Featured Observations

The Monadnock Region is home to a fantastic array of organisms, from the smallest of insects to massive trees, long-lived turtles, and migrating raptors. On this page, we’ll feature some of the most interesting photo observations from the SuperSanctuary Biodiversity project on iNaturalist.

Click on the image to see this observation in iNaturalist. (photo © Nate Marchessault)

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)

April 20, 2024 | West Side Trails

A common plant of the forest understory in our area, hobblebush gets its start in early spring when most other woodland shrubs remain leafless and brown. @natemarchessult spotted this plant with leaves unfurling and flower buds forming on our West Side Trails. The outer buds will grow into larger, sterile flowers that never fruit – and may only serve to attract insect pollinators to the central cluster of smaller flowers, which will produce bright red berries in late summer and early fall.

Click on the image to see this observation in iNaturalist. (photo © Tom Momeyer)

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)

March 19, 2024 | Hiroshi Land

As a sprawling shrub with tiny, nondescript leaves, partridgeberry would be easy to overlook if it weren’t for its vibrant red berries. Each fruit develops from the fused ovaries of its paired flowers, so two flowers were involved in creating every berry you see. @tmomeyer spotted this plant with fruit on our Hiroshi Land, and while the fruit looks fresh and ripe, it has actually persisted over the winter and likely first developed last August!

Click on the image to see this observation in iNaturalist. (photo © Nate Marchessault)

Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)

February 16, 2024 | Harris Center Headquarters

The bird feeders at the Harris Center Headquarters can be a fantastic place to observe songbirds at close range from the comfort of the Windows Room. This Pine Siskin was observed by @natemarchessault during one of two Harris Center outings in celebration of The Cornell Lab and National Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count! Pine Siskins are an irruptive finch species similar in size and shape to American Goldfinches but can be distinguished by their streaky breasts and yellow wash to their outer flight feathers.

Click on the image to see this observation in iNaturalist. (photo © Steve Tobin)

Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata)

January 21, 2024 | West Side Trails

Late winter, when wetlands have frozen over, can be an excellent time to observe perennial wetland plants, such as this leatherleaf documented by @stevetobin at Jack’s Pond on the Thumbs Down Trail in Hancock. This species is in the family Ericaceae and shares the same bell-shaped flowers as blueberries in the summer. Leatherleaf retains its bronze, leathery leaves in winter, forming hummocks on peat along marshes, ponds, and streams.