutBBjQgYp_cmN63d_xudA95wWhJr0n4zQhAM-HxbZpLh99JvrqLin-C9se3YDUjtK_hE3D3cakmc/s1600/Mourning+Cloak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5PM5-qy4K_3SXrVf9yj7j1_Xd2Mva9fIxGAFY8VQsRGH_73DKPYhzvaGL44nTRYutBBjQgYp_cmN63d_xudA95wWhJr0n4zQhAM-HxbZpLh99JvrqLin-C9se3YDUjtK_hE3D3cakmc/s400/Mourning+Cloak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa</i></td></tr>
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A small number of mammals have also been present around the site. American Red squirrels <i>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus,</i> Eastern Chipmunks <i>Tamias striatus</i> and Eastern Grey squirrels <i>Sciurus carolinensis</i> are often seen. A Groundhog <i>Marmota monax</i> emerged from hibernation on a sunny day on the 13th. Three North American Beavers <i>Castor canadensis</i> were in the harbour on the 18th. A Long-Tailed Weasel<i> Mustela frenata</i> has been around the site for a couple of days. White-Tailed Deer <i>Odocoileus virginianus </i>are often seen on the road out of the observatory in the evenings and tracks can be seen on the trails after rain.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOB6YsfQ2e658pP610jZJJapYRKJj_iUSeq3feYvDVedCEUbb7h_SivfMXV5D5NgyhKPTr8rzz2xzpCSf2g_pWmWa1dFVHwHGu5Pp2FKY-7Nyx9wYsfLKqQtBVxTWZAUXvw6hY2ttmmg/s1600/groundhog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOB6YsfQ2e658pP610jZJJapYRKJj_iUSeq3feYvDVedCEUbb7h_SivfMXV5D5NgyhKPTr8rzz2xzpCSf2g_pWmWa1dFVHwHGu5Pp2FKY-7Nyx9wYsfLKqQtBVxTWZAUXvw6hY2ttmmg/s400/groundhog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Groundhog,</i> <i>Marmota monax</i></td></tr>
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The undoubted highlight so far is obviously the Say's Phoebe <i>Sayornis saya</i> which was spotted in the Observatory garden on the evening of the 23rd. Although a common western species, it is only the 4th record for southern Ontario in the last 10 years and the second record for the Observatory, with the first being recorded in the fall of 1990. Although it seemed keen to be caught and was often perching on the mist net poles or even the net strings itself. It remained out of the net and was seen until dark but sadly departed overnight and hasn't been re-found.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA69LRZqz0-VMzpB5408TPXhz5eDkDjOju5T8MtitH1yu6LDqF1KlIBPxaY78qjVZ_YpVJbN3sFTlsTAEzrkpssBIplDso406iA3tvsZdCaRiMRVci7QtC2AxY-d3pXIdsro-2ReGHrbk/s1600/Say%2527s+Pheobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA69LRZqz0-VMzpB5408TPXhz5eDkDjOju5T8MtitH1yu6LDqF1KlIBPxaY78qjVZ_YpVJbN3sFTlsTAEzrkpssBIplDso406iA3tvsZdCaRiMRVci7QtC2AxY-d3pXIdsro-2ReGHrbk/s400/Say%2527s+Pheobe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Say's Pheobe, Sayornis saya. An undoubted highlight!</i></td></tr>
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Hopefully the next month continues to be as good as it has been so far, now bring on more warblers!Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-30194092033516620222016-03-13T07:00:00.000-07:002016-05-09T17:06:25.533-07:00Penglais Woods, Aberystwyth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k-sjljWuIqsxZlM_oDZWPFhUbnj8JTV19tVOrX3gTh5rau1VP2IxZtF3sibw95BcIMFQKVbq9fO_q8zsO9NHLfYiQ5IIVJ0T4xcO6XhQnI73i1waHOykObEAtpQYhYfev-6ykOMZL0U/s1600/Purple+Toothwort+Lathraea+clandestina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k-sjljWuIqsxZlM_oDZWPFhUbnj8JTV19tVOrX3gTh5rau1VP2IxZtF3sibw95BcIMFQKVbq9fO_q8zsO9NHLfYiQ5IIVJ0T4xcO6XhQnI73i1waHOykObEAtpQYhYfev-6ykOMZL0U/s400/Purple+Toothwort+Lathraea+clandestina.jpg" width="266" /></a>With my dissertation taking up the majority of my time its nice to get out at any chance I can. Luckily for me some months ago I had decided I'd help co-lead a botanical walk with Sam, in search of the Purple Toothwort <i>Lathraea squamaria.</i><br />
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Although very little is flowering at this time of year which led us to look mainly at some of the fern species which could be found within the woodland in the build up to seeing the toothwort. Purple toothwort is an introduced species to Britain, it was first brought in with the roots of imported trees, which due to it's parasitic nature allowed it to establish<i>. </i>The closest native populations are only a short hop across the channel in France and Belguim.<br />
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The Penglais wood's toothwort is a bit of an oddity, mainly due to its choice of host, which seems to be a <i>Metasequoia </i>compared with the usual <i>Salix </i>and<i> </i><i>Populus </i>it usually grows on<i>.</i>Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-37808063257992551442016-03-08T14:03:00.001-08:002016-03-08T14:03:31.038-08:00Chapel Lawn, Shropshire<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbec7mTjUPLGDDqb1MjLYiiZkGw514QFwcICTMTjzyGsoQNmyxMNAXvYG52Xu9q-UvJOrF42snvtrMXoFxW-C5esl5CIUh9gJI1OEyrYFSHQPZeibL4jkW4orqpffz-r6Y3IoFVA6wnY/s1600/Rusty-Back+Fern+Asplenium+ceterach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbec7mTjUPLGDDqb1MjLYiiZkGw514QFwcICTMTjzyGsoQNmyxMNAXvYG52Xu9q-UvJOrF42snvtrMXoFxW-C5esl5CIUh9gJI1OEyrYFSHQPZeibL4jkW4orqpffz-r6Y3IoFVA6wnY/s400/Rusty-Back+Fern+Asplenium+ceterach.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rusty-Back Fern, Asplenium ceterach</i></td></tr>
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With the amount of work I have to do in preparation to finishing my final year of University stopping me from being out in the field much, any excuse to go out with Tony and try and ring some birds is hard to resist!<br />
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Whilst looking for Dipper <i>Cinclus cinclus </i>nests and colour ringed birds in south-west Shropshire close to Chapel Lawn, we came across a small bridge ,covered in Rusty-back Ferns <i>Asplenium ceterach </i>and Maidenhair Spleenwort <i>Asplenium trichomanes</i>. The rusty-back fern is a lover of alkaline rocks, meaning the local limestone is perfect, whilst the maidenhair spleenwort has a large number sub-species of subspecies, some of which are calcifuges whilst others a calcicoles.<br />
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In the end we didn't see any Dippers on this stretch of river but we did go on to catch and ring a 6M Tawny Owl <i>Strix aluco</i> (my 109 species ringed) and a nice brace of Jack Snipe <i>Lymnocryptes minimus</i>, probably the last of the year and some cracking views of Tree Sparrows <i>Passer montanus</i> up on the Ceri ridgeway.Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39352308339814717.post-40057279908677104062016-02-28T10:50:00.000-08:002016-02-28T10:54:28.604-08:00Stanner Rocks NNR, Radnorshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lying close to the border between England and Wales, Stanner Rocks NNR looks rather unexciting. It is a rounded igneous massif which has some of the oldest rocks found in Wales, dating to around 702 million years ago and comprising of gabbro, diorite and granite which have created the perfect habitat for a number of rare and interesting plant species.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Quarry, where most of Stanner's rare plants can be found, as well as Peregrines.</i></td></tr>
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The quarry provides plenty of good perching sites for the local Peregrines<i> Falco peregrinus</i>, one of which could be seen regularly, as well as the perfect habitat for some of rare plants present on the site, many of which won't be out until late spring but one species is already in flower, the Radnor Lily <i>Gagea bohemica. </i>Although well botonised by the Victorians, it had somehow managed to go undiscovered until 1968, when an early year visit brought this species to light. The Radnor Lily is a plant suited to much warmer climates with the colony found here being the only example in Britain and the closest population being found in southern France. In total 3 plants still had flowers on them although two were close to being over and its unlikely the third will be in good condition for much longer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPzH5QgTUhqFmgSqTVJdk213eFZmhQiJA06PgA6wmqK8bbdOF_VxJ08bIw0Zegz_x0cwlxb45lUdRHZ1ueNc-Fo9aR2pLzjke-IeJjNZR2wR5FztAqTrohWwpCQblw1sXLqDbFOb1eGs/s1600/Radnor+Lily%252C+Gagea+bohemica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPzH5QgTUhqFmgSqTVJdk213eFZmhQiJA06PgA6wmqK8bbdOF_VxJ08bIw0Zegz_x0cwlxb45lUdRHZ1ueNc-Fo9aR2pLzjke-IeJjNZR2wR5FztAqTrohWwpCQblw1sXLqDbFOb1eGs/s400/Radnor+Lily%252C+Gagea+bohemica.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Radnor Lily Gagea bohemnica - my first plant twitch</i><br />
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The surrounding rocky outcrops also contained a number of different fern species including Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes and Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, both are a common and widespread species of rocky crevices and walls.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUElO1yfeQBkn0e7AaJDE4PVppbBBqPNT8JlRcPDzWXayWu5keCW3ZAhICmWTChH3VKB6pHB7ysnyzeLM56XHsEZIdfJnP47aiqQ7b8NfUreodaWGSG1uFTiIIhoFyxLD6LrS_fV5uaY/s1600/Black+Spleenwort%252C+Asplenium+adiantum-nigrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUElO1yfeQBkn0e7AaJDE4PVppbBBqPNT8JlRcPDzWXayWu5keCW3ZAhICmWTChH3VKB6pHB7ysnyzeLM56XHsEZIdfJnP47aiqQ7b8NfUreodaWGSG1uFTiIIhoFyxLD6LrS_fV5uaY/s400/Black+Spleenwort%252C+Asplenium+adiantum-nigrum.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Primrose Primula vulgaris</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><i>Barren Strawberry Rust Phragmidium fragariae</i></span></td></tr>
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In the woodlands which surround the upper slopes of the hill a few other flowers had come into flower, a few Primrose <i>Primula vulgaris </i>had opened their soft yellow blooms, which will provide and early feast for early pollinators. </div>
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Another common species often flowers early is the Barren Strawberry <i>Potentilla steralis </i> which was found along with its rust Phragmidium fragariae which grows over the leaves and stems (something else I'd never found before).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnMb10SUX6FONjBeZeMe3afirHfFSJCrjxFU2cSGs76odxus4EIgJLffpUM6mb6YQLn6tucfUlS5neNz2c0tCMpgo0BXJJkj_gFtEWAot7dgxaDkdp6GxQOAGPJjbyoiy15H1-ZYM9U0/s1600/Barren+Strawberry%252C+Potentilla+sterilis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnMb10SUX6FONjBeZeMe3afirHfFSJCrjxFU2cSGs76odxus4EIgJLffpUM6mb6YQLn6tucfUlS5neNz2c0tCMpgo0BXJJkj_gFtEWAot7dgxaDkdp6GxQOAGPJjbyoiy15H1-ZYM9U0/s320/Barren+Strawberry%252C+Potentilla+sterilis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Barren Strawberry </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Potentilla steralis</i></td></tr>
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Although there was very little flower in on the site due to the season it was worth it to see the Radnor Lily in flower and I look forward to wandering around later in the spring when some of the sites other rare species should be in flower.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fWjBQ-HvZRUOJXm3NEJfPuMevhChCPeHoCqkSLvDcYKuB6z0mHHJ95_l8lFY3_0g-hFv_D_ZY1kCNu9rj569y6a3JFIFfme6qLTmM2HWq4k8A-20TtKptLxnEMgYKie5chn-rW-7jF8/s1600/Stanner+Rocks+NNR%252C+Quarry+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fWjBQ-HvZRUOJXm3NEJfPuMevhChCPeHoCqkSLvDcYKuB6z0mHHJ95_l8lFY3_0g-hFv_D_ZY1kCNu9rj569y6a3JFIFfme6qLTmM2HWq4k8A-20TtKptLxnEMgYKie5chn-rW-7jF8/s640/Stanner+Rocks+NNR%252C+Quarry+Top.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top of Stanner Rocks looking north-west</td></tr>
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Jacques Turner-Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06901630591682796121noreply@blogger.com0