Horseneck Beach Area (5/26)

On Saturday it was back to the shore again. This time it was Horseneck Beach for a butterfly field trip to Allen's Pond MAS. My parents and I decided to explore Gooseberry Neck before meeting the rest of the group at Allen's Pond. It was nice morning and there were lots of animals out and active. We heard lots of Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers plus at least one Willow Flycatcher. On the water were a group of Common Eider and a Double-crested Cormorant.

We even found a few butterflies (mostly American Coppers and Pearl Crescents). I also found this cool looking beetle while sitting at the edge of one of the tide pools. But, the animal of day was the Fowler's Toads. There seemed to be two or three every time you looked down. I find it really amazing that these toads can live in such a sandy and salty habitat.

We don't usually come out to this area in the early summer so we were treated to a totally different group of flowers. A lot of the bushes were in bloom and there was lots of Rugosa Rose flowers everywhere. I also found some Yellow Stargrass plus this one that I haven't been able to figure out.

After spending the morning at Gooseberry Neck we headed over to Allen's Pond for the field trip. Our leader, Lauren, brought us over to Barney's Joy where we searched the fields for butterflies. We found a good amount for early summer but nothing too spectacular. We were, however, able to find some great birds including Brown Thrashers, Savannah Sparrows, and a field full of singing Bobolinks. We also spotted this Tree Swallow perched on top of a medium sized stump. He was very cooperative because his mate was sitting on the next close by.

We also found some cool flowers including Blue-eyed Grass, Mouse-ear Chickweed, and Bird's-eye Speedwell.
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Birds: Northern Harrier, Yellow Warbler, Mourning Dove, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Common Eider, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, Willow Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Willet, Greater Black Back Gull, Brown-headed Cowbird, Savannah Sparrow, American Robin, Barn Swallow, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow

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Butterflies: Black Swallowtail 8, Monarch 1, American Copper 20, Pearl Crescent 9, Clouded Sulfur 11, Cabbage White 12, Eastern-tailed Blue 3, Red Admiral 1, American Lady 1, unknown Ladies 3

Herps: Fowler's Toad