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Bog BioBlitz III is Big Success!

July 10, 2015 Category:

Over 400 species recorded sixty enthusiastic participants & leaders.

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On Saturday, June 27, 2015, nearly sixty participants and leaders tallied over 400 species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, fish, insects, spiders, sedges, wildflowers, trees, shrubs, moths, mammals and orchids to add to our Master List of Sax-Zim Bog species.

The bog is not just birds!

Highlights included over 1300 Showy Ladyslippers, 38 species of sedges, a rare spider (Uloborus gloom’s), 16 species of warblers, First County Record of Elfin Skimmer (North America’s tiniest dragonfly), Yellow-throated Vireo, Black Bear, a couple unusual moths, 7 new species of fish for the Bog, and much more! This was our third annual event and next year we’ll be back at it in Bog BioBlitz IV.

Download the entire species list.

Head-nets off to our intrepid Leaders!

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From Left to Right: Larry Weber (spiders), Cassie Novak (insects & spiders), Jason Husveth (sedges), Bill Tefft (Bog Walk & tiger beetles), Josh Horky (flora/wildflowers), Clinton Nienhaus (fishes), Sparky Stensaas (moths), Jerry McCormick (butterflies), Jim Lind (dragonflies/damselflies), Dave Grosshuesch (dragonflies/damselflies). Not pictured: Kim Eckert (birds), Dave Benson (birds)

We could not have had better weather! Sun, warmth and light winds.

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Marsh Speedwell (Veronica scutellata) was a new species for our master list. It was found by Jason Husveth as he scavenged for sedges in a floating mat along Cranberry Road

Larry Weber shares some spider knowledge to his group (photo by Cassie Novak)

Jerry McCormick’s butterfly crew found this plump Monarch caterpillar on its favorite host plant Milkweed.

Norma Malinowski (left) and Sarah Beaster (right) learn about sedges from Jason Husveth.

A little past prime, but nonetheless a great find was Norma Malinowski’s discovery of this orchid—Listera cordata (now Neottia cordata) or Heart-leaved Twayblade. It was found in a cedar swamp along Admiral Road.

Large Yellow Ladyslipper along Nichols Lake Road. (photo by Rubin Stenseng)

Josh Horkey leads the Wildflower crew along the cut-across gravel pit road. Lonicera hirsuta (Hairy Honeysuckle). Photo by Rubin Stenseng

Lonicera hirsuta (Hairy Honeysuckle). Photo by Rubin Stenseng

Clinton Nienhaus and crew (Peter Yokel center) search for minnows and other fishes along Stickney Road. Clinton took time out to photograph a species of Bladderwort (Utricularia)

Three species of small fish found by Clinton and the fish crew. L-R: Johnny Darter, Pearl Dace, Brassy Minnow. We had NO small fish data from the Bog previously, so these were welcome additions. (photo by Rubin Stenseng)

Cinnamon Fern was in its full glory (Bill Tefft photo)

Female Goldenrod Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia) can change color to blend in to their substrate and it aids in camouflage when trying to capture prey. (photo by Cassie Novak)

The male Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is much smaller than the female pictured above.(photo by Cassie Novak)

Knee deep in bog water and loving it! Dragonfly/Damselfly crew. Very few mosquitoes this year…But plenty of deer flies and horse flies to keep us company! (photo by Jim Lind)

Buckbean (Menyanthes trifolium) was found on a floating bog mat by the dragonfly crew (photo by Dave Grosshuesch)

Pink-shaded Fern Moth is a stunner! Callopistria mollissima (Attracted to lights at Welcome Center)

Sedges crew scours the shore of Stone Lake for new finds.

Sparky left the “porch light” on at the Welcome Center and this stunning tiger moth showed up. It is a St. Lawrence Tiger Moth (Platarcita parthenos)

Tufted Loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) was just starting to bloom (photo by Bill Tefft)

Leaders L-R: Bill Tefft, Dave Grosshuesch, Jim Lind

Long Dash (skipper) in fresh plumage and cooperatively on a Wild Iris (Blue Flag) Iris versicolor

Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) (photo by Rubin Stenseng)

A tiny and darn cute plant… Eleocharis acicularis or Needle Spikerush, was found at the Stone Lake Public Landing.

Dave Grosshuesch showing off a dragonfly catch along the St. Louis River (photo by Jim Lind)

Dave Grosshuesch showing off a dragonfly catch along the St. Louis River. One of the wonderful surprises of the day was the discovery of dozens of Elfin Skimmers at a floating bog mat. FIRST ST. LOUIS COUNTY RECORD!!.

Nannothemis bella is North America’s smallest dragonfly at a bit over 3/4 of an inch. Mating pair (photo by Dave Grosshuesch)

Nannothemis bella. Striped-abdomened female (photo by Jim Lind). Note their tiny size!

Crocus Geometer moth Larry Weber shares arachnid wisdom with the spider crew. (photo by Cassie Novak)

Sharing stories and finds inside the Welcome Center. (photo by Rubin Stenseng)

Bill Tefft found this Cow Path Tiger Beetle (Cicindela purpurea) near the gravel pits along Admiral Road.

Searching for Pitcher-Plants just north of the Welcome Center. (photo by Rubin Stenseng)

A rare Uloborus spider was found and photographed by Cassie Novak. Larry Weber in background.

Huge thank you to our field trip leaders

  • Sedges with Jason Husveth
  • Butterflies with Jerry McCormick
  • Dragonflies with Jim Lind and Dave Grosshuesch
  • Insects with Cassie Novak
  • Birds with Dave Benson & Kim Eckert
  • Spiders with Larry Weber
  • Fishes & Minnows with Clinton Nienhaus
  • Moths with Sparky Stensaas
  • Bog Walk with Bill Tefft
  • Showy Ladyslipper Tour (Heather-Marie Bloom & Ben Yokel)

See You For Bog Bioblitz IV In 2016!

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