next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Nov. 5, 2006 - BLOMIDON NATURALISTS SOCIETY FIELD TRIP: ³ACADIAN HIKE², at Lockhart-Ryan Park in New Minas, led by George E. Forsyth. On this chilly day we had a huge turn-out, of about 30 people. George pointed out how to identify the mostly leafless deciduous trees (exceptions red oak, beech) by the bark etc.; of note to me were the distinctive whitish patches of lichens on the bark of red oak. George also likened the feel of beech leaves, if you ignore the veins, to paper money. George informed and entertained us with lots of information on geological and geographical history, along with natural and human history, of the area. Early in our afternoon walk we saw a high-flying ³V² of CORMORANTS, presumably double-crested, almost certainly migrating toward the south. Along the railroad tracks between the extension of Cornwallis Ave. and the ACA Co-op business complex was a colony of COMMON MILKWEED which were shedding lovely cottony seeds; every summer I check this colony for evidence of breeding of monarch butterflies -- several caterpillars were seen back in August? Near the ACA Co-op along the RR was a single bush with large leaves, and George said it was BUCKTHORN; if so, it is the 3rd and only native species, Rhamnus alnifolia, known as alder-leaved buckthorn; the leaves on this shrub were much larger than those of the two introduced species. Dense brables prevented me from examining the leaves closely, and there were no fruits seen. We also saw lots of nearly leafless European alder-buckthorn, R. frangula, which still had blackish berries. While we were walking along the RR west of the milkweeds, we heard a calling BARRED OWL, and the calls seemed to be coming from the northeast end of Oak Island (yes, another Oak Island!). Bernard Forsythe called once or twice and seemed to get answers(?). Along the RR tracks and adjacent to the big sand and gravel quarry at the end of the extension of Cornwallis Ave., George showed us a flat elevated forested area that very probably was a site of an Acadian cemetery. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects