Vinalhaven Sightings: July 2021

Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report

July 30, 2021

Thanks to MCHT and VLT for their support! And You!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Highlights – Raptors, mushrooms, butterflies, so . much . more .

Business - Contact us – observers have sent in photos to share, and this kind of activity we encourage. vinalhavensightings@gmail.com is the address to send your sightings and nature reports to. Sharing is good!

Leif and Nana

Tiit trick – click on the photos and make them jumbo sized. Fill up your computer screen with life! And then click again to get everything back to ‘normal’. The new normal that is.

in an effort in the name of time efficiency, latin names have not been included for many of the species mentioned here. So it goes, looking up the same info every week. anyway, some have been omitted to get this text posted....

Eagle nestling with meat nugget
Photo by Rick Morgan

Sightings – Raptor ‘r’ Us – Rick Morgan was kind enough to send in these photos of Bald Eagle nestlings up Long Cove way that appear to be ready to go! The shots are from early July, and the birds have most likely have fledged by this writing.

Here’s to the next generation!

pair o' Eaglets
photo by Rick Morgan

Lane's Island Osprey nest activity
photo by Cay Kendrick

Osprey nest – Lane’s Island – Cay Kendrick sent in this recent photo of young osprey head poking up from the Lane’s Island osprey nest. Cay reports that progress with the nest is a little behind - timing wise – from years past. Will be interesting to see how things go here. I put my money on the osprey.

female American Kestrel, Lamonts Hill

Falcons – American Kestrels have been acting up around island – loud vocalizations, flutter flight and aerial displays on Greens, by Lamonts Hill and also at Lane’s island gives the feeling that something was happening nesting wise with the Kestrels. Maybe youngsters ready to fledge? Interesting to see so much activity and presence.

mainland Merlin

I’m also including this photo of a Merlin falcon on the mainland that was acting similar to the Kestrels, at about the same time period (few weeks ago). I witnessed three different Merlins on the mainland acting up – loud, consistent vocalizations, and wonderfully obvious flight displays. Timing of raptor fledging appears to be synchronized across species this year, fun to see.

Broad-winged Hawks – lots of high pitched buzzin’ in the woods these days. Huber, the Basin and these pictures I took of a Broad-winged as it circled Armbrust Hill last week. So loud, so molty, so fun….

Garter Snake
photo by Claudia Dengler

Garter Snakes – are on the prowl. Claudia Dengler was kind enough to send in this photo of a Garter Snake up Crockett Cove way. Snakes abound! Keep your eyes open for them!

Leccinum sp bolete
photo by Claudia Dengler

Mushrooms – Claudia was also nice enough to send in this photo of a Scaber Stalk Bolete (Leccinum sp). What a month for mushrooms!

May be the ‘best’ July mushroom wise that I have seen in Maine, but that is not based on all that many July’s in Maine. Still, it’s been impressive….

Things have been very active with the recent rains. Here are some finds –

Chanterelles – seem to be popping up wherever I go. And that is a good thing.

We love them because they are so yummy.

and for aesthetic reasons...

The trees love them because they help them grow

And the ‘fungi that creates the mushroom referred to as Chantrelles’ seems to like living in mid-coast Maine, suits them fine I would say!

this screams 'false!'

And don’t forget about the ‘False Chantrelles’, which are popping up in small numbers.

way false, too organized

They really don’t look Chantrelles at all, but if some how you did get confused they are not deadly poisonous or anything like that. Instead, they are just a disappointment in flavor. Which can kill a good vibe, but that’s better than killing a good person (judgment).

Destroying Angels – will be more come fall, but at least one batch along winter harbor felt the urge to spore disperse this July, and who can blame them.

Destroying Angel, the native ‘killer of humans’ to North America. Pure, white – how could it possibly be deadly? Amatoxin poisoning is a fun Google search. Good to have that one in your history!

this Blusher was especially easy on the eyes

The Blusher – (Amanita rubescens) –

this blusher did not seem phallic

Lots of them this July, loving these intense rains

Blusher attacked by Amanita mold

And to make matters even cooler, local Amanita mold took a hold on some Blushers in the Basin – same spot I have seen the mold effect Blushers in years past.

got mold?

Fun to get to familiar with where the local molds live.

lots of coral slime, both form above
and honeycomb form

Speaking of molds – Slime molds have also responded to the impressive July rains, although not in the same way they responded to hefty June rains in the past. Those June rains produced huge numbers across many if not all species of slime molds to be found in these parts.

July rains 2021 inspired an impressive amount of Coral Slime ( ) both variations

Scrambled Eggs Slime – although not as numerous as Coral, patches of Scrambled Egg slime can be seen from distances

Chocolate tube slime – found only a few patches but each very lovely.

tapioca close up

Tapioca slime – seen around in not so uncommon numbers

tiger swallowtail

Butterflies – Been a great July for Lepidoptera, and in those regards we are talking both Moths and Day Moths (aka Butterflies). Many of these photos are from the Butterfly bush Amy planted in the front yard in St George.

ringlet

These are underwing shots of species that can be found on, and have been seen in the past few weeks on Vinalhaven. See what you think…

monarch

Monarch

american lady

American Lady – look for the two big dots

red admiral, with the blue...

Red Admiral

Great Spangled Fritillary
wide cream band on hind underwing

Great Spangled Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary
thin cream band on hind underwing

Aphrodite Fritillary

Atlantis Fritillary
wide cream band on hind, underwing
w/black dots in band

Atlantis Fritillary

more of a flying lobster

Plus – Day Moth bonus – both flavors of Clearwings – the ‘red’ or Hummingbird Clearwing

than the snowberry clearwing

and the ‘white’, or Snowberry Clearwing have been seen at flowers near and far along mid-coast Maine.

They are fun to watch, but I have to say I think I learn a lot from taking their photos. They move so fast!

my guess as to the mystery flavor
is 'Gross'.

Awesome limited editions out there – kinda makes you think things may be getting back to normal? If this is normal, I am looking forward to something new!