Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report
acorn interrupted
October 28, 2020
Brought to you with the support of Maine Coast Heritage Trust and
Vinalhaven Land Trust! Two good organizations, teaming up for our benefit!
Did I put this photo in last time?
If so, this is a totally different photo
And of course – thanks to you! The reader, the observer, the sharerer –
all niches associated with the VSR are important! We appreciated the support
you show by simply showing up!
Highlights – Botfly larvae, Mourning Cloak butterfly, Pine Siskins, sparrows,
juncos, Snakes, Loons calling, note on puffballs…
PSA – Just in
time for Halloween! – Drive safely!
pine siskin and goldenrod
this fly was either eating the otter spraint and
white stuff or was laying eggs in it.
either way this is the coolest insect.
More Business: Contact us – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com . We will respond! And if we don’t
you can always write back again! Anyway – send us your sightings
Tiit Trick –
click on the photos to jumbo size them – have the photos take up your world!
Click ‘em – I dare yah!
Sightings – Jim Conlan sent in this video of River Otters in Long Cove. I hope it works and that it is awesome! I can’t see it on my computer – but look forward to seeing it on the blog! Thanks Jim!
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| botfly larave and dead mouse |
There are many, anonymous VSR faithful – a ‘silent majority’ you ask? Kinda, maybe…
with a touch of ‘embarrassed majority’ most likely? Anyway, one of the anonymous who
visit, read, scan, sniff and creep through the VSR ‘in a silent way’ has sent
in this photo of a Botfly larvae that
they removed from a locally caught, dead mouse’s nose. You can probably see why
‘anonymous’ was emphasized here. Who wants to be associated with this!
Legendary though.
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| sensitive fern, in its bead fern stage |
Now, I have had the pleasure/satisfaction/thrill of killing many a mouse that crossed the line and desired to be housemates with me in many of the diverse living conditions I have dwelled in over the years. I will be honest and admit that I probably don’t look at the dead mice super closely, but I can honestly say that I have never noticed any swelling around a deceased rodents nose. So this is a special find, one that is nasty in a super cool way. Thanks Anonymous!
mourning cloak
photo by Patience Chamberlin
Mourning Cloak butterfly – Patience Chamberlin
was kind enough to send in this photo of a late season Mourning Cloak butterfly. Often one of the last butterflies seen
during the year, Mourning Cloaks are also often the first butterfly seen in
spring as adults, such as this one, overwinter in cavities and under bark. They
hit ‘pause’ until temps climb and day length increases in early spring (Late
March/early April). Great to see before and after their big nap, See ya in
spring there buddy!
juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
in hand...
Songbirds around the island – Lots of sparrows – plenty of white-throateds, but numbers of
white-crowned sparrows are being
seen as well. Dark-eyed Juncos seem
to be especially thick these days. Pine
Siskins have invaded the east this fall, and Cay Kendrick reports at least one day of heavy siskin activity on
her feeder system. I’ve attached a few shots from a recent Beech Hill excursion
where the family saw a bunch of siskins! Common
Redpolls also have been invading , anyone seen any?
pine siskin
Well there is one less raccoon on the
island, reports of Bald Eagles eating
raccoons on shorelines are being tossed around!
pine siskin
Jim Conlan
also reports hearing Loons calling from the salt water around island, which is
a cool experience for sure. Common Loons nest along fresh water lakes and many
spend their winters/non-breeding seasons in salt water along the east coast.
Apparently some are still feeling ‘the fire down below’ after they leave their
breeding areas and will continue calling into the fall. Cool sound and cool
observation.
Curtis's Puffball
A word on a couple types of puffballs. My
time dedicated to Alder wetlands had increased dramatically with the newly
found ‘alder aphid direction’ that I am following (it’s just a phase I’m going through I swear!). While many are hunting deer for sustenance
(and for fun I suppose) a silent minority of us are hunting the wooly alder
aphids in hopes of finding a predator of theirs – the Harvester butterfly in
its caterpillar stage. Probably too late for the caterpillars this year – we’ll
get an earlier jump next summer! But that doesn’t mean the searches and hunts have
turned up empty – nature explorations seldom do.
White Puffball
I think in the last vsr I posted
photos of jelly mushrooms that I have been crossing paths with while searching for
the elusive aphids. This time it’s a couple/three of Puffballs (Order
Lycoperdales) that I’ve been seeing in the Alder wetlands. Decomposers through
and through, these three all happen to be in the family Lycoperdaceae, and in
the genus Lycoperdon. What does that mean? Not much I think really, but here
they are!
Curtis’s Puffball (L. curtisii) with its really cool spines that cover is always a treat to
see…
gem studded puffball
… L. candidum, aka ‘the white puffball’, which is a funny common name
since many puffballs are white. This one has a short base/stalk and is densely covered
with spikes. Apparently the spikes and outer white skin will ‘slough off in big
patches’, which exposes a brownish inner wall around the spores. So why do they
call it ‘white puffball’ again? Even the ‘White shadow; made more sense.
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| gem studded puffball spikes and squirrel bite I believe |
And finally, the gem-studded
puffball, (L. perlatum). Classic, little white puffball with spikes scattered
around its white outer skin.
Limited Editions – how is lucky charms
hot cocoa not a limited edition. Should be!
And a limited edition shape of Ritz
cracker – snowflake. ‘That’s not snowflake’ is one of my favorite quotes from
Ace Ventura.
Leif and Amy on a recent excursion. Lots
of family time these days, Frankie is healing nicely, looking forward to a long
winter.
Stay smart and stay safe – don’t be a
maskhole!
see you out there! In orange!
