Dave Ingram's Natural History Blog

Crimson Wanderers Gathering

Dave — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:06:06 +0000

A mixed group of Crimson Wanderers - an adult male, and two females, and a 1st year male.

Crimson Wanderer

Classification: B/1

A sure sign of spring is the staging of herds of Crimson Wanderers. At this time of year mixed groups of both adult and juvenile carts gather near traditional feeding locations and begin to pair off for breeding that occurs in late March and early April. Male Crimson Wanderers can be quite aggressive during breeding season, a stark contrast to their normally skittish and shy behaviour. Dramatic displays, bluff charges and jousting among males are common. Care should be taken when approaching these carts.

Following breeding the females make their solitary way to the small creeks that run throughout Courtenay and lay their eggs in the water. Here they remain, guarding the eggs and ensuring that they are well oxygenated until they hatch as nymphs in two weeks time. Once mating has occurred, the males contribute little to the process of rearing the young hatchling wanderers. Their job done, they congregate in quiet thoughtful groups and feed complacently.

A mixed herd of Crimson Wanderers - note the Lesser Crimson Wanderer in the foreground (silver in colour) and the Gray-throated Wobbler (far left).

It pays to look carefully at these large groups of Wanderers. Often one is rewarded with good looks at other species that have joined the breeding herds. The group photographed above includes a Lesser Crimson Wanderer, identified by its smaller size and silver colour (in the foreground) and a Green-throated Gray Wobbler, the large gray cart at the far left of the main group.

This is the seventh species account of the Vancouver Island Shopping Carts series. Julian Montague at The Stray Shopping Cart Project has developed a method of classifying stray carts that might be of interest to those wanting to learn more about species of carts in their own area. Researchers should also consult Rock, Paper, Lizard for detailed species accounts of Lower Mainland/Vancouver carts.

A Lesson in Lichens

Dave — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:50:29 +0000

The bright red apothecia of Toy Soldiers (Cladonia bellidiflora) stands out on gray winter days.

Quite often it is the small things that are missed when one is walking with being attentive. This week I discovered a beautiful community (?) of lichen on a log near the ocean at Miracle Beach Provincial Park. I’ve been specifically looking for cladonias since Susannah’s (aka Wanderin’ Weeta) Pixie Cups on a Fence post on this genus of lichen. She does an excellent job of describing the features of these challenging (but then, what lichen isn’t) group of lichens.

Note the squamulose (scaled) podetia of these Toy Soldiers (Cladonia bellidiflora).

I’m not 100% sure on the species of this Cladonia but I’m definitely leaning toward Toy Soldiers (Cladonia bellidiflora). There are a couple of other possibilities including Lipstick Cladonia (C. macilenta). I think that the lichen that I photographed is more squamose (covered with scales) suggesting C. bellidiflora as more likely. Both of my reference books, Plants of Coastal British Columbia and the essential Lichens of North America, support that identification. C. bellidiflora is described as having “abundantly squamulose podetia and bright red fruits (apothecia).” C. macilenta has “relatively few podetial squamules, ending in blunt or pointed tips frequently with bright red apothecia, without cups.” Note the cups in the photograph below.

Toy Soldiers (Cladonia bellidiflora) with apothecia beginning to form.

Here’s a couple of links to web pages with pictures of both of these species:

Cladonia bellidiflora

Cladonia macilenta

Signs of Spring – Salmonberry and Red-flowering Currant in Bloom

Dave — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:49:53 +0000

I know that spring has officially arrived on the West Coast when my allergies kick into high gear – I react strongly to Red Alder (Alnus rubra) pollen and don’t feel like going outside much on sunny days when the pollen count is high.

However, regardless of how miserable I feel I still make the effort to get out and check on what is blooming. Two other signs of spring on Vancouver Island are the beautiful early blooms of both Red-flowering Currant ( Ribes sanguineum) and Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis). I’m also keeping an eye open for Rufous Hummingbirds, who follow the bloom as it moves north can’t be far behind. Haven’t seen one yet but I’m sure they’ll arrive any day now!

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), one of the first native plants to flower in the spring on Vancouver Island.

Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), another shrub that blooms early on Vancouver Island, BC.

Glaucous-winged Gulls

Dave — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:34:25 +0000

I’m happy to say that the rather ubiquitous Glaucous-winged Gull is a species that I’m at least able to identify in both breeding and non-breeding plumage. After reading Hugh’s post about Spring Gulls coming into breeding plumage I thought that I would keep an eye out for them in the Comox Valley. There is a large breeding colony nearby on Mittlenach Island and Glaucous-winged Gulls are common in the winter here on the coast. Sure enough, a little searching this week quickly turned up a Glaucous-winged in its breeding finery. Note the white head, fairly heavy bill, dark eye, and grey mantle (back) and wingtips. Compare the photograph below with a Western Gull I found at Parksville Bay.

Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) in breeding plumage - note the non-breeding plumage bird in the background.

The fact that some of the large gulls take up to four years to mature means keeping track of up to eight different plumage stages. Then throw in some hybrids just to keep you off balance. Some gulls in winter plumage are fairly distinctive but for the most part, I’m happy to wait until gulls are in breeding plumage before identifying a gull conclusively. I’ll admit that I’m no gull expert and lack what Sibley describes as the “patient and methodical” approach needed to become better. Maybe having a two and a half year old and an eight month old has something to do with that.

Non-breeding winter plumaged Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) in flight.

Pacific Littlenecks

Dave — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:00:41 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for shells of all sorts when I’m out walking the beach. I don’t collect them but simply enjoy picking them up, taking a closer look at them and then returning them to the beach for someone else to find. After all, shells that are taken home usually end up in shoe boxes tucked onto the top shelf of a closet somewhere. Or if they’re on display they always need dusting. Better to leave them on the beach.

The beach at Point Holmes, Comox, BC.

Point Holmes in Comox, BC is an excellent place for beach exploration. At low tide there is a perfect mix of both cobblestone habitat and sandy beach habitat which results in a wide variety of marine life. Throw in a few large boulders and you’ve got the potential to find Purple Seastars (Pisaster ochraceus) on a good low tide. At other times of the year I’ve found over a dozen Monterey Sea Lemons (Doris monteryensis) in the tide pools at Point Holmes.

In addition to the Wrinkled Dogwhelks, Pink-tipped Anemones, and Red Rock Crabs that I found at Point Holmes on my last afternoon on the beach I also found the shell of a native Pacific Littleneck (Protothaca staminea). Since finding and photographing the non-native Japanese Littleneck (Venerupis philippinarum) on the mudflats of Comox Bay I’ve been searching for the somewhat similar looking Pacific Littleneck in order to compare the two.

The outer surface of the shells of the Pacific Littleneck (Protothaca staminea) showing the round shape of the valves and the latticed surface.

A quick look at the upper surface of both of these Littleneck clams is sometimes enough to identify them correctly. The Pacific Littleneck is rounder in shape than the Japanese Littleneck and mature specimens lack the patterning that is characteristic of the Japanese Littleneck. Keep in mind that immature Pacific Littlenecks often have patterned shells so assuming that a patterned shell is a Japanese Littleneck can be a mistake. Mature Pacific Littlenecks have an outer shell surface that is typically white to brown in colour with a lattice like structure (radial lines crossing the comarginal growth lines form a grid). Both of these species grow to around 7.5 cm in length.

The inner shell of the Pacific Littleneck (Protothaca staminea) showing the white inner surface.

Examining the interior of the shell is probably a more reliable way to separate these two littlenecks. The Pacific Littleneck lacks the purple staining that is usually visible in the inner shell of the Japanese Littleneck (older Japanese Littleneck shells may lack the purple colour or it may be very faint as the shells are worn by wave action). Feeling the margin, or edge, of the shell is also a good way to identify the Pacific Littleneck. A close look at the margin reveals fine “teeth” that are easily felt with a finger. The edge of a Japanese Littleneck shell is smooth to the touch.

Note the clean white the inner shell of the Pacific Littleneck (Protothaca staminea) in comparison with the Japanese Littleneck (left).

The inner shell of the Japanese Littleneck (Venerupis philippinarum) showing the distinctive purple stain and oblong shape of this clam.

Live Pacific Littlenecks are generally found buried about 10 cm deep in both mixed gravel or sand/mud substrate in the mid-intertidal zone, usually farther out than the Japanese Littleneck. They are a fast growing species of clam and live between 8 and 14 years. Both Pacific and Japanese Littlenecks are harvested commercially and make good steamer clams or ingredients in clam chowder. If you’re planning to eat Pacific Littlenecks be sure to check with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for regulations and area closures.