Copperheads at Hanging Hills etc.???

[Anthony Zemba]

Hi ALex
How are you? It has been a while. Hope you are well. 
Yes, they are quite common on the traprock ridges in Central
Connecticut - especially in areas of talus slopes associated with Mt.
Beseck, Mt, Higby, and the hanging hills. Here is one that my colleague
and I photographed. We came across it hanging out in a stormwater
outfall splash pad as we were wading through a dense stand of phragmites
adjacent to route 66 at the foot of Mt. Higby. Unfortunately, I think
the timber rattlers are long gone.

Hope all is well. 
Anthony

Anthony J. Zemba
Senior Environmental Scientist/Ecologist
Planning and Environmental Compliance
Maguire Group Inc.
One Court Street
New Britain, CT 06051
p: (860) 224-9141 ext. 236
f: (860) 224-9147
Azemba at MaguireGroup.com 



>>> "Grkovich, Alex" <agrkovich at tmpeng.com> 5/1/2006 9:19 AM >>>
By the way, while up on the ridge, an old fellow who was up there told
me that copperheads are very common on these trap rock ridges, and
that
at the Hanging Hills, they are "all over the place"...Now, based upon
the habitat and the knowledge that S CT is within the range of the
Northern Copperhead, I would not doubt their presence there, but still
I
have not seen them...
 
Anyone want to verify the accuracy of the old man's statement? And
what
about the Timber Rattler?
 
Maybe they're more plentiful further down from the ridgetop...and I do
spend much of my time on the ridge...
 
Alex

________________________________

From: owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu 
[mailto:owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Grkovich, Alex
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 8:36 AM
To: Epmanshell at aol.com; ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu 
Subject: RE: Butterfly Sightings


Sunday, April 30, I visited Chaucey Peak, Hanging Hills, Meriden,
CT...The Falcates were common, both sexes rpesent, but apparently not
quite as numerous as I have found them there in previous years...They
occur almost exclusively within about 20 meters from the ridge, mostly
to the right of teh Castle...Eastern Tiger, Black, and Spicebush
Swallotaisla were also present near the ridge, in good numbers (males
only). The highlight of my visit was finding a fresh White M
Hairstreak
just in front of the ridge...This is the first specimen that I have
ever
seen in New England; I have previously found this only in S
Florida...Azures were plentiful (chiefly or entirely marginata
phenotypes), seemingly hanging around what I believe are young
hawthorns...Juvenal's Duskywings were frequent along the road, just
below the ridge...
 
No Crescents yet...
 
I also ran over to Reeds Gap Rd. in North Branford (along Rt. 17) to
check out the colony of West Virginia Whites...To my horror, the
"clearcutter" has been active in the woods where the colony
exists...The
habitat seems to be significantly dried out, in comparison to my
previous visit there, on April 27, 2001...probably due to the
decreased
shade (???)...Only one male specimen was observed; the host seems to
be
scarce there now...I have to conclude by stating my suspicion that
this
colony may be in trouble...
 
Alex

________________________________

From: owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu 
[mailto:owner-ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Epmanshell at aol.com

Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:42 PM
To: ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu 
Subject: Re: Butterfly Sightings


Friday, 4/28- I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and went
out to Lyme where I found the following butterflies:
 
Orange Sulphur (2)
American Copper (1) (My first of the year)
Gray Hairstreak (1) (My first of the year)
Eastern Tailed Blue (2) (My first of the year)
Spring Azure (7)
Mourning Cloak (1)
American Lady (1) (My first of the year)
Juvenal's Duskywing (8)
 
On the way home, I stopped at Bluff Head in North Guilford where I
found
the following butterflies:
 
Cabbage White (2)
Falcate Orangetip (4) (all males)
Eastern Pine Elfin (1) (My first of the year)
Spring Azure (6)
Question Mark (My first of the year)
American Lady (1)
Juvenal's Duskywing (9)
 
The Eastern Pine Elfin was in the cemetery just south of the parking
lot, and was nectaring on the flowers and resting on the ground,
sunning
itself.
 
For those who are interested in visiting this site, Bluff Head is on
Route 77 in Guilford approximately 3-4 miles north of the intersection
of Route 77 and Route 80.  The parking lot is on the west side of the
road, about 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Route 77 and Great
Hill Rd. 
 
Lenny Brown
Wallingford

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