Maine Nature News
Vol. 6, no. 25, Tuesday, June 19, 2001

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Thursday, May 30. Sweden (Map 10)  Black flies are a THREE.  A.T.S.

Tuesday, June 5. Millinocket and East Millinocket (Map 43)  Woods outside of town. Black Fly severity = 3+.   Lots of Mosquitoes.  F.D.A.

Wednesday, June 13. Cumberland (Map 5) West Cumberland.  Along our pasture, close to a little marsh, a mockingbird sings after dark.  Starting somewhere around 10:30 pm, this bird chortles through blue jay, phoebe, cardinal, red-winged blackbird, woodpecker and other calls and continues for some time.  It sounds like a large number of birds, but they all come from the same spot.  Is this common mockingbird behavior?  I've heard the killdeer at night for years, but this is the only daytime bird I've heard at night other than in a “Danger, I've been disturbed” type of situation. Seems like pretty risky behavior, this one voice in an otherwise quiet night. L.P.

Wednesday, June 13.  Mattawamkeag, (Map 44)  Black fly rating = 1.  The flies were not bad at either recess, Tuesday or Wednesday at Troutt School, MSAD #67.  E.A.B.S.

Thursday June 14. Holden (Map 23) These butterflies were found at the Fields Pond Nature Center:  Baltimore, Harris's Checkerspot, Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroy, White Admiral, American Painted Lady. (There is a no-collecting policy at the nature center.) J.K.M.

Monday, June 18. Moose River (Map 39)  Earlier when you emailed me (June 10), the black flies were not yet a problem. Right now they are horrendous.  I hope they have hit their peak. Because of  the extremely hot daytime weather and the evening mosquito and black fly attacks, it has been difficult to get my garden planted. I have finally finished.  The little flea beetles made their appearance almost as soon as the first cucumber plant broke through.  S.H.

Monday, June 18. Lovell (Map 10)  Black Flies 1.  Mosquitoes 3!!  First Firefly.  B.D.

Monday, June 18.  West Newfield (Map 2)  What is this flying creature?  Two to three of them work the flowers at a time.  Fast flying, wings are so fast you can not make them out, and very small.  P.A.

Tuesday, June 19. Phippsburg  (Map 6)  Phippsburg shoreline.  Since I am a swimmer (even in the ocean!), I pay attention to the water temperature.  A week ago the temperature had reached 60 and I took my first plunge.  This week, however, I thought my thermometer had broken when it read 68! 
    I was already to enjoy a nice swim up the cove when I noticed several Red Jellies floating in the water!  I took my swim anyway, but utilized a "sweep away the jellyfish" stroke.  (I only encountered one, but peering at it in its medium at 6 inches was a bit unnerving).  So there seems to be a flip side to the warming of the water... jellyfish.  Incidentally, these are small jellyfish of the Lion's Mane variety.  They do have stinging tentacles not readily visible in small ones.  I read where these grow into very large jellyfish, some reaching 8 ft. in diameter!  (That would definitely keep me out of the water!).  I drew one of the animals I encountered, viewed from the underside.
   I would also like to report about a delightful walk over in Boothbay last Friday at the Maine Botanical Gardens.  If you have not been to this area, forget the gift shops and harbor scene and head for this tranquil area.  There are trails along the shore and on high outcroppings of rocks through woodland trails.  The Pink Ladyslippers were a highlight.  I liked the description of this flower as having a wraparound petal with a door in front.  Bees may enter, and get caught inside -- like a lobster trap!  I was also interested in the percentage of these flowers that produce seeds.
   Of the 1000 (round figure) of Pink Ladyslippers in this sanctuary, only 10 have produced seed pods.  It is an ongoing project to count and record the plants and their survival.  The Twinflower was also in bloom, and gave quite a floral display.
   Along the shoreline here in Phippsburg, there is a lot of color provided by the Beach Peas, Rugosa Roses, 3-Toothed Cinquefoil, Silverleaf, Hawkweeds, and Iris.  The Poison Ivy is also in bloom.  R.K.