Black spruce-tamarack bog wetland complex (Mohawk watershed headwater)

This was one of my favorite field survey sites from 2019! Our ecological survey focused on characterizing the wetland plant community, and assessing wetland health and function. We saw orchids, carnivorous plants, pollinators, and Odonates.

Below are some of my favorite species observations from that survey.

To learn more about Black Spruce-Tamarack Bogs in New York visit our New York Natural Heritage Program community description webpage: https://guides.nynhp.org/black-spruce-tamarack-bog/

Special thanks to the private land owners for letting us survey this beautiful area! This survey site was developed using computer-generated random point placement within the Mohawk watershed (Central and Eastern New York State).

To view ALL of our iNat observations from this survey check out this link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:NY%20Site%20ID=NYW19-M129

Please note: Observation locations are obscured for this wetland because it is located on private property. Because of this, points in the "map view" do not accurately reflect the location of this site or their distribution in the landscape.

Posted on May 11, 2020 03:25 PM by ny_wetlander ny_wetlander

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Description

White variety

Photos / Sounds

What

Transverse-banded Flower Fly (Eristalis transversa)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Marsh Calla (Calla palustris)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Lily (Lilium canadense)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Description

Seen in a black spruce tamarack bog

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-waisted Laphria (Laphria sacrator)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Half-black Bumble Bee (Bombus vagans)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Bluets (Genus Enallagma)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Bluets (Genus Enallagma)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Description

Bombus colony in a Sphagnum hummock, two entrances, several individuals observed. The stick end points to one of the entrance holes.

Photos / Sounds

What

Tall Bog-Sedge (Carex magellanica)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Metallic Sweat Bees (Subgenus Dialictus)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Tamarack (Larix laricina)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Whitecedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Leafy White Orchid (Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Tamarack (Larix laricina)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Tamarack (Larix laricina)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Marsh Calla (Calla palustris)

Observer

ny_wetlander

Date

July 2019

Comments

I love this natural community! Probably much like our Spruce-Fir-Tamarack Swamp. Or similar.

Posted by charlie over 4 years ago

I can see why you liked it so much!

Posted by er1kksen over 4 years ago

This community is one of my favorites, too, and this site is a total gem! This was actually my first time surveying this community for our wetland assessment work so I was extra excited. In the past few years our grants have focused on basins outside of the Northeastern Highlands which, in NY, is where Black Spruce-Tamarack Bogs are more common. (Other partner projects and NYNHP wetland assessment work pre-dating me has included the Northeastern Highlands so we do have data from that ecoregion.)

@charlie, in NY we also have a Spruce-Fir Swamp (https://guides.nynhp.org/spruce-fir-swamp/), which might also overlap with VT's Spruce-Fir-Tamarack Swamp.
I created this journal post in preparation for an iNat webinar I co-led today, and I mentioned your Vermont Natural Community Field Link Index during the webinar, too :)

Posted by ny_wetlander over 4 years ago

Oh, that's awesome! I've been doing some iNaturalisting for some of our map ground truthing. Ok, maybe a lot of iNaturalisting. https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/charlie/2020/5/8

Posted by charlie over 4 years ago

also i think this is actually more like our 'black spruce woodland bog' which also has tamarack. Or something. In any event we have similar wetlands and i love them too

Posted by charlie over 4 years ago

I haven't read your community description, but 'black spruce woodland bog' seems like a good fit here!

Posted by ny_wetlander over 4 years ago

Wow you have been busy! Are you looking to create a wall-to-wall community map for VT?! And/Or are you ground truthing NWI?

Posted by ny_wetlander over 4 years ago

am i looking to? definitely :D Am i anywhere close to the time, staffing or funding to do so, no. But we are working on Cowardin mapping of the Otter Creek watershed which is a big one and trying to get some funding to get me mapping some other ones. Definitely busy. Or obsessive, take your pick.

Posted by charlie over 4 years ago

We can always hope, right? :)

Posted by ny_wetlander over 4 years ago

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