OCTOBER 2019

LONG POINT BUTTERFLY COUNT Article by Adam Timpf, NFN Member and Organizer

The 28th annual Long Point butterfly count took our species total was about average. I’m sure we place this year on Saturday July 6th, with 36 would have added a few more species and many observers in various groups surveying different more individuals had the weather cooperated. areas in an attempt to identify and count each butterfly encountered. The forecast the night before was calling for a lot of rain, but I was hoping there would be breaks in the weather. My optimism was short lived when most of Saturday was dominated by rain. Some groups packed it in early, while others were able to fit in a few hours in the late afternoon. This was by far the wettest count in our 28-year history, and we could have cancelled the event all together. However, despite the fact most groups could only count for a couple hours, we tallied a remarkable amount and diversity of butterflies. Juvenal's Duskywing Photo by Bernie Solymár

The biggest surprise may be that we managed to set new count highs for a few species despite the shortened day. The 39 Northern Cloudywings and 30 Crossline Skippers smash the old records of 14 and 12 respectively. This is mainly due to a few observers surveying some restored prairie fields on NCC property that were probably not surveyed on past counts. Just goes to show you, if you plant it, they will come! Five Juvenal’s Duskywings ties the previous high, perhaps an indication of a cooler than average spring as these are an early season flying Northern Cloudywing Photo by Tom Murray species. With groups focusing on their most productive We were bound to miss something with the poor areas, we managed to tally an impressive 1706 weather, and this year it was Orange Sulphur. This individuals representing 50 species. Naturally, our represents the first time this common species wasn’t individual total was below average, but surprisingly, cont’d. on page 2 October 2019 Page 1 Norfolk Field Naturalists

Long Point Butterfly Count ...continued from Page 1 Black Swallowtail 2 Giant Swallowtail 0 recorded, and surely would have been found had Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 31 we been able to put in a full day. Conversely, 93 Spicebush Swallowtail 7 Monarchs were recorded, well above the average Pipevine Swallowtail 0 Checkered White 0 of 51. Extrapolating out, with a full day’s effort Mustard White 0 we may have been able to best our count record of Cabbage White 55 186. As many readers will have noticed, this has Clouded Sulphur 21 been a banner year for Monarchs in . My Orange Sulphur 0 Harvester 0 American Copper 2 Bronze Copper 1 Coral Hairstreak 6 Acadian Hairstreak 0 Edward's Hairstreak 479 Banded Hairstreak 26 Hickory Hairstreak 1 Striped Hairstreak 1 Gray Hairstreak 1 Eastern Tailed-Blue 1 Summer Azure 19 Silvery Blue 0 American Snout 0 Monarch Photo by Bernie Solymár Variegated Fritillary 0 Great Spangled Fritillary 6 fingers are crossed the current generation has a Silver-bordered Fritillary 0 safe journey to their wintering site in Mexico, and Meadow Fritillary 0 the population can continue to grow. Aphrodite Fritillary 0 Thank you to all the participants and helpers for Silvery Checkerspot 13 your efforts on this challenging day. It wouldn’t be Pearl Crescent 0 possible without your dedication and enthusiasm. Northern Crescent 284 Many thanks go to Peter and Mary for hosting the Baltimore Checkerspot 2 wrap-up and providing food and shelter to the wet Question Mark 12 and hungry counters. Next year the count falls on Eastern Comma 27 Saturday July 4th so mark your calendars! Grey Comma 2 Compton Tortoiseshell 0 Mourning Cloak 1 Milbert's Tortoiseshell 0 American Lady 3 Painted Lady 2 Red Admiral 256 Buckeye 0 Red-spotted Purple 3 Viceroy 4 Tawny Emperor 5 Northern Pearly-Eye 3 Eyed Brown 10 Appalacian Brown 4 Little Wood-Satyr 70 Edward's Hairstreaks Photo by Bernie Solymár cont’d. on page 3 October 2019 Page 2 Norfolk Field Naturalists

Long Point Butterfly Count ...continued from Page 2

Common Ringlet 0 Common Wood-Nymph 10 Monarch 93 Silver-spotted Skipper 77 Southern Cloudywing 5 Northern Cloudywing 39 Dreamy Duskywing 0 Sleepy Duskywing 0 Juvenal's Duskywing 5 Columbine Duskywing 0 Wild Indigo Duskywing 0 Common Sootywing 2 Silver-spotted Skipper Photo by Bernie Solymár Least Skipper 5 European Skipper 34 Peck's Skipper 3 Fall Song by Mary Oliver Tawny-edged Skipper 6 Another year gone, leaving everywhere Crossline Skipper 30 its rich spiced residues: vines, leaves, Long Dash 3 Northern Broken-Dash 7 the uneaten fruits crumbling damply Little Glassywing 8 in the shadows, unmattering back Sachem 0 Delaware Skipper 6 from the particular island Hobomok Skipper 0 of this summer, this NOW, that now is nowhere

Broad-winged Skipper 0 except underfoot, moldering Dion Skipper 0 in that black subterranean castle Black Dash 0

Two-spotted Skipper 0 of unobservable mysteries - roots and sealed seeds Dun Skipper 4 and the wanderings of water. This Common Roadside Skipper 0 Common Checkered Skipper 0 I try to remember when time's measure painfully chafes, for instance when autumn

flares out at the last, boisterous and like us longing to stay - how everything lives, shifting

from one bright vision to another, forever in these momentary pastures.

Welcome New Director! Peter Vaughan

Painted Lady Photo by Len Grincevicius We are thrilled to have you on board.

October 2019 Page 3 Norfolk Field Naturalists

AN ADVENTURE TO THE ACADIAN COST OF By Jan and Len Grincevicius

Have you ever taken a road trip to the Canadian also saw many Common Eiders, a colorful duck of Maritime Provinces and just driven right on the northern seacoasts. through New Brunswick to your destination? We’ve done that several times, but this year, we decided to take our summer vacation along the Common Eiders Acadian Coast of New Brunswick. You’re never Photo by far from the water, first on the Baie des Chaleurs Len and then on the . Grincevicius We traveled northeast from St. Leonard (south of Edmundston) on Highway Ecological Park of the is a 17. Stops were made in place of unspoiled beauty, where the lushness of Campbellton and then at the plants and trees has been left untouched. It is a the Inch Arran , place where wildlife is protected. We were able to which was constructed in roam the trails and experience lots of what this 1870. It remains in park has to offer. There’s an observation tower, a operation and in clear footbridge, and a boardwalk, which stretches weather, can be seen at a across an distance of 16 miles. estuary and into Inch Arran Lighthouse the forest. Photo by Jan Grincevicius We were On we went to the first of three “home bases” — able to Tracadie-Sheila. From here, we visited several stop at places. several is a beautiful, windswept natural lookouts island is at the very tip of the northeastern part of to do Osprey Photo by Len Grincevicius the province on and is home to some birdwatching and saw a number of osprey spectacular beaches and lots of interesting trails. It nests containing young and photographed many is a member of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the adults on the wing. The trail leads to an arboretum World Club”. The peaceful sound of the waves containing about 30 species native to the area. made walking the beach a joy. We visited Pointe-à-Bouleau, a Nature The Conservancy of (NCC) nature reserve less lighthouse than five minutes from Tracadie-Sheila. The was built in reserve is a 3.5-kilometre-long and 500-metre 1856 with the wide barrier island and shelters a shallow eel-grass original lagoon, salt marshes and mud flats. The dunes wooden, function as an ideal habitat for the nationally octagonal endangered piping plover. (Unfortunately, we did tower still in not see any.) Hundreds of waterfowl and use, along shorebirds are also found there. Plants in the area with the third- Photo by Len Grincevicius include sea rocket and beach wormwood. order Fresnel lens. We sat by the water watching Our second “home base” was Miramichi. There for and photographing northern gannets. These are many interesting places nearby to visit. large birds stay at sea for the first three years of their lives, then heading for land only to breed. We cont’d. on p.5

October 2019 Page 4 Norfolk Field Naturalists

Acadian Coast ...continued from Page 4

We visited the Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada which is comprised of and nearby Wilsons Point. Under the leadership of Charles Deschamps de Boishébert, many found refuge at Wilsons Point from 1756 to 1760. Beaubears Island was also an integral and functional part of the early settlement that gives testimony to the Acadian experience. Board Walk at Irving Eco-Centre Prior to Acadian settlement in the region, the Photo by Len Grincevicius Mi'kmaq people camped on the island. We did lots The Homarus Eco-Centre on the Pointe-du- of walking in this area and learned a great deal Chêne Wharf is a lobster research station. We about the history of the Acadians and Mi’kmaq. learned about the life cycle of these sea creatures Possibly the highlight of the trip was and saw examples of blue, orange, albino and Kouchibouguac National Park which regularly coloured lobsters. encompasses 238 square kilometres of incredibly On a day-long road trip, we visited several diverse natural habitats including forest, marshes, locations. bogs, dunes, estuaries, and rivers. There are many The historic, picturesque village of Port Elgin is kilometres of sand dunes and several located near the border at the mouth trails/boardwalks. It provides of the Gaspereau River where it empties into Baie habitat for seabirds, Verte of the Northumberland Strait. It’s a quiet including the endangered port with many interesting vistas. piping plover, and has the Fort Gaspareaux National Historic Site is an second largest tern colony in archaeological site containing traces of the French North America. Although we Fort Gaspareaux, together with nine graves of didn’t see any, colonies of Provincial soldiers killed in 1756 while harbour seals and grey seals garrisoning the fort. There are beautiful vistas of inhabit the park’s sand the Northumberland Strait. dunes. We had a great time The Nature Centre is a great on the bog trail, place to hike, walk the beach, and watch birds. We photographing many plants, were able to photograph the nineteenth-century including several species of Purple Pitcher Plant lighthouse and see the from carnivorous plants. The Photo by Jan Grincevicius the observation tower. flower of the smallest one was about one cm in diameter. Our third “home base” was . We found the following nearby. The Irving Eco-Centre was developed to preserve and restore one of the few remaining great sand dunes on the northeastern coastline of North America. This sand dune stretches 12 km across Bay, the result of the constant Confederation Bridge from Cape Jourimain action of wind, tides and sea currents since the last Photo by Jan Grincevicius ice age. A rich variety of marine and aquatic plants and animals, especially shorebirds and other So, ended our visit to New Brunswick and we migratory birds. began our three-day trip back home.

October 2019 Page 5 Norfolk Field Naturalists

October 2019 Page 6 Norfolk Field Naturalists

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' REPORT BRIEFS

Meet Plover Lover and Science Fair Champ Islay The Board met on July 9, 2019. The following are Graham highlights from this meeting. Visiting the Endangered Piping We dealt mainly with finances this time. A first- Plovers in her area inspired Islay ever budget for NFN was reviewed together with Graham to become a conservation the year-end report from Whitton Accounting volunteer and pursue a plover Services. The year-end report will be published in research project. She ended up the Annual Report distributed with the October making a splash on Canada’s issue of the Lotus. It will also be reviewed at the science fair scene with her results! Enjoy an interview AGM on September 10. with Islay. The purchase of a new projector was approved. It is to replace our old projector, which is on its Wilderness Walking in Your Own Backyard last legs and could give up the ghost at any time. Planting native species (instead of grass) is one of The Board approved getting Directors’ Liability the best ways to attract and keep wildlife. Animals Insurance in addition to our $5,000,000 general need habitat where they can live, eat and liability coverage from Cade Insurance. Most of reproduce. Planting trees, shrubs and flowers will the Ontario Nature member clubs have this provide this necessary habitat, while grass does coverage. not. In a large backyard, eastern white cedar, white Donation to NCEE will be handled at a per-case spruce, oak, mountain ash and maple trees can basis and will require a written request and a short provide shade and protection for birds, mammals presentation by Bernie Solymár to the NFN and insects. In smaller yards, plant shrubs such as Membership on how the funds will be used. The dogwoods, high-bush cranberry, serviceberry or NFN would also like to be recognized for the staghorn sumac to provide cover and habitat for donations with the NCEE. wildlife. The new 2019-2020 brochures are now out and have been distributed to various outlets and mailed The Fall issue of ON Nature, Ontario Nature's to members. award-winning quarterly magazine, is now The NFN will be hosting the Ontario Nature available. Carolinian East Fall meeting on October 19. The meeting will be held at the historic Walsingham To receive selected information by email, you can Community Hall. A report from this meeting will sign up: be published in the December Lotus. ontarionature.org The next Board of Directors' meeting is scheduled for October 22nd. Thank You! From Norfolk Field Naturalists to Welcome New NFN Members Will & Morgan Partridge 2019 - 2020 Season Guardian Computing Ted and Paula Gent, Don Grunsten and For hosting our website Karen Walker, Eric Holden and Sherry Pilkington, Bruce Robinson, Alfred Senior, John Tutt, Clen and Angelle VanKleef Thank You We look forward to meeting you and hope you From the Norfolk Field Naturalists to will participate in and enjoy all the NFN indoor Jane Thomson of Over the Moon presentations and field outings. For designing the Brochure layout

October 2019 Page 7 Norfolk Field Naturalists

NFN Meetings About the NFN

Upcoming NFN Norfolk Field Naturalist meetings Norfolk Field Naturalists 2019 Fall Event are held the second Tuesday of the members participate in meetings month from September to May. and field outings, many of which

Saturday, October 5, 2019, Meetings take place at the Simcoe are family-friendly. Membership 7:30pm. Seniors Centre, 89 Pond Street. fees are $20 Individual and $30

An evening of stargazing with The meetings are free and visitors Family.

Bernie Mueller and the North are always welcome. Doors open Donations are eligible for income

Shore Erie Amateur Astronomers at 7:15 pm, programs begin at 7:30 tax credits. Charitable registration pm. # 11905869RR00001 at Win-del Park in 3178 Nixon Rd., Windham Centre. A number Guest speakers present programs of telescopes will be set up to provide close ups of the night sky. NFN Mailing Address on interesting and relevant natural Contact Len at 519-428-6796. Norfolk Field Naturalists history and conservation topics.

PO Box 995, Simcoe, ON Club members receive the Lotus newsletter with articles on local N3Y 5B3 natural history and club activities.

Copies of the Lotus are available at meetings, by mail or by email and posted on the NFN web site. Next Lotus Issue: Articles published in the Lotus

From Long Point Basin Land December 2019 reflect the views and opinions of

Trust Input dead line: the authors, but not necessarily Keep an Eye Out for Reptiles – Friday, November 22, those of the NFN. Go to www.norfolkfieldnaturalists.org 2019 http://longpointlandtrust.ca/kee p-an-eye-out-for-reptiles/

Amazing Trees 2019 - 2020 NFN Executive with Contact and Project Information If you love trees, have a look at All 519- this website: President Inga Hinnerichsen 875-5601 [email protected] https://www.mnn.com/earth- Vice-President Len Grincevicius 428-6796 [email protected] matters/wilderness- Sanctuary Peter Carson 586-3985 [email protected] Past President Bernie Solymár 427-9969 [email protected] resources/blogs/facts-about- Treasurer Barb Hourigan 583-1198 [email protected] trees Secretary Cindy Presant 586-9258 [email protected] Director/Membership Jan Grincevicius 428-6796 [email protected] Director Speaker Program From Bruce Trail and Field Events Len Grincevicius 428-6796 [email protected] Conservancy Director Publicity Lisa Timpf 226-440-2483 [email protected] Maple Ridge Nature Reserve is Director Environment Bernie Solymár 427-9969 [email protected] located just south of Action. It Director-at-large Peter Vaughan 429-5998 [email protected] Director-at-large vacant secures 490 meters of the Director-at-large vacant Bruce Trail and protect Lotus Editor (appointed) Jan Grincevicius 519-428-6796 [email protected] wildlife species and their Butterfly Counts: (appointed) Adam Timpf 429-4147 habitat in the area. For more Christmas Bird Counts: (appointed) Adam Timpf - Woodhouse Count 429-4147 info, go to Linda Thrower - Fisherville Count 905-774-1230 Honorary President: George Pond brucetrail.org/pages/land- Honorary Directors: Anne and Dolf Wynia conservation/maple-ridge

October 2019 Page 8 Norfolk Field Naturalists