Life in the Shifting Dunes / A popular field guide to the natural history of Castle Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

(Malacosoma americanum)

Adult moth is reddish brown

Extremely hairy, even on legs

The adult is less readily recognized than is the web home of these caterpillars. In the spring, the webs may be found on most of the Black Cherry trees in the area.

Measuringworms

(Geometridae)

Small gray or brown Moths

Margin of wings frilly or scalloped

The caterpillars of these moths are the famous “Inch-worms” which move along by arching the body to bring the tail up to the head, then throwing the head out as if measuring the inches with the body.

Biting Midges

(Certaopogonidae)

Minute size (usually felt rather than seen!)

Also called “No-see-ums” and “Sand Flies,” these tiny blood-sucking Flies are altogether too common at the beach. So small that they can pass through window screening, they are best discouraged with a liberal dose of insect repellent.

Crane Flies

(Tipulidae)

Resemble overgrown Mosquitoes

Extremely long, threadlike legs

Crane Flies are associated with the wet, swampy areas behind the beach. In spite of their mosquito-like shape, they can’t bite.

Gall Midges

(Cecidomyiidae)

Minute Flies with humpback

Antennae as long as body

The galls appear as unnatural swellings on plant stems or leaves. Each species of these flies has a specific-shaped gall, made on a specific type of plant, and at a specific place on the plant.

Horse and Deer Flies

(Tabanidae)

½″ to 1″ in length

Head is hemispherical in shape

Large eyes, occupy entire head

The mouth of these flies is designed to puncture the skin

and draw blood. They frequently are pests, with a special

fondness for bathers.

Robber Flies

(Asilidae)

Large flies

Hind body narrower than forebody

Head hollowed out between eyes

Robber Flies do not bother human beings but they attack other insects, often larger than themselves, in mid-air.

Syrphid Flies

(Syrphidae)

Large black-and-yellow-striped bodies

Superficially resemble bees

The Syrphids are constantly found among flowers and so are called “Flower Flies.” They are nearly as important as bees in pollination. All are harmless to us.

Mosquitoes

(Culicidae)

Small, long-legged insects

Threadlike antennae covered with whorls of hair

Only female Mosquitoes bite. They must have one meal of blood before they can lay eggs. We have eighteen species of Mosquitoes in our area.

Ants

(Formicidae)

Small, usually wingless, insects

Extremely thin waist

Ants are social insects, and our species is found in large or small colonies everywhere. Ants are also the most common insect. Two readily recognized types are:

Carpenter Ant (Camponotus herculeanus pennsylvanicus): A large black ant that is found burrowing in damp wood. The labyrinth-like tunnels in rotten wood will aid you in finding a colony.

Mound Ant (Formica exsectoides): Produce the well-known “ant hills,” which may be six inches to a foot in diameter.

Hornets and Potter Wasps

(Vespidae)

Black or black and yellow, not furry, “Wasp-waisted”

Bald-faced Hornet (Vespula maculata): This is a black wasp with white markings. The distinctive nest is made of paper manufactured from wood pulp gathered by the insect from dead trees or old fence posts. At the end of the season, it may be as much as a foot or two in diameter. The only safe time to collect these nests is during the winter months!

Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus): The Potter Wasp constructs a “clay pot” on branches of trees, particularly Red Cedar, which it fills with paralyzed caterpillars as food for its young.

Bumble and Honey Bees

(Apidae)

Extremely hairy, woolly appearance

Hind legs flattened for pollen collection

Bumblebees (Bombus, species): Bumblebees are common visitors to flowers. Their heavy body seems much too bulky for flight. The bee makes its nest in old mouse nests on the ground and a careful search for such nests will generally result in discovery of a Bumblebee’s home.

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera): The well-known Honey Bee was brought to this country from Europe. It has now become a common “wild” bee as well as a domesticated species. You may find some wild-bee colonies in hollow trees, particularly on Castle Hill.

Short-tailed Shrew

(Blarina brevicauda)

Dark, slate-gray body

Length 4″ or 5″

Tail about 1″

This little mammal is a creature of damp areas and is generally associated with damp forests. It makes burrows just under the surface of the ground. It is the only poisonous mammal in the United States and uses its venom to stun and kill its prey. However, the only result of a nip on your finger will be considerable swelling. Because of its insect-eating habit the Shrew is a most beneficial animal.

Cinereus Shrew

(Sorex cinereus)

Grayish-brown body

Length 3″ to 4″

Tail more than 1″

This is the most common shrew on the Neck. It is found roving about the salt marshes in search of insects. It hunts during the day as well as at night, generally keeping concealed under a grassy cover.

Little Brown Bat

(Myotis, several species)

Less than 4″ long

Common

Big Brown Bat

(Eptesicus fuscus)

More than 4″ long

Reddish-brown fur

Common

Pipistrelles

(Pipistrellus subflavus)

The “Pigmy Bat,” under 3″ long

Rare

Silver-haired Bat

(Lasionycteris noctivagans)

About 3½″ long

Gray or silvery hair on back

Rare

Red Bat

(Lasiurus borealis)

About 3½″ long

Rusty-red fur with whitish tips

and

Hoary Bat

(L. cinereus)

About 4½″ long

Yellowish-brown fur tipped with white

New England Cottontail

(Sylvilagus transitionalis)

Large hind jumping legs

More than 1′ long

While the New England Cottontail is named for our area, it does extend its range southward to mid-Alabama. It may be separated from other species of Cottontails by a narrow black spot between the ears. It is very common on the Neck. These rabbits stay hidden most of the day, venturing forth at night or early in the morning. Because their diet is exclusively vegetable matter, we do not consider them beneficial.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis)

About 18″ long

Bushy tail, less than half the total length

Gray fur, white on underside

The Gray Squirrel easily adapts itself to any environment. The large treetop nests constructed of leaves are made by this squirrel. A brood of two to six young is raised once or twice each spring.

Red Squirrel

(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

About 14″ long

Bushy tail, about half the total length

Rusty-red fur, underside white

This little squirrel will often be heard before it is seen, scolding its terrestrial enemies with a loud clatter from a perch high in a protective tree. In late spring its yearly brood of four or five is raised in a nest of shredded bark built high in a tree.

Eastern Chipmunk

(Tamias striatus)

8″ or 10″ long

Reddish-brown fur with two white stripes on back

White stripes on back are margined with black

The Chipmunk is a squirrel that keeps to the ground and seldom climbs trees except to collect nuts. It packs the nuts in two large cheek pouches, and when these are full they look like a very bad case of mumps. The Chipmunk’s nest is found underground.

Common Woodchuck

(Marmota monax)

Large, fat animal over 2′ long

Grayish- to reddish-brown fur

Bushy tail, 5″ or 6″ long

The Woodchuck has many common names; “Chuck,” “Marmot,” or “Ground Hog” are the ones used in our area. “Chucks” live in deep burrows underground and there is always a great mound of earth in front of their opening. Frequently the “Chuck” is seen standing upright on its hind feet surveying its territory from the top of this mound. The same tunnel probably has several other more concealed openings which are used as escape hatches. The Woodchuck hibernates far below the ground during the winter months, and in the northern United States never comes out on February 2, “Ground Hog Day.”

Muskrat

(Ondatra zibethica)

Resembles a large rat

About 2′ long

Tail ratlike, flattened from side to side

The Muskrat is an aquatic mammal and is always found in association with water. It is very common in the marshy areas of the beach and may frequently be seen swimming about in such spots. The Muskrat’s fur has become specialized for its aquatic existence and is water-proofed with a heavy layer of oil. Muskrats feed extensively on the marsh plants. In late fall they construct large dome-shaped homes that protrude above the water.

White-footed Mouse

(Peromyscus leucopus)

Feet and legs are white

Large eyes; prominent ears

These mice are common all over the Neck. They are nocturnal and may be discovered in the daytime hiding under boards that have washed onto the shore, or they may be found in the wooded areas behind the main beach. Their small nests are constructed out of fur and grass and are located in depressions in the ground, frequently under a board or log. When the original owners vacate these nests they are often taken over by Bumblebees, Centipedes, Earwigs, and other secretive creatures.

Eastern Meadow Mouse

(Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Very small eyes

Tail short, about one-third total length

Brown fur, gray on underside

The Meadow Mouse is by far the most common mammal of Castle Neck. Its burrows may be seen just under the grass in all areas having ground cover. It feeds on many of the trees in the area, chewing the bark around the base. This girdling will eventually kill the tree. While this habit makes Meadow Mice undesirable, they fortunately prefer the smaller herbaceous plants when they are available. Although common, Meadow Mice are seldom seen because their days are spent running through their burrows. These may extend over an area of many square yards.

Meadow Jumping Mouse

(Zapus hudsonius)

Tail longer than body, sparsely haired

White underside, olive-yellow back

Occasionally when one is walking in the grassy fields, a Jumping Mouse will suddenly bound away in leaps averaging three or four feet. If it is really frightened, these leaps may carry the mouse as far as ten feet. In the United States the Jumping Mouse is much more closely related to the Porcupine than to true mice. Un-mouse-like, it hibernates in an underground nest during the winter months. Jumping Mice eat both insects and plants.

Red Fox

(Vulpes fulva)

Looks like a long-legged dog

Reddish fur; feet and ears black

Large bushy tail, white on tip

Only the most fortunate observer will see a Fox, which is most secretive and truly sly in its habits. It digs burrows and produces four to nine young during April. The Fox has been known to adapt its habits to changes humans have made in its environment, and it is most beneficial because it eats thousands of mice annually.

Raccoon

(Procyon lotor)

Dense gray fur

Tail ringed with bands of black and white

Black “mask” over eyes

Raccoons are creatures of the night and seldom venture forth in the daylight. They are expert climbers, spending many hours high in a lofty perch, and if pursued they usually seek refuge in a tree or swamp. They feed on frogs, fish, eggs, insects, nuts, corn, and shellfish, which they rinse carefully. The shellfish they skillfully remove from their shells, and often small piles of shells are the only clue to a Raccoon’s presence.

Striped Skunk

(Mephitis mephitis)

Black fur with two white stripes on back

Large bushy tail, white at tip

The Skunk is an inoffensive creature that tries hard to avoid people. Even when confronted, it is generally good-natured, relying on its presence to discourage investigation and employing its powerful scent only if pressed. Skunks usually live in holes not far from water. These holes have generally been taken over from another mammal by “squatter’s rights.” From four to seven youngsters are born in late April and they follow their mother about faithfully wherever she goes.

Mink

(Mustela vison)

Elongated brown animal

Bushy tail, about 8″ long

Toes are webbed

The Mink is extremely rare on the Neck and a careful and thorough search is required to locate one. They are associated with water and feed on shellfish and other aquatic creatures. They are best known for their fur, a favorite for coats. Fortunately, Mink are not common enough on the Neck to warrant commercial trapping.

Long-tailed Weasel

(Mustela frenata)

Long thin body; yellowish beneath, brown above

Tail long, about half the total length

The Weasel is a vicious, bloodthirsty animal that often kills just for the sport of it. Most of its victims are mice and insects, so its murderous instincts really benefit us. Weasels hunt at all hours of the day or night and all year round. Specimens in our area will occasionally turn pure white in winter and become an “Ermine.”

White-tailed Deer

(Odocoileus virginianus)

Tail held upright when alarmed

White patch on throat under chin

Ear lined with white

The White-tailed Deer is certainly the most obvious mammal on the Neck and is readily seen if one will take a short stroll in the wooded area behind the main beach or farther out on the Neck. There are probably close to one hundred deer here, a number approaching overpopulation. They feed mostly on grasses and the more succulent plants. Usually deer produce twins in early summer (June). The fawns are light tan and spotted with white. Deer may be seen readily in early evening when they come into the open fields to browse. They seem to have become quite accustomed to human observers and will frequently be as interested in you as you are in them.

Herring Gull

(Larus argentatus)

Body is pure white

Grayish-blue wings, tipped with black

Somewhat larger than a Crow

This is the familiar “Sea Gull,” one of many species so called. Its value as a beach scavenger and “garbage collector” has earned it protection by the federal government. While preferring the rocky coasts of Maine for nesting, the Herring Gull is by far the most familiar, if not the most common bird found at Crane’s Beach.

Great Black-backed Gull

(Larus marinus)

Much larger than Herring Gull

Wings are black on top surface

This beautiful gull, like its common cousin, is a scavenger. It is larger and more antagonistic than the Herring Gull and will often steal its food. In Maine, where both breed, the Great Black-back frequently feeds on the Herring Gull’s eggs or nestlings.

Common Tern

(Sterna hirundo)

Small, sleek, white body

Forked tail

Black crown on top of head

Orange-red bill

These delightful, graceful birds are again nesting at the tip of the Neck. Their nest has been described earlier (page 7). Under government protection, their numbers have been increasing rapidly. Keep a sharp watch and you may spot an Arctic or Roseate Tern, both very similar to the Common. It is entertaining to watch the Tern fish. It hovers against the wind in one spot just off shore—then suddenly drops into the water, only to reappear again in a moment with some morsel of food. Repeated again and again, this performance becomes a real show which even the most uninterested sun bather cannot ignore.

Piping Plover

(Charadrius melodus)

Small, sandy-colored bird

Black neck ring and forehead markings

Voice: A clear, forlorn “peep-lo”

This rather rare shorebird so perfectly matches the dry sand on which it hunts that it is often completely invisible until it moves. If the sparsely lined nest is discovered, the parents go into a “broken wing” act to draw attention to themselves and away from their eggs or young. The four light buff eggs marked with black are laid in May.

Semipalmated Plover

(Charadrius semipalmatus)

Resembles Piping Plover but is darker brown

Black ring on neck

Tail is dark, with white edges

Black-bellied Plover

(Squatarola squatarola)

About Robin size

Tail and rump are white

Named for its spring color patterns

Greater Yellowlegs

(Totanus melanoleucus)

A large Sandpiper with bright yellow legs

Tail and rump are white

In flight, body appears light, wings dark

Sanderling

(Crocethia alba)

Legs and bill are black

White stripe across wing

Body is brown or gray color

Semipalmated Sandpiper

(Ereunetes pusillus)

Very tiny sandpiper

Stout bill

Blackish legs

Redwinged Blackbird

(Agelaius phoeniceus)

Male is black, with red shoulder patches

Female is a brown, uninteresting bird

The male Redwing is familiar to everyone. His beautiful black plumage with red shoulder bars allows a rapid identification. He is usually seen flitting about over a marsh attempting to attract the attention of some admiring female. The nest is built in a shrub on the marsh in late May or June. Ordinarily it is well concealed, and often the only indication of its existence is the loud scolding of the anxious parents when intruders approach.

Black Duck

(Anas rubripes)

In flight: A dark duck with silvery underwings

On water: Light brown with a yellow bill

Bright red feet

This heavily hunted waterfowl continues to breed even in well-populated areas. Its nest is found here on the edges of the many fresh-water pools that dot the Neck in association with the swamps. About nine white or buff-colored eggs are produced in May. After nesting, these ducks may still be seen feeding on submerged plants. They obtain their meal in a crazy “dabbling” fashion, standing on their heads so that only the tail protrudes above the surface.

Black-crowned Night Heron

(Nycticorax nycticorax)

White breast, black on back and on crown of head

About Herring Gull size

Long, wading legs

Although most active at night, these herons may be seen throughout the day resting or feeding. They wade about in both the fresh and salt marshes in search of fish or crustaceans, which they seize with their long bills. This heron nests only rarely, if ever, on the Neck now, but thirty years ago great rookeries were found here. These birds are still to be found on the Neck in fair numbers even though man’s invasion of the area has reduced its desirability as a nesting place.

Marsh Hawk

(Circus cyaneus)

Males gray; females brown

Medium-sized hawk

Always with an obvious white rump

During the summer this handsome bird of prey is a familiar sight soaring close to the ground over all large marshy areas. In flight it holds its wings at an angle over its back, rather than parallel to the ground as do most hawks. It mates for life, bringing forth a brood of young once each summer. The nest is quite un-hawk-like, located on the ground and constructed of tall grasses. The Marsh Hawk leaves the area and migrates southward sometime in early September.

Rufous-sided Towhee

(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Underside white, orange on sides

Tail is long, dark, with white corners

About size and shape of a Robin

Towhees are more often heard than seen. Their loud scratching noise in the underbrush frequently frightens hikers. If disturbed, they will run on the ground to a place of safety. Their song is very distinctive and has been said to sound like “Drink your tea” with the tea ending extended, or “You and meeeee.” The Towhee generally breeds twice every summer, building its nest in a small shrub or on the ground. This nest is usually as difficult to discover as the bird itself.

Tree Swallow

(Iridoprocne bicolor)

White throat and stomach

Blue-green back and head

Crescent-shaped wings, notched tail

Usually seen winging low over water, the Tree Swallow serves to clean the air of water-loving insects. These swallows appear on the Neck in great numbers during the fall, when the scarcity of insects changes their diet to Bayberries. Tree Swallows are among the last birds to migrate in the fall and always the first to return the following spring. Their nests are occasionally discovered in a hollow tree during May or June, but these little birds will readily accept a bird house in lieu of a hollow tree.

Eastern Kingbird

(Tyrannus tyrannus)

Appears gray at a distance

Square black tail with conspicuous white tip

Infrequently, one sees a Hawk being attacked in flight by a much smaller bird. This little ball of courage is likely to be the Kingbird. Because of its swiftness in flight, the Kingbird is an able fly catcher and feeds on flies regularly. It builds a nest on the Neck, usually high in a tree, affording it a good lookout post. Watch for this nest in June.

Brown Thrasher

(Toxostoma rufum)

Brown bird with light breast covered with dark streaks

Long curved bill; very long tail

The Thrasher, and its cousin the Catbird, are both common summer residents and nest on Castle Neck. The Thrasher’s loud song, often mimicking other birds, is distinctive because every phrase occurs in pairs. When the nest is approached, the song changes into a series of short clucking noises, with an occasional hiss scolding the intruder. Persistent investigation may uncover the well-constructed nest on the ground. Look for this nest containing four brown-marked blue eggs during late May or June.

Mourning Dove

(Zenaidura macroura)

A slim, brown bird

Long pointed tail, bordered with white

This lovely, delicate dove occurs in every state of the Union. The waste areas on the Neck are especially suited to it because its main foodstuff is Pitch Pine seeds, weeds, and grasses. The Mourning Dove’s nest, placed in a Pitch Pine, is so carelessly made that it is apt to be mistaken for an old nest which is falling apart. Why it doesn’t do just this during the nesting season is a marvel. This beautiful dove is sometimes mistaken for its extinct cousin the Passenger Pigeon.

Sparrow Hawk

(Falco sparverius)

Long pointed wings and long tail

Our only small hawk with a black-banded rufous tail

In recent years this colorful hawk has become quite a city dweller, having little fear of humans. During May, four or five eggs are laid in a deserted Woodpecker’s hole or any convenient cavity. As one would guess from its size, the Sparrow Hawk feeds mainly on insects and seldom on a mouse or sparrow. It is often seen hovering over a field in search of prey or just surveying its feeding territory from a high vantage point.

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo virginianus)

Only large owl with ear tufts

Gray appearance, with white throat patch

Voice: Deep, penetrating “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo” (usually an odd number of hoo’s)

One or two of these magnificent birds can generally be found on any thorough search of the Neck. They hunt the Neck by night, taking a great toll of mice and other small animals. The Great Horned Owl nests earlier than any other New England bird, usually in February or March. So early, in fact, it occasionally returns from a hunt to find its nest and eggs covered with snow. A Great Horned can often be located during the day by following the sound of a noisy flock of Crows. These birds spend hours screaming and scolding Owls whenever they find one sleeping during the day.

Yellow Warbler

(Dendroica petechia)

Only tiny all-yellow bird here

Reddish streaks on breast of males

On first discovery, this warbler is likely to be identified as an escaped canary. Indeed, it is oftentimes called the “Wild Canary.” It has a very charming, persistent song, which it sings during most of the day. It builds a tiny nest lined with down in the fork of a shrub. Unfortunately, the Yellow Warbler arrives late in the spring and leaves us early in the fall.

Yellowthroat

(Geothlypis trichas)

Male: All yellow, with a black mask over eyes

Female: Drab olive color with bright yellow throat

A very familiar bird on Castle Neck, the Yellowthroat constantly makes its presence known by a bright “witchity-witchity” song, sounding as though it is asking “What-cha-see?” Its nest is built on or close to the ground and is a rather bulky affair, much larger than seems necessary for so small a bird. As with most of the warblers, the Yellowthroat’s diet consists entirely of insects—a characteristic that makes it a most valuable guest.

SOME WINTER SPECIALTIES

A few tourists visit the beach during the winter. It is generally considered to be a “dead” time of year. Yet the birds abound here, and many may be found only during the cold months. Five examples are:

Common Loon

(Gavia immer)

Large, almost Goose size

Long, straight bill

Winter: Dark gray back, whitish throat and breast

All summer long the Loon lives in the quiet of some hidden northern lake, but in the winter it moves out into the ocean. The winter seas are cold and savage, and yet the Loon takes them in stride. It is a powerful swimmer and can dive easily and deeply. The voice of the Loon, heard only in summer, is very distinctive; the loud, “crazy” laughing call is responsible for the saying “As crazy as a loon.”

Horned Grebe

(Podiceps auritus)

Resembles a duck but has slender neck and pointed bill

Winter: Dark gray back, line down neck, and top of head; white on breast, front of neck, and underside of head

The Horned Grebe spends most of its time on the water, frequently even sleeping there. It has also learned to preen itself in water by rolling over on its side. Grebes swim and dive actively, catching many small fish and crustaceans. When frightened into flight they will run many yards across the surface of the water before finally hurtling into the air.

Snowy Owl

(Nyctea scandiaca)

Very large white owl

A round, smooth head

The Snowy is a day-flying owl and therefore may be seen perched high on a sand dune looking around for mice. Its home is in the Arctic tundra, where it feeds on Lemmings. When these are scarce during the winter, the Snowy migrates southward to new feeding grounds. Because it is not used to humans, you can often get quite close to this owl before it will be frightened into flight.

Snow Bunting

(Plectrophenax nivalis)

About size of Song Sparrow

White body, rusty on head and back

Long, pointed, white wings with black tips

From its breeding grounds in the Arctic, this large sparrow-like bird comes to Crane’s Beach only in the winter. It is at home during the hardest, most severe snowstorms. One may stand on the verge of frostbite and watch large flocks of Snow Buntings flitting about, whistling in a cheerful tinkling song. Look for them among the dunes or marshes, where they feed on the grass and weed seeds.

Ipswich Sparrow

(Passerculus princeps)

Large sparrow, gray above, white below

Breast and sides have dull brown markings

Upper parts more heavily streaked

The Ipswich Sparrow is an occasional visitor to Ipswich. It was isolated years ago on desolate Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. It breeds only on Sable Island, but its winter migrations cause it to wander along the Atlantic Coast. It was first reported in 1868 from the dunes on Castle Hill, hence its name Ipswich Sparrow. When observed, this bird is most often found among the debris left at high tide on the upper beach. It is quick to fly when disturbed and, upon landing, will run for several yards to lose itself in the Beach Grass.

FOR A WIDER ACQUAINTANCE AMONG THE BIRDS

It is obvious that this chapter serves only to introduce you to the great variety of bird life awaiting the interested naturalist. To continue your study, consider the purchase of a good binocular and one or all of the books listed below.

Field List: Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Salem, Mass.: Peabody Museum, 1952. $.35

Edward Howe Forbush, Natural History of the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Revised and abridged by John B. May. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1939. $7.50

Roger Tory Peterson, How to Know the Birds. New York: New American Library, 1949. $.50

——, A Field Guide to the Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947. $3.95

Charles Wendell Townsend, The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 3. Cambridge, Mass.: Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1905. Available in Museum of Science Library.

——, Supplement to The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 5. Cambridge, Mass.: Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1920. Available in Museum of Science Library.

George J. Wallace, An Introduction to Ornithology. New York: Macmillan, 1955. $8.00