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| gull sticking it to the man photo by John Drury |
Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report –
July 5thish, 2013
Brought to you by the usual
letters,
the ones up above, and mostly U
“Have you seen any large snapping turtles on the island?” – Bill Alcorn
at the bank
Highlights – Insects!!!!
Featuring Luna Moth, Slugs and Turtles, slime molds and fungus, tropicbirds and
tasty ducklings, annoying raven babies continue being annoying,
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| this tree is covered in poison ivy (PI) The Seceret of PI is that is comes in shapes and sizes |
Contact – and
while we are at it please send “all
things VSR” to the official VSR email address – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com .
comments, questions, concerns, karate chops!, pork chops…that’s a good place
for this kind of sightings stuff. Thanks again.
Tiit trick – click on
the photos to have them fill your screen! See what you think close up…
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| coral slimes have been particularly easy on the eyes as of late |
Slime mold update –
don’t want to get ahead of things and get everyone all worked up but at this
point it’s (it being weather) has been largely “with this rain, I the (like in
a wedding ceremony) wet” ….. in other words we are on a pace for a summer of slime molds! Slime mold
photos are sprinkled throughout the post, several 10 slime mold days. Hope for
more rain!…
Sightings –
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| they look so innocent afterwords |
(Editor’s disclaimer
– if when classifying yourself you find that you would classify yourself as “a
typical follower of the island institute” then this message is for you. You may
find the next segment of the VSR “inappropriate”. There is an old Estonian that
states “If the island institute doesn’t
think you can handle phallic fungus photos, then sexy slug shots are certain to
make you spraint”. And when Estonians say “handle” I believe it’s in more
of a spiritual sense rather than a physical one.
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| i'm not sure what that is, but i know it is gross photo by Linnell Mather |
Anyway, and at the very least - I am happy to say I am not
the photographer on this one! Out of the
loop! You have been warned, and it hurts like darn to do so….)
Leopard Slugs - …
and so the VSR starts with a series of sensual mollusks photos (Ha! As oppose
to “non-sensual” mollusks photos– as if! …).
Slug sex, slug porn
– some call it beautiful, some call it dirty. Disgusting even. I think we all
agree that it’s kind of gross. How can
we not?
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| they make gross cat toys photo by Linnell Mather |
In town! (6/27) Longtime
VSR reader, confidant, and respected member of the “VSR Nation!” - Linnell Mather, has sent in some lovely
photos of copulating slugs - straight from the doorsteps of her “pad”. Slug sex
from Mather’s yard? Yes, and it should be mentioned that this is not the first
time Linnell has sent in photos of slugs “doing it” on her doorsteps. There is
a history there….and in the neighborhood….it’s that kind of neighborhood
(Another freakin’
disclaimer - Over the years leopard slug sex photos have been sent in to
the VSR like maybe 3 times. If you
are someone who sent in slug sex pictures before you may have noticed that your
pictures were not used. No offense was ever intended if your photos weren’t used
in the past, and that goes for photos not including slug sex. Timing and clarity
issues seem to be factors in those decisions. And so with that in mind Linnell’s
shots are here to represent this beautifully
American pastime – Leopard Slug
Porn, or LSP - and I think we can agree that she has captured the moment, and
in the crispest of forms. Enough, back to the LSP on VSR….)
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| action shot photo by Linnell Mather |
And it should be noted that these are no ordinary slugs – they
are Leopard Slugs and horny ones at that. Leopard Slug sex (LSS) is a hot topic, so hot that
when we “googled” slug sex we found this blog entrée from one Cassandra
Willyard. Who’s Cassandra Willyard? I don’t know, but I do know this…..we’re
glad to meet her.
Cassandra Willyard has written a post/ blog entrée (not a
food really) for something called “Last Word on Nothing” that has this sentence
in her first paragraph - “if you read my last post you already had the rare
opportunity to see what a slug penis looks like”. Come one, that’s “the spraint”
to have that in a post. A big thumbs up from VSR and the “VSR Nation!”
Or something like that… anyway, here’s the link….
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| the white things are the penii they have not yet formed the "penis knot". photo by Linnell Mather |
and for those who don’t click on links – here’s a little sample
of ms. Willyard’s wordsmith work. And a little interpretation on what Linnell
has going on in her yard.
“Leopard slug courtship begins with a
single slug laying down a trail of scented slime. Another slug picks up the
scent and begins to follow, nibbling and nipping. Then the slugs begin to
climb, one leading the other up a tree or wall. When they reach an overhang,
the slugs align their bodies tail to mouth to form a circle. I’ll let Adams
take over for a bit. “The circle now grows more contracted, the slugs
overlapping and showing evident excitement, the mantles flapping before and
behind,” he writes. “Then, suddenly, the slugs intertwine fiercely, and launch
themselves into space, heads downwards, but suspended by a thick strand of
mucus.” That’s right. Leopard slugs mate while hanging on a thread made of
mucus. It just doesn’t get kinkier than that, folks.”
Wow. What a paragraph!
But the best part is that it gets better.
Many of us have known the truth about but never outed slugs as hermaphrodites
(I am so psyched to be writing this in the VSR)
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| is that a penal mushroom or are you just happy to see me photo by Linnell Mather |
“Once the slugs are dangling midair,
their penises emerge from a genital pore near their heads. Slugs are
hermaphrodites, so they both have one. “The organ, cylindrical at first,
quickly assumes a club-shape,” Adams writes. “But presently a frilled edge
appears along one side.” Banana slugs, you may remember, insert their penises into one another. Leopard slugs, on the
other hand, wrap their penises tightly together so that the ends touch. The
upper part of this penis knot expands to form “a mushroom or umbrella.” –
beautiful….
And that Cassandra willyard starts her
ending with “For scientists who study slugs, called malacologists, this
elaborate mating behavior is old hat. But I’ve never seen it (or heard of it)
before. So I think it’s pretty much the coolest thing ever.” And includes a
toss out to “chewing each other penises off” that Cassandra This is learly the
kind of blog we at the VSR support. And
so
We gladly recommend checking out
cassandra’s website as a freelance science writer at http://cassandrawillyard.com/Cassandra_Willyard/Home.html she has a wonderful
article about a bacterium that connected to stomach cancer and ulcers that may
be do good things as well.
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| shy maidens are in bloom |
Disclaimer area over!!!!!
It is safe to come back to the VSR and bring your innocent/denial eyes!
Here’s something we all agree on - raven babies are consistent! – they are what you are hearing over
the buzzing of mosquitoes around your ear. Yes, the basin, state beach, Huber,
Calderwood neck…damn near everywhere. Soon they grow up. Or something. Either
way it will be nice not to hear them all the time…..I do love ravens though.
Singing Parula, BTG, Ovenbird, Yellows, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Butter butts and Magnolias.
Singing Parula, BTG, Ovenbird, Yellows, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Butter butts and Magnolias.
Greens – “in that
cove with the lobster pound” Great
Horned Owls have been present over the last few weeks. Adults with young?
Maybe so, but in either case Great Horneds are a totem bird for Greens.
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| stunning photo by John Drury |
On the water –
And John Drury has sent in some
photos that remind us that it doesn’t matter what boat he’s driving (or if he’s
driving at all) – the islands are teaming with sea life and John can take you to find it!
The red-billed
tropicbird is back – holey moley – for a ninth year in the Gulf of Maine!
John got these great shots recently from “the Skua”, John’s boat.
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| on the water photo by John Drury |
Call soon for
your spot on a ride out to Seal Island, Matinicus Rock or even out to Brimstone – 596-1841 (I hope
that’s the right number).
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| old tail take a look at my life i'm a lot like you were photo by John Drury |
There is always plenty to see on a boat ride, and you never
know what you might find – John reports that Minke Whales are regular over the last few weeks.
lingering Old-tailed Ducks (formerly known as
“Oldsquaw” but the Island Institute thought you might be offended by this name
and got it changed.). Look at this beauty! Breeding plumage no less! We hardly
see this in the spring before they go. As well as Puffins, Terns, and Wilson’s Phalarope on seal!?! Very cool….
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| a feast photo by John Drury |
And some eagle action. Always a treat to see a Bald Eagle take something even remotely
alive, and here john got a shot of an Eagle taking an Eider chick which is
now not even remotely alive. Some people theorize that eiders have so many
young specifically to feed eagles. Those people are silly. Eiders feed all
kinds of animals with their babies. Not just eagles!
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| sweet luna photo by Emily Carroll |
Insects…..We always like
a flurry – Linnell Mather is a landscaping genius, or is at least smart
enough to hire some pretty aware crews. Over the years Praying Mantis, Snakes,
and other cool shots have been sent in from the manipulated landscapes and
ecosystems that Linnell and the Island Cultivations crew work on (for more info
contact: islandcultivations@gmail.com
).
Anyway, we received about 5 shots of the same luna moth from
the island cultivation crew (on/around 6/28). Emilly Carroll apparently found the beauty on Reach Road, and the
entire crew were able to check it out. The Luna
Moth is a VSR officially labeled “Cool Species” to see, and we are very
thankful that the crew clued into its presence. Rock on and thanks for sharing!
And that one has no mouth! Adults aren’t here to eat!
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| bee in action photo by Sally |
And speaking of bees Skin
Hill Sally sent in this wonderful photo of a Red-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus termarius) on a flower of some kind
in her yard. Insects sure aren’t birds, or slime molds even but we’ll take
shots of ‘em whenever possible, because we love’em. Except for Winter Moth. We hate
them….
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| cedar waxwing photo by Sally |
and as a bonus Sally also sent in this Cedar Waxwing shot. Waxwings are no strangers to the island at
this time and they clearly are birds. Thanks for sending in the beautiful shots
Sally!
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| there are 5 beetles munching on the bottom of this fungus |
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| this RBC has a moist undercarriage |
And while Ironclad
beetles were observed on several RBCs along the trail, no beetles seen on RBCs that had water droplets along their
undercarriage. This may or may not signify anything, something, or nothing
but when it comes down to it it’s just an observation. Probably doesn’t amount
to much.
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| can't you hear me munching |
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| ironclad style |
And there was hot Ironclad action as well. In what could only be referred to as “Ironclad style” food wasn’t the only thing on these Beetles’ minds!
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| little sucker sneaking a suck |
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| here i am getting preyed apon |
And in just about any other VSR post snapping turtles would have been mentioned front and center. For this post we have slug sex - it’s that
kind of a week. Anyway, there is
something going on with those turtles, and that’s safe to say. Snapping turtle chatter around town is
on the rise! Over the last 4 years (how
long have we been “doing” these VSRs? Standard answer to any “timely” question:
Too long!) snapping turtles have been
mentioned to me a couple of times maybe and now we’ve gotten 3 reports in the
last week and a half. I have been so inspired that I even got to make my first 3 legged dog joke/snapping turtle joke.
It was admittedly not that funny or well put, and the response was hard to judge
but luke-warm might be an accurate description. Lukewarm has been judges as an appropriate
response to such nonsense. Kind of like how I was “poo-poo’d” years ago when I jokingly
mentioned snappers nippin’ at toes at Folly Pond. I think Kristen at the bank thought
it was somewhat funny. Anwyay…. So here’s what I’m talking about (you are
talking about something?)
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| beautifully striated edge Amanita ceciliae |
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| scrambled egg slime |
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| slug train on A ceciliae |
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| dwarf rattlesnake plantain. almost in bloom. |
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| indian pipes are coming up |
Snappers may not be pretty, and that’s more than a “may
not”. But we love ‘em anyway. They’re turtles!
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| blusher |
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| yellow patches |
Fungus – We are here and here we are! A little early still but some of the classics are up - several species of boletes - including the king, amanitas - yellow patches, Blusher, and A. ceciliae, plus chanterelles and Fragile Russula to name a few. others too. and more to come!
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| coral slime to so cool to touch |
And leif loves the slime mold.
