Our Natural Adventures

Category: birds

  • June 6, 2025 – Erwin Wilder WMA and MSSF

    June 6, 2025 – Erwin Wilder WMA and MSSF

    Spent part of the morning looking for big butterflies (Swallowtails, Monarchs, etc) and Wild Indigo Duskywings. The day was a hazy sun, with temps in the lower 80’s and not much wind.

    I started out at the Erwin S. Wilder Wildlife Management Area in Norton, MA. This is a pretty good place for big butterflies with all of the Swallowtails seen there at one point or another. But not today. In fact, there were less butterflies flying there than I had ever seen. The typical Sulfurs, a Peck’s Skipper or two, a Least Skipper, two Red-spotted Purples flyover, a couple Zabulon Skippers and about 30 European Skippers. That seems to be how the European Skippers work. One day there may be none and the next there are several dozen. Strange species.

    European Skipper

    After this disappointment, I decided to go to Myles Standish State Forest where Wild Indigo Duskywings always fly at this time of year. Except today. I went to all the usual locations, Torrey Pond Road, Kamesit Road, etc and I saw 2 Duskywings. One was so worn that there was no telling what it was and one flew off into the woods never to be seen again.

    I did manage to see a Fowler’s Toad (photo above), a few Red-spotted Purples, 2 of which were taking turns at a pile of scat, 2 Indian Skippers, one worn but still flying strong Frosted Elfin, and one Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flyover.

    Red-spotted Purple enjoying a scat lunch
    Frosted Elfin

    So it was a bust of a day as far as getting the species that I wanted and I now believe that the cold May we just got through had quite an effect on the species that should be flying right now. I haven’t even SEEN a Spicebush Swallowtail. I’m not at a level of concern for these species right now, but it does seem like it could head in that direction if this keeps up.

  • May 5, 2025 – Fairhaven and Marion, MA

    May 5, 2025 – Fairhaven and Marion, MA

    I went quickly to a couple places today, mainly to see if I could get a Least Skipper at one of them.

    In Fairhaven, the location I went to is called Carvalho Farm and run by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. It is a really nice area with a very large field at the beginning (photo above), and a path that winds through the woods down towards a saltwater marsh. The area I was interested in today was the back end of the field where I had seen Least Skippers last year, just before it turns into the marsh grasses.

    The area where it turns from field to a wet, marshy area.

    On the way down to that end of the field, I had expected to see a lot of grass skipper activity amongst the buttercups and clover flowers which are all over the place here. I saw two Peck’s Skippers and 5 Clouded Sulfurs. Pretty disappointing overall.

    It took me some time to find a Least Skipper, but I eventually flushed one out of hiding and followed it as it flew for probably 5 minutes straight. Eventually it landed and gave me a clean look at it for a few photos. My first of the year!

    Least Skipper

    I also saw one nice looking Viceroy while chasing the Least Skipper all over the field and was able to get a couple photos of it.

    Viceroy

    Since it was super hot today (upper 80’s and humid) I decided to pack it up after finding the Least Skipper and head over to a place that I check out every year despite having over 100 ticks on me the first year I went there. I haven’t had even one tick since so I figure I must have just stepped in a “nest” at some point on that first walk.

    The area I went to is called Grassi Bogs in Marion, MA. It is a very nice piece of property. Old Cranberry bogs with a nice pond and great trails around and through it all.

    Well, that is until Mower McKillsItAll comes by and mows the entire width of the path from tree line to tree line and leaves not one shred of nectar plant. I haven’t been to a place where there were no bees OR butterflies ever, until today. What a disaster. A true 0/10 rating for butterflies. I won’t be returning this year.

    A complete mow. Must be paid by the hour.
    The area does have some nice views though!

    All in all a bit of a bummer of a day, but I am quite happy with the little Least Skipper and Viceroy!

  • May 30, 2025 – New and old locations

    May 30, 2025 – New and old locations

    We did something different today and decided to go to a place I found on Google Maps that looked good from the map but had no real previous reports of butterflies, most notably on iNaturalist.

    The location was Westville Conservation Area in Taunton, MA. Upon arrival, we were greeted with what could be the narrowest entry gate we have ever encountered. I wasn’t sure if the car would make it into the tiny parking lot (maybe 4 cars?). It did and luckily there was enough space to back into a spot for an easy exit later on.

    Westville Conservation Area parking lot

    Once we were settled in, we began to explore this wonderfully maintained property! The paths were wide and were all extremely low mowed grass. This was quite a treat compared to most of the places we visit. What we think was a Spicebush Swallowtail flew over the parking area when we started our walk which we thought was a good sign.

    Walking the trails is quite easy. They are lined with plants of various types. Vetch, Milkweed and other future flowering plants were abundant, but so were a lot of invasives, mainly bittersweet and roses. Although that is unfortunate, it seems like the place will still be nice throughout the butterfly season. There is a river that runs through the property and the bridges over the wet areas are brand new and perfectly stable. Did I mention it was a treat to walk around here?? 🙂

    One of the river areas on property

    We did see quite a few species of butterflies as well, although the numbers of individuals wasn’t overly impressive. Peck’s Skippers, Tawny-edged Skippers, Little Wood Satyrs (many), American Ladys, and a Cherry Gall Azure were all here. Dragonflies, Damselflies, and Ebony Jewelwings (photo above) are also abundant, especially in the wetter areas as would be expected.

    I think Tawny-edged Skipper for this. iNaturalist says Crossline. On vetch.

    There are many reasons for us to return to this property which will hopefully be revealed in a later post. Future butterflies should be abundant. We’ll see…

    From there, we went to an older area that we have walked before to see if the Silver bordered Fritillaries were flying yet. It is called the Great River Preserve in Bridgewater, MA. Although we didn’t see any Frits (it is a bit early still), we found a few common species such as Red Admirals, Peck’s Skippers, Pearl Crescents, Sulphurs and a mating pair of Viceorys which was the butterfly highlight of this location for sure.

    Mating Viceroy butterflies

    We also ran into quite a few Bobolinks. I had never seen such a bird since I generally pay no attention to the feathered friends out there. It is an interesting, almost goofy looking bird.

    Male Bobolink

    If you are in Bridgewater, you can’t end your day without a meal from Chatta Box. It is some of the greatest Thai food around! We are usually a hot mess by the end of the day and get it as take out. I am sure the staff appreciate that!

    The weekend looks like iffy weather all around with rain Saturday and possible sun, but colder temps Sunday, so we’ll see what we can find!

  • May 13, 2025 – Frosties!

    May 13, 2025 – Frosties!

    I took a quick trip to Myles Standish State Forest today since the weather was super nice in the low 70s and sunny but a bit breezy. It seems like it will be the last nice day here for a few days so I made the most of it.

    I went to the usual spots along the gas line and didn’t see really much exciting for a while. The Elfin activity has really slowed down, but the Duskywings are pretty active. I mainly saw Juvenal’s and Sleepy Duskywings, but also found one Horace’s which was a nice first of the year for me.

    Horace’s Duskywing

    I had dreaded having to walk the entire length of the gas line at Bare Hill Road to get to where the Frosted Elfins sometimes can be found, when all of a sudden I saw something fly towards me that was certainly an Elfin. I waited until it stopped and was able to see that it was a Frosted! I followed it for a bit and got a few photos along the way.

    Frosted Elfin

    There wasn’t much else going on other than one Pearl Crescent which was also a first of the year and a Chipping Sparrow landed in a tree right next to me so I grabbed a few shots of it as well (photo above).

    Pearl Crescent

    Now we wait to see how the weekend weather turns out. It is my birthday weekend this weekend so it had BETTER be nice!

  • May 1, 2025 – Nasketucket Bay Reservation

    May 1, 2025 – Nasketucket Bay Reservation

    Took a little time this afternoon to go to Nasketucket Bay Reservation in Mattapoisett, MA to see if I could find Henry’s Elfins since we saw one there last year and were rather surprised by it.

    Nasketucket is a nice place for a walk with wide trails, some nectar plants throughout the season and a variety of butterflies all summer long.

    The reservation has several different habitats with forest, fields, ocean (if you walk all the way to the end) and several wetter areas with vernal pools.

    Nice wide clean trails!
    Some of the wetter areas have these boardwalks

    I walked around for a while before finding anything interesting today. The weather was nice with lots of sun, but a bit chilly with temps only in the lower 60’s. The first butterfly I saw was an Azure. I am still unsure if this is a Summer Azure or a Spring Azure, form violacea. Since ALL of the Azures here (I saw about 12 or more) were the same, I suspect Summer Azure, but I can’t be sure.

    This one was just slightly darker.
    Summer? Spring?

    Eventually, I came across an Eastern Pine Elfin which wasn’t a surprise. Nasketucket is where I saw my first ever Pine Elfin so I sort of suspected I may see one.

    Eastern Pine Elfin

    I also spotted (so to speak) a spotted turtle crossing one of the paths! That was a bit of a surprise although I know they are all over this area of the state.

    Spotted Turtle

    I also saw two different Garter Snakes on the side of the path.

    Common Garter Snake

    Finally, on my way back, I found what I had come for. A Henry’s Elfin! I had seen something dark fly off on my way down the trail, but on the way back it seemed to be stopping which was awesome! This one seemed to be missing one of the clubs at the end of it’s left antenna. I have never seen that before.

    Henry’s Elfin

    A little further up the path, I found another one!

    Henry’s Elfin

    This, along with the one we saw there last year verifies that there is an active population there which is great to know.

    All in all, it was a great little walk with a questions remaining (about the Azures) but some answers as well.

  • April 24, 2025 – The yard is alive!

    April 24, 2025 – The yard is alive!

    So, not a lot to report today, but it seems that our yard is alive again with butterfly and bird activity!

    After a really nice day outside with full sun, upper 60’s (or higher) and little breeze, I shouldn’t be surprised what I found this afternoon. Walking around with the dog, we came across an American Lady butterfly on dandelion. I only had my phone on me so I got a blurry shot of it before it took off. Usually they come back. This one didn’t. A crappy pic is better than no pic… sort of.

    American Lady (believe it or not)

    Thinking it may come back, I went in and got the camera. A short while later, I was very surprised to see an American Copper! Not that is is really THAT early for them, but my records over the past 5 years has them only showing up this early in 2022 (also April 24th) and most not until the beginning of May.

    American Copper

    Later on I saw something zip through the yard and I had a feeling it was our first hummingbird. It eventually came down to the feeder. A male ruby throated hummingbird for sure! Always fun to see them return.

    It’s always great to see the yard come back to life after a long winter!