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Dear All, July 28, 2007
We headed to Huntington Point this afternoon for a break from heat
and a beach walk to refresh sight recognition of the Long Legged Fly
(_Liancalus genualis_ Loew) followed by corn; two out of three.
None of the seepy areas had either the Machilidae (Bristletail ?) or
the _Liancalus genualis_. Previously I had seen them Aug 15 & 18, 2002.
Is this perhaps too early or did they have a hard winter ?
There was more recent fallen rock than I have ever seen on a fundy
beach, most or all from beyond reach of spray so presumably due to an
abnormal number of freeze/thaw cycles. Whether most of it fell this
spring, as opposed to previous springs, I can't be sure, but it looked
unweathered.
A highlight of sorts was one Mustard White working flowers in a
small patch of. Sea-Rocket (_Cakile edentula_), the first I have seen on
the shore or away from Kentville. I was able to watch it for several
minutes, from just a few feet away, and I saw no indication of egg laying.
When we walked west at about 2:00 p.m. there were large numbers of
Bumble Bees (~25/m^2), all of one species, working patches of
Sea-Lungwort (_Mertensia maritima_) for nectar and when we came back at
about 4:30 p.m. they were still there, busy as usual.
The Beach Pea (_Lathyrus japonicus_ var) is now abundant along the
cottage section west of the road end and was loaded with pods ready to
cook. Orach (_Atriplex patula_), a very good green, is also doing well
there now.
At about the time the corn water was hot enough (Coleman Stove;
bought 1956 !) to give off the odor of cooking corn, we started seeing
Rove Beetles (_Philonthus furvus_ Nordmann probably) flying to and
around the stove and this continued off and on while the corn cooked.
They fly rapidly but like a balloon that is releasing air; very erratic.
Once we started eating corn, they turned attention our way, and landed
on nearby rocks or on boots/socks when least expected. Usually only one
at a time came in and they seemed uncertain what to do next, even after
I put some cobs, stripped of kernels, on a rock.
When packing up to leave I, by accident, transferred a speck of
cooked kernel to the handle of a fabric tote bag and the next thing I
knew, a Rove Beetle, had found it and was vigorously attempting to chew
the kernel.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
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