Ebony Boghaunter – OdoNotations

Another Ebony Boghaunter in Marlborough Forest

On May 15th I decided to try a new trail in Marlborough Forest. I was mainly looking for butterflies, as dragonflies weren’t all that numerous yet. Dreaming more of elfins and commas than dragons and damsels, I parked on Kettles Road near the Black-billed Cuckoo site from last year. I headed south, and almost immediately found myself in an area with four species flying: Mourning Cloak, Northern Spring Azure, Henry’s Elfin, and Gray Comma. The sunny day was perfect for looking for butterflies, and I ended up finding quite a few, especially in the open cedar woods where they were resting on the trail.

Dragonfly Season Begins in Marlborough Forest

By the third week of May the weather finally warmed up enough to do some dragon-hunting, so on May 21st I made plans with Chris Lewis and Jakob Mueller to go to Roger’s Pond in Marlborough Forest to look for birds, bugs and herps. We had great luck with all three, though mammals were sadly lacking. I’m not sure why I don’t see many mammals at this trail; the only one I can remember seeing with any certainty was a Snowshoe Hare right on the gravel trail as it ran by me.