Maine Butterfly Survey

On Saturday I attended the Maine Butterfly Survey's workshop at Colby College in Waterville,Maine. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, along with UMF and Colby College, and a few other agencies support and run this annual survey to establish what species of butterflies and where they are located in the state. Up until now we really don't know what we have and this project is helping to fill in the gaps.
Today, I spent some time to go over some maps and plan my survey spots. I have 7 stops, and a couple of other places I'll check when I can get to them. One I will be hitting is Bigelow Mt, which I will be able to do when I do the Mountain Birdwatch this June. I hope to make another trip there later in the summer. I also have the summit of Saddleback Mt , (just outside of Rangeley), on my list.
It should be very interesting, can't wait to get started.

Snow

Front finally moved through last night. Temps dropped down to 36f (2 C) and snow was on the mountains from 2500 ft and higher.

Name the Bird.

This should be interesting. Three photos of three birds. Name them. And one hint, two are the same.

Dung Beetles on NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103775784

Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle

C. longilabris

Taken from the same spot as the outhouse. So far this year this one will make 4 species of Cicindela from one spot. This place is crazy with them. And solitary bees. I also was found by my first blackfly of the season. Don't listen to their "season". They stay until freeze up.

Porcupine & the Outhouse

A few years ago, the local boy scouts got a little more interest and the place they use as their campground needed some "improvements". I could editorialize a bit and say how the interest won't last, and the idea of Boy Scout improving a campground isn't really the best, but it willcause someone angst, so I'll stop.A new outhouse was built, which the local red squirrels and deer mice found useful. They shredded the toilet paper left over winter. A year or so later, the porcupines found it and due to the sodium content of the plywood, porcupines like to gnaw it. As you can see they are good at what they do.

Last summer, I was riding my bike and stopped by, it's a great place for birds, tiger beetles and critter tracks. It's located along a river and in the middle of a spruce-fir forest, with a closed bog. Anyway, I heard a noise, walking around I came to the outhouse and a porcupine blissfully munching. I was able to walk to within 10 feet of him. The camera was back in my jeep. The area outside the door is littered with quills and scat.

Toads.

American Toad, (Bufo americanus), joined the chorus last night.