Leap into summer

Cain’s Pond Sunset

 June 25

It's been three weeks since our last trip to Nantucket and it is now popcorned with arrow wood viburnum.  People are still seeing the Sandhill crane, but it was not at Moor's End farm when we passed.

I headed out for a night time bike ride to Sesachacha Pond at sunset.  The scent of swamp azalea filled the night.  A black-crowned night heron eyed the fish at Cain's Pond while a young Osprey also eyed them from above. A common yellowthroat led the bird chorus.  Sesachacha wasn't drained this spring.

At 8:34, an Eastern Whip-poor-will started calling, even as the yellowthroats kept witchedy-ing.  I decided to head into the moors toward Mirror Pond to find a chuck-wills-widow.  Fireflies lit my way!  It was like I was in a Disney Movie with fireflies as the honor guard and guardians both.  I've never see a so many fireflies at once on Nantucket-hundreds.  The most I've  ever seen was in New Jersey in Basking Ridge in 2006. Was it the hot days that sparked a hatch? Some other natural phenomenon?

The chuck-wills-widow was singing near Mirror Pond.  Probably 2. 

Mirror Pond

What  a magical night!  And a clear sky full of stars, too!  Cygnus, Ursa Major and Minor, Cassiopeia.

Pickerelweed

Azalea Viscosa

The sunrise is north and moving south now that it is just past the summer solstice.  By the equinox, the sunrise will be directly east of our bedroom window.  

Josh and I walked Norwood Farm and heard a black-billed cuckoo near the "corner pond," which is filled with pickerelweed.  Almanac Pond is ringed with yellow gratiola aurea. A few  toadflax and Quaker ladies are still blooming, reminiscent of spring as we leap into summer.

Almanac Pond rimmed by Gratiola Aurea

Foggy Early June

Six weeks is as long as I have been away from Nantucket in several years. Anticipation! I am sure to have missed the Black Stilt which visited, but maybe the Sandhill Crane is still there. My entire spring migration birding was at Mount Auburn Cemetery this year.

The Wild Cherries are in bloom, giving the green of the island a pearly luster as their panicles catch the light.  They are the plant version of fog, which is swaddling the island. The fog is moving gently back and forth, leaving everything moist and verdant.

On the verges, the Scotch Broom and white climbing roses are in bloom, and the ox-eyed daisies are starting up. 

Blue Flag

Blue flag is blooming at Windswept Bog, blue toadflax, and also some Pasture thistle.  The killdeer are loving the disturbed land and mud that is part of the wetland restoration. There are so many of them, at least 15, calling continuously and showing themselves.  The parts of Windswept that were restored in 2023-2024 are now filled with sedges.  I hope the fields of blue flag will grow back.  

Killdeer

It's the time of year that cars are stopping on the Polpis Road because snapping turtles are crossing.  This happened to me three times this weekend, once on my bike and once in the car- 2 turtles within a quarter mile.

Luckily, Jacqui Papale saw the Sandhill Crane at Moors End Farm and posted it on eBird.  Josh and I checked it out ...and there he was!  Majestic bird, standing on one leg.

Sandhill Crane

Too short a visit to check out the ponds.  I missed the beach plum bloom and the golden heather this year because of our trip to the Netherlands and the impending arrival of a new person, grandchild #6.

Fledgling Time

May I have this dance?

Pasture Thistle