Vinalhaven Sightings

Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report

October 15 - November 1, 2025

Thanks to VLT and MCHT! And U!

“We now interrupt with an irruptive rut’

Highlights –Northern Gannets, Ducks – featuring Ye Old-taileds, Red-breasted Nuthatches overload, Black Guillemots, Gulls featuring Bonaparte’s, Mushrooms featuring False Chanterelles, and so much more…

Business – hey! Wear orange! It’s hunting season, slap some orange on, it’s a great habit to pick up!

Contact us – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com

With sightings and email addresses to get on the official VSR list. The only list that matters really. Ha ha!

What the?

Tiit Trick – click on photos to enlarge.

Solid Randall advice – if you have to use yer phone to look at these, turn your phone on its side! It helps!

Rosy the role model! wear that orange!
With Mick!
Photo by Cay Kendrick

Sightings - Pet and Polypore, Pooch and Shroom, When Rosy met Mick…

Last VSR we (the royal ‘we’) mentioned a current favorite Red-belted Conk we’ve been watching for a bit. Well, Cay Kendrick took a stroll down the Platform Trail to check it all out, and she brought her pup Rosy to make it official! Love the shot and thanks for sharing!

Rosy Russula
Photo by Kris Osgood

More Mushrooms! – sticking with the ‘rosy’ theme –

Kris Osgood was kind enough to send in this photo of a Rosy Russula that she took in the platform loop section of the Basin Preserve.

Rosy Russula is a cool, mycorrhizal fungus with the red cap and red stipe/stalk. It is also part of a ‘species complex’, meaning that what used to be considered one species is now understood to be a bunch of closely related species that superficially look alike.

This local species is likely ‘Russula sanguinea’ as opposed to the Rosy Russula found in the pacific northwest – (Russula roscea). So much more for humans to learn about fungus, but the bottom line is that these Russulas know what they are and what we call them makes no difference to them. Ha!

intertidal deer on lanes

Thanks for sharing, Kris! As folks (may) know, Kris is a great artist and her art stuff can be followed at @re.inspired.mixedmedia on the Instagram. Kris is also an accomplished nature photographer that can be followed at @Kris_Amongst_The_Trees on the Instagram as well – check it out!

orange jelly

Javier Penalosa also sent in some great ‘shroom photos as well –

It’s good to be patient with Javier these days as he is breaking out of his ‘botany rut’ and moving into the clearly superior ‘shroom rut’. In which, this rut, Javier is also breaking out of his ‘polypore rut’ (at this same time) and is checking out everything he lays his eyes on fungal wise. Lot of growth with that dude these days, and his ‘eyes wide open’ approach is both respected and appreciated. And he shares photos!

Chaga
Photo by Javier Penalosa

Javier dug this Clinker polypore – Aka Chaga, (Innotus obliquus)

You may find yourself – saying – but Javier, isn’t this another polypore? The first common name here is misleading and outdated – but is the one used in one of our top 5 favorite mushroom books – the Audubon guide.

Classic example of how a field guide from the 80s can be superior in some ways – the Audubon has multiple photos of mushroom species at different stages of development, which is fantastic! At the same time ‘we’ have learned so much about fungal relationships and speciation since then the Latin in the Audubon can be pretty much completely wrong. I mean - Chaga’s in the family ‘Hymenochaetaceae’ and not even in the order Polyporalus! Geez– and we have a ton more to learn! Ain’t fungus grand?

Orange Delicious
Photo by Javier Penalosa

Javier was also psyched to find this (what looks to be) somewhat past prime Lactarius deliciosus – the orange delicious or orange latex milky. Of course, we now learn that there are other species of Milkies (genus Lactarius, family Russulaceae) that milk orange, so maybe its Lactarius thyinos – that is if it doesn’t stain green after injury! I don’t see green in the photo! What a world mushroom watching is!

Javier is relatively new to the non-polypore game and was not aware that if he had torn at the gills on this mushroom’s undercarriage it would have/should have milked (more like bled) an orange goo. Take a look at this clip of me slicing a different Milky that I found in the basin. Lactarius all the way – and sometimes getting to genus is about as good as it gets with mushrooms. Sometimes - if you are not planning on eating it!

Citron Amanita
photo by Javier Penalosa

Javier also sent in these two different angle shots of a Citron Amanita (Amanita citrina). The bulbous base to its stalk/stipe is the remnant of a protective covering that surrounds Amanitas when they first rise up from the ground. That’s when ‘people’ confuse them with puffballs. Silly people.

Also note the nice ring or Veil around the stipe/stalk, remnant of a protective covering/layer that extended from the stipe/stalk to the edge of the mushroom cap. It was there to protect the gills – from what? Bugs, baby. Bugs – and did its job well.

Thanks Javier!

Emetic Russula

And a couple more mushrooms –

adding color along on the platform trail in the Basin as well!

Irregulat Eartyh Tongue

Irregular Earthtongues – (Neolecta irregularis) – a favorite mid – late Fall mushroom. Adds some yellow to the mossy green. They are also decomposers – so we like em. Like ‘em a lot.

We like Irregular Earthtongues

False Chanterelle

And probably the most numerous mushroom I came across the last few weeks has been the False Chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiasca).

Adding some nice shades of orange in the woods and on individual mushrooms themselves, these decomposers might be rising from the ground or coming out of a log or stump.

False Chanterelles

If you are familiar with ‘real’ Chanterelles (Cantharellus flavus – but really a species complex it turns out – go figure!) then you know that False Chanterelles don’t really look much like ‘em, other than the orange. It’s a little like calling all orange butterflies Monarchs, thinking these falsies are chanterelles.

Beyond appearances (is there such a place?) – they don’t ‘feel’ like Chanterelles either. And actually, appearance plays a role here too – from just looking at the stalk/stipe it feels nothing like a Chantrelle, and while the gills are similar, they don’t feel the same. Feel factor is important here.

False Chanterelles

But hey – the nice thing is if you eat these by accident you won’t feel bad digestively (or be dead) – that is as long as you cook em correctly. What you might feel is that Chanterelles are super overrated because the falseness here is the taste, and from my understanding the Falsies don’t taste bad per se, but not as good as the real thing. And real Chanterelles are fun to eat. Never tried a falsey, don’t plan on it!

So, hey – enjoy ‘em! They are out there in numbers!

Gannet 'over' Ferry

Other things –

Ferry Rides – 10/23 – 7am from Rockland – 74 Black Guillemot, 3 Northern Gannet, Bonaparte’s gull, 3 Surf Scoters, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, 15+ Common Loon, Common Eider, Bald Eagle, Double-crested Cormorant, Harbor Seal

Guillemots getting the heck out of the way

The story here … really had to do with the winds the 2 days prior. Oh, what a storm (of any size) will do! Blowing all those birdies around. 74 Black Guillemots felt like a lot that day – with 53 counted in Rockland Harbor alone (and that was from one side of the boat! – Hard to Starboard!) – feels okay to presume they were taking shelter in the harbor (hats off to the Harbor Master!). Especially when compared to another 7am ferry ride 4 days later (10/27) where I spotted 12 Black Guillemots total (from one side of the boat again! Starboard!).

Bonaparte's Gull in Flight

I’m no math major, but that’s a big change. Afternoon (4:30pm, 10/28) boat ride to Rockland turned up 20, which felt about ‘right’ for what I’d been seeing before the boat ride on the 23rd. Anyway – there were more Common Loons than Black Guillemots on the morning ride on the 27^th – with more of both to come! Went from Guille-gots to guille-nots! That sentence is even lamer when said out loud!

lots of loons already - many more to come

November boat rides bring a lot of potential for observing. Mildly comfortable and many a bird (and seal) to be seen (both ‘potentially’ of course).

olde taileds are in there/out there

Still from the Ferry - (10/28) Old Harbor area - Nice to see the ducks ‘Formerly known as ‘Oldsquaw’’ , known by some as Long-tailed Ducks (not cool enough of a name), yet they prefer (gut feeling here) to be called Ye Olde-tailed Ducks , from the ferry.

Common Eiders - some males are still molting!
Molting for next spring's mating season!
Things start early for ducks!

The Old Harbor area (and the Reach) can be pretty birdy, while also being bottlenecks and thus the birdies are often closer to the ferry where decent looks are more likely to be had! That said, the Olde-tailed photo here was as good as it was going to get photo wise the other day. That said, it’s always great to see Olde-taileds.

surf scoters in Seal Bay

On the water – (10/24) Seal Bay and Winter Harbor

Harbor Seals on Rocks, 30+ Surf Scoters, 20+ Bonaparte’s Gulls, Black Guillemots, Common Eiders, Common Loon, DC Cormorants, Bald Eagle, Red Crossbill

Bonaparte's Gulls on the rock

The story here… beyond the black and white photos in the ‘teaser’ post, Bonaparte’s Gulls on the rocks, the two Harbor Seals on the rocks and that Red Crossbills were so prevalent and loud that I could hear them over my boat engine (something like 10 hp, I think, but still). Plus, the Surf Scoters – always be liken seeing them.

Harbor Seal in Winter Harbor

Around the island …

(10/23) Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew across North Haven Road in front of my vehicle. I assume to get to the other side.

Harbor Seal in Seal Bay

Lanes Island - (10/23) American Woodcock, Spring Peeper, Sperm Kite

Here's a clip of the sperm kite at sunset.

we like the pitch pines on Starboard Rock

Starboard Rock – (10/23) 12 Surf Scoter, 10 Black Guillemot, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet

Huber (10/24) – Active Otter latrine, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red Crossbills, Hairy Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco.

Otter latrine! Don't eat the grass!

Story here – The otter latrine! Right below the kind reminder to not have fires is a classic spot for otters to visit and mark/spraint at. A point of land sticking out into Seal Bay (or anybody of water for that matter).

So here is a clip of what otters look like when they mark/spraint. The clip is not from Vinalhaven, but the dance is the same everywhere. Maybe there can be some local otter dance moves, but I have not seen nor heard of such a thing. Anyway, sniffin' and dancin'!

Golden rod and spraint

So, an otter sniffed this Seaside Goldenrod, turned and faced the view (in the dark most likely, but still stunning) did the dance and made a true Yin-Yang in nature – Something pretty and something sprainty!

latrine with a view
sprainted goldenrod in the photo

Plus, it was cool to see the 14 Red-breasted Merganser dive and presumedly fish as a unit under water (as one!), corralling Seal Bay fish for a feast. Welcome back Ducks! Or simply welcome to the first years!

The other thing about Huber was the insane number of Red-breasted Nuthatches. Hundreds may be an exaggeration but also feels like it might not be.

RBN

And talk about a species that was demanding attention (from other nuthatches of course) - the woods were (and presumedly still are) loud and rucktified (I just made up that word I think). This clip doesn’t fully capture the scene, but it represents the entire walk that day – sound on!

Okay – so it’s time we had that talk ……. about Red-breasted Nuthatches!

No seed is safe!

aka – the irruption is so on!... And so are the oversimplifications!

(Many/most) Birds (in general) migrate regularly twice a year - pre-breeding and post-breeding. This is what ‘the man’ tells you bird migration is.

Should be noted - a few species do ‘migrate’ while breeding, which is both gross and tricky. One might say Cowbirds migrate while breeding as they wander around laying eggs in other birds’ nests. It might be a stretch though and isn’t the topic here.

As a species, Red-breasted Nuthatches (RBNs)follow an irregular migration ‘pattern’ that is based largely on food supply rather than on length of daylight or weather conditions. Dark or cold aren’t necessarily motivators for RBNs, but hunger is a powerful force. Oversimplifying can be so much fun!

Anyway, every few years conifer seed/cone amounts further north drop, and we (the mid-coastal ‘we’) get inundated with ‘em (RBNs) and love every minute of it!

These events are referred to as ‘Irruptions’ and other birds – such as Snowy Owls, Crossbills, Redpolls (and finches) and Waxwings – also follow the irruptive lifestyle, but on their own schedules. Gets me drooling for winter! Thanks a lot Pavlov!

My grandma once (lovingly) told me when I was moving around a lot, following environmental education jobs, that I had a ‘vagabond lifestyle’. I think ‘irruptive’ was closer to the truth, but I accepted the ‘vagabond’ label with pride.

Anyway, back in August 2022 the mid-coast (and beyond) was smothered with RBNs and that scene lasted until the fall of 2023. Then they essentially all left. I saw/heard 1 RBN in 2024 – yes 1 total – on High Island in Tenants Harbor. Not there weren’t more around but what been a staple on every visit to spruce maritime forests had become notably absent/scarce. ‘Abandoned’. I wonder if that’s what northern observer’s up when birds irrupt from where they live, or what Browns fans felt when Modell loaded the trucks and moved the team to Baltimore overnight. It’s kind of a weird feeling.

And then the RBNs returned this past winter/spring (2025 for those who…)! Not hugely at first, but a notable presence that built up numbers over spring. And then, as summer got closer to being over the current RBN irruption started warming up. And that brings up to today, where we find ‘our’ forests loaded with the buggers. And it’s nice.

fairly barren balsam cones

So - what are they doing in the forest? Eating seeds from conifer cones for one. Both Balsam Fir and Red (and likely White) Spruce cones around island are showing signs of being cleaned and somewhat cleared. A lot of cone cobs out there! Take a look.

and yet RBNs still find the seeds - huge to them

There is also a ‘whole lotta caching going on!’ as they say. Food for later, the seeds for winter being jammed into bark and wood for future findings and consumption. A whole forest is being planted by the Nuthatches! Community service at its finest – so yes, you RBMs can stay as long as you want.

and then its off to stash/cache

I was on Reach Road the other day when a swarm of Nuthatches took over the Spruce trees above the shed I use for work (thank you Chamberlins!). At least three different RBMs landed on the sideways tire I use to prop open the shed door, disappeared into the tire only to erupt (not irrupt!) moments later. Caching (thin line between caching and stashing) seeds in the stump under the tire! Take a look at these clips.

Anyway – so it will be fun to see how long these big groups of RBMs stick around. Will they run out of food and have to bail, or have they stashed and cached (and smashed and bashed and twist and turn) enough seeds for the winter. So, Robert Hunter – if you are still 'wondering where the nuthatch winters' (Eyes of the World) you may have your answer. Only time will tell. Looking forward to seeing whatever plays out!