Bogged Down

I had a pretty good outing today, so I figure I'd share it!  (Oh yeah, and school's out, I'm on summer break now!)

My destination today was Sifton Bog, here in London. It is a pretty special place botanically. Its a northern peat bog in the middle of the city!

Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) is a pretty common plant in the bog, but this was the first time I have ever seen them in flower!

Sedges (Carex spp.) were fairly abundant. I have managed to ID a few.

Tall Bog Sedge (Carex magellanica)

Hoary Sedge (Carex canescens)

Three-seeded Sedge (Carex trisperma)

Bristly Sedge (Carex comosa)

This year there has been a large northward push of Painted Skimmers. Just yesterday I was thinking about the possibility of running into one today, and low and behold, there was one! It took me an hour and a half before I finally was able to snap a photo.

I saw another lifer dragonfly too! While working my way through the bog, I noticed a smaller darner (in comparison to the Common Green Darners). I couldn't believe it...the darner had blue eyes!

The only darner in Ontario with blue eyes is Spatterdock Darner, which is fairly rare, but I think it is increasing, perhaps due to more coverage. I couldn't net it, but I managed an identifiable pic.

It wasn't completely unexpected, as the Spatterdock (Nuphar advena) is fairly abundant in the bog.

I also saw a couple species of orchids.

Tuberosus Grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus)

Rose Poginia (Pogonia ophioglossoides)

As well as Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).

Certainly a place to check out again soon!

March Mosses

March Break is almost over, and since I haven't posted in a couple weeks thought I'd get something out. I spent most of the week working on my "moss game". I think I improved it, but with all the new stuff I learned the more I felt less confident in my knowledge! That is all part of learning however, and I am looking forward to acquiring more info on the subject!

I explored a variety of habitats these past few days. Everything from bogs, to lawns, to cliff faces (though due to icy conditions, I couldn't explore the rocks too extensively!).

 Here are some of my favourites from the past week, some identifications are still tentative. I saw and collected much more, but mosses are incredibly hard to ID, and most require a microscope. In my case, I have a plastic toy microscope from "Toys R Us" that I got about a decade ago when I was a budding scientist in first grade (many fond memories of examining mosquito larvae and onion skins!)

Sessile Grimmia (Schistidum apocarpum)

Red Beard-Moss (Bryoerythrophyllum recurviostrum)

Tetraphis Moss (Tetraphis pellucida)

Prairie Peatmoss (Sphagnum palustre)

Girgensohn's Peatmoss (Sphagnum girgenshonii)

Magellan's Peatmoss (Sphagnum magellanicum)

Russow's Peatmoss (Sphagnum russowii)

Northern Peatmoss (Sphagnum capillifolium)

Bog Haircap Moss (Polytrichum strictum)

Brown Peatmoss (Sphagnum fuscum)

Waxyleaf Moss (Dicranum polysetum)

Anomodon Moss (Anomodon attenuatus)

Tangled Thread Moss (Hygramblystegium varium)

Wavy Starburst Moss (Atrichum altercristatum)

Ribbed Bristle Moss (Orthotrichum anomalum)

Hedwig's Fringeleaf Moss (Hedwigia ciliata)

Brachythecium laetum

Common Pocket Moss (Fissidens taxifolius)

Pleated Foxtail Moss (Brachythecium salebrosum)