Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia)
RTPI President Twan Leenders was looking for native orchids recently in the Allegheny National Forest, but it turned out he was just a little too early for them to bloom. However, he did come across one of his favorite spring ephemerals – Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia) which is somewhat orchid-like in its unusual appearance. Photographed for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project.
Read MoreNorthern Harrier January sightings
What is wrong with this January eBird map of Northern Harrier sightings? It certainly seems to be very well correlated to human population. Nevertheless I definitely believe there are more birds out there that are not being entered into eBird. My friends in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region know we at RTPI are surveying for Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls this winter for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with Chautauqua County being our target area. While some neighboring areas, such as Allegheny National Forest, have no sightings as expected, I would have to...
Read MoreFawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa)
Around this time last year we saw hundreds and hundreds of Fawn Darners (Boyeria vinosa) in the waterways of Allegheny National Forest. Watching them inquisitively flying around you in such numbers is very cool.
Read MoreTrees of Rimrock and Jake’s Rocks
As I gaze over the tree tops from Rimrock Over look on the edge of the Allegheny Reservoir in the Allegheny National Forest I’m struck by the sight of tree species that I almost never see in the forests of Northern Chautauqua County where I live, like Boutwell Hill State Forest, one of my favorite local hiking places. At Rimrock I see the dark green shiny leaves of a couple of Black Gum trees below the overlook and there are many more all around. That’s a tree I’ve don’t remember ever seeing in Boutwell Hill State Forest. And whereas Red Oak is the predominant oak tree in Northern Chautauqua...
Read MoreNorthern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
On our recent trip to Rim Rock Overlook on the Allegheny National Forest, we surveyed around the rocks and under the rocks (the small ones of course) to see what life we might come across. While walking through the rocky forest, our rock flipping efforts revealed a young Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus), a salamander that truly lives up to its name and can get you into a rather sticky situation! When handled or harassed, Slimy Salamanders will secrete a glue-like mucus from their skin that is difficult for humans to remove and often deters predators from attempting to eat...
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