Upcoming Botany Walk: 9 km. Bog, June 15th 2015

This coming Monday, June 15th, Terry Thormin will lead a field trip to 9 km. Bog. We will meet at Harmston at 10:00 and will have a second meeting place at the first parking lot on the Strathcona Parkway at 10: 20. Everyone should bring rubber boots and a lunch.
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Bird Outing Report: Hawk Greenway, June 11,2015

Today at Hawk Greenway and Mallard Creek Headwaters, 12 birders found 32 species. Highlights were nice looks at Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Evening Grosbeak.

Mallard
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak

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Upcoming Botany Walk: Miracle Beach, June 1st 2015

Botany  walk  –  June  1  –    10:0O  am  –  Miracle  Beach  –  Leader,  Betty  Brooks

Betty  will  lead  an  easy  walk  in  Miracle  Beach  Park  –    Meet  at  the  main  Beach  Parking  Lot    at  10:00  am  or  car  pool  from  Harmston  at  9:40  am.  Karin
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Bird Outing Report: Simpson Farm, May 28,2015

Yesterday at Simpson Farm, 9 birders found 35 species. Highlights were a Sandhill Crane, an Anna’s Hummingbird, a Greater Yellowlegs and an unusually high number of 14 Blue-winged Teal.
I have attached a photo of the Sandhill Crane that flew over us that Kathryn took and asked me to share with everyone…..thank you Kathryn.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane


Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Marsh Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch

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Botany Outing Report: along the Puntledge, May 25th 2015

On Monday 6 botany group members went on a beautiful walk along the dry open area of the water pipes, then veered off towards the Puntledge river. After a windy path we had a short lunch break at the beach. We documented a total of 95 species.
Below is Joel’s List and a link to our Plant List in excel format
Plant List for Comox Valley with walks 2015

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, SHRUBS AND TREES ON Puntledge Walk
Excluding grasses, sedges and rushes
Submitted by Joel Kositsky 25/05/2015
Non-native plants are indicated with *
MONOCOTS
ARACEAE       (now includes LEMNACEAE)
Lysichiton americanus skunk cabbage
ASPARAGACEAE       (formerly part of LILIACEAE)
Maianthemum dilatatum false lily-of-the-valley
COLCHICACEAE       (formerly part of LILIACEAE)
Prosartes hookeri Hooker’s fairybells
Streptopus amplexifolius clasping twisted stalk
LILIACEAE
Erythronium oregonum white fawn lily
Lilium columbianum tiger lily
MELANTHIACEAE       (formerly part of LILIACEAE)
Trillium ovatum western trillium
ORCHIDACEAE
Goodyera oblongifolia rattlesnake-plantain
DICOTS
ADOXACEAE       (formerly CAPRIFOLIACEAE)
Sambucus racemosa red elderberry
APIACEAE
Heracleum maximum cow-parsnip
Osmorhiza berteroi mountain sweet cicely
Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific sanicle
ARALIACEAE
Oplopanax horridus devil’s club
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE
Asarum caudatum wild ginger
ASTERACEAE
Adenocaulon bicolor pathfinder
Anaphalis margaritacea pearly everlasting
Arctium minus common burdock *
Arnica latifolia mountain arnica ?
Cirsium sp. Thistle *
Lactuca muralis wall lettuce *
Leucanthemum vulgare oxeye daisy *
Tanacetum vulgare common tansy *
Taraxacum officinale common dandelion *
BERBERIDACEAE
Achlys triphylla vanilla-leaf
Mahonia aquifolium tall Oregon-grape
Mahonia nervosa dull Oregon-grape
BORAGINACEAE       (Includes HYDROPHYLLACEAE)
Myosotis discolor common forget-me-not *
Nemophila parviflora small-flowered nemophila
BRASSICACEAE
Lepidium heterophyllum Smith’s pepper-grass *
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Lonicera ciliosa western trumpet,
Lonicera involucrata black twinberry
Symphoricarpos albus common snowberry
CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Cerastium/Stellaria sp chickweed
CELASTRACEAE
Paxistima myrsinites falsebox
CLUSIACEAE
Hypericum sp. St. John’s-wort
CORNACEAE
Cornus stolonifera red-osier dogwood
ERICACEAE       (now includes MONOTROPACEAE, PYROLACEAE AND EMPETRACEAE)
Chimaphila umbellata prince’s pine
Gaultheria shallon salal
Pyrola asarifolia pink wintergreen
Vaccinium parvifolium red huckleberry
FABACEAE
Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom *
Lathyrus nevadensis purple peavine
GERANIACEAE
Geranium robertianum Robert’s geranium *
GROSSULARIACEAE
Ribes lacustre black gooseberry
Ribes sanguineum red-flowering currant
LAMIACEAE
Stachys chamissonis Cooley’s hedge nettle
LINNAEACEAE
Linnaea borealis twinflower
ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium angustifolia fireweed
PAPAVERACEAE       (includes FUMERACEAE)
Dicentra formosa Pacific bleeding heart
PLANTAGINACEAE       (includes many from SCROPHULARIACEAE)
Collinsia parviflora small-flowered blue-eyed Mary
Plantago major common plaintain *
POLYGONACEAE
Rumex sp. lemon grass
PORTULACACEAE
Claytonia rubra redstem springbeauty
Claytonia sibirica Siberian miner’s-lettuce
PRIMULACEAE
Trientalis borealis broad-leaved starflower
RANUNCULACEAE
Anemone lyalli Lyall’s anemone
Aquilegia formosa Sitka columbine
Ranunculus sp. (occidentalis?) buttercup
Thalictrum occidentale western meadowrue
Trautvetteria caroliniensis false bugbane
ROSACEAE
Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon
Aruncus dioicus goat’s-beard
Fragaria sp. (chiloensis) strawberry sp.
Geum macrophyllum large-leaved avens
Holodiscus discolor oceanspray
Rosa gymnocarpa baldhip rose
Rosa nutkana Nootka rose
Rubus armeniacus Himalayan blackberry *
Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry
Rubus spectabilis salmonberry
Rubus ursinus trailing blackberry
Spiraea douglasii hardhack
RUBIACEAE
Galium aparine cleavers
Galium trifidum small bedstraw
SAXIFRAGACEAE
Tellima grandiflora fringecup
Tiarella trifoliata foamflower
VIOLACEAE
Viola glabella stream violet
TREES (GYMNOSPERMS)
CUPRESSACEAE
Thuja plicata western red cedar
PINACEAE
Abies grandis grand fir
Pinus monticola western white pine
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir
Tsuga heterophylla western hemlock
TAXACEAE
Taxus brevifolia western yew
TREES (ANGIOSPERMS)
BETULACEAE
Alnus rubra red alder
RHAMNACEAE
Rhamnus purshiana cascara
ROSACEAE
Prunus emarginata bitter cherry
SALICACEAE
Populus trichocarpa black cottonwood
Salix sp.   (scouleriana?) Willow sp. (Scouler’s?)
SAPINDACEAE       (formerly ACERACEAE)
Acer glabrum Douglas maple
Acer macrophyllum bigleaf maple
PTERIDOPHYTES (FERNS AND ALLIES)
DENNSTAEDTIACEAE
Pteridium aquilinum bracken fern
DRYOPTERIDACEAE
Athyrium filix-femina lady fern
Dryopteris expansa spiny wood fern
Polystichum munitum sword fern
EQUISETACEAE
Equisetum sp.   (arvense?) horsetail sp. (common?)
POLYPODIACEAE
Polypodium glycyrrhiza licorice fern
PTERIDACEAE
Adiantum aleuticum western maiden-hair fern
Pentagramma triangularis goldenback fern
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Upcoming Botany Walk: along the Puntledge, May 25th 2015

I’ll lead a walk along the Puntledge next Monday (May 25th).  We can meet at 10:15, at the North end of Powerhouse Rd, at the yellow barrier just before the pipeline.  Lots of parking there.

We’ll walk along the pipeline a bit and then head down to the river, along the river bank trail; and then return by clambering up the trail (not too steep) up the bank.  I saw about 60 plants this week when I went for a walk.  Joel

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Bird Outing Report: Moorecroft Park, May 21,2015

Thursday 9 birders had 28 species at Moorecroft Regional Park, Nanoose Bay, and 8 birders had 20 species at the Englishman Estuary, Plummer Road side, for a total of 39 species for the morning. Highlights included the Whimbrel and other shorebirds on the mudflats at the Englishman Estuary.

Moorecroft Regional Park, Nanoose Bay
Turkey Vulture
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Tanager

Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side
Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Whimbrel
Dunlin
Long-billed/Short-billed Dowitcher
Rufous Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch

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Botany Outing Report: K’omoks Estuary, May 18, 2015

Special Plants seen: Henderson’s Checker Mallow (rare, not yet in bloom), Seaside plantain, Indian paint brush, Pretty shooting star, Meadow and straight beaked buttercup, Northern rice root, and western St. Johns wort

Camas & Paintbrush

Camas & Paintbrush

Trees: huge Sitka spruce, alder, Red Cedar, Crabapple, Mountain Ash, Black Hawthorne, Bitter Cherry

Northern Rice Root

Northern Rice Root

Shrubs: Sweet gale, Thimble Berry, Salmon Berry, Pacific Nine Bark, Twin Berry, Snowberry, Gooseberry

Pretty Shootingstar

Pretty Shootingstar

Other Plants: Sword and bracken fern, False lily of the valley, Dock, Trailing and Himalayan Blackberry, coltsfoot, Skunk Cabbage, Bald Hip Rose, Cow Parsnip, Horsetail, Bullrush, camas , Silverweed, Siberian miners lettuce, Ribwort Plantain, Seaside Arrow grass, Queen Ann’s Lace, Twisted stalk

Estuary of Flowers

Estuary of Flowers

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Botany Outing Report: Harewood Plains, May 11, 2015

Plants seen on the Harewood Plains outing on May 11:

Indian Plum, bitter cherry, Saskatoon berry , sea blush, ocean spray, salal, orange honeysuckle, vetch – common and hairy, common forget me not, arbutus, creeping blackberry, big leaf maple, rose – Nootka and bald hip, dull and tall Oregon grape, snowberry, small flower nenophilla, western buttercup, chocolate lily, Pacific sanicle, spring gold, pink twink, death camas, short and tall blue camas (with some white as well), hop clover, dove foot geranium, wild strawberry, small blue violet, birds nest fungus, Sitka columbine, lupin, cascara , flowering currant, alum root, small leafed montia, bedstraw, star flower, red huckleberry, kinnikinnick, Garry oak, yellow monkey flower, small flowered lotus, Alaska saxifrage, sword fern, herb Robert, cottonwood, thimble berry, salmonberry, pearly everlasting, tansy, nine bark.

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Bird Outing Report: Bear Creek Park, May 14, 2015

This Thursday May 14 16 birders went to Bear Creek Nature Park where we heard or saw 38 species.

Highlights include good looks at Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Swainson’s Thrush, and Black-throated Gray Warbler, as well as nesting Red-breasted Sapsuckers.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller’s Jay
Tree/Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak

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