July

“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”. Psalm 133:1

Those are the words we look at in Sconset Union Chapel, where all manner of Christians worship and celebrate.  It makes me think of  dwelling in harmony with nature as well, here where it is so close to me.

What is dwelling in harmony with nature? Is it only using organic fertilizers?  Is it getting rid of lawns and hydrangeas and planting endemic varieties?  Is it recycling and cutting my carbon footprint? Living simpler?  We still drive what is likely to be our last internal combustion engine car, our 2016 Toyota Forerunner. Many unanswered questions, even as I roam the island on foot and by bike.

I just finished reading The Blue Machine by physicist Helen Czerski, which lays out the systems of the ocean and asks that we respect an dwell in harmony with it.

In June temperatures  were a mean of 64.8,  with 2.95 inches of rain.

Now the island environment is changing again. The Arrowwood viburnums are finished flowering, and the grape vines are blowing brown and green along the roads and meadow as the wind tosses their leaves. Chicory has started to open and  St. Johnswort is in full swing on the verges. The pond across from the Sconset Golf Course has pickerelweed (pontederia cordata) in bloom. The ox-eye daisies are waning.

Wigwam Pond

Wigwam Pond

On July 6, I sought, but did not find, the yellow-crowned night heron at the UMass Field Station.  A kingfisher rattled over the pond, and a black-crowned night heron foraged in the Folgers Marsh near the Life Saving Museum. A great crested flycatcher sung at Reyes Pond, and the Toothed white-topped asters (seriocarpus asteroids) are beginning to open.  Sandplain Blue-eyed grass was still blooming at Wigwam Pond, along with pickerel weed and burr-reed.

On July 10, I did a birding Tour de Madaket and spotted a family of black- crowned night herons through the fog from the Long Pond dock by Massasoit bridge.  Driving back along Barrett Farm Road, the Madaket Moors stretched out, pine warblers sang and kingbirds flitted.

As the winds have shifted to the south, it is warmer, muggier and foggier.

I am looking forward to the return of the least sandpipers, semipalmated sandpipers, whimbrels, yellowlegs.  And the wood lilies.

Black-crowned night heron

Black-crowned night herons

 

A Tale of Two Kayaks

When my Walden kayak was stolen from Polpis Harbor Land Bank kayak rack in October 2022, I thought I might be at fault because I left it in the rack too late in the season.  I loved that 30 year old kayak, purchased in Nantucket in the store that now sells Vineyard Vines clothes.  I found that Walden kayaks had gone out of business, a victim of the pandemic.  I bit the bullet and bought a new Eddyline Skylark kayak from REI for the 2023 season, complete with chain and lock. Excellent 2023 season kayaking out to Quaise and Pocomo Meadow to see baby oystercatchers, whimbrels, plovers, turnstones and other shorebirds.

Imagine my disappointment today when I went to take an Independence Day kayak at low tide at 6:30 am and my new kayak had been stolen!  In frustration, I decided to hike from Wauwinet out to Coskata Pond in hopes of adventure.  The hike was 4 miles, and I observed much erosion along the Head of the Harbor,  ( I ignored all the 4 wheel drive vehicles heading out to Great Point.). At one point, Rosa rugosa bushes have died and a new inlet was formed.

Tricolor heron,
Egretta tricolor

Tricolor heron

The willets were warning me away, but I observed a heron that from afar could have been a great blue heron,  but didn't have the right shape or coloration.  It was a  tricolored heron foraging in the inlet.  Apparently they are the newest heron to breed in Massachusetts.  I counted 45 horseshoe crab shells, and saw thousands of hermit crabs scuttling.  A family of 5 oystercatchers walked away from me toward Coskata.  Bank swallows swerved dipped and careened  around the fallen tupelos at the Coskata cliffs, where new holes revealed their nests.  An osprey pair surveyed the pond while more oystercatchers and snowy and great egrets fed. Kingbirds hawked insects.

My consolation hike eased my frustration, and I headed back to a Fourth of July party at the Moldenauer’s.  

Northern Harrier

Willet

Willets

Bank Swallow

New inlet

New cliff at Coskata

Target Species

 

Swamp Candles, Lysimachia Terrestris

Swamp Azalea,
Rhododendron Viscosum

As a birder, I’m used to thinking about what species I might see when I head out for a walk. During July, as the bird species are more stable and there is a smaller chance of seeing a new species, I often hunt for wildflowers. 

I have described the procession of flowering plants which I love following in Nantucket. Early July means colicroot ( aletra farinosa) and ghost pipes( monotropa uniflora) for me. Oh…and swamp candles ( Lysimachia Terrestris) and Swamp Azalea ( Rhododendron viscosum).

Colicroot,
Aletra Farinosa

Ghost Pipes,
Monotropa uniflora

So today I headed off to Stump Pond with those target species in mind. The last of the Quaker Ladies were there in the shade, and the tail end of the ox-eyed daisies. The arrow wood viburnum’s bloom are also losing steam. The yarrow is starting.

Common yellowthroats were the most numerous birds; I guess that’s why they are called “common.” Yet they hide so well, I haven’t got a picture of one yet this year. Towhees, robins, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows and blue jays joined me on the walk, with a red-tailed hawk, barn and tree swallows and a couple of yellow warblers. The great crested flycatcher and red -eyed vireo were highlights. A brown thrasher and black-and-white warbler were heard but not seen.

The Carolina roses were blooming in profusion in Windswept bog, where last month the wild iris blue flag flourished. Our threatened sand plain blue-eyed grass is along the edges. We are eager to see how the renovation of the old cranberry bog changes the landscape. Now there is more standing water and new greenery, but no new flowers that I could see.

I found my target species, as well as an American wintergreen, pyrola. A successful hunt!

American Copper on Yarrow

Rosa Carolina

Sandplain blue-eyed grass,
Sisyrynchium fuscatum 

Windswept Bog roses

Sunrise, July 2, 2024. 05:11