Birds, Beasts and Botany - Thursday, April 11, 2013

We began our observations of the flora and fauna on a lovely, warm spring morning as we carpooled to a new starting site near Lake Champlain at Cox Hall Creek WMA. We started with purple martins and tree swallows and soon saw two double-crested cormorants in a tree. Excitement bubbled as a lump in a tree revealed two green herons. We took time to examine a Cape May County first (?) of a fingered speedwell (Veronica triphyllos), a species of flowering plant in the plantain family. Mike Crewe helped us make sense of the weeds with small white flowers while taste-testing some of the edible weeds was optional. We were able to see 2 species of turtles, 3 types of frogs and one toad, 3 different butterflies, and 40 different birds. Today was certainly an educational blend of birds, beasts and botany! Leaders: Mike Crewe, Steve Weis, & Chris Marks.