Horn Pond Mountain!

[Howard Hoople]

Hi, Everyone!

I’m happy to announce that our field trip to Horn Pond Mountain will proceed as originally scheduled for this coming Saturday, July 2, beginning at 10 AM.

There had been some concern that a utility company project would interfere with our access to the hill. However,  I made a site visit to Horn Pond Mountain yesterday, and everything looks just fine there for the walk to proceed as originally planned. The project seems to be done, new high tension wires and poles are all in place, and the wooden staging for the work is all off the hill and neatly piled in part of the parking lot. Nectar sources (particularly NJ Tea, meadowsweet and dogbane) are all plentiful and nearly in full bloom.

Please join us at 10 AM on Saturday, July 2, at the normal meeting place, which is at the back parking lot of the rehab hospital (Health South/ New England Rehab Hospital). GPS to 2 Rehabilitation Way in Woburn, then stay to the left, but close to, the hospital to get around to the back parking lot. Watch out for two speed bumps along the way! There are no restrooms on site, but there is a Whole Foods and other stores close by,  immediately adjacent to the Rte 3/ 2 Rehabilitation Way intersection.

Butterflies that I saw at HPM yesterday included:

50+ Cabbage Whites

2 Little Wood Satyrs

1 Baltimore

1 Painted Lady

2 American Lady

1 Mourning Cloak

3 Silver-spotted Skipper

The Baltimore Checkerspot was the big surprise for me. I’ve only seen one there once before, over 10 years ago, in about the same place. I didn’t get a picture then, and only got a really bad documenting picture of it yesterday, but I’ll take it!

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. I hope to see you Saturday!

Best,

Howard

Howard Hoople

howard...@gmail.com

10 Torr Street, Andover MA 01810

(978) 604-0454 cell