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Four club members met at the Millers River Environmental Center (MREC) and then ventured into southern New Hampshire searching for rhododendron buds. Insert here the imaginary photo of Rick Magee, Lula Field, Susan Bredesen and Janice McNamara.
Our first stop was at a pond on West Fitzwilliam Road in Royalston where we watched five Canada geese lazily swimming at the far end of the pond. These were soon joined by a line of 29 more geese crossing a grassy plot into the pond. We also saw a least flycatcher here
The next stop was at the Rhododendron State Park in
Fitzwilliam, NH.
Here we spotted many rhododendron maximum without buds
(don't know why) plus many with buds. These should bloom around
mid-July.
Also seen or heard here were:
| red-eyed vireo | black-throated blue warbler | broad-winged hawk |
| scarlet tanager | black-throated green warbler | cedar waxwing |
| ovenbird | black & white warbler | common yellowthroat |
| many veeries | several unidentified warblers | song sparrow |
| robin | white-breasted nuthatch | yellow-bellied sapsucker |
| crow | ||
| wild sarsaparilla | bunchberry | downy (?) wintergreen |
| Canada mayflower | rattlesnake plantain | false solomon seal |
| true solomon seal | plus many more native plants | |
| chipmunk | ||
Our next stop was at Rock Meadow Pond in Fitzwilliam. Here we saw
| white admiral | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Juvenal duskywing |
| hobomok skipper | red-spotted purple | blue darners (?) |
| cabbage white | ||
| heal-all | common veronica | |
| arrowwood | rough-fruited cinquefoil | spatterdock |
| bee fly | ||
| painted turtle | green frog | bull frog |
| barn swallow | song sparrow |
Heading home, we stopped on a causeway on Route 124 in Marlboro, NH to check out some pretty pink flowers at the water's edge and found
| swamp rose | red-wing blackbird | least flycatcher |
At last the main goal of the trip was reached at Murdock's Farm Stand in Winchendon (after we agonizingly decided to skip the strawberry festival in Fitzwilliam). Here the warm and weary travelers refreshed themselves with deliciously decadent home-made ice cream. While there we observed
| llama | horse | donkey |
| bobolink | barn swallow | |
| Model A Ford with some vintage gentlemen | ||
We then headed toward Phillipston so that we could find something in bloom. With brakes almost squealing we made a sudden stop at the United Church of Christ in Baldwinville which was displaying a "Strawberry Shortcake" sign. The idea was great but the frozen strawberries and Cool Whip were disappointing.
The final stop of the day was at the Elliot Laurel Sanctuary in Phillipston. This is a beautiful spot for observing butterflies. There is a large sunny wildflower-filled meadowhere and a mowed path with shady spots to watch from. Be careful to stay on the path; there is a lot of poison ivy silently creeping, creeping toward you at the path edges. Here we saw
| many white mountain laurel in full bloom | ||
| one each light and dark pink laurel | ||
| yellow hawkweed | orange hawkweed | bush honeysuckle |
| clouded sulpher | many common ringlets | American copper |
| orange sulpher | eastern tiger swallowtail | pale orange skipper |
After this we headed back to the MREC to attend the Millers River Watershed Council party.
-- Susan Bredesen
The next scheduled field trip is July 8 at Quabbin with the New England Wildflower Society. There is a FEE for this. See Upcoming ABNC Events
Members of the Athol Bird and Nature Club are kicking off fund raising
events for the Millers River Environmental Center with "Butterfly and Birding Buffets!"
on July 16 and 23. There are FEEs
for these. See Upcoming
ABNC Events
We are looking for 5 more people to host a fundraising Butterfly, Birding Buffet. Large or small, breakfast, lunch or supper; even a picnic at one of your favorite spots. Sign up now! Call or write Dave Small at 978-249-2094 ore-mail Dave
We are also hoping to have a fundraising garden tour August 20th, and we need 15 members willing to share their yards with the public. If we can include you, let us know as soon as possible so we can start advertising and get maps made. Call or write Dave Small at 978-249-2094 ore-mail Dave
Other ideas include a music fest, tee shirts with the logo in time for Christmas, and don't forget the December supper in North Orange. There's lots to do at 100 Main St.!!!!
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