A day in the life of a Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist:
April 16, 2024 – Sandy Point State Forest
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists like to be prepared for anything and everything! Enroute to monitor vernal pools, Susan Crockett reported, “We encountered two downed trees across the road at Sandy Point State Forest on Tuesday, April 16. True to form, Bill Blair had a hatchet and bow saw in his truck and went to work on the biggest tree with Tom Cowdrey’s help. The second tree was smaller so Tom, Jan and I were able to drag it out of the way. Bill promises to have his chain saw in the truck for the next SPSF visit!”
April 13, 2024 – Lower Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department Oyster Roast
Oyster shells were collected from the roast on Saturday evening and transported to the Deltaville Convenience Center, oyster shell repository. From there they will be processed by volunteers for the Virginia Oyster Shell Recyling Program (VOSRP) and will be used to provide habitat for a new generation of oysters in local rivers and help replace oyster reefs that reduce shoreline destruction from storm runoff. For more information about the VOSRP and how to get involved, visit this website: https://ricerivers.vcu.edu/research-and-restoration/virginia-oyster-shell-recycling-program/
Thanks go to the LMVFD, the community that participated in the oyster roast, and the members of the community that donate oyster shells to the collection site year-round.
Meet our 2024 Officers
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists held a board members retreat at the Gloucester Main Street Library Community Room on February 1 to learn more about each other and what their roles in the chapter entail. Members in attendance were: Luann Johnson – President; Rebecca Reed – Hospitality Chair; Doug Dwoyer – Outreach/Publicity Co-Chair; Kat Sharp – Past President; Carol Hopper Brill – Continuing Education Chair; Susan Walton – Outreach/Publicity Co-Chair, Newsletter Chair; Kammie Lee – Projects Co-Chair; Bill Blair – Membership Chair; Rose Sullivan – Membership Chair (Intern); and CJ Sweet – Treasurer.
December 27, 2023 – Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count
The Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter sponsored the fifth year of the Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Wednesday December 27, 2023. This is the 124th year that the National Audubon Society has conducted this bird count that is the longest-running community science bird project providing avian researchers critical statistics on bird populations and bird species distribution. https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
The 15-mile diameter circle of the Middle Peninsula Count includes Gloucester, Middlesex, and King and Queen Counties. Forty volunteers braved a long day of rainy weather counting many varieties of birds for over nine hours. Thirty of the volunteers were Virginia Master Naturalists from five local chapters. Public parks and boat landings were visited and many, many private property owners allowed us access to count the birds. We are very appreciative of their support for this important community science event.
Susan Crockett, compiler, reports that the Middle Peninsula Count identified 76 species of birds and counted a total of 6,085 birds in the field and on the water. Although no rare birds were seen, the following are the high counts for the day: American Robins (580), Ring-billed Gulls (551), Canada Geese (497), Cedar Waxwings (313), Ruddy Ducks (297), and White-throated Sparrows (254).
August 26, 2023 – NABA Middle Peninsula Butterfly Count
Thanks to all the volunteers who gave their time and suffered through the heat to count butterflies.
Volunteer stats:
37 total volunteers, four VMN Chapters represented (Middle Peninsula, Historic Rivers, Northern Neck, and Riverine), two BTC 4 student volunteers, 11 members of the public.
Thanks to the six Sector Leaders for leading their teams through a fun day of butterfly hunting! Volunteers walked a total of 20 miles in four counties, spending a total of 47 hours in the field for citizen science. Quite an accomplishment given the 92 degree temps!!!
Thanks to the Property Owners who allowed strange people armed with binoculars and cameras to invade their space! Sector Leaders should take a few minutes to let their property owners know they are appreciated!
52 Species were observed
– our best species count in the three years we’ve been conducting the count!
1648 Total butterflies counted!
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (629) were the most numerous butterfly species. Silver-spotted Skippers (102) were the most numerous skipper species. Not too surprising on either of those counts!
Firsts:
First year for a Palamedes Swallowtail sighting (near Beaverdam), First year for Eastern Comma (3) sightings, First year for Southern Cloudywing (2) sightings, First year for a Crossline Skipper (1) sighting, and First year for a Tawny-edged Skipper (1) sighting.
A comment about the Skipper count:
21 different Skipper species were observed! This would not be the case if it were not for the photographers in each group taking hundreds of pictures of these tiny, flighty creatures. But it doesn’t stop there because after everyone goes home, the photographers, sector leaders, and sector experts spend HOURS of time trying to identify these really confusing skippers (many of them differ only slightly). Many, many emails were sent around getting opinions on how to correctly identify them.
Thanks to all of you who participated in the Great Skipper ID-athon !!
April 17, 2023 – Vernal Pool Monitoring
Sherry Rollins took these pictures at Sandy Point State Forest in King William County on April 17, 2023 during vernal pool monitoring. Bill Blair is holding a juvenile turtle that Sherry found in one of the vernal pools. In the second picture, Susan Crockett is measuring Marbled Salamander larvae that Bill netted. They have been visiting the pools once a week since mid-March.
March 31, 2023 – Trail Building at Fairfield Archaeology Park
MPMN members finished building the Carter’s Creek Loop Trail at Fairfield Archeology Park on Friday March 31, 2023. This was the first stewardship project for the Fairfield Foundation.
February 18, 2023 – Great Backyard Bird Count
29 species of birds were observed and 541 birds were counted during the Middle Peninsula Bird Club’s Great Backyard Bird Count at Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve in Mathews County on Saturday, February 18. This count was also the Winter Bird and Wildlife Survey for a Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Project in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource’s Adopt-a-Trail program.
The group also visited New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve and observed 16 species with 186 individual birds counted. The highlight there was watching two pairs of Bald Eagles engage in the courtship ritual of a mid-air spiraling dance.
February 4 & 5, 2023 – Winter Water Fowl Count
Birders throughout Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula participated in the annual Winter Water Fowl Count. Attached are several photos of one of our observation groups. These birders counted along the Rappahannock River. We had five teams of observers scattered across the coastline and creeks of Middlesex County. Our final totals reported 2,955 waterfowl that included 25 species.
Meet our 2023 Officers
Members of the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists Chapter met recently at
Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point to celebrate the
success of their many environmental activities that had taken place in the five
Middle Peninsula counties throughout the year. This was a holiday happening, a
monthly meeting, and the installation of the new officers for 2023. This young
chapter is active and growing in membership each year.
December 27, 2022 – Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Total Birds: 10,719
Total species identified: 87
Most numerous species: Red-Winged Blackbirds (3,046), Ruddy Ducks (1,122) and Ring-Billed Gulls (959)
Participants: 53; 30 were Virginia Master Naturalists from four local chapters.
Volunteers were in the field counting birds for 10 hours traveling in cars and walking on foot to find the birds in three counties – parts of Gloucester, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties. Public parks were visited and many, many private property owners allowed us access to count the birds. We are very appreciative of their support for this important citizen science event. The Christmas Bird Count has been organized and sponsored by the National Audubon Society for 123 years!
2022 Gloucester Holiday Parade
The Bee City USA – Gloucester County Committee, which includes members of Gloucester Extension Master Gardeners and Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists, participated in the Gloucester Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 3.
September 30, 2022 – Adopt-A-Spot
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist volunteers Pat Anderson, Luann Johnson and Mike Grose recently worked on a new activity: Adopt-A-Spot at the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park. They plan to maintain and beautify their adopted location by using native plants to help preserve habitat for indigenous flora and fauna.
September 27, 2022 – Fall George Washington’s Birthplace NABA Count
The Fall count took place on Tuesday, September 27. Participants in Sector E in upper Essex County reported 22 Species identified and 158 Total butterflies counted.
August 27, 2022 – Middle Peninsula NABA Butterfly Count
On Saturday August 27, 2022 the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter sponsored a North American Butterfly Association (NABA) butterfly count. Forty-six volunteers from five Virginia Master Naturalist chapters, and others from the region, participated in the second annual Middle Peninsula NABA count. Parts of Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties were covered in the one-day census. During the eight-hour count, a total of 1,427 butterflies was counted in the four-county area with 47 different species of butterflies identified. The volunteers visited public parks and over 60 private properties and businesses to count the butterflies.
According to the Butterfly Society of Virginia, many of the species identified in the area have not been documented and these sightings will help to verify the records. During this year’s count, two butterflies were observed in Gloucester County that may be the first official sightings of these species: the White M Hairstreak Butterfly and the Harvester Butterfly (pictured below).
The data from the count was submitted to NABA and will contribute to the long-term scientific monitoring of butterfly populations and geographical distribution.
August 13, 2022 – Gloucester Sector, Williamsburg NABA Butterfly Count
Nine Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists participated in the Williamsburg Butterfly Count on Saturday, August 13. They counted a total of 212 butterflies and identified 29 different species in the Gloucester Sector of the count which extended from Clay Bank to the Poropotank River west of Rt. 614.
Pictured in a garden on Ark Road, from left to right: Kammie Lee, Sherry Rollins, Susan Walton, Edith Bradbury, Susan Crockett, Rebecca Reed, Carol Kauffman, Jack Kauffman, Colleen Sweet, Randy Sweet. Photo by Barbara Lewis
Press release
The Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter will be sponsoring a North American Butterfly Association (NABA) butterfly count on Saturday August 27, 2022. The NABA Butterfly Count Program has been held annually since 1975; this will be the second count to be held on the Middle Peninsula including parts of Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties. This year there are 424 butterfly counts organized throughout Canada and the United States during the spring, summer, and fall. Forty volunteers from five regional Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters will conduct a one-day census of all butterflies observed within a 15 mile diameter circle. The data collected will contribute to the nation-wide NABA program that conducts long-term scientific monitoring of butterfly populations and geographical distribution. Susan Crockett of Gloucester has organized the local count and will serve as the compiler of the data collected in the four county area. For more information visit www.naba.org.
June 21, 2022 – Essex Butterfly Counters
This was taken in Essex County during the George Washington’s Birthplace NABA Butterfly Count on Tuesday, June 21 with the Rappahannock River in the background. We counted for Sector E and found 17 species of butterflies with a total of 147 butterflies counted.
June 4, 2022 – Black Birder’s Week
Black Birder’s Week Birdwatching event at Beaverdam Park on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Sponsored by the Gloucester NAACP Branch, the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter, and the Middle Peninsula Bird Club. Three NAACP branches were represented: Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex. The group saw 26 species of birds at Beaverdam Park with the highlight being an Orchard Oriole and a Prothonotary Warbler.
May 15, 2022 – Rosewell Bird Count
On Sunday May 15, 2022 nine participants counted birds for the Williamsburg Audubon Spring Bird Count in the Rosewell Sector of Gloucester. The count started at 8 am in the fog at Rosewell Plantation and continued to the Middle Peninsula State Park, Aberdeen Creek Road area and Clay Bank Wharf area, ending at 2:30 pm. 71 different species of birds were seen with a total of 589 birds counted. The birders are members of the Middle Peninsula Bird Club and the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter.
May 14, 2022 – Basic Training Course 3 Field Day
Cold, rainy weather could not dampen the spirits of the members of Cohort 3 as they joined their instructors for a hands-on lesson in Forest Ecology, Dendrology, and Plant Ecology at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve in Lancaster County.
Pre-Earth Day cleanup
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists participated in Pre-Earth Day shoreline cleanup events held at Machicomoco State Park on March 29, April 9, April 12, and April 19. The chapter worked with the Park and VIMS to organize the cleanup. Volunteers started near the outlet of Timberneck Creek and worked their way towards Cedarbush Creek over the four events. Volunteers also had the opportunity to conduct Citizen Science during this Stewardship activity by recording data using the Marine Debris Tracker app in advance of the cleanup team.
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs
On Tuesday April 5, 2022 twelve Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists and eight other members of the Middle Peninsula Bird Club conducted the inaugural bird and wildlife survey at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Ware Neck for the Department of Wildlife Resources Gloucester Loop of the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail system. 24 species of birds were seen or heard on this Spring survey including a large flock of 225 Cedar Waxwings that were roosting in a nearby oak tree.
Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and Machicomoco State Park have been recently added to the Gloucester Loop that has seven other sites where people can visit to enjoy bird and wildlife viewing. The Coastal Region has 13 Trail Loops including nearby Mathews and Mattaponi Loops. https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/coastal-trail/
Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists will be surveying the Gloucester, Mathews, and Mattaponi sites for birds and other wildlife four times a year on a seasonal basis. The data obtained will be entered into the CitSci.org database and used for research purposes.
Getting ready for new residents at Holly Point Nature Park at the Deltaville Maritime Museum February 12, 2022
Ten bluebird nest boxes were installed at the Deltaville Maritime Museum at Holly Point Nature Park. On February 12, volunteers with Virginia Master Naturalists – Middle Peninsula Chapter placed poles in the ground and mounted baffles and nest boxes to each. The population of bluebirds dropped as much as 90% decades ago due to habitat loss. Citizens everywhere have been putting up boxes to help their numbers bounce back.
Materials for some of the boxes were donated by Roland Anderson and the Deltaville Maritime Museum Boat Shop. Others were donated by Ed Pels along with much of the hardware needed. Participants were Pat Anderson (project captain), Luann Johnson, Mike Grose, Chris Conley, Miles Wong, and Patty Campbell.
The nest boxes on the trail will be monitored by trained members of the Master Naturalists through the spring and summer. We ask that visitors watch from a wide distance and give the new families some peace. The babies may be sleeping.
NABA Summer Butterfly Count June 24, 2021
Essex County, Sector E of the George Washington’s Birthplace count:
Northumberland-Lancaster Butterfly Count May 25, 2021
Bill Blair in a field of Small’s Ragwort where we found many Little Wood Satyr butterflies – Lancaster County.
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Training May 10, 2021
On Monday May 10 three new Water Quality Monitoring teams were added to our chapter’s existing six teams. Sophie Stern, RiverTrends coordinator for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, presented the 3-hour training.
Clean Gloucester Weekend September 18-20, 2020
Northumberland-Lancaster Butterfly Count May 26, 2020
2019 Year in Review
Bluebird house maintenance at Brent and Becky’s August 14, 2019
Moth Night at Beaverdam Park July 26, 2019
Bethel Beach cleanup by kayak April 22, 2019
Gloucester Schoolyard Habitat Pollinator Partnership
Vernal Pool Monitoring
Water Quality Testing
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Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists 