Allenburg Bog
I was in Allenburg Bog today with Dragonfly Eye who was searching for a bog Dragonfly species that has never been observed in this bog before! Obviously we didn’t locate the “Boghaunter” but we did manage to find a few Darner species and a few damselfly species.
Goldthread along the trail
Jeremy stopped for his yearly Goldthread picture and I also couldn’t resist taking a photo or two of this tiny flower! I found that the most abundant singing birds in the forest was the Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird and Scarlet Tanager. We were also lucky enough to find an Eastern Wood Pewee (CHECK – my first of the year), Great Crested Flycatcher and Red-shouldered Hawk that were also in the area.
Along the forest while walking to the bog
We quickly reached the bogs edge and as quickly as we stepped onto the floating moss vegetation we started to hear some high squealing from one of the shrubs. Jeremy said . . . “it’s a snake with something”!!
Common Garter with something
We moved closer for a photo and I think the snake thought we were going to take its lunch!! I don’t think he realized that a woodfrog wasn’t really anything that I was interested in eating! We both kinda captured a picture but I had hoped for something better!!
Hmm the Common Garter Snake caught a Wood Frog
The excitement of the Garter Snake quickly ended once it disappeared and we found ourselves adventuring further out onto the floating vegetation.
The main bog
I think my favorite flowers that Jeremy had introduced me to was the Round-leaved Sundew!! This flower is a very fragrant plant and when the insect approaches closer it gets this dew like sticky fluid to entrap the bug. Yes it might be tiny insectivore plant here but I still think it was pretty cool to find!!
Round-leaved Sundew
The most abundant insectivores plant we found was the Pitcher Plant. We were able to locate a few plants that actually had some insects being digested in it. Jeremy even located one with a mosquito larva developing in the fluid. I know there is something special about these mosquitos but it’s been a few years since I had been out to the bog with Dr. Eaton. I kind of remember him saying something about this mosquito not biting humans (we also found those mosquitos who would bite at the bog).
Pitcher Plant
I had kept my eyes open for the Bog Copper but it was a little too early for them to start emerging. Jeremy was photographing a cool moth while I was focusing this Azure. We had a wonderful time catching up since your last visit and enjoyed exploring this amazing bog.
Azure
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Wow! I can’t believe I’m the first to comment. Ah, yes, the advantages of living on the West Coast. ;o) Great photos as always, Monarch. I’m especially impressed with the round-leaved sundew. It reminds me of a house plant I used to have called a venus fly trap. And the pitcher plant – I’ve never seen a red one. That is really cool. Thanks for sharing.
25 May 2008 at 12:31 am
I’ve never seen plants like that in my life! Who’d guess you’d find such cool stuff in a bog. Great pictures! It looks like a great place to explore.
25 May 2008 at 1:00 am
What incredible pictures. I really like the pitcher plant and the one of the snake and frog was fascinating.
25 May 2008 at 5:48 am
Very cool, Tom! I love bogs and bog plants, aren’t they the coolest!
25 May 2008 at 6:09 am
Those are very cool shots! I love that sundew too
25 May 2008 at 6:33 am
What a magical place you visited. I have only been to one bog. That was up in Maine. There was a boardwalk through it so you didn’t walk on the actual bog. I did see the plants you have here but to be able to walk upon the bog would be a different feeling I am sure. Bog plants are so interesting. I guess I am facinated with them because they aren’t common. Your photos are fantastic. Although the snake was having a boring meal, bolongna?, your photo is of something that most people don’t see and much appreciated.
25 May 2008 at 7:06 am
Now you have taken me someplace new. I love the flowers.
Do you actually walk out into the bog?
25 May 2008 at 7:23 am
Yes you do, your feet get very wet and it is pretty bouncy! Just went on a field trip there for my Botany class 🙂
28 September 2013 at 11:41 am
This was all very interesting. My only bog experiences have been similar to Lisa’s where you can’t get “down and dirty” with the vegetation the way you did. Very cool!
25 May 2008 at 7:26 am
Love the snake with the frog! What a fun bog adventure, and what interesting things you got to see Tom. :c)
25 May 2008 at 7:42 am
@ Mary – congrats and was a long day . . I had hoped to get this posted earlier!
@ Linda – They are very cool for sure! Thanks
@ Beth –thanks and the frog/snake was interesting!
@ Pam – thanks and they are the coolest!
@ Marg – thanks and I think the Sundew was my fave!
@Lisa – thanks and this site has 2 bogs on it! Walking on the actual blog is exciting and we try to follow paths that are made by deer and other visitors!
@ toni – yes and Dr. Eaton stated that the water underneath is about 80 feet deep!
@ Rondi – thanks and it is important to be respectful when out there but it is also a location that not many visit (reason it doesn’t get too abused)
@ Jayne –Thanks and was a very fun adventure!
25 May 2008 at 9:06 am
Nice to see that there are still some bogs around that have pitcher plants and sundews. I can remember walking on a quaking bog that formed a thick mat over water– it was like walking on a waterbed. It was always a treat to find Wyomyia smithi ,the mosquito that only lives in pitcher plants in this neck of the woods — other species,in the tropics, live in bromeliads . Fascinating to consider why these particular insectivorous plants ,especially pitcher plants, are only found in bogs and not other wetlands.
25 May 2008 at 11:32 am
What a great trip! I usually happen upon bogs in the most depressing circumstances and weather, so it is nice to see them in a positive light.
25 May 2008 at 11:38 am
What a wild set of photos! Snakes, insectivorous plants, etc. Awesome!
25 May 2008 at 5:55 pm
Tom, I’m glad that we were able to meet up! This truly is one of western NY’s most special places. Your pictures turned out great; especially the snake & frog. I’ll have some of my own pictures up soon, I hope.
25 May 2008 at 10:09 pm
@ Cestoady – thanks and this is a wonderful place for sure! I think it is amazing finding these things!
@ Scienceguy – thanks but bogs are formed in result of glaciers.
@ Jeremy – I am glad you talked me into the bog also and for sure very special. Thanks and I can’t wait to see how you shots turned out!
26 May 2008 at 12:21 am
These pictures are great–I love the pitcher plant and that poor wood frog and snake.
26 May 2008 at 4:00 pm
Cool snake find, even though snakes creep me out.
26 May 2008 at 8:09 pm
I like your photo essay of your day in the bog. I’m always looking for more, any tips?
27 May 2008 at 11:33 pm
What a fun hike! The pitcher plants are awesome! We have sundews here in FL and up north there are some pitcher plants. Looks like a nice day!
28 May 2008 at 1:56 pm
What a great place the bog is. It is a short drive from Jamestown but a little tough to find at first. The plants are awesome to see first hand. The bog is so fun to walk on. We had a great day. Go… it is worth it.
26 September 2008 at 1:05 pm