Quincy Bog Natural Area - Late Spring
A walk around Quincy Bog in early June looks quite a bit different than it did earlier in the season. The surface of the water is covered in bog and pond plants. There are fewer birds visible. A chorus of green frogs fills the air. Let’s explore Quincy Bog and see what I found!
June 2, 2024
Canada Geese
The Canada Geese were quiet on this visit. This pair were seen floating quietly together in an open area of water. Most of the geese who were seen in larger flocks throughout the bog during my last visit were nowhere to be seen. This time of year, they can be found either protecting nests or hiding with very young goslings in denser areas of plants around the bog.
Cinnamon Fern
Walking down the trail it is hard to miss the abundance of various types of ferns. One of my favorite ferns is the Cinnamon Fern. Its large vase shaped clusters of fronds can be found all around the bog near the water and in areas of moist soil in the forest. It gets its name from the cinnamon-colored fertile fronds that emerge from the center of the frond “vase” in the spring and from the cinnamon-colored fibers present at the bases of the fronds.
Pickeralweed
Pickeralweed is starting to emerge from the water. Later in the summer these elegant plants with heart shaped leaves will produce tall spikes of purple flowers.
Dragonflies And Damselflies
Dragonflies, Damselflies, Darners, Dashers, Skimmers, OH MY! A wide variety of dragonflies and damselflies call Quincy Bog home. What is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly? Damselflies are more slender and much more delicate looking than dragonflies. Dragonflies typically rest with their wings spread while damselflies usually rest with their wings folded over their backs. In these examples taken around Quincy Bog, can you tell which ones are dragonflies and which are damselflies?
Green Frogs
On this visit, it seemed like everywhere you went around the bog, there was a green frog. Their chorus of tangy sounding Glunk’s filled the air. These large frogs are some of the most common frogs in our area. They are also one of the biggest with the bullfrog being the only frog that grows larger. Male green frogs can be distinguished from females by their yellow throats and larger eardrums. Oftentimes it is not easy to tell the difference though when all you can see in the water is the tops of their heads and their eyes!
Pink Lady Slipper
One of the most recognizable spring flowers in the New Hampshire woodlands is the pink lady slipper. Lady slippers are orchids that are found in wooded areas with moist, acidic soil. A fun fact about these flowers is that they have a symbiotic relationship with a certain type of fungus. The fungus needs specific soil conditions in order to grow and thrive. This is why transplanting a pink lady slipper or growing them from seed is so difficult. If the soil does not have this fungus present, the lady slipper will not grow.
I love that when viewed from the front, the lady slipper blossom literally looks like a dancing lady in a pink dress, wearing a little bonnet on her head!
Yellow Pond Lily
In June large areas of Quincy Bog are covered in Yellow Pond Lily. Its bright yellow flowers poke up above the water surface dotting the bog in happy little balls of happiness. These plants will continue blooming through the summer into the fall. The flowers provide food and shelter to a variety of insects. Fish, newts, aquatic insects, turtles, frogs, and other aquatic animals will use the leaves of this plant for shelter. Insects, various birds including ducks, turtles, beavers, porcupine, and moose often use the leaves, flowers, seeds, and rhizomes for sources of food.
Bunchberry
This beautiful, but tiny, member of the dogwood family dots the forest floor all along the bog trail. It blossoms from late spring through mid-summer. In some areas it forms little carpets of green and white on sections of the forest floor. By autumn this little plant will create pretty clusters of bright red berries.
Tree Swallow
These little birds are a delight to watch darting and skimming through the air above the bog as they hunt down flying insects. They like to nest in areas with many dead trees with hollow cavities. The trunk that this bird is perched on is a dead stump with a hollowed-out ledge on the side facing the water.
Great Blue Heron
Wow! Look at that wingspan! The wingspan of a great blue heron certainly is impressive. From wing tip to wing tip, the wingspan of a great blue heron can average between six and seven feet across! They can grow to an impressive four feet tall. Yet on average an adult great blue heron only weights between five and six pounds thanks to its light, hollow bones.
Life on the Ledges
The rock cliff faces and boulders that make up the area of the trail known as “The Ledges” form an amazing and surprisingly diverse little ecosystem. Growing on the rocks themselves you will find a variety of different lichen species including Rock Tripe. The brown leafy (foliose) lichens pictured on the right side of the photo are examples of Rock Tripe. In the cracks and crevices where soil can collect, you will find plants including mosses and small ferns called Rock Polypody, among others. In turn all of these plants provide habitats to various insects, spiders, mites, and other organisms. The ecosystem supported by The Ledges is very delicate. Please take care to stay on the trail when you visit this area!
Blue Flag
An unexpected splash of color caught my eye walking down a section of the bog trail. While I know that Blue Flag grows at Quincy Bog, I had never been there before while it was blooming. Blue Flag is a wetland iris native to Eastern and Northeastern North America. This member of the iris family blooms from May to August and can be found in marshes, stream banks, meadows, bogs, and swamps. A commonly used garden plant, Siberian Iris, can be easily confused with Blue Flag and is often planted with gardeners thinking they have the native species.
Common Grackle
In its natural habitat, the common grackle is anything but common. When the sun reflects off its feathers just right, the common grackle is resplendent in its metallic blue and bronze suit of feathers. This curious bird will search through downed trees and debris at the water’s edge for insects, grubs, spiders, frogs, and occasionally snakes. In the forest they forage for seeds, berries, insects, fruit, and even the eggs of other birds.
On my way back to the Nature Center, I was bid farewell by a gorgeous green frog sitting right next to the boardwalk. As I walked away I heard him splash into the water. I turned around to look, and he was gone. Until I see you again my friend, Green Frog! Hopefully my next visit will be soon.
