Broad Meadow Brook MAS (6/17)

On Saturday I went to another of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club field trips, this time to BMB. I got there early hoping to see some birds... but it ended up being more of a snake day. Just as I started down Troiano Brookside Trail and immediately noticed a pair of garter snakes basking on the rocks near the trash collector. The larger one (maybe a female) was even in the process of shedding its skin. I traveled further up the trail and along the powerline towards Granite St. While crossing the small brook, we startled another snake. We didn't get a good look but I'm guessing it might be a Northern Water Snake. Back at Dunkirk, we found a forth snake, another Garter, sunning itself on someone's grass clippings. Later in the day I heard a rustling in the ferns that had to be a snake (but I never did find it). I could tell that it was smaller than the Garters... maybe a Brown Snake? Finally, on the way out the group found one final Garter. Six snakes for one day, pretty good!

As for the butterflies, they were pretty good too. Early in the morning while we were scoping out the area, we spotted a Red Spotted Purple sucking nutrients out of the mud along the path. We also saw a Hoary Edge Skipper and one Viceroy.

As the field trip was starting, the weather turned a bit more overcast. We walked in from Sprague Lane and didn't find much of anything on the trail. But, once we got to the powerlines, the sun started to come out. The Mountain Laurel and Sheep Laurel (Lambkill) were in bloom and Yellow Stargrass lined the trail. We even found some Smooth Carrion Flower which, true to its name, attracted flies. Finally, we discovered one flower that no one could identify. And befitting a true "snake" day, I was able to identify it as Rattlesnake Weed. It has really distinctive leaves so I should remember it the next time I see it.

With this much in bloom, the butterflies were taking advantage of the bounty. We had several Hoary Edge (one of which was VERY cooperative), a few more Viceroys, four Tiger Swallowtails, and several other skipper species. Best of all, the Harris' Checkerspots were everywhere. We counted a total of 29. It looks like the population survived the powerline mowing.

Another nice trip with some really nice people.

Butterflies - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Eastern Tailed-blue, Spring Azure, Harris Checkerspot, Viceroy, Red Spotted Admiral, Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet, Silver-spotted Skipper, Hoary Edge Skipper, Southern Cloudywing, Northern Cloudywing, Dreamy Duskywing, Juvenal's Duskywing, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Europeon Skipper, Indian Skipper, Peck's Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Long Dash, Hobomok's Skipper, Dusted Skipper

Herps - Garter Snake, Brown Snake (?), Northern Water Snake (?), Green Frog, American Toad