City Nature Challenge 2022: Lexington, MA's Journal

Excellent work to make 819 observations comprising 306 species by 48 different participants. Top 10 contributers were rosymaplemoths4, carolyn333, amber1002, bbylover, harrcohen, trailace, kar_nh, amdohan, lfpacu, and me bkatzenberg, Although new observations won't count towards the project numbers, activity will continue as people with specific specialties from around the country and the world (such as bugs, fungus) will review contributions and make identifications when they can. Hope everyone had a great time!

As of Monday AM we're at 628 observations, 256 species, with 46 people participating! Yesterday was a beautiful clear day, perfect for looking at the wild world around us. Plants still by far the most common category but birds and insects are also doing well. Today will be cooler and possible showers and many people need to go to school or work--but a few of us will try to see if we can find one or two more new species.

Were at 463 observations, 211 species, and 33 participants making observations. Here are the categories represented:
Unknown
Protozoans
Fungi
Chromista
Mollusks
Insects
Arachnids
Ray-Finned F...
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Other Anima

Day 1--309 observations , 136 species, 20 observers--not bad! The first day was a weekday, and I believe this nice turnout bodes well for the rest of the event. Although the lion's share were from the plant kingdom, people also saw birds, fungi, a garter snake, and signs of beaver. For insect lovers, there is a patch of lowbush blueberries in bloom near the top of Juniper Hill that are getting visited by a riot of pollinators including a brilliantly blue moth I could only identify as from the genus of Holartic Azures. We expect a mostly sunny day with a lot less wind today so I expect a good haul of new observations and species. A highlight for me yesterday was one of our small group in Whipple Hill spotted a very large group of marsh marigolds in bloom.

Can't wait to get going on the City Nature Challenge in Lexington next weekend. I gave some one-on-one training to one interested person in Willard's Woods today. Among the plants we saw were a lot of lovely natives: Canadian mayflower, high and low bush blueberries, partridge berry, striped winterberry, Pennsylvania sedge, club mosses, and laurels. Also a gorgeous marsh marigold in bloom.