Route Finding Walk Along Point Petre Shoreline – July 6^th, 2025

📝 📸 Dale Smith

On a warm, muggy day, Greg Forbes led us on a walk through one of the few stands of old timber and back along the beautiful Point Petre shoreline. The resident male Indigo Bunting welcomed us from his usual perch at the corner of Army Reserve Road and Ct. Rd. 24 and was one of 16 species of birds that were observed, including a first for this area, a Great-crested Flycatcher.

Great-crested Flycatcher

Summer flowers, including non-native orange ditch lilies (Hemerocallis fulva) from Asia, and St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) of European origin, were visible in the meadows and along the shore.

Ditch lilies (Hemerocallis fulva)

Red baneberry (Actaea rubra), an early-flowering forest-dwelling species, already had bright red fruit present. While nice to look at, the berries are highly toxic, with as few as five or six causing stomach upset.

Red baneberry (Actaea rubra)

Along the shoreline, we encountered a Midsummer Tiger Swallowtail having a drink and common harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) clinging to life in the crevices of the shale rock walls.

Tiger Swallowtail

As always, new ideas for the route of the pathway were formed, along with the discovery of additional parts of the South Shore's biodiversity.