ABNC Field Trip to Royalston

Sunday, June 25, 2000

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About 20 people from around the region enjoyed the wonderful breakfast spread, offered by the Friends of Royalston Library, accompanied by slides by trip leader Carl Kamp of past Royalston trips. Sponsors of this annual event included the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, The Athol Bird and Nature Club, and the Friends of the Royalston Library. The sun appeared slowly and by noon it was hot, humid and breezy 80-85, a perfect day to watch butterflies.

Butterfly enthusiasts identify butterflies in Royalston. Photo by Small
(Use landscape mode to print enlarged image)

There were a number of individual butterflies that seemed fresh out of the chrysalis and provided great views. The most memorable were Question Mark (dark form), Red-spotted Purple, White Admiral, Harris' Checkerspot, and Great Spangled and Aphrodite Fritillaries.

4 Tiger Swallowtail, 3 Cabbage White, 5 Eastern Tailed Blue, 5 Great Spangled fritillary, 3 Aphrodite Fritillary, 12 Harris' Checkerspot (1 mating pair and a wide range in size and freshness). 1 Question Mark, 2 Mourning Cloak, 1 American Lady (50+ caterpillars in a 20 foot area of Pearly Everlasting), 3 Red-spotted Purple, 1 White Admiral, 5 Little Wood Satyr, 5 Common Ringlet, 1 Silver-spotted Skipper, 2 Northern Cloudywing, 7 European Skipper, 1 Indian Skipper, 1 Peck's Skipper, 1 Tawny-edged Skipper, 1 Long Dash, 3 Hobomok Skipper (1 Pocahontas).

Many Thanks to all attended and special thanks to the Friends of The Library for the food and use of the space.

Dave

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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 or e-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 or e-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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