tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33263144969839748292024-03-27T02:38:24.562-04:00Lake Wicwas Nature JournalA somewhat random record of observations of what's happening around Lake Wicwas and the Lakes Region. I hope to post about once a week - your comments are welcomed.Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.comBlogger739125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-42662754614948567322024-03-24T08:10:00.005-04:002024-03-24T08:53:39.148-04:00March 24, 2024: 115 Ring-necked Ducks<p>Advance notice, this is another long entry. It was one of those weeks with so much going on - ducks, beavers, snow, timberdoodles - I don't know where to start. I guess a couple of follow-ups should be first. One or more Red Crossbills have been hanging around since my first sighting in early March, and one appears to have found itself a mate. The two stay near each other but the female is less bold so I haven't gotten a picture, but I did get a good look at the male. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyToHchV1Y9cD4TxXfD7jRGnXTmHQkv-h-_BFYFWRVFqOdsDG2uX7sNtvCbcvHrvc-2yhF9OIl2K9IKs_9waHOBiDd8S-7lsC0Pqgvx6KimlvNZRX0Gv18lcd4a_DO68rbkcinsAy6vTnWJ3NpPl5pEGKR4j7F6zk4jmBNW8YJtR7UKF1gUGG6w-7RRJQ/s929/IMG_3992a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="929" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyToHchV1Y9cD4TxXfD7jRGnXTmHQkv-h-_BFYFWRVFqOdsDG2uX7sNtvCbcvHrvc-2yhF9OIl2K9IKs_9waHOBiDd8S-7lsC0Pqgvx6KimlvNZRX0Gv18lcd4a_DO68rbkcinsAy6vTnWJ3NpPl5pEGKR4j7F6zk4jmBNW8YJtR7UKF1gUGG6w-7RRJQ/w640-h480/IMG_3992a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Red Crossbill in a Red Maple on Wednesday. (Note the buds!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Another follow-up goes all the way back to <a href="https://wicwaslake.blogspot.com/2024/01/january-21-2024-pine-siskin.html" target="_blank">January 21st</a> when I heard Pine Siskins and noted that NH Audubon predicted the pine siskin would be the finch of the year. I can attest to the foresight of that prediction: All winter long I heard these these loud and boisterous birds just about everywhere I went, and I'm still hearing them. I was able to get a recording of both of their distinctive calls so when you're out and about you'll recognize it:<p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHG1v8SNRSGKUctGEQpOOH8C4fsvayUK5jG5_b4xRYRBsQqdZhxaEX4VjqwDpGuI4Cjg6n7tddNEYRUIMtjQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The highlight of my week was an evening visit to Page Pond to see if I could witness the strange mating practice of the American Woodcock, also known as the timberdoodle. I've seen woodcock during the day on the wet trail just in from the field at Barnard Ridge Road, using its long pointed bill to probe around in wet soil in search of worms and other edibles. But it's their nighttime courting behavior I was in search of this week, and I knew they might be in that area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I arrived just after sunset and sat near the edge of the transitional forest between the field and the woods and waited. It was almost dark when I heard the first nasal "<i>peent</i>" of the woodcock. Soon I heard a couple more farther away in the field, and then a dark flying object sped right past me and landed in the field perhaps 30 yards away. I knew it was a woodcock when it started to call: <i>peent... peent.... peent</i>. After a couple of minutes of this the bird took flight and I was able to watch it circle around in a large pattern over the field and the small trees gaining altitude higher and higher, emitting a musical burbling song from its wings, until I lost sight of it in the darkening night. And that was a disappointment, because that's just when it was about to start its crazy decent back to earth. Supposedly the male woodcock will drop in a twisting, almost deadfall decent, slowing his fall just before he hits the ground, right back where he started. Apparently this wild behavior impresses the girls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't see it land, but knew it had because soon it started again: <i>peent... peent... peent</i>. I saw him take flight one more time, but after that it was too dark to see. But he continued this for another 15 or 20 minutes as indicated by the peenting and burbling that I heard. I never saw him fly off, but when the music ended I knew he was done. Did he get the girl? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another male was still at it somewhere off in the field, but I was cold and headed home. I didn't get to witness the fall of the timberdoodle, but I got a pretty good taste of one of the more interesting mating rituals in the New Hampshire bird community. Next time I'll try in the morning when the day is brightening rather than getting dimmer. I don't have my own photo of the timberdoodle, but here's one from NH Audubon:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNdWn-DKTsCzIKTkR8-dtFjQFAw47BiZ03RqoMZD9vUI-T_5vv4kLRuvKlkXldGDEPIO-uNpU1DJDZ_K55fY7E6QOy6ry0ZOS8vuTwI83jLPq_OukxJNjldcV_4vVSUFixxI1ZIIwvurO03Kp88fhFUvsFs5aMYHb4SwloWrH9q6rwnqo8n_5iAcK-W0/s808/woodcock.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="808" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNdWn-DKTsCzIKTkR8-dtFjQFAw47BiZ03RqoMZD9vUI-T_5vv4kLRuvKlkXldGDEPIO-uNpU1DJDZ_K55fY7E6QOy6ry0ZOS8vuTwI83jLPq_OukxJNjldcV_4vVSUFixxI1ZIIwvurO03Kp88fhFUvsFs5aMYHb4SwloWrH9q6rwnqo8n_5iAcK-W0/w640-h426/woodcock.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The American Woodcock. Photo: David Nelson/Alamy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another exciting event occurred on Friday - that cold, windy day before the storm arrived. As the sun rose over the lake it revealed a huge flock of ducks all grouped up on the far side of Marion Cove, tucked in behind the lee of the land to get out of the brutal 20 mph wind. The <i>air </i>temperature was 18 degrees. It was too dark to see what kind of ducks they were but as the sun rose it became clear they were ring-necked ducks, and there was well over a hundred of them! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiL6Yg0_4sgP339yLuGHr-FofGXSrDHX2xtyLyteMtDhja-ncryYDqnqilfk0yAy3Eq6IlHp0uiY5qf69kN2bmkPmeo_OZuNj45bhs8dvmptrfOQN_L1uJ4D4pTuiEb1XHVhVSM9j7qrMZOcy4LlA2dL8uBYKR3v5JMYvWkyb-Rys1L0_WV_yyCuZNTA/s902/IMG_4050b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="902" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiL6Yg0_4sgP339yLuGHr-FofGXSrDHX2xtyLyteMtDhja-ncryYDqnqilfk0yAy3Eq6IlHp0uiY5qf69kN2bmkPmeo_OZuNj45bhs8dvmptrfOQN_L1uJ4D4pTuiEb1XHVhVSM9j7qrMZOcy4LlA2dL8uBYKR3v5JMYvWkyb-Rys1L0_WV_yyCuZNTA/w640-h308/IMG_4050b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is only a portion of the flock.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On one count I got 115 and on another 117, but there were even more hidden behind a point of land that I couldn't count. They must have flown in the day before and sought out the most protected part of the lake to spend the night, and they ended up staying all day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Linda observed there were two groups. One consisted of apparent pairs, a hen and a drake staying close together and behaving calmly. The other group was a jumble of males and females (more males than females though) that were much more active, especially the drakes. Our hypothesis is that these birds had not yet paired up and the males were doing their best to convince a female to accept them as their mate. As the day progressed, warmed, and calmed somewhat, the flock spread out and some came closer and gave us a better look at them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMseHfloY7RN00O24QCmT5mkulnmN2HJ3s9LquLhJaDJHnUfJ4iIl3qczymW7_3MkP4W9OGTc4-Q_zq8R-dLvukOm_k31HvlRMhMnYKfYB-a5uwoA8IbhkcXZUGqMwyF4EhZ9JSJwgKl6BeAt5fO62ajnJJY3iX375Bue8wMVLwC7B_pmyM20ij878cU/s900/IMG_4057a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMseHfloY7RN00O24QCmT5mkulnmN2HJ3s9LquLhJaDJHnUfJ4iIl3qczymW7_3MkP4W9OGTc4-Q_zq8R-dLvukOm_k31HvlRMhMnYKfYB-a5uwoA8IbhkcXZUGqMwyF4EhZ9JSJwgKl6BeAt5fO62ajnJJY3iX375Bue8wMVLwC7B_pmyM20ij878cU/w640-h426/IMG_4057a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />When a female or two took flight, many others in this sub-group would follow along after them. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVCcQgnHNX3azvvknZLeGatItBsyEnhZPo5_Tsuo3lHTxavL9qFcoT5Elhbjz-H66LLV2ZCxToXB7YNDZaL_ftWXomOqVMF5Ru_nna0w5bE_dWAYcovJx1qCHgSTg3CjvXwdWKH3PXEqf2QA2jUYo1x9SB8ze59XK8SvvfWZPDEs19tTM89kF3J2cq-A/s900/IMG_4066a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVCcQgnHNX3azvvknZLeGatItBsyEnhZPo5_Tsuo3lHTxavL9qFcoT5Elhbjz-H66LLV2ZCxToXB7YNDZaL_ftWXomOqVMF5Ru_nna0w5bE_dWAYcovJx1qCHgSTg3CjvXwdWKH3PXEqf2QA2jUYo1x9SB8ze59XK8SvvfWZPDEs19tTM89kF3J2cq-A/w640-h426/IMG_4066a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />These ducks will soon continue on their way up to northern Maine and Canada to breed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the ring-necked ducks were here the much smaller group of Common Mergansers kept their distance - we saw them far away down the lake. We also saw one pair of Hooded Mergansers in the cove before the ring-necked flock arrived. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh_lbdd6D2AEE2twYK6GpR7dKxY09RQH_pkmgPZAc9VX-H_FTfxAqWQh3RHWmEb-OOGWDXzsfk3c7_LXNQydlP_zoK99dcOUycAzsKyMoEkTKf62wP6MWAZZxRk5vor3y7EC96V_nugrKg6570fnpYrryl2zLn1Cj8rCbcd_RWMG35vGBRVS0V8a7eOA/s900/IMG_3967a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh_lbdd6D2AEE2twYK6GpR7dKxY09RQH_pkmgPZAc9VX-H_FTfxAqWQh3RHWmEb-OOGWDXzsfk3c7_LXNQydlP_zoK99dcOUycAzsKyMoEkTKf62wP6MWAZZxRk5vor3y7EC96V_nugrKg6570fnpYrryl2zLn1Cj8rCbcd_RWMG35vGBRVS0V8a7eOA/w640-h426/IMG_3967a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male hooded merganser</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEXPAYJiNzRs3ApiKAnrT4efxZPbmnTvR4o5unB7Ylf6qLkNdfD0Pa8I5-z2vvo3E1Z7OPkaKeAjUS_SeQXezdRiJsuv7M7kfLCBwAM9XMc7xii3Vjn3hWgwFjosaDDOin6-orkXwPlEqesp6BG1VZfCUPJwjfmf_uuPbdoB-dXyzAJGvBl3FtBBxC1w/s900/IMG_3958c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEXPAYJiNzRs3ApiKAnrT4efxZPbmnTvR4o5unB7Ylf6qLkNdfD0Pa8I5-z2vvo3E1Z7OPkaKeAjUS_SeQXezdRiJsuv7M7kfLCBwAM9XMc7xii3Vjn3hWgwFjosaDDOin6-orkXwPlEqesp6BG1VZfCUPJwjfmf_uuPbdoB-dXyzAJGvBl3FtBBxC1w/w640-h426/IMG_3958c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the female.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They are a pretty bird; these poor photographs don't due them justice, but the goal of the journal is to document what nature is present. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We're having a lot of fun watching multiple beavers cruise by every night, sometimes giving us great shows with their tail slaps. One sight that has not been seen however, is a loon. None of our loon watchers has seen a single one, which is unusual as the loons usually arrive as soon as there are moderate-size areas of open water, often days before ice out. Perhaps it's because ice out was so early this year. We'll have to wait and see when they arrive. Has anyone from other lakes seen their loons yet? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My comment a couple of weeks ago that old man winter might not be done with us yet was on target and somehow those ring-necked ducks knew what was coming; we picked up almost two feet of snow yesterday which made for some of the best skiing of the year.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSulH7mb0WllqQ47n6K7XQPqFoEDE_KRVwfVMcWYdetHSVy7pLa05uG_fa_oGklgafqRaosk66jVbTW1Ho8f82V0LZ0ANLeJAvZAjMN7zMhM81HmuCFLh58e1aTVTup1eyXWC5M5BxEeExJvdjRTVwkOW-tHgtISh4cCDdrsqay_Wc4h-mU-002JwWkDk/s900/PXL_20240323_184829280a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSulH7mb0WllqQ47n6K7XQPqFoEDE_KRVwfVMcWYdetHSVy7pLa05uG_fa_oGklgafqRaosk66jVbTW1Ho8f82V0LZ0ANLeJAvZAjMN7zMhM81HmuCFLh58e1aTVTup1eyXWC5M5BxEeExJvdjRTVwkOW-tHgtISh4cCDdrsqay_Wc4h-mU-002JwWkDk/w225-h400/PXL_20240323_184829280a.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good late winter snowstorm after a very long dry spell.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After having very few birds at the feeder recently, the Juncos - aka snowbirds - came out in force as soon as the snow started. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHGDmHiLdE30v02r1OGX4hNd3f3reCtNltY98atO8BDdpUqboBCSTtjL0GOcDlKw9OaxRWgdYyPUizii71KpscScM9n4sNUPMxIv1Ra1L53xcLWVTLdqBZjYtIgMYVAZLTSrAOyN7GjwV6_Cz6TCAJkm1ICXrgxjV3Hmjgjj6-ty6wrQdIE7X9u2KWvw/s901/PXL_20240323_170918937a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="901" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHGDmHiLdE30v02r1OGX4hNd3f3reCtNltY98atO8BDdpUqboBCSTtjL0GOcDlKw9OaxRWgdYyPUizii71KpscScM9n4sNUPMxIv1Ra1L53xcLWVTLdqBZjYtIgMYVAZLTSrAOyN7GjwV6_Cz6TCAJkm1ICXrgxjV3Hmjgjj6-ty6wrQdIE7X9u2KWvw/w640-h378/PXL_20240323_170918937a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-eyed Juncos line up for their attempt at the feeder.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLkMYKj-Vl8o6Rw-KmNDukMO21iQq5GWoORsAHFppIybzE-CxrPHrLnc8yqtFYrLu9tSw6Lt8vwLVrEqLtfITjP6TuaDFCkTrcuVvtL1IWABpC9HIHl5ydH_Zsrih0sycfpR483B-xaVXZ6-gK9WOtAh8w2JOh6gPbG-qSnHq8q5n2Tg-Ci38-oMeCzY/s900/IMG_4104b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLkMYKj-Vl8o6Rw-KmNDukMO21iQq5GWoORsAHFppIybzE-CxrPHrLnc8yqtFYrLu9tSw6Lt8vwLVrEqLtfITjP6TuaDFCkTrcuVvtL1IWABpC9HIHl5ydH_Zsrih0sycfpR483B-xaVXZ6-gK9WOtAh8w2JOh6gPbG-qSnHq8q5n2Tg-Ci38-oMeCzY/w640-h480/IMG_4104b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may look like a blue-sky day, but this was before sunrise using artificial light.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />These are not polite birds like the chickadees are; a dominant bird often jousts with the others to keep them away from the food.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_6qfy3yYiRlEkWKtvVCJMD9DHVYQLj3o3Oa-ccw0zW3oGIPl_krFAMF5MdQNS3oh3ZUoEcJCMTJFyBfem4ZagNRZnwSxrJC6X8o8Hk5EDnmR4QwfXDzVAlvKqqdqcs8LSsdZ7YTOzfVETLJ12cMK_PzM-BSfKumSXKRSH5BGcKEpuj9AuQjRyCn7gqo/s900/IMG_4213d.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_6qfy3yYiRlEkWKtvVCJMD9DHVYQLj3o3Oa-ccw0zW3oGIPl_krFAMF5MdQNS3oh3ZUoEcJCMTJFyBfem4ZagNRZnwSxrJC6X8o8Hk5EDnmR4QwfXDzVAlvKqqdqcs8LSsdZ7YTOzfVETLJ12cMK_PzM-BSfKumSXKRSH5BGcKEpuj9AuQjRyCn7gqo/w640-h426/IMG_4213d.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyryoBpJvs_l8NQcrDFOeLS9dBxSCcLmLtuvtUOOO2el7ka_acwwZh_RVKLW5ufCJVYv4T-hEEq7NDDbM8TuMM4BHApliIWGNKPf7Php4jzcrTKbNZSvtZLFctA8UgfXh5XuNitASROemvP2rAqGO70KEJKFFlZgVBsAIQr4YdfJQDSkOWjztvnoYI-AQ/s2453/IMG_4212a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="2453" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyryoBpJvs_l8NQcrDFOeLS9dBxSCcLmLtuvtUOOO2el7ka_acwwZh_RVKLW5ufCJVYv4T-hEEq7NDDbM8TuMM4BHApliIWGNKPf7Php4jzcrTKbNZSvtZLFctA8UgfXh5XuNitASROemvP2rAqGO70KEJKFFlZgVBsAIQr4YdfJQDSkOWjztvnoYI-AQ/w640-h480/IMG_4212a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Here they are in action:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/glNhKr6qNsc" width="320" youtube-src-id="glNhKr6qNsc"></iframe></div><br /></div><br /><br />I heard a pine siskin calling during a lull in the storm in the afternoon and looked out the window to see one perched on the feeder. I was impressed to see this little finch take on the flock of juncos for jurisdiction over the feeder. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ouW4zUP0-W3ryAh_wzoplFGXwiL4Bd2RQHGfu2sORBPzPJh5KM_1xZHbqJrTm4_8dD1UhKIqcI-a-yo_m8FI-bDxWZ4ImwAJ-3QZEONzQvJ5JYDLEJk3mNi50QZoOdvidFP4ao8DWYn18bbWsdHDzhPIMOr5Th9wexkdG9wBNHpec8to16up5o0veY/s900/IMG_4264a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ouW4zUP0-W3ryAh_wzoplFGXwiL4Bd2RQHGfu2sORBPzPJh5KM_1xZHbqJrTm4_8dD1UhKIqcI-a-yo_m8FI-bDxWZ4ImwAJ-3QZEONzQvJ5JYDLEJk3mNi50QZoOdvidFP4ao8DWYn18bbWsdHDzhPIMOr5Th9wexkdG9wBNHpec8to16up5o0veY/w640-h480/IMG_4264a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It confronted every junco that attempted to land including one persistent junco that wouldn't back down. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBM2Ckh3c1Hd6mFfFO9NFXWpCEjg8N44BA7O8tD4beD_8RlJvfzdllnEaq7is1tI0ZO4_C0O-3Fs1k5cHseCps-lpfqlD-VVAUK9XiSOhx_T8dhNYHXNIFn0mlez1PuY97H84PF2nDEjr5cCTHxj7ZcfaBLvTIc6gN6s4fQu3BsKbKPf9VmTaB5No0UU/s901/IMG_4254a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="901" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBM2Ckh3c1Hd6mFfFO9NFXWpCEjg8N44BA7O8tD4beD_8RlJvfzdllnEaq7is1tI0ZO4_C0O-3Fs1k5cHseCps-lpfqlD-VVAUK9XiSOhx_T8dhNYHXNIFn0mlez1PuY97H84PF2nDEjr5cCTHxj7ZcfaBLvTIc6gN6s4fQu3BsKbKPf9VmTaB5No0UU/w640-h480/IMG_4254a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Eventually the two of them came to a truce, each taking ownership of an opposite side of the feeder.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXsOIUMJoccpbgMINAOunW9aq1KGw35WMxV7dbXE6CQ6aaW95UfX2_7nagnr319Hs5N_t6HtMwl-SXypdiE6n4wkuJjYvBLEuXKC_iA3zv6ZuLtpPIxn_Ap_HABXX1rFhSlu6jjbkyoFBWxtk68d7Y-vto5q6pZFSwof4SjdmcXMUBu9xyWgftrDqeE/s900/IMG_4268a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXsOIUMJoccpbgMINAOunW9aq1KGw35WMxV7dbXE6CQ6aaW95UfX2_7nagnr319Hs5N_t6HtMwl-SXypdiE6n4wkuJjYvBLEuXKC_iA3zv6ZuLtpPIxn_Ap_HABXX1rFhSlu6jjbkyoFBWxtk68d7Y-vto5q6pZFSwof4SjdmcXMUBu9xyWgftrDqeE/w640-h480/IMG_4268a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It <i>was </i>a busy week at the lake. This morning, with almost two feet of new snow, the lake has filled up with frozen slush and the ring-necked ducks were nowhere to be seen. I wonder if the timberdoodles' bills are long enough to probe down through a foot of snow to find their worms!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf7OTXoPiIdH15jVr3TM346PGl5atZgFBsXcIzYt6aOHCFX-ptxAG1A7YbzFLK_FPG3rgrSN_1aANbwBuvAzSsW_wYvOtmA82xz7qtgIVn-D998_1DCVPny325s6oc-_zH173FlrtWGaeZFLp589DumFLW2GZuIBMIsaArbntBAprHEvEdg_F8GB0AGI/s900/IMG_4284a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf7OTXoPiIdH15jVr3TM346PGl5atZgFBsXcIzYt6aOHCFX-ptxAG1A7YbzFLK_FPG3rgrSN_1aANbwBuvAzSsW_wYvOtmA82xz7qtgIVn-D998_1DCVPny325s6oc-_zH173FlrtWGaeZFLp589DumFLW2GZuIBMIsaArbntBAprHEvEdg_F8GB0AGI/w640-h426/IMG_4284a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday, March 23 - Winter's back.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-13480349013298339192024-03-19T10:10:00.000-04:002024-03-19T10:10:39.500-04:00March 17, 2024: Ice-Out<p>Ice out on Lake Wicwas was declared on Sunday March 17th when a boat could be launched at the ramp on Chemung Road and make its way through all the major passages and dock at each of the major coves in the lake. The last area to clear was the channel southwest of Bryant Island, which is unusual. Most often the last of the ice lingers in the protected end of Marion Cove or the south end of the lake near the boat ramp where the northwest wind tends to blow ice from the center of the lake. </p><p>Ice-out on March 17th is one day later than the earliest ice-out date ever recorded, and combined with the late ice-in date of January 6th, gave us just 71 days of ice coverage. Compared to the average ice cover over the past 20 years of 119 days, this doesn't bode well for water temperatures and cyanobacteria blooms this summer. Ice-out on Lake Winnipesaukee was also called on March 17th.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZGctkLlA899QCesCtmZaN3KxyOMguvVKzrbWZ-EEEqmNW1ogL6GvbdkZaZzzhvi78i55uRAzJBpItHn6qZ5XMpRBJmYaGSHiwJLw3CicPFSXnsHe7MnHAT9_1Bq79oMOD1lC2CfyceeS8dayJ5XitL_LwSe7ZCtxf2YWCYyIZpgHGAvrvuyi5LDuEsY/s4032/PXL_20240316_160256960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZGctkLlA899QCesCtmZaN3KxyOMguvVKzrbWZ-EEEqmNW1ogL6GvbdkZaZzzhvi78i55uRAzJBpItHn6qZ5XMpRBJmYaGSHiwJLw3CicPFSXnsHe7MnHAT9_1Bq79oMOD1lC2CfyceeS8dayJ5XitL_LwSe7ZCtxf2YWCYyIZpgHGAvrvuyi5LDuEsY/w640-h360/PXL_20240316_160256960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Crockett's Ledge on March 16th.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-3663519848324125012024-03-17T08:21:00.001-04:002024-03-17T08:21:41.483-04:00March 17: 2024: Mink on Thin Ice<p>It's a busy time of year with so much happening all at once as the world wakes up from its winter slumber. One cold morning as I was enjoying the interesting patterns that formed on the lake over night, a flash of brown scooted onto the thin ice from shore and bounded across the lake right in front of me. It was one of those lucky occasions when I had my camera in my hand.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBojtn70gkltioCFEDNwa-oahNpZ8QvkQrm5LnxvD2h9EbFzbAouCH6LfbM85ml7OMIckdLrh-dQKdZtesrNcfbEV6zlHk3azDc-OghXJrwr5cvi3WREYXv-bbCEmDK4LmaEWVyrlR4cjD6_O-GQlkWZv-CBPxlueMYFm55VFFJvsZCtAvei3AfE06BU/s900/IMG_3731a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBojtn70gkltioCFEDNwa-oahNpZ8QvkQrm5LnxvD2h9EbFzbAouCH6LfbM85ml7OMIckdLrh-dQKdZtesrNcfbEV6zlHk3azDc-OghXJrwr5cvi3WREYXv-bbCEmDK4LmaEWVyrlR4cjD6_O-GQlkWZv-CBPxlueMYFm55VFFJvsZCtAvei3AfE06BU/w640-h426/IMG_3731a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mink on the ice.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF16P-Xyav6A5muAxUW5sI065ueYTGy0SMw0D3fjlcyMd4x3kzadKZ_QpCv6tFQqC3aCmAH_ORIFum2Ntopo-onGmITDb6ITgDF0p29k1Zqk3yKuoFlpsLv-MSHLuDXrJvr4ZTUniS7V6YnJQLEcmIeZsm0jamyd8YuZ730KOvjOQ6cxUWMJUGO8Avo0Y/s900/IMG_3733a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF16P-Xyav6A5muAxUW5sI065ueYTGy0SMw0D3fjlcyMd4x3kzadKZ_QpCv6tFQqC3aCmAH_ORIFum2Ntopo-onGmITDb6ITgDF0p29k1Zqk3yKuoFlpsLv-MSHLuDXrJvr4ZTUniS7V6YnJQLEcmIeZsm0jamyd8YuZ730KOvjOQ6cxUWMJUGO8Avo0Y/w640-h426/IMG_3733a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No problem with traction for those claws.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH3bL0j5n1A7UO1MEfd2e2t-n5x6QkJGPi4NI4Gtxnrqt_Ji0DFXKV0Jnfad352gBiB-3leQqaNFGu4uzchS1xkzv3Jy6W6Nq69b0xY2PzO5BaSlY0y0YAMyvuhW6vNSWt_2tScaUYDT70BUmSpebclotJAE0UlBi9VSESofPTzHzb32EbcLH7lNn1XQ/s900/IMG_3738a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH3bL0j5n1A7UO1MEfd2e2t-n5x6QkJGPi4NI4Gtxnrqt_Ji0DFXKV0Jnfad352gBiB-3leQqaNFGu4uzchS1xkzv3Jy6W6Nq69b0xY2PzO5BaSlY0y0YAMyvuhW6vNSWt_2tScaUYDT70BUmSpebclotJAE0UlBi9VSESofPTzHzb32EbcLH7lNn1XQ/w640-h480/IMG_3738a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p>A mink doesn't worry about falling through thin ice - when it came to edge of the ice it just slipped into the water and continued on its way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHYEFwMiFGebVEtywpVTrdLYhDLA6VFSgo2vARXH_s81meTgRihEWyVc63cPiiIRk1F1N5GocfgEMUeb2LL-JQR05mSEj1GMW5oumxvcpkNvMmkzGe7r5D9UtB9EfkPvxZ6HClDlX4ysZYbqyddezBCYFIwglPR_JMnL52cGw3ta9Ay_0Sj1XU1Byhe4/s900/IMG_3749a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHYEFwMiFGebVEtywpVTrdLYhDLA6VFSgo2vARXH_s81meTgRihEWyVc63cPiiIRk1F1N5GocfgEMUeb2LL-JQR05mSEj1GMW5oumxvcpkNvMmkzGe7r5D9UtB9EfkPvxZ6HClDlX4ysZYbqyddezBCYFIwglPR_JMnL52cGw3ta9Ay_0Sj1XU1Byhe4/w640-h480/IMG_3749a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>That was on Wednesday. The day before was bright and windy and that took a big toll on the ice with the wind really breaking things up. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPzW5Q6j6eQCW5P5tsc7OTNfcpKRQocyXf19dSUrWULBRK2YXPhwsSJ8lZkOQJ31cEB3hPNjCVr7vnUvZ1sJrl_A6mLp0QI5tKomih5Wi1Htrd9kOUZPZ8RUVrZII5Th8bEYvCDlNYDihwuvo0BzA4nEflc09BHwnJKA1M4yIkTjRQnDFvvl9GJUBgJE/s902/PXL_20240311_202059914a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPzW5Q6j6eQCW5P5tsc7OTNfcpKRQocyXf19dSUrWULBRK2YXPhwsSJ8lZkOQJ31cEB3hPNjCVr7vnUvZ1sJrl_A6mLp0QI5tKomih5Wi1Htrd9kOUZPZ8RUVrZII5Th8bEYvCDlNYDihwuvo0BzA4nEflc09BHwnJKA1M4yIkTjRQnDFvvl9GJUBgJE/w640-h360/PXL_20240311_202059914a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ice started breaking up on Monday.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe3rWcpSwhFR3L3HcrcS313Ltw2xJxZZwBEhhctuXiNKWR5QZlLQKiqIB-sPucTGMxLrzOi2evUK0b7JFsZQ1ALRxFCvWU13GxxoRC0GlEWcCR2F74uQ6BduCnvvMWyYWMQaOoWXB_XSvnC9FO66ZzKolULBZ-ySqxsihn02J4rysqJXEYcm7aAedTNw/s902/PXL_20240312_141539681a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe3rWcpSwhFR3L3HcrcS313Ltw2xJxZZwBEhhctuXiNKWR5QZlLQKiqIB-sPucTGMxLrzOi2evUK0b7JFsZQ1ALRxFCvWU13GxxoRC0GlEWcCR2F74uQ6BduCnvvMWyYWMQaOoWXB_XSvnC9FO66ZzKolULBZ-ySqxsihn02J4rysqJXEYcm7aAedTNw/w640-h360/PXL_20240312_141539681a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting wider under the March sun on Tuesday.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The wind blew shreds of ice up over the transition point which glistened like diamonds in the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0F3P6vE2mdLYNBhODLPjHV7ODAjmr2Np1ca96sL98T1ej0qhCTLE3yArBGq06PrF4CgQwootCy7jZ5s_9vo-HpS5h4OL-OoeEx1c-3bdnSbzZ-C0CnLEDoRuEpeGqTx7mdumswt3mcJmIU0Vzz59gLfmSxdjNiZt-pcqJ35p8UUvRcDDZUZL2pdzQlw/s900/IMG_3656b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0F3P6vE2mdLYNBhODLPjHV7ODAjmr2Np1ca96sL98T1ej0qhCTLE3yArBGq06PrF4CgQwootCy7jZ5s_9vo-HpS5h4OL-OoeEx1c-3bdnSbzZ-C0CnLEDoRuEpeGqTx7mdumswt3mcJmIU0Vzz59gLfmSxdjNiZt-pcqJ35p8UUvRcDDZUZL2pdzQlw/w640-h426/IMG_3656b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">By noon on Tuesday there were large expanses of open water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUldglTXe7x8bvbr8rUBNjQv1ox5b6UyuFWjUkrYBrNF1nO4GOJmF4T94mzix01TlwIGQvtApdAKNQSVG6zq_oJpXmSjEgguU87IAgdwFGpBE50smHaMd-a5jB-ChyphenhyphenJmwUtToyDf4sTfcdVMvNEIcoP00Ymu87cHKYmHqW7KQdu-IfzIx8iZ7-VDr6TXw/s902/PXL_20240312_162825755a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUldglTXe7x8bvbr8rUBNjQv1ox5b6UyuFWjUkrYBrNF1nO4GOJmF4T94mzix01TlwIGQvtApdAKNQSVG6zq_oJpXmSjEgguU87IAgdwFGpBE50smHaMd-a5jB-ChyphenhyphenJmwUtToyDf4sTfcdVMvNEIcoP00Ymu87cHKYmHqW7KQdu-IfzIx8iZ7-VDr6TXw/w640-h360/PXL_20240312_162825755a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X0M-d0Vb5yb36SUkafL_JEM5lcGsnlMPLku6FHaLOnPV3OGlUsV5ZoP4rJxfTBqr-k2TVNksJpGQ0I9OO3p7yqImhRteoSQzj-pRZ90HWoMkAqqE6_3bcpwvrJZYM6lPbVWhSLnYuo6wBd6sTp51jHkChG3xn__41Jy4flEkWNuOvcWd5duLPS71eVw/s902/PXL_20240312_165229284a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X0M-d0Vb5yb36SUkafL_JEM5lcGsnlMPLku6FHaLOnPV3OGlUsV5ZoP4rJxfTBqr-k2TVNksJpGQ0I9OO3p7yqImhRteoSQzj-pRZ90HWoMkAqqE6_3bcpwvrJZYM6lPbVWhSLnYuo6wBd6sTp51jHkChG3xn__41Jy4flEkWNuOvcWd5duLPS71eVw/w640-h360/PXL_20240312_165229284a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p>By Saturday, most of winter's ice was gone with just one ice patch blocking the passage on the west site of Bryant Island. It's possible ice-out will occur later today which would make it one of the earliest ice-out dates recorded. </p><p>Many geese have now arrived and they're fighting over the best nesting sites in the marshes. We've also seen bald eagles almost every day this week, both circling over the lake and sitting on the ice, perhaps feeding off things that were blown up onto the ice with the wind.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlvgAVqgO6rGH4gTkPiP-htUbIHF8Snzy9VvgvqQqU0ap6hJ9x4IOsIYegk8TkNO8n5NaGbj8-anHQip_kug8WSmSjBaVf2pEUYS6pqIbkCZ6MBxPo_t1q4iWnBSTMdKzPb6n_oJnL1gxsE4lY6mHzA8otpYBN5L1tOusrd5M1i1GU4_P4MMBPELk5t0/s900/IMG_3623a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlvgAVqgO6rGH4gTkPiP-htUbIHF8Snzy9VvgvqQqU0ap6hJ9x4IOsIYegk8TkNO8n5NaGbj8-anHQip_kug8WSmSjBaVf2pEUYS6pqIbkCZ6MBxPo_t1q4iWnBSTMdKzPb6n_oJnL1gxsE4lY6mHzA8otpYBN5L1tOusrd5M1i1GU4_P4MMBPELk5t0/w640-h480/IMG_3623a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of bald eagles survey the lake. Are they looking for a nesting site?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>In addition to annoying the Canada Geese endlessly, one afternoon an eagle flew right over me and landed in a tree, and had a heated argument with a red-bellied woodpecker that was not happy with its presence. The two of them made quite the ruckus. Here's a clip of the interaction - the eagle starts and ends, with the woodpecker calling out in the middle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwo6D6fembbLWxGL07vVfOUlYiycxJ06-vdLO9TVD4iynwnn08bOHAoy_9bc1y0PqAvt_pgYcV5kGICRgbSpA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><p>This went on for quite some time. Between the eagles, the geese, the mallards, and the red squirrels in the forest, it's been a noisy week. Now we just need the wood frogs to join in.</p><p>The mergansers have also been plentiful this spring with a couple of different groups congregating on the lake. I saw a few altercations of males chasing males, but mostly they seem well behaved as they figure out how to pair up for the mating season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcj9tAr0gJrI9hWjnz-XlaTzHeW5ug7rmg_IYvDtRSBEXLioi0k4pUTM-bm7I6aW_kU7872OT7GF0D9Sjbcbtb9NaaYBsfy1VMF30fhtI9bIeQ7lL4h9MWN4-AI_mGz4q3DLJGR9D9he1qOllCLExgAknOCeAhD5Om0wyYJ-UolFiPQfQ5QhT9B9I-QE/s901/IMG_3804a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcj9tAr0gJrI9hWjnz-XlaTzHeW5ug7rmg_IYvDtRSBEXLioi0k4pUTM-bm7I6aW_kU7872OT7GF0D9Sjbcbtb9NaaYBsfy1VMF30fhtI9bIeQ7lL4h9MWN4-AI_mGz4q3DLJGR9D9he1qOllCLExgAknOCeAhD5Om0wyYJ-UolFiPQfQ5QhT9B9I-QE/w640-h426/IMG_3804a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of available female Common Mergansers.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjcneL5MAhCyKTDm0nQAF6QRh8cLkuk4aSLbMW09IaBAFtT-zBHHHV46n2zf1hRmtxtO_PQ_MUxE78CcOLBCqYFErx87PEm1w5Z7uy_zh0HifGe_jQVVM1kECEFZgDDVlvH9riO0rzWJXho9E1T62zxNIwFVFS4ACfsc0z74pP_LU-p9uyGIt_pZjs7w/s902/IMG_3835a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="902" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjcneL5MAhCyKTDm0nQAF6QRh8cLkuk4aSLbMW09IaBAFtT-zBHHHV46n2zf1hRmtxtO_PQ_MUxE78CcOLBCqYFErx87PEm1w5Z7uy_zh0HifGe_jQVVM1kECEFZgDDVlvH9riO0rzWJXho9E1T62zxNIwFVFS4ACfsc0z74pP_LU-p9uyGIt_pZjs7w/w640-h426/IMG_3835a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a male about to go...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_JLN84KR5RHI0P7bOvaUALZ0WG2HeCRBpLtQnKJyNuoWa-ueuHQ0F4bEV9JkdnerX3YM_dKTg2HZ__ZYwmGJ7-m4SpMWKeTYASR9zlJ_Apf1EzTILpWSKNly06EQbKfcUCgXjPaxstNgvM097ZHUE863v22funV_8buh_3OdwiRecjUDModQ3O5o16E/s901/IMG_3836a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_JLN84KR5RHI0P7bOvaUALZ0WG2HeCRBpLtQnKJyNuoWa-ueuHQ0F4bEV9JkdnerX3YM_dKTg2HZ__ZYwmGJ7-m4SpMWKeTYASR9zlJ_Apf1EzTILpWSKNly06EQbKfcUCgXjPaxstNgvM097ZHUE863v22funV_8buh_3OdwiRecjUDModQ3O5o16E/w640-h426/IMG_3836a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">under the ice for a fishing excursion.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't realize that like Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers make their nests in tree cavities up to a mile away from water. The female chooses the nesting site and builds the nest, and I believe the female also selects her mate, the one she finds most desirable after observing them all strut their stuff. After mating, the male is done and leaves the child rearing to the mother. I'd love to know how she gets a dozen little ducklings to travel a mile through a thick forest back to the lake.</div></div><p></p><p>The beavers also came around as soon as the ice opened up enough for them to swim along the shore line, and they are already building their scent mounds to mark their territory. </p><p>I've also heard spring bird songs this week including the Song Sparrow and even a Carolina Wren (though that was a bit south of the Lakes Region, along the high banks of the Merrimack River in Concord) so the great migration is underway. But this entry is long enough, so those will have to wait for another week. </p><p>This is a great time to get outside to watch the world wake up and break into its triumphant return to life. Just remember to wear your mud boots, and that tick season never ends - I've already found one deer tick - so take appropriate precautions. </p><p>Mr. Mink won't be able to take short cuts across the lake any more, but for us, it's a time of renewal, rebirth, and rediscovery.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqcL5Z-VH_4hDu1OyVHFrml7HMv6x8EIwVKPQpzpUarPbOVJioL-pVVX4ZSXnXTj0OvDoQYPy285ITD6qZNU8le4Oz5BiecumkOLSmGeNHvDjEjbHshpLcVr7vWzYmef2M_zj6GceacTDJxnhZXCKZVQzG7MSR8dI4aESmuYFT2UZ1sNxQcO62q2hZxo/s3192/PXL_20240316_163945956~3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="3192" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqcL5Z-VH_4hDu1OyVHFrml7HMv6x8EIwVKPQpzpUarPbOVJioL-pVVX4ZSXnXTj0OvDoQYPy285ITD6qZNU8le4Oz5BiecumkOLSmGeNHvDjEjbHshpLcVr7vWzYmef2M_zj6GceacTDJxnhZXCKZVQzG7MSR8dI4aESmuYFT2UZ1sNxQcO62q2hZxo/w640-h392/PXL_20240316_163945956~3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberry buds, red and swelling with spring life.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-43935514111603680532024-03-10T08:11:00.002-04:002024-03-10T08:11:35.964-04:00March 10, 2024: Weakening Winter<p>It's looking like Old Man Winter is getting tired early these days - I don't think he's going to hang on much longer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjraZaTPcN2Ya-YyUeEiNngWGVoS7lPlAYLiGrgvoxOX2svmU_bFnyORSVJx2NeAaDaJHlh5cs-sAfREKk6IBTpXgDwRyPHkEvGl0YLkeGLDkNC1Qo72uQH0IWYTmq6NJ9gO2fmyxDpHt_tTQLngWpG9SQV1Xbs0eNpmL45tKBPt4dbCVlhu661G5_KQ/s902/PXL_20240308_152119590a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="902" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjraZaTPcN2Ya-YyUeEiNngWGVoS7lPlAYLiGrgvoxOX2svmU_bFnyORSVJx2NeAaDaJHlh5cs-sAfREKk6IBTpXgDwRyPHkEvGl0YLkeGLDkNC1Qo72uQH0IWYTmq6NJ9gO2fmyxDpHt_tTQLngWpG9SQV1Xbs0eNpmL45tKBPt4dbCVlhu661G5_KQ/w640-h300/PXL_20240308_152119590a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice on Wicwas is deteriorating quickly.<br />Crockett's Ledge, March 8.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>We had over an inch of rain on Wednesday night into Thursday which eroded all our snow except at higher elevations and well-shaded spots. There are a few vestiges left over from ski season, but that's about it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nvK_dUW1JufEk05tdBiykbx8G8jol2w3vPolSHXtGzRFoUzBhKFDEaJZDf1mm673YvzQH3HvYauq9cYRSznw04NLtGQ73i7DYAE1m-fiXSKJF6AEA0EuBk6gLfAqUNAJrKtDP0V5SiLH-Iz8LGoxxvVnKmcfMBNfm0JDo8d0bu3JJ3hn-T0qgwEUmQI/s902/PXL_20240306_171647670a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nvK_dUW1JufEk05tdBiykbx8G8jol2w3vPolSHXtGzRFoUzBhKFDEaJZDf1mm673YvzQH3HvYauq9cYRSznw04NLtGQ73i7DYAE1m-fiXSKJF6AEA0EuBk6gLfAqUNAJrKtDP0V5SiLH-Iz8LGoxxvVnKmcfMBNfm0JDo8d0bu3JJ3hn-T0qgwEUmQI/w640-h360/PXL_20240306_171647670a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple of old ski tracks on the leaves.</td></tr></tbody></table>It's a little better farther north in the mountains, but even there the snow is melting fast. I went for a hike in Franconia Notch to see the streams in their late winter glory and there was snow, but the ice bridges across the streams had melted making stream crossings difficult, and in fact, I wasn't able to cross one of them and had to turn back, changing my plans for the hike.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiamxpIoZxVCgw_S5X3cLWCHEI1GbdFnHbLzSCmvs2tt4npE6cVQUsKZtnKY0uYNQs37tW5d_IR0LYOvJ1uR2GR_UiiceGWakZAwlp7zWepADvzQdykb4rYlViDvQEYF-7ejkhVclgSvKRi7r0yRby2LbwJJMMd0PvfqXZiJFq5jC7VhJ8pw3fJ9g6Hno/s902/PXL_20240304_152455953a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiamxpIoZxVCgw_S5X3cLWCHEI1GbdFnHbLzSCmvs2tt4npE6cVQUsKZtnKY0uYNQs37tW5d_IR0LYOvJ1uR2GR_UiiceGWakZAwlp7zWepADvzQdykb4rYlViDvQEYF-7ejkhVclgSvKRi7r0yRby2LbwJJMMd0PvfqXZiJFq5jC7VhJ8pw3fJ9g6Hno/w640-h360/PXL_20240304_152455953a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascade Brook flowing down from Kinsman Pond and Lonesome Lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bAcKrDfrRJ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="bAcKrDfrRJ8"></iframe></div><br /><p>And that was Monday, before the rain and 50 degree temperatures.</p><p>I made my last ice thickness measurement on Wednesday morning after a cold night which firmed up the ice along the shore and allowed me to get out onto firm ice where I measured six inches of solid black ice under two and half inches of soft, porous ice you could cut with a spoon. When the warm, moist air coming in with the rain hit the cold ice, the fog thickened. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-Rtsp6zklHIRl-l5JUOMjQP16Qm15S33jD_b04M5LP5IuYj69bFFGihDY1KLvuuE0Zzgv6dJ-IASAJ58_wtsnZb532Dg-A2St_SsxPwd5ioGZ3rp3hVDCrpQwnsseMuG-I4VeiUc5vuwCDrGAmaoZQ1XDVcyAKtrPsaI2ogfutswHSma0qgRl19cvp0/s902/PXL_20240306_121215554a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-Rtsp6zklHIRl-l5JUOMjQP16Qm15S33jD_b04M5LP5IuYj69bFFGihDY1KLvuuE0Zzgv6dJ-IASAJ58_wtsnZb532Dg-A2St_SsxPwd5ioGZ3rp3hVDCrpQwnsseMuG-I4VeiUc5vuwCDrGAmaoZQ1XDVcyAKtrPsaI2ogfutswHSma0qgRl19cvp0/w640-h360/PXL_20240306_121215554a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That white spot is where I cut a hole to measure the ice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The rain puddled on the surface of the ice.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrIF1mYn43HI-f0yO47CqEEyGxM8KvJXxisgi_4xmacqSU-q3qit7OElfKUHZ-J61dNJPKhNnC89mCm5d2zum3LONLQIxhJIXwa_HH95-28ZXjvAQyXBsjS9zoWfwyV_vA31yhHamspYcRvFXCOs-5ATUz239cketIUCvgFH55cNNv5lycE04XyvhIP4/s902/PXL_20240303_165127984a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrIF1mYn43HI-f0yO47CqEEyGxM8KvJXxisgi_4xmacqSU-q3qit7OElfKUHZ-J61dNJPKhNnC89mCm5d2zum3LONLQIxhJIXwa_HH95-28ZXjvAQyXBsjS9zoWfwyV_vA31yhHamspYcRvFXCOs-5ATUz239cketIUCvgFH55cNNv5lycE04XyvhIP4/w640-h360/PXL_20240303_165127984a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That would have made for some good skating.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>On Friday I saw a fisherman at the boat ramp assessing the situation - he decided not to chance it, as by then the ice was starting to have that gray color that says it's really degrading. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AjvJn7Grm0U4mjBim6TDmH9IdbuLK0oCJsqACZmf60dCGJ0XaAWI9wOZ4brosRPMjrIyt_vLF5hhbc7td3v5itorHFl9J4TSziNmGfVyC4FUox1CWvwBacphjKMr6QTZ5yumLU5ZuHETb0FMZzUnAKlZy-m6isFrjrxF4q6Z_dwp5egARsjOMTUIWaQ/s900/IMG_3584b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AjvJn7Grm0U4mjBim6TDmH9IdbuLK0oCJsqACZmf60dCGJ0XaAWI9wOZ4brosRPMjrIyt_vLF5hhbc7td3v5itorHFl9J4TSziNmGfVyC4FUox1CWvwBacphjKMr6QTZ5yumLU5ZuHETb0FMZzUnAKlZy-m6isFrjrxF4q6Z_dwp5egARsjOMTUIWaQ/w640-h426/IMG_3584b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking pretty soft out there on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It's too early to predict ice out, but if this keeps up it will be another early one. The earliest ice-out date we've recorded is March 18; I doubt the ice will gone in just eight days, especially if we get more snow. Fresh white snow lets the ice last longer as it insulates the ice and reflects the sun better than the darkening ice we have now. Too bad the inch of wet snow that fell last night all melted into the wet, gray surface of the lake.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3DvDEomgQd-LtlvKv0wBM2whPMXiUCMA6LTuLDwaxXt4tzV05ZafMR3tQ1O6vqK8A5Yn2MIXWSMzXPCD1nXu1dHbOoQL8fHe6e6jyBtB3jDkPbLGBaQz1FLmxDBnC5GH-pQgBTvUYvt33e1hgUtogbiZIC5_ttOgs1Hl21bVmzBtcfy06_jsPORvIF4/s4032/PXL_20240310_120227085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3DvDEomgQd-LtlvKv0wBM2whPMXiUCMA6LTuLDwaxXt4tzV05ZafMR3tQ1O6vqK8A5Yn2MIXWSMzXPCD1nXu1dHbOoQL8fHe6e6jyBtB3jDkPbLGBaQz1FLmxDBnC5GH-pQgBTvUYvt33e1hgUtogbiZIC5_ttOgs1Hl21bVmzBtcfy06_jsPORvIF4/w640-h360/PXL_20240310_120227085.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a very pretty Sunday morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Regarding the sun's rays, an interesting phenomenon observed this week was a sundog, where the sun's rays are refracted by ice crystals in the atmosphere, creating a rainbow effect. The refraction at 22 degrees means sundogs always appear at a 22 degree angle from either side of the sun. [Ref: <a href="https://www.weather.gov/arx/why_halos_sundogs_pillars#:~:text=Sundogs%20are%20colored%20spots%20of,the%20ice%20crystals%20are%20present." target="_blank">NOAA</a>] I always seem to see these right around the equinox which is less than two weeks away.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnyw-lqnxoIVg0KoHnG8rHF0_iw0Vzgdp0NzfpDqVofrhXXkqniW28qwIbND2J6j-AEBI-XLJ-Mt8wzfMZVNK2AROSCxH-u97mellrQ9n8Y0RG-N0ke22Pu_nCJ3ePD6hbM_ngtAK2f59XVBKtW4RFed6oV9SzHQOd6TzvQgD4IGKL65m1gajlMHV4V8/s4032/PXL_20240308_221914296~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnyw-lqnxoIVg0KoHnG8rHF0_iw0Vzgdp0NzfpDqVofrhXXkqniW28qwIbND2J6j-AEBI-XLJ-Mt8wzfMZVNK2AROSCxH-u97mellrQ9n8Y0RG-N0ke22Pu_nCJ3ePD6hbM_ngtAK2f59XVBKtW4RFed6oV9SzHQOd6TzvQgD4IGKL65m1gajlMHV4V8/w640-h360/PXL_20240308_221914296~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundog near sunset, March 8th.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I saw the first geese of the season on the lake this week as well as multiple flocks of ducks circling overhead looking for enough open water to land. Snow is melting, ice is softening, tree buds are swelling, the snowdrops are blooming - all the signs of spring are here. But as last night's snow reminds us, this is New England, and Old Man Winter has given us some surprises in the past, so I'm not counting him out just yet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7z86sldgWGvKwxiTgt7SrjoiVgG5YxT7SGor1Bclv69J83Q9faIKNV4USdBJJsYDod5h_gN61vLz6PSdFrKS260bn5adHjL1MZ3Ou9Mkcx39iuV_StdKyBH-ivvQm6LK9ZAfRkunwwJ5BAFgD3EgrZIsn8oHfID7Fydx8jltjxvVs-l6OqYQ53TzyZI/s900/PXL_20240306_194458039a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7z86sldgWGvKwxiTgt7SrjoiVgG5YxT7SGor1Bclv69J83Q9faIKNV4USdBJJsYDod5h_gN61vLz6PSdFrKS260bn5adHjL1MZ3Ou9Mkcx39iuV_StdKyBH-ivvQm6LK9ZAfRkunwwJ5BAFgD3EgrZIsn8oHfID7Fydx8jltjxvVs-l6OqYQ53TzyZI/w640-h426/PXL_20240306_194458039a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops, March 3rd.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-6994914599163404192024-03-03T07:15:00.016-05:002024-03-03T07:15:00.135-05:00March 3, 2024: While the Cat's Away<p>The squirrels will play. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWiXctdjhJTAtrCu13jeh7WOTdgkSBR0nYdhaqbVAaKS3abfQSH3IOe1njkPrVs1B3KqoujFAt6OGIDOu_DWI7MWa3sX9x4ydUOOtAsd2gvvP-gnWIkeq1vhbe3Ptb_8CCCAt5MfkkLMod-Bb4qEfE2GI-O0YIdiQ6gR4nZ2UfrlOZGpwCrkg_ua7SME/s900/IMG_3251a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWiXctdjhJTAtrCu13jeh7WOTdgkSBR0nYdhaqbVAaKS3abfQSH3IOe1njkPrVs1B3KqoujFAt6OGIDOu_DWI7MWa3sX9x4ydUOOtAsd2gvvP-gnWIkeq1vhbe3Ptb_8CCCAt5MfkkLMod-Bb4qEfE2GI-O0YIdiQ6gR4nZ2UfrlOZGpwCrkg_ua7SME/w640-h640/IMG_3251a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our bobcat should have come by this week when the squirrels were here in abundance. Focused on food and chasing each other away from their claimed food source, they might have been preoccupied enough to not notice a feline creeping up on them through the undergrowth. <div><br /></div><div>There seems to be a pecking order amongst gray squirrels. The baddest dude gets to own the squirrel house where it can feast to its heart's content, protected from the elements. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVasIHsTscB7sTOyYEhSoN6cipPszaN5EURJ46xA_AEp8BIwpL8Drox-4qe8paEuTObJLruuz3d0i4rg6roTxksNLNmlwjui_q0qGs5c503uy8w6WXlnuanBB2BKGb6eyVjHlh9Ft8lKJyckReZsSxAdObwqX05D_qxzMWH-sxfVmKb582ER0ttCRU2HI/s900/IMG_3290a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVasIHsTscB7sTOyYEhSoN6cipPszaN5EURJ46xA_AEp8BIwpL8Drox-4qe8paEuTObJLruuz3d0i4rg6roTxksNLNmlwjui_q0qGs5c503uy8w6WXlnuanBB2BKGb6eyVjHlh9Ft8lKJyckReZsSxAdObwqX05D_qxzMWH-sxfVmKb582ER0ttCRU2HI/w640-h426/IMG_3290a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The king of the castle chases away anyone who attempts to breach the parapet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURYsPuba4pkD88c5ra4hWwS30zdtHvmws0Xn-YHykzQ3ABWaVfw59bDINJCT4KDWRsqYxYknnSQwMPAnFkbvUE45DjtyQxrDxfT_WxPuvGPuIRwIvtr45-WFfjO4QNVul9LQ4g4dcFDN1ZC3zK4Av7XyK3d4yPs8joDTO-ygBCI-tSp77N2xQSmEUg8E/s900/IMG_3196a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURYsPuba4pkD88c5ra4hWwS30zdtHvmws0Xn-YHykzQ3ABWaVfw59bDINJCT4KDWRsqYxYknnSQwMPAnFkbvUE45DjtyQxrDxfT_WxPuvGPuIRwIvtr45-WFfjO4QNVul9LQ4g4dcFDN1ZC3zK4Av7XyK3d4yPs8joDTO-ygBCI-tSp77N2xQSmEUg8E/w640-h426/IMG_3196a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the next biggest bully commandeers the hanging corn cob.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnnsA9P1Th7FRxKf2aRoFpP9fyG23cNbBOQG8Ytz8dq0N3pikIa7qPxtq_FVDURLNQrX2SJ3IqvE325MPC0wqBix-JSLfQLGVEHzOLxyQLrdlxFopgYCSG3FayojECZSt_RdCRfDvl5Rl1Nilb_LrdpNvwrFWIBxgEoSQtOBtGAWcH3ZvwpLrnynHj10/s901/IMG_3253a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="901" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnnsA9P1Th7FRxKf2aRoFpP9fyG23cNbBOQG8Ytz8dq0N3pikIa7qPxtq_FVDURLNQrX2SJ3IqvE325MPC0wqBix-JSLfQLGVEHzOLxyQLrdlxFopgYCSG3FayojECZSt_RdCRfDvl5Rl1Nilb_LrdpNvwrFWIBxgEoSQtOBtGAWcH3ZvwpLrnynHj10/w640-h480/IMG_3253a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaD3w636LwEAeWTyGH2ZzqqfhDZtli_2XoKtgYckET_gQiZyohyphenhyphen-6B4IljbQ0ZNHwed6CUGqselIWda-MILSSlXeLg-zaxbQHmdHO89z3NdMBVBz17raMrVTRdZOF3HkRXXjfEDeoQBz3VlJGfIelxHV8OqcxR4eHbUvT7RkGUB0mG-fLvhSrrOB1cDU/s902/IMG_3280b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="902" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaD3w636LwEAeWTyGH2ZzqqfhDZtli_2XoKtgYckET_gQiZyohyphenhyphen-6B4IljbQ0ZNHwed6CUGqselIWda-MILSSlXeLg-zaxbQHmdHO89z3NdMBVBz17raMrVTRdZOF3HkRXXjfEDeoQBz3VlJGfIelxHV8OqcxR4eHbUvT7RkGUB0mG-fLvhSrrOB1cDU/w640-h486/IMG_3280b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This number two in the chain of command thwarts all other lower-rung interlopers as well.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhebMJ6XliNXRH1E2NgAFSZn90chgf0z8Tb2ru3etdNggUh0L-leYot0NPG1bcXHKHepMlay3zz1MZn8VKJ1ik9dZkAiHyNCqjoZLkRfBj4LpyrjGV8m_Z-6GcnqyQcIDKeLu-sYiAxzB2Ztl60nuABA-FJHlTZ7ZxqSfIZ8WVvOyhf9JYbX0C38MoWV8/s900/IMG_3295a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhebMJ6XliNXRH1E2NgAFSZn90chgf0z8Tb2ru3etdNggUh0L-leYot0NPG1bcXHKHepMlay3zz1MZn8VKJ1ik9dZkAiHyNCqjoZLkRfBj4LpyrjGV8m_Z-6GcnqyQcIDKeLu-sYiAxzB2Ztl60nuABA-FJHlTZ7ZxqSfIZ8WVvOyhf9JYbX0C38MoWV8/w640-h426/IMG_3295a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Off you rascal!"</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><p></p><p>Lesser-ranked squirrels are left to scavenge from the dropped seeds under the feeders, which the white-breasted nuthatches ensure are plentiful, so no one actually goes hungry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymXCZlwv-AIVaTTbZI0oDfAwirXiTp-4EPqOpnAiflxVpUDaXX6LkHFTXRtc-E6osYLPrAKk8kNnLut8do_OwpaHvz3SmLihSRpt_aH1OXU-VxxelsySszMxo8BegKXNf1xd2bkh23d9RsXFKfpFmIS5fzPqIG7psq5g6YN0HmktyoP4MvcGTPhA_ii8/s901/IMG_3193a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymXCZlwv-AIVaTTbZI0oDfAwirXiTp-4EPqOpnAiflxVpUDaXX6LkHFTXRtc-E6osYLPrAKk8kNnLut8do_OwpaHvz3SmLihSRpt_aH1OXU-VxxelsySszMxo8BegKXNf1xd2bkh23d9RsXFKfpFmIS5fzPqIG7psq5g6YN0HmktyoP4MvcGTPhA_ii8/w640-h426/IMG_3193a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHzKZnozlUxol0tWR7SchLwUxjCTj1O7aedcGQDDX6Ui1VXyJkL0o1UnZQVC6mgcG9htsgJzu7ys9RlatiqNDVUWuX9-B_WkDP7UyClc1l07W5gjuuugLoPi7vaUoDZg40MlVv7d1F7Je-Jbn88C92rLteyMDcOk4UQnkbHicgatania8QmWhYApbq4c/s900/IMG_3303a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHzKZnozlUxol0tWR7SchLwUxjCTj1O7aedcGQDDX6Ui1VXyJkL0o1UnZQVC6mgcG9htsgJzu7ys9RlatiqNDVUWuX9-B_WkDP7UyClc1l07W5gjuuugLoPi7vaUoDZg40MlVv7d1F7Je-Jbn88C92rLteyMDcOk4UQnkbHicgatania8QmWhYApbq4c/w640-h426/IMG_3303a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even here, if one gets too close to the drop zone it gets chased away.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZs3qMfUxmWZ9DJJxgHsIy_l6cZh3EKHx8I_E1M1IEtg_OKSStBzuN2u4LGsUR2mHpITCtLx-BpNqzXxTko3uTTL0NIkYiw_eeJgWA3VdoBO_5IfDFGMkIt4AuuZ8Mef-VYZb9SqPfm4nS7NbwKPwEoSecBDU7QcUcgCutZw7djt10vcliIApoOWklco/s902/IMG_3274c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="902" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZs3qMfUxmWZ9DJJxgHsIy_l6cZh3EKHx8I_E1M1IEtg_OKSStBzuN2u4LGsUR2mHpITCtLx-BpNqzXxTko3uTTL0NIkYiw_eeJgWA3VdoBO_5IfDFGMkIt4AuuZ8Mef-VYZb9SqPfm4nS7NbwKPwEoSecBDU7QcUcgCutZw7djt10vcliIApoOWklco/w640-h480/IMG_3274c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>One new and interesting bird came briefly to the feeder this week: a crossbill. I didn't get a good look at it before it flew off to perch on a nearby tree, and from the backlit photos I can't tell which crossbill it is, but most likely it's a Red Crossbill. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTzGMDBCGnJIedPywqHTh9Lm853z73KwMpyHSk6L2zw9EDzhThs6m9ZbbJneBxxbVNgJfk93WTY4thgH0xtXUri476yXCcaVSS6Vzb8dojiDFNnVo-qWMZlJcD9gPmkS7r7K5Qk9zUuLlxBjNUoXyQyQKvgchAxmOKSDf_IEv3K04GglDwhjOy8FMayE/s895/IMG_3549a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="895" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTzGMDBCGnJIedPywqHTh9Lm853z73KwMpyHSk6L2zw9EDzhThs6m9ZbbJneBxxbVNgJfk93WTY4thgH0xtXUri476yXCcaVSS6Vzb8dojiDFNnVo-qWMZlJcD9gPmkS7r7K5Qk9zUuLlxBjNUoXyQyQKvgchAxmOKSDf_IEv3K04GglDwhjOy8FMayE/w640-h480/IMG_3549a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>An expert ornithologist friend (thank you RB!) weighed in with some excellent guidance, but without a side view of its wings, it can't be positively identifed. According the <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red_Crossbill/overview#:~:text=A%20crossbill's%20odd%20bill%20shape,up%2C%20exposing%20the%20seed%20inside." target="_blank">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>, crossbills have evolved that peculiarly shaped bill to facilitate opening tightly closed cones: </p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><p style="text-align: left;"> "The Red Crossbill places the tips of its slightly open bill under a cone scale and bites down. The crossed tips of the bill push the scale up, exposing the seed inside." </p></div></blockquote><p> Because of the crossed tips, biting down <i>widens </i>the gap between the tips.</p><div><p><br />Driving to the Page Pond Town Forest on Barnard Ridge Road, I saw that the pileated woodpeckers have been busy.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv3wngfxjgvF1n-Q6SHapbvX3oRtfq-AmfJVMcX3w0ZOblPl5-K96tuiycJJCDscxvAkCB6UINFT3RqIRR_8xYGBLUV4Ow3aO1PM74FI8c3nT52s1jUDnBSbOAr-EhoX5NhlkUezZbK6520esHy5n8KHv8M0lWmyTzZ5VoXcBrp8gsn30-HVGaz6CuIA/s2103/PXL_20240226_163922806.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="1155" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv3wngfxjgvF1n-Q6SHapbvX3oRtfq-AmfJVMcX3w0ZOblPl5-K96tuiycJJCDscxvAkCB6UINFT3RqIRR_8xYGBLUV4Ow3aO1PM74FI8c3nT52s1jUDnBSbOAr-EhoX5NhlkUezZbK6520esHy5n8KHv8M0lWmyTzZ5VoXcBrp8gsn30-HVGaz6CuIA/w220-h400/PXL_20240226_163922806.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This woodpecker appears to be eating well.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>You can't miss this tree if you approach the parking lot from the south.</p><p>The signs of frost season are everywhere now, including posted roads, tapped sugar maples, and frost-heaved ground such as on this trail at Page Pond.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k92X5_cs-r111sqhEXgh-wgQaF17lSm_GSjsBgYpWoJI2RC0948RvP05Ob0zIwK5WyhghaKOgg6GllQzNsQAWlrM6IxP1gCa6JNieOdZmr8_RYqQk9kshsOWhFyqNFMX_7X-dLUS80HqM4FIhh30GvhuePguYx47fyzu_SicspIhlDc37RHycnM-2QY/s902/PXL_20240226_175723658a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k92X5_cs-r111sqhEXgh-wgQaF17lSm_GSjsBgYpWoJI2RC0948RvP05Ob0zIwK5WyhghaKOgg6GllQzNsQAWlrM6IxP1gCa6JNieOdZmr8_RYqQk9kshsOWhFyqNFMX_7X-dLUS80HqM4FIhh30GvhuePguYx47fyzu_SicspIhlDc37RHycnM-2QY/w640-h360/PXL_20240226_175723658a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frost has heaved the ground up around this stone.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>We are only three days into meteorological spring, but with so little cold this winter I expect the frost to come out early, as well as perhaps the ice in the lake. Warm weather and rain this week may have done in the skiing, but it did create some great ice for skating. I was able to make a complete circuit of the lake except for where the current flows down to the outlet. There are still 11 inches of ice on the lake but there are many openings near shorelines with southern exposure or where water flows in, so be careful. </p><p>On my skate I found Dean Cascadden on the lake sailing with his kitewing skate sail.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHd1KaTt18sONwhcM8jICtg4PxuEyS1UijfoN_7zDpnPS5S9AmNfv-oW10iGypkszfWFEaUKf4aWcxR0HE90uNDsPj7gFJeMjErDpRF1Ziv8TiZHm8Jkjd9kh9eC8zu3soAM7v4cAUzjmjce66gH_Mjsy5WrbPKkG6O_LrZEC9SnTnSJ6TMmLvMxpHOE/s2688/PXL_20240301_162831822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHd1KaTt18sONwhcM8jICtg4PxuEyS1UijfoN_7zDpnPS5S9AmNfv-oW10iGypkszfWFEaUKf4aWcxR0HE90uNDsPj7gFJeMjErDpRF1Ziv8TiZHm8Jkjd9kh9eC8zu3soAM7v4cAUzjmjce66gH_Mjsy5WrbPKkG6O_LrZEC9SnTnSJ6TMmLvMxpHOE/w640-h360/PXL_20240301_162831822.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dean with his Kitewing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dws8tdkpLsPcqY5v3843ZdcHN7buhFMDjoiGEE8JL_PP7hl3dCMEe9xEU9cbQvQ6w-2Cag09Bio-b5yfMHDiw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>He let me try it, and it's pretty neat. It looks like a new toy will be on my wish list for next winter!</p><p><br /></p><p>If we really get the warm stretch forecast for next week, those squirrels may be forced to find their own food as the feeders might need to come in for the season to avoid attracting bears. It used to be the bears slept until April, but spring is coming early these days. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdseEXq5FZ0i9kGDVYX_9BPURbcyl9DiyzgoogiRVOaTnAsupRzDaJujhn_Q_O_yrZouYFzLJ1-e5i_20NX0ZwjWBn5qeWdHIMPJR4lr4BYPSaf4ofAQdvAf0k5bs2lHDKwJsD3ifnGE_pw21VTRQhWJo032QObz1dKqRU0jNFkQx0b0_3zm6qNXcgX3w/s900/IMG_3341a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdseEXq5FZ0i9kGDVYX_9BPURbcyl9DiyzgoogiRVOaTnAsupRzDaJujhn_Q_O_yrZouYFzLJ1-e5i_20NX0ZwjWBn5qeWdHIMPJR4lr4BYPSaf4ofAQdvAf0k5bs2lHDKwJsD3ifnGE_pw21VTRQhWJo032QObz1dKqRU0jNFkQx0b0_3zm6qNXcgX3w/w640-h426/IMG_3341a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open water in February.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-13463036862353889212024-02-25T08:08:00.004-05:002024-02-25T08:12:06.630-05:00February 25, 2024: Recycled Art<p>Starting with something different this week, we'll take a trip to the <a href="https://www.plymouth.edu/mwm/" target="_blank">Museum of the White Mountains</a> at Plymouth State University. Their current exhibition is exploring the use of recycled items being reimagined into creative objects of art using everything from trash, to items found in yard sales, to pieces of prior artwork the artist had abandoned. In one example, an artist has created sculptures from old photographic negatives. There are many incredibly creative works on display, and having obtained permission to use photos of their work, I'll share some of my favorites with a nature theme.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1_lsp_nfIh1WlbjDu8B8R0NSfgLgQzlGEHmmUrmbm3T_VA2ZXTBJIqeDY0T5vRVNfeR8IfgzNcNqf320XH2Mo-M81-ddJ1xizTd-Cc2rrbcECzYkgeaim8StJRslmKZa-1MI7n-7kUxVukYXGZ7SOM_On_28_ewZE7bR8NzfI4c_YRjQyK3uASebnF8/s873/PXL_20240221_164610449a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="873" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1_lsp_nfIh1WlbjDu8B8R0NSfgLgQzlGEHmmUrmbm3T_VA2ZXTBJIqeDY0T5vRVNfeR8IfgzNcNqf320XH2Mo-M81-ddJ1xizTd-Cc2rrbcECzYkgeaim8StJRslmKZa-1MI7n-7kUxVukYXGZ7SOM_On_28_ewZE7bR8NzfI4c_YRjQyK3uASebnF8/w400-h328/PXL_20240221_164610449a.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Serenity </i></b>by Linn Stillwell</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>This beautiful night scene was created from used drier sheets, scraps of the artist's prior drawings and paintings, and is composed on cotton rag paper left over from another painting. (We'll revisit that moon later in this post.)</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD6v7qKdAEXxCxOCXypBJbpBxAgTidEO4Rw7Zy2nDld90ZXkzAjC81AygpDLjbrZ9XTjGIub5uyAzOTFK7UqLZlmsaxqlQU-R3JE6fjEGc-TH3Cr7dkNeiLJOUukqr9Q2CbfX1f0kMjHqW14COrRJOxnIxGsMh0kt073dtTiH-PelBcfFADcOgdr1888/s1754/PXL_20240221_165038159a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD6v7qKdAEXxCxOCXypBJbpBxAgTidEO4Rw7Zy2nDld90ZXkzAjC81AygpDLjbrZ9XTjGIub5uyAzOTFK7UqLZlmsaxqlQU-R3JE6fjEGc-TH3Cr7dkNeiLJOUukqr9Q2CbfX1f0kMjHqW14COrRJOxnIxGsMh0kt073dtTiH-PelBcfFADcOgdr1888/w313-h400/PXL_20240221_165038159a.JPG" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ascent to Freedom</i></b> by Linda Greenwood</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Here, the artist reused wood, metal, paper, and a small tree branch.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf_eaFriZZrFs3QGutUMUo147lQ8z7609pgoiDl2xMV-OZed8stIvYnKi42jitMgSUxHXBIEwEqSuiAmN-yTDf7urOEz-k-g7BuZfOnJmvT1IdL5hA6M3kymcTISpiPMA4PYylC0vtcFnxL0jkG0W04NMxRK-1okAFi-iqC7-fhGutUwavbm_JE-m49w/s1556/PXL_20240221_165011999a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf_eaFriZZrFs3QGutUMUo147lQ8z7609pgoiDl2xMV-OZed8stIvYnKi42jitMgSUxHXBIEwEqSuiAmN-yTDf7urOEz-k-g7BuZfOnJmvT1IdL5hA6M3kymcTISpiPMA4PYylC0vtcFnxL0jkG0W04NMxRK-1okAFi-iqC7-fhGutUwavbm_JE-m49w/w318-h400/PXL_20240221_165011999a.JPG" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Easy Kind of Feeling</i></b> by Devin Donohue</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>This medium is described as "wool needle felted on blanket," a technique that created intriguing textures. I don't know how it's done, especially the coloring, but it's beautiful.</p><p>One more:<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1zyLfPcp-1mSvOh44rz5L8nOxYYJ2yg_IZ_468aoKHZKma_9-6OAM7wj7ESMNE8p5G-kRJUKsWTefB3myJTxOxVQH6q820yKYp0pC6PwOPA3CExZYpeewljFU2-kW2W3H8yjpovmQQs5jnlpvCsfxNkSe06p1Jgi-SeOFv3UKRaK9lTBOWW0ujPbKR0/s1413/PXL_20240221_164948268a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1128" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1zyLfPcp-1mSvOh44rz5L8nOxYYJ2yg_IZ_468aoKHZKma_9-6OAM7wj7ESMNE8p5G-kRJUKsWTefB3myJTxOxVQH6q820yKYp0pC6PwOPA3CExZYpeewljFU2-kW2W3H8yjpovmQQs5jnlpvCsfxNkSe06p1Jgi-SeOFv3UKRaK9lTBOWW0ujPbKR0/w319-h400/PXL_20240221_164948268a.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Les Fleurs Mysterieux</i></b> by Shela Cunningham</td></tr></tbody></table>This creative transformation of trash into beauty fascinated me and I spent a long time just trying to identify each of the original items which include yogurt lids, wine bottle collars, old netting, even coffee bags. You can find more information about all the art on display <a href="https://wca-nhreimagineatsilvercenter.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery" target="_blank">here</a>. <p>Did you notice all the artists are women? That's part of the theme of the exhibition titled <i>Reimagine</i> which runs through March 23rd. The <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Museum+of+the+White+Mountains/@43.758342,-71.694191,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cb35c3e8e897b43:0x4938cfa37d7f4ca6!8m2!3d43.7583382!4d-71.6916161!16s%2Fg%2F11c53d159d?hl=en&entry=ttu" target="_blank">museum is located on the PSU campus</a> in downtown Plymouth and admission is free. It's always a quiet, peaceful place to appreciate New Hampshire's culture, history, and creativity. </p><p><br /></p><p>Switching now to the wild nature, there was a lot activity around the lake this week. First off, the local bobcat came by to visit the birdfeeder one afternoon, but finding nothing there to prey upon, it went on its way down to the lake and along the shoreline where I was able to catch a quick picture before it disappeared into the undergrowth. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VPlSHStyx6cDANgjLFgMEhRwAzqve_g-13t4RQq1ZZpT-E0Hm9ExTlu_9UzsjczC4cnOJsNFrPjbVSvuZnBp37ZGMLqgoKwgzBtOuvD7HYQm-6th28BYt-oVYz61jQEtQSOrDooEmbDKW8-dV89COt8hOMWLdxYcXNiyNeVLn8YrCI31fDY3-npHQlA/s901/IMG_3439a.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VPlSHStyx6cDANgjLFgMEhRwAzqve_g-13t4RQq1ZZpT-E0Hm9ExTlu_9UzsjczC4cnOJsNFrPjbVSvuZnBp37ZGMLqgoKwgzBtOuvD7HYQm-6th28BYt-oVYz61jQEtQSOrDooEmbDKW8-dV89COt8hOMWLdxYcXNiyNeVLn8YrCI31fDY3-npHQlA/w640-h426/IMG_3439a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It sure looks nice and warm wearing its thick winter fur coat.</p><p>Then out on the lake I was attracted to a pair of tracks passing over the lake on a bee-line to a shore where I often see signs of otter activity.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-nfPttboB-E5sHgt9QKwpTybREpkqtw9X4yyvtAgboZ0_kxPHhfuiNZZyFIcOTzBR-dj9l2c3hSLlt-dUemh5n5YKhybe1gR0-hSsW0tGOBwJ8AgDK2om_P1YxSgKvbycT7GPiUJGyve_x6nllKw0ImDC8M1rHBy0S-2Ze7qJ2i3VjtAOqhr2qIC3vk/s900/PXL_20240221_190057433a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="605" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-nfPttboB-E5sHgt9QKwpTybREpkqtw9X4yyvtAgboZ0_kxPHhfuiNZZyFIcOTzBR-dj9l2c3hSLlt-dUemh5n5YKhybe1gR0-hSsW0tGOBwJ8AgDK2om_P1YxSgKvbycT7GPiUJGyve_x6nllKw0ImDC8M1rHBy0S-2Ze7qJ2i3VjtAOqhr2qIC3vk/w269-h400/PXL_20240221_190057433a.JPG" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of otters in a fast dash to the restroom.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Following the tracks, sure enough, I came to a spot on the shore where they had scooted around a bit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OQkdUJkxhdyI7ZCuNwizRhKxMwYSD4M2lS-3K_6Vs5YzxufzO7UqGN6n4tbu6sGlR0ydMpgzW69FDFnmlQETmt80OOiMJfOZC6x0ZfV_DyCB6m39q19kVqO0AG8O3gdXx9lcYCxHmTTeBJM3jTHUhY073dKjgIu68kAj1QfeIPEzLEDjvDQ1S9V0WuQ/s900/PXL_20240221_190111634a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="874" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OQkdUJkxhdyI7ZCuNwizRhKxMwYSD4M2lS-3K_6Vs5YzxufzO7UqGN6n4tbu6sGlR0ydMpgzW69FDFnmlQETmt80OOiMJfOZC6x0ZfV_DyCB6m39q19kVqO0AG8O3gdXx9lcYCxHmTTeBJM3jTHUhY073dKjgIu68kAj1QfeIPEzLEDjvDQ1S9V0WuQ/w622-h640/PXL_20240221_190111634a.JPG" width="622" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>And where they have a latrine; I've seen this previously in that very spot. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqngVc4nOFBNZ0BplfghZYOap6rA1aDXSwY28uGRUMoMUE3KUoUcAaAaqIe2a2mJMBQ4X7yrCTmKp3gTY0q4OjGiHVtHD92qmFCRZkGLEvCokzDzKR-e3g0yxSj_DrXwQKtpnQ-w3Q4vcgyzMhysLBxHBzsjUnhBJXpKpSU7tpZqqL4lSOSe5A8R6PI/s1274/PXL_20240221_190227299b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqngVc4nOFBNZ0BplfghZYOap6rA1aDXSwY28uGRUMoMUE3KUoUcAaAaqIe2a2mJMBQ4X7yrCTmKp3gTY0q4OjGiHVtHD92qmFCRZkGLEvCokzDzKR-e3g0yxSj_DrXwQKtpnQ-w3Q4vcgyzMhysLBxHBzsjUnhBJXpKpSU7tpZqqL4lSOSe5A8R6PI/w452-h640/PXL_20240221_190227299b.JPG" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otter scat</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There's no mistaking otter scat. Black and moist and full of fish scales, there's nothing else like it. After their visit they continued onto land to cross over to another portion of the lake.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>The moon was garnering a lot of attention this week, and perhaps the full moon was increasing animal as well as spacecraft activity. The moon was so bright shining on the snow covered ground that it seemed like daytime in the middle of the night. The sky was clear enough to see the moon glowing orange as it set in the morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEwuJCoKT7MgWNAbx60VTV3rEF43KSljhQ6qeoy6z5Ca7aiTtlN80NAJ1OVn_MQ2P2YfeKHHvD6z0xrff4jQ788pBd5lI3-DGtQobUuezXo8zPeVDo2hiKNoDBG8TojD2u1HGrnHiWYduoYP3eGRVZWaOfkvsGWEcVOXA8IHDB25Cb5-k-p5emDBIiH4/s900/IMG_3525a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEwuJCoKT7MgWNAbx60VTV3rEF43KSljhQ6qeoy6z5Ca7aiTtlN80NAJ1OVn_MQ2P2YfeKHHvD6z0xrff4jQ788pBd5lI3-DGtQobUuezXo8zPeVDo2hiKNoDBG8TojD2u1HGrnHiWYduoYP3eGRVZWaOfkvsGWEcVOXA8IHDB25Cb5-k-p5emDBIiH4/w640-h480/IMG_3525a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full Snow Moon sets this morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>A couple of excursions to the mountains were in order considering the nice winter weather this week. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QR4ZZc_HuqqX6eur0FpDJFroEaVITp0rn0ZpHJP0s7YoS4PcYsemJlunSCih7gcJkcCm1pi3whWI8a0PNtttmv6SSNe6f4pk7uQljHQamYhs1gD1UT1nXoN-sR7MBPOvV2sU_9_XWYwIliKs0b8ufG2X-MCUJsV7Z_E0H_pfYNzE46f-8WjD-Cjn4Qs/s902/PXL_20240220_171808417a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QR4ZZc_HuqqX6eur0FpDJFroEaVITp0rn0ZpHJP0s7YoS4PcYsemJlunSCih7gcJkcCm1pi3whWI8a0PNtttmv6SSNe6f4pk7uQljHQamYhs1gD1UT1nXoN-sR7MBPOvV2sU_9_XWYwIliKs0b8ufG2X-MCUJsV7Z_E0H_pfYNzE46f-8WjD-Cjn4Qs/w640-h360/PXL_20240220_171808417a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smooth trails and blue skies in the Belknap Range.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I saw not another soul on my hike up the back side of Gunstock Mountain, which made it really fun to broach the curve of the summit and find a bee-hive of activity at the top of the ski area. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzah-6GPnBGyjUcBIb_2Qldm1ZuOHcnSjwU48wqPj76Bhl22-N9yDSiuFAl2InGK8r2HvxvhlRSKi09bagN20saj06c7kIwnQ_JShWBZc6wxYeYyIVsmG4B-P-dBbn4AtJtBFPiLTOfCpHEbOcwABP9Qms1zFSDq-Pf011ttWXfNUGO61oMKtMvPY0-IA/s902/PXL_20240220_164515875a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzah-6GPnBGyjUcBIb_2Qldm1ZuOHcnSjwU48wqPj76Bhl22-N9yDSiuFAl2InGK8r2HvxvhlRSKi09bagN20saj06c7kIwnQ_JShWBZc6wxYeYyIVsmG4B-P-dBbn4AtJtBFPiLTOfCpHEbOcwABP9Qms1zFSDq-Pf011ttWXfNUGO61oMKtMvPY0-IA/w640-h360/PXL_20240220_164515875a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cresting Gunstock summit from the west flank.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was perfectly happy to take advantage of the deck and picnic tables at the Panorama Pub to enjoy my lunch with a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmbulf12oVs7Vo5LXjKP5nnGZIyWcjv_fOy2ntYhVBj-tuRtoEd0uUV7cv3LIosFqE3Qrlx_8iZIPd6MPpz1v76k3xpl-EoYE7QGJTnFDmVZec0X-gT9e-5nwZ9qDuN3wD_EZOyOCZdGYyw1NqCFtgpUf1yL3ZnPDUo8GUBUOBP1o9T1MLtNLvR-cZoE/s902/PXL_20240220_164918287a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmbulf12oVs7Vo5LXjKP5nnGZIyWcjv_fOy2ntYhVBj-tuRtoEd0uUV7cv3LIosFqE3Qrlx_8iZIPd6MPpz1v76k3xpl-EoYE7QGJTnFDmVZec0X-gT9e-5nwZ9qDuN3wD_EZOyOCZdGYyw1NqCFtgpUf1yL3ZnPDUo8GUBUOBP1o9T1MLtNLvR-cZoE/w640-h360/PXL_20240220_164918287a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an awful lot of blue in the big lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Continuing on to Belknap I saw again not another person, but on the top of Belknap I found the shiny new fire tower just erected this fall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf8dbzPk88D3lASd6sb-J6kfkH5k0BUwuVUt8prU0Ai-3GX0EvMpt1n_qcj9l-SGdWYtFtPR3pmCD3fI8JY02Q2ApfsYmQga2kE-wCBJ6WWGLXP2xhVYiCUwS5RLkEJX4toaGF87hkUPVi59dX4j8ddljNMsQwku8HPQ1BFK_fjnfbj8cly0ja-GV-q8/s900/PXL_20240220_173556923a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf8dbzPk88D3lASd6sb-J6kfkH5k0BUwuVUt8prU0Ai-3GX0EvMpt1n_qcj9l-SGdWYtFtPR3pmCD3fI8JY02Q2ApfsYmQga2kE-wCBJ6WWGLXP2xhVYiCUwS5RLkEJX4toaGF87hkUPVi59dX4j8ddljNMsQwku8HPQ1BFK_fjnfbj8cly0ja-GV-q8/w360-h640/PXL_20240220_173556923a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It provides views back to the west, including toward Lake Wicwas, Leavitt Mountain, and the hills on Chase Rd. I was also pleased to see moose scat near the summit. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZoY_-7w5L7h5MqHQRbnl9oxBP-N6eX1EiPrHEqoTDks55b2htmwxyFcc-p3ubJNyOphN0ZGMB_dXmW1zcJwmqDmpdGzlIQZbXTwtbRtavbIyGeYPtmRth-_2hyHIeeDU6Qoe48GGopQn2r6SHmvl-o_5SlHGEOStemYElyuAT3TRsZILbOCji2wV5cs/s900/PXL_20240220_174857926a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZoY_-7w5L7h5MqHQRbnl9oxBP-N6eX1EiPrHEqoTDks55b2htmwxyFcc-p3ubJNyOphN0ZGMB_dXmW1zcJwmqDmpdGzlIQZbXTwtbRtavbIyGeYPtmRth-_2hyHIeeDU6Qoe48GGopQn2r6SHmvl-o_5SlHGEOStemYElyuAT3TRsZILbOCji2wV5cs/w640-h360/PXL_20240220_174857926a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose scat right in the trail.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Ah, late February, early March - my favorite time of winter - when the sun is high and warm and the days are getting longer. Only 23 days until the vernal equinox!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnvXqy8lUhhR1asy4zhH1HlRvT_Sk8kBtkbpNUt7mcMAp1tPLkPDQjADGdabUHMuDla-b_I5jjLqHNuz197WcKrgzdV38WL8W6paoUGwfTl4odjktpz_cSWgI_JESP3o8l-OUwyQCYH1ZCL0xM1lUy6lvTACv4tTLETOQHwH9tkxyKpDXkeyIH-iPaig/s902/PXL_20240222_164443997a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnvXqy8lUhhR1asy4zhH1HlRvT_Sk8kBtkbpNUt7mcMAp1tPLkPDQjADGdabUHMuDla-b_I5jjLqHNuz197WcKrgzdV38WL8W6paoUGwfTl4odjktpz_cSWgI_JESP3o8l-OUwyQCYH1ZCL0xM1lUy6lvTACv4tTLETOQHwH9tkxyKpDXkeyIH-iPaig/w640-h360/PXL_20240222_164443997a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late Winter Skiing at Green Woodlands in Dorchester.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>While you're up near the mountains for your visit to the museum, I hope you can get out to experience this enjoyable part of New Hampshire's winter season!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-89185997496752730602024-02-18T08:38:00.002-05:002024-02-18T08:42:41.761-05:00February 18, 2024: Arbutus Hill Snowshoe Tour<p>The Meredith Conservation Commission had a successful snowshoe tour up to Arbutus Hill Pond yesterday when an avid group of winter enthusiasts made the three mile hike to the pond and back to explore the activity that takes place there in winter. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdghKF8ofc0I49OBeRiPrZgrAfC7Iyd85tIm-YO90a3p5GQgEhIVlu8SDLHMkMvIGUlY0VzZCZggUpTP5b4Ii_O5P6Yd-JbAAFxFyScpib4V2hoVosMC6av-JfO2hGi1wcBjscrq9alaxJ7JE_k4B4guAzFf7QcJq7zQxbnQmSbmnvu9wtz7QCvwzzH2Y/s900/PXL_20240217_151631615b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="900" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdghKF8ofc0I49OBeRiPrZgrAfC7Iyd85tIm-YO90a3p5GQgEhIVlu8SDLHMkMvIGUlY0VzZCZggUpTP5b4Ii_O5P6Yd-JbAAFxFyScpib4V2hoVosMC6av-JfO2hGi1wcBjscrq9alaxJ7JE_k4B4guAzFf7QcJq7zQxbnQmSbmnvu9wtz7QCvwzzH2Y/w640-h564/PXL_20240217_151631615b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Marcella MacKenzie.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The fresh snow we had on Friday along with another light dusting Saturday morning not only made it quite pretty, but also created a nice surface to see animal tracks. Along the way we saw tracks of fox, bobcat, ruffed grouse, deer, weasel, and mouse.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfU2ZnwCdLuDA-_pd-_Uh8rzmA0po4q2QLI26gI9OT1HqeLLu6ElqtYjrvyjJCGo1tW9OtIcQhq-PL7Nq3Qv-vVxu2BzhSIDuRS0RKGkiss-yUoTd9PZFNDVqGQ1252ZPueIDTlnqsVBC49UMVOTiWQBXreSVzBZCWWhPn9aqofYmK3ZXqhiRAUqvToU/s1902/Bobcat4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfU2ZnwCdLuDA-_pd-_Uh8rzmA0po4q2QLI26gI9OT1HqeLLu6ElqtYjrvyjJCGo1tW9OtIcQhq-PL7Nq3Qv-vVxu2BzhSIDuRS0RKGkiss-yUoTd9PZFNDVqGQ1252ZPueIDTlnqsVBC49UMVOTiWQBXreSVzBZCWWhPn9aqofYmK3ZXqhiRAUqvToU/w508-h640/Bobcat4.JPG" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobcat print.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm_EF3JpeSdMIjUXZRseipONAVMJOBD2swhntcselUZS2-fTF4ICn0kqx5I6goh4kp9hXbjifst7d2xpCJ9Qii5kGJf2t41jGXF220nbv5NrL1VoM1_KoKPStpjqL5zEhE9dpnb-0yAiRkqnOACz_jKpdTJjZfyXw3li0IDtNMwtUzdlaAU0m3LdxSfs/s2688/Ruffed%20Grouse1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm_EF3JpeSdMIjUXZRseipONAVMJOBD2swhntcselUZS2-fTF4ICn0kqx5I6goh4kp9hXbjifst7d2xpCJ9Qii5kGJf2t41jGXF220nbv5NrL1VoM1_KoKPStpjqL5zEhE9dpnb-0yAiRkqnOACz_jKpdTJjZfyXw3li0IDtNMwtUzdlaAU0m3LdxSfs/w640-h360/Ruffed%20Grouse1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouse tracks were found in several areas of hemlock forest.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEeEq5_DGx80kRZG0IxssfEyH2n05MQ4zvuDFiUXpQhDb73GQyn4rs89z1oqyZ2gvMykIjqXSQf_4lsg-_bSxysKC55n5wuksfbW-OERLAzT-H4ueB__e1fKBw8UNa7uDRidV9ptVvyTk9xsFAi2sFtPNDburcfTi7rL9PfxuVjO-MOxOF68WNc1i4Cs/s2688/Mouse2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEeEq5_DGx80kRZG0IxssfEyH2n05MQ4zvuDFiUXpQhDb73GQyn4rs89z1oqyZ2gvMykIjqXSQf_4lsg-_bSxysKC55n5wuksfbW-OERLAzT-H4ueB__e1fKBw8UNa7uDRidV9ptVvyTk9xsFAi2sFtPNDburcfTi7rL9PfxuVjO-MOxOF68WNc1i4Cs/w360-h640/Mouse2.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse tracks. There were also many red and gray squirrel tracks to be found.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2EAPtFvw364UaN9xYuGG-AzXfjOEZp0X0mkY4xGHd2HYCNEqN1s8r9linO3gy4sm2XZdxdmppkZfQj1aN3QFXBmYDoacwt0jDzf6guUBW2XXE9g5dTPeFHgNC6bIsLisbAfilKVyJIQWpHl4YuwNnHXqBFGsp4GcuQpsZ-ZLR9oZnYVI67BB1a_896E/s2688/Weasel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2EAPtFvw364UaN9xYuGG-AzXfjOEZp0X0mkY4xGHd2HYCNEqN1s8r9linO3gy4sm2XZdxdmppkZfQj1aN3QFXBmYDoacwt0jDzf6guUBW2XXE9g5dTPeFHgNC6bIsLisbAfilKVyJIQWpHl4YuwNnHXqBFGsp4GcuQpsZ-ZLR9oZnYVI67BB1a_896E/w360-h640/Weasel.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two-by-two track of a weasel, perhaps a mink or an ermine.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><p></p><br /><div dir="auto">We walked on the ice beside the long beaver dam that impounds the pond, and stood within a few yards of the beavers themselves, warm inside their well-constructed lodge. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvo5iKSLTFIyEAndJPgxQ4kuvAhio6PyM6hJr4P39F_063knbQzaHzthQ5Co1xbpGa59RedEM3sUTgZmClK6xFylj9mfUtew6eT2F4vKQVtoexwUvzRpylestlcos1KjV8ILEvrdHajJu6DzX11f0_OVZcyPdMws0eAWGlvtfBXPhQfb0E_ffVQCzHK0/s2688/PXL_20240217_163309583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvo5iKSLTFIyEAndJPgxQ4kuvAhio6PyM6hJr4P39F_063knbQzaHzthQ5Co1xbpGa59RedEM3sUTgZmClK6xFylj9mfUtew6eT2F4vKQVtoexwUvzRpylestlcos1KjV8ILEvrdHajJu6DzX11f0_OVZcyPdMws0eAWGlvtfBXPhQfb0E_ffVQCzHK0/w640-h360/PXL_20240217_163309583.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto">We even found an old otter slide on the ice. It was an enjoyable trip with good company on a perfect winter day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkJ-zziC9N87YwoSJEnTDT8qXzr9J0E-2CvH76mefKI9VDopQATtTBvTLpFxTzqh6hE1wBv7Qe56uOz4Ifbh0pk0R8M1DcdWDZFAKOqP9ng3zWK6fDt5CBV1wLK3IvMRefVuh0r6Y2T20-MhsoB6mveFTssibro8E1RiOn2eMk1n0N1v_SsBUpcS5Wvc/s2688/PXL_20240217_163332709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkJ-zziC9N87YwoSJEnTDT8qXzr9J0E-2CvH76mefKI9VDopQATtTBvTLpFxTzqh6hE1wBv7Qe56uOz4Ifbh0pk0R8M1DcdWDZFAKOqP9ng3zWK6fDt5CBV1wLK3IvMRefVuh0r6Y2T20-MhsoB6mveFTssibro8E1RiOn2eMk1n0N1v_SsBUpcS5Wvc/w640-h360/PXL_20240217_163332709.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">I mentioned last week that the Great Meredith Rotary fishing derby was held last weekend on all the lakes in New Hampshire, but I didn't get down to the headquarters at Meredith Bay until Sunday afternoon, so here are some of the fish that ended up on the board.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4dTnXNkseWwSjh-b_Qc_Qolml3EYS7r6a9o8RnMbHcY63xJsXiFccEgOYgmS0uQdTX_JSJhfY1ZyCPte0Vh-3tSxf-ZjCUorWXUvU9oTaADLHCUC3IJLozHfXSfuiDcIaHvHrTGdbtqG_3136qUufHv7cUEHBErKUULJc5iZbYG-ROVxzXQijnnqwco/s2253/PXL_20240211_184930069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2253" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4dTnXNkseWwSjh-b_Qc_Qolml3EYS7r6a9o8RnMbHcY63xJsXiFccEgOYgmS0uQdTX_JSJhfY1ZyCPte0Vh-3tSxf-ZjCUorWXUvU9oTaADLHCUC3IJLozHfXSfuiDcIaHvHrTGdbtqG_3136qUufHv7cUEHBErKUULJc5iZbYG-ROVxzXQijnnqwco/w640-h430/PXL_20240211_184930069.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leaderboard right at final weigh-in last Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOeEABVZnbfJYsgwU0RvqRIF7LYe84DPsSPu6LHO6dAcv4rthiMmKFh_2ONa4jnu1NyDVTBOPzIJBj0rh7E5lMwy5Ud6mqMN-aKdQNqie4G_Wevre0Ja-gCM-d52SmIZ4tyZHtqg0dEgn8L_liXe8pLWDIUWcf24iM2UoOByMRe1K5K1-uURiD4fCNSE/s1470/PXL_20240211_184951631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1470" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOeEABVZnbfJYsgwU0RvqRIF7LYe84DPsSPu6LHO6dAcv4rthiMmKFh_2ONa4jnu1NyDVTBOPzIJBj0rh7E5lMwy5Ud6mqMN-aKdQNqie4G_Wevre0Ja-gCM-d52SmIZ4tyZHtqg0dEgn8L_liXe8pLWDIUWcf24iM2UoOByMRe1K5K1-uURiD4fCNSE/w640-h624/PXL_20240211_184951631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some good size pickerel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">I like the way they award the grand prize: The largest fish caught in each species is entered into a drawing for the grand prize, meaning regardless of what species you're fishing for, you have a chance to win. The grand prize winner this year was an 2.5 pound 17" black crappy. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcX98PFDqub0bhQuirOQqbGVpoxNMq0SZFAomsqvo-ZeW8taTeCZv5PNW78536dgzgHIseTPD9pqxQ0KZNrXloJxeZxO-meoisqJ2XMzghb6SFvuT3C92RXWg6UuWkGhqI0h0eLBLb7p3R7e_6BwrOmWaJ00LOvxXMPZQyb9xF3ymhAarO93ZLUq2ouQ/s1512/PXL_20240211_184926859.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1321" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcX98PFDqub0bhQuirOQqbGVpoxNMq0SZFAomsqvo-ZeW8taTeCZv5PNW78536dgzgHIseTPD9pqxQ0KZNrXloJxeZxO-meoisqJ2XMzghb6SFvuT3C92RXWg6UuWkGhqI0h0eLBLb7p3R7e_6BwrOmWaJ00LOvxXMPZQyb9xF3ymhAarO93ZLUq2ouQ/w560-h640/PXL_20240211_184926859.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Black Crappie board with the grand prize winner.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="auto">It was caught by Tom LaBrecque in Cawley Pond in Sanbornton, just a 26 acre pond, but obviously growing some big fish. The winning angler has been fishing in the derby for some 35 years.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">The uncertain ice conditions on the large lakes did in fact send a lot of people to Lake Wicwas, with cars lined up at the boat ramp as well as along Chemung Road near Harris Cove. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlAo1_eJyI0dF_0oHKFNHdPEWnb4kQr_Ar1Q6NeSQC0ii-P4YPZ6C1v1pubal8Wl3V7xrCj6KVNm8Saz06MI0MpS1Dpd33Y8d0MYh3rT_63E_YQxml2N_AdANPosrrs7qi9KS09rk-gXBdCWAw-F8CXZi_SPvypYqDMmH-AmdfabZ3F1KV0ejRf7ehno/s900/PXL_20240211_165025611a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlAo1_eJyI0dF_0oHKFNHdPEWnb4kQr_Ar1Q6NeSQC0ii-P4YPZ6C1v1pubal8Wl3V7xrCj6KVNm8Saz06MI0MpS1Dpd33Y8d0MYh3rT_63E_YQxml2N_AdANPosrrs7qi9KS09rk-gXBdCWAw-F8CXZi_SPvypYqDMmH-AmdfabZ3F1KV0ejRf7ehno/w640-h360/PXL_20240211_165025611a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many anglers out on Wicwas last weekend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">It was a beautifully warm and sunny weekend for all the anglers to enjoy.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7KGek1lzN1ZIJXCh1hw4Uyd8uKquRaKCBWf5dzmLBIuhniopNA5AYpVYeTHhDrfcgvGP4jqBoiLv7ovdhM7R2EGeD7RahXIUaRJ3cg8zIcHYCFIJVDb5a8jq7mWZ38TQ64RMsX3svvX7ixd9P5h9n9XlcwcxQd254kqymOWVM6eLbchj38_rWEWf-Xk/s2688/PXL_20240211_165415846.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7KGek1lzN1ZIJXCh1hw4Uyd8uKquRaKCBWf5dzmLBIuhniopNA5AYpVYeTHhDrfcgvGP4jqBoiLv7ovdhM7R2EGeD7RahXIUaRJ3cg8zIcHYCFIJVDb5a8jq7mWZ38TQ64RMsX3svvX7ixd9P5h9n9XlcwcxQd254kqymOWVM6eLbchj38_rWEWf-Xk/w640-h360/PXL_20240211_165415846.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wicwas fishermen enjoying 50 degree weather on Derby weekend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">The ice is plenty safe on Wicwas now - I measured 10-1/2" this week - and the ice has started to groan and moan as stress cracks form in artistic patterns across the lake. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ-vHJC_rGGYjk8Y9rRyiLqBfZP-PjgZCLmelUEHZMoEV-KivxoP1cmFjo4dScPRsT4RBAzffAm7lRfm5XTVmhORDSozJDmZzZIADWI5kMOIGqG94SzuavwvO3aj2fl_oUOSz03Rb6Lf3diZa1WTnj-_wdyXYAac6FDxQtqkyiqkQrqiuB8D4n5ELpnA/s900/PXL_20240212_171649965a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ-vHJC_rGGYjk8Y9rRyiLqBfZP-PjgZCLmelUEHZMoEV-KivxoP1cmFjo4dScPRsT4RBAzffAm7lRfm5XTVmhORDSozJDmZzZIADWI5kMOIGqG94SzuavwvO3aj2fl_oUOSz03Rb6Lf3diZa1WTnj-_wdyXYAac6FDxQtqkyiqkQrqiuB8D4n5ELpnA/w360-h640/PXL_20240212_171649965a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>But the warm weather has foiled the Alton Bay ice runway, which for the second straight year will not open for planes to use due to lack of ice. It's the first time ever that it hasn't opened two years in a row.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Finally, last week's warm weather did produce a sight for those thinking about spring:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenz38axG8AT0vGWsj9Et_B8y5SPR-9d9-YyugoZF4J0ZIBD7LKhQEinbRSaP6fMzCwmL0lHZ6ykqumM58bgp6PYeG-De9rQFmWNqHc-L5nKmjtUfrF6LB4LvakUmiErOk2zZid3Hi7hV6okFh-bSVBMwLUhOZn4gqQoOw1PjhZ_NTC2o9sFFqJgf4X-k/s900/PXL_20240211_163511387a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenz38axG8AT0vGWsj9Et_B8y5SPR-9d9-YyugoZF4J0ZIBD7LKhQEinbRSaP6fMzCwmL0lHZ6ykqumM58bgp6PYeG-De9rQFmWNqHc-L5nKmjtUfrF6LB4LvakUmiErOk2zZid3Hi7hV6okFh-bSVBMwLUhOZn4gqQoOw1PjhZ_NTC2o9sFFqJgf4X-k/w640-h360/PXL_20240211_163511387a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops on February 11th.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="auto">It's the earliest date I've ever seen the snowdrops emerge.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-44211417458170183032024-02-11T08:15:00.002-05:002024-02-11T11:14:42.251-05:00February 11, 2024: Turkey InvasionLake Wicwas had an invasion this week, a turkey invasion. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxi7eiCKVeqnss1u8eA7umpJFKK5UBt7UnAx3sUj3U1x2jcRaZAHmWLtKlQHwATI9g9xcj211Qsw5XAgc8q51pbQNtFwjsfQz5-pj9P-02PWEo8u2j14Df7mQvNMdX44dKiJTyxTvJfhHLlcvIQWNxXnTMoB58EOgJSO8R_EBReqH7hSzdd0E3m-D978/s900/IMG_3354b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxi7eiCKVeqnss1u8eA7umpJFKK5UBt7UnAx3sUj3U1x2jcRaZAHmWLtKlQHwATI9g9xcj211Qsw5XAgc8q51pbQNtFwjsfQz5-pj9P-02PWEo8u2j14Df7mQvNMdX44dKiJTyxTvJfhHLlcvIQWNxXnTMoB58EOgJSO8R_EBReqH7hSzdd0E3m-D978/w640-h426/IMG_3354b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It started with a ground invasion of just a few birds walking along the ice, stopping now and then to peck at something, probably pine and hemlock seeds that blew onto the frozen lake. Sometimes they would break into a fast trot.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CEwrZZ899ZJNxMSLDz6RuB9L3-ssJJBSh1xjrIjP7hOk295063C7_uv5oe3ScXNVH2nBQc0buJIEkqWNO2D5YFIufqxbmFeLRrgc8xYp6wjx62F2U8XUQmzPLcHjmZ-ZqIE31W6FEC6o_4sojygHR2QMOTif4EYEYRmQLbbYlDJUHtMX384TTiMbAsY/s900/IMG_3373a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CEwrZZ899ZJNxMSLDz6RuB9L3-ssJJBSh1xjrIjP7hOk295063C7_uv5oe3ScXNVH2nBQc0buJIEkqWNO2D5YFIufqxbmFeLRrgc8xYp6wjx62F2U8XUQmzPLcHjmZ-ZqIE31W6FEC6o_4sojygHR2QMOTif4EYEYRmQLbbYlDJUHtMX384TTiMbAsY/w640-h426/IMG_3373a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I was intrigued by how they engage their tail feathers when they run. They seem to spread them out, perhaps using them as stabilizers to increase balance as they must be rather top-heavy up on top of those long spindly legs.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXTED26HAIMyrxx04di2a8ZqT4zEcEmwtx7WBN4X-ACTvvOIzSZ4FTIDh6wxcjtKghoEj0-1pg4WXhdCdf4drenGT02j_qi6cDDP3elMp8eWAjXl4LywCmUdGBFGWOSXshE63skq1hLaLuntzZiu3YpaS9N-qCgJQ6TwNKke5PnI6MnpNZ4B6HCT2zTQ/s900/IMG_3372a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXTED26HAIMyrxx04di2a8ZqT4zEcEmwtx7WBN4X-ACTvvOIzSZ4FTIDh6wxcjtKghoEj0-1pg4WXhdCdf4drenGT02j_qi6cDDP3elMp8eWAjXl4LywCmUdGBFGWOSXshE63skq1hLaLuntzZiu3YpaS9N-qCgJQ6TwNKke5PnI6MnpNZ4B6HCT2zTQ/w640-h428/IMG_3372a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Occasionally they would take off and fly a few yards. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNH43IuUan1QougHseBEXmUP_sS1ykCUAr6Da2cNyvuxG7irJGXNvwIW9B98E_WUku5F5K802v5p0uiuV2kNfVYs0vbVQk729FZPVJc9pJAjs_RC57MyedDDAzS3pH-0frOKqpsHKWdeWOJaypMjl52mi4Jjj1Eno0YP6VDUyi5hUOAy2lfQCqpXxbII/s900/IMG_3367c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNH43IuUan1QougHseBEXmUP_sS1ykCUAr6Da2cNyvuxG7irJGXNvwIW9B98E_WUku5F5K802v5p0uiuV2kNfVYs0vbVQk729FZPVJc9pJAjs_RC57MyedDDAzS3pH-0frOKqpsHKWdeWOJaypMjl52mi4Jjj1Eno0YP6VDUyi5hUOAy2lfQCqpXxbII/w640-h426/IMG_3367c.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEiDJ_KkgOt3GzDX4t9V-2zJS3FKJktfTBOVOIlF3aqW6ApICLVacKYMVJrZRUppqFcSfER-1HDOUEqFKEGKIiI4aGx07UO0FDaY2660KYPWYE8OOaW2tXWftfZO7UVUqQ300_wTWYF_TbdKWSbNtk9-jXoKnhvfK8dh7Y5GBmqzSBSv0HfkUMleB2_M/s900/IMG_3368b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEiDJ_KkgOt3GzDX4t9V-2zJS3FKJktfTBOVOIlF3aqW6ApICLVacKYMVJrZRUppqFcSfER-1HDOUEqFKEGKIiI4aGx07UO0FDaY2660KYPWYE8OOaW2tXWftfZO7UVUqQ300_wTWYF_TbdKWSbNtk9-jXoKnhvfK8dh7Y5GBmqzSBSv0HfkUMleB2_M/w640-h426/IMG_3368b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Their flight feathers are beautiful and I was surprised to see how much space there is between feathers when flying, at least at times of landing and take off.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLbT49tutzv_UB_720mu92Qqle1mJBdY-ahL_GcW0LonxTNBftW5jXL0VyUhDYggWaegRlGiGhv7eKJ2RwM_Pjqv95nQCcIkBhgxojbvX5HsOLOawCyukoEZMtKAlptJ7FodTnWbx9LYJACNZHqbPnlWa90ElgcLH9VpKocpFt_hwOIlIPgUUbDXCBYc/s900/IMG_3370a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLbT49tutzv_UB_720mu92Qqle1mJBdY-ahL_GcW0LonxTNBftW5jXL0VyUhDYggWaegRlGiGhv7eKJ2RwM_Pjqv95nQCcIkBhgxojbvX5HsOLOawCyukoEZMtKAlptJ7FodTnWbx9LYJACNZHqbPnlWa90ElgcLH9VpKocpFt_hwOIlIPgUUbDXCBYc/w640-h426/IMG_3370a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The flock made their way along the shore to an open plateau under a big hemlock tree that probably dispersed a large quantity of seeds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OJplF7HtEWYq_-fI9oUFO8bQJE9CTpbuxtGBQZIrClcK6xNiwDHPDudg6ltxWuXUluCOERHXAf_8sny701MX_DBf_UhDmAOS0HmPSuyfzSBzIPzX6n7vwlPmf6knrKGB0HGh5O_ErazDQXXTaccRqFbRPmYD1Cmw2C-qW7O4OOAqW5ONwBhvf2GPcEw/s900/IMG_3354b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OJplF7HtEWYq_-fI9oUFO8bQJE9CTpbuxtGBQZIrClcK6xNiwDHPDudg6ltxWuXUluCOERHXAf_8sny701MX_DBf_UhDmAOS0HmPSuyfzSBzIPzX6n7vwlPmf6knrKGB0HGh5O_ErazDQXXTaccRqFbRPmYD1Cmw2C-qW7O4OOAqW5ONwBhvf2GPcEw/w640-h426/IMG_3354b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Reinforcements soon arrived from the opposite flank via a ground route, and the two fleets converged to refuel.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ8VSl24_B6u_NaxfWCyVA1h3c8oy0Tdirckbbhfkchf1PElk0LUb4h9_vI0HAKwiX5o2ITrYCTtdU5YPiCTOlBmsJ9Bq5kLO0jHkaAV_5oesVVsl9EtBvzoU7MAT1xHFiwBppfHY2Gkq2he5hKxMYWinvxNVah1L6RFy490z0Bes7nn6UaIldpVqvS0/s900/IMG_3415a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ8VSl24_B6u_NaxfWCyVA1h3c8oy0Tdirckbbhfkchf1PElk0LUb4h9_vI0HAKwiX5o2ITrYCTtdU5YPiCTOlBmsJ9Bq5kLO0jHkaAV_5oesVVsl9EtBvzoU7MAT1xHFiwBppfHY2Gkq2he5hKxMYWinvxNVah1L6RFy490z0Bes7nn6UaIldpVqvS0/w640-h426/IMG_3415a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We counted thirteen birds in all.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After filling their tanks, the whole squadron took off and flew a single-file route at low altitude across the cove to the far shoreline. I guess they didn't want to be exposed in the open for as long as it would take to trot back under cover. I saw them mid-flight and wasn't able to catch a picture, but they are surprisingly graceful flyers, and they would even glide on fixed wings for two or three seconds at a time. </div><div><br /></div><div>In winter, multiple hens and their broods combine, sometimes forming flocks of many dozens of birds. Before mating season the young males ("jakes") will be evicted and males and females will separate into single-sex flocks. NH Fish and Game is asking people to report winter sightings of turkey flocks; if you see a flock you can report it <a href="https://nhfishgame.com/2024/01/02/report-your-winter-wild-turkey-flock-sightings-today/" target="_blank">here</a>. It's too bad this flock appeared one day before the <a href="https://www.birdcount.org/participate/" target="_blank">Backyard Bird Count</a> - which continues today if you want to participate.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Elsewhere on the lake I found other food sources available for turkeys as well as other birds. There were red berries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbfbtaP_Vzdf_hu-o7OX1BRpm_SBBD0dTdTz2tEzea8Q7bK-7FL-c3FAcb-zi7iG1Mlc5VXkRAhEd0MA34J25wQpWacWOkFayCgLnj0LhQMty40w8IfzjIpDJdsb9XRUVzkifsaOiweHkkPGbH5R4l_lOW-9ODj18nwDwNWBIRGj3fTBNNZ6v1ZcSy3Q/s900/PXL_20240204_185511966a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbfbtaP_Vzdf_hu-o7OX1BRpm_SBBD0dTdTz2tEzea8Q7bK-7FL-c3FAcb-zi7iG1Mlc5VXkRAhEd0MA34J25wQpWacWOkFayCgLnj0LhQMty40w8IfzjIpDJdsb9XRUVzkifsaOiweHkkPGbH5R4l_lOW-9ODj18nwDwNWBIRGj3fTBNNZ6v1ZcSy3Q/w640-h360/PXL_20240204_185511966a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>and black berries.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgrwC14fr_537WgafEQz-gCQBSxmqESfSvotbwiWkTMUKHiItXrcNNXAGeSLFdFeVtrUsDY1GP0xrCXGEkQZ7eosoeKg9ex10KkCGOFX1Ov7QwlGWLa8SEf4RcB5N7kIGweT-vNWG7h46ZK6n6f808NfHYOPT2E4kSc3ttYD-brDodWNXZmDmvpx0VW4/s900/PXL_20240204_184059478a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgrwC14fr_537WgafEQz-gCQBSxmqESfSvotbwiWkTMUKHiItXrcNNXAGeSLFdFeVtrUsDY1GP0xrCXGEkQZ7eosoeKg9ex10KkCGOFX1Ov7QwlGWLa8SEf4RcB5N7kIGweT-vNWG7h46ZK6n6f808NfHYOPT2E4kSc3ttYD-brDodWNXZmDmvpx0VW4/w640-h426/PXL_20240204_184059478a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black chokeberry</td></tr></tbody></table>Did you notice the exciting aspect of that shrub?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm2TUc-VY-mTxU_5GSm82wj1_0MujpID7YYvpu9bZx3UkmtC4W-z685cz13Ye5b-OPkJDn2O6dHXn4IHRy5hj-vqeWjWuq1bKMCrvLw7mqTrjfaW5-63ssBJ33OdPbMupKCILGcqHs-hBs5qrkvXliC94W2Q5GlSQmvwsJUJIKuROmt0c13VBt9TfFC4/s900/PXL_20240204_184237163a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm2TUc-VY-mTxU_5GSm82wj1_0MujpID7YYvpu9bZx3UkmtC4W-z685cz13Ye5b-OPkJDn2O6dHXn4IHRy5hj-vqeWjWuq1bKMCrvLw7mqTrjfaW5-63ssBJ33OdPbMupKCILGcqHs-hBs5qrkvXliC94W2Q5GlSQmvwsJUJIKuROmt0c13VBt9TfFC4/s16000/PXL_20240204_184237163a.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red buds pushing out!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>It was warm again this weekend, so warm that the fishing derby has limited fishing options which will drive more anglers to the smaller lakes such as Wicwas and Waukewan which have safer ice conditions. As of yesterday I measured 10.5" of ice on Wicwas.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF7eU7bToHczSz0PD8y0w78-MFalAx2seY6HmarEHMCR1A4YdVH0rs9LVQMU74tnLGPxpGCO1nhd4z9u1QGEKe4LEzD0PSfUAJUnF3STxrjQ38dA9Abj77S3VQoZO3uzkU8n8NoRsHnSQRBtjog7WkLi1U2NxYHosOi3Q-XZMqcRqNZoBOVuBEBQTpyU/s900/IMG_3322a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF7eU7bToHczSz0PD8y0w78-MFalAx2seY6HmarEHMCR1A4YdVH0rs9LVQMU74tnLGPxpGCO1nhd4z9u1QGEKe4LEzD0PSfUAJUnF3STxrjQ38dA9Abj77S3VQoZO3uzkU8n8NoRsHnSQRBtjog7WkLi1U2NxYHosOi3Q-XZMqcRqNZoBOVuBEBQTpyU/w640-h426/IMG_3322a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob house on Wicwas early in the week, the first of many.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>In fact it was so warm yesterday, 57.4 degrees here at the lake, that we had an early taste of mud season. Still, with two calm and cold nights, ice-in on Lake Winnipesaukee was declared on Friday at 10:30am. Be safe out there. </div><div><br /></div><div>In case you're interested in the weather conditions at the lake, Linda gave me a weather station for Christmas which I put on line, so anytime you want to check the weather at Wicwas you can use this link: <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KNHMERED53">Lake Wicwas Weather Station</a> You can also review historical data on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis back to the date I installed it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The beautiful weather this week had lots of people out on the lakes and up in the mountains enjoying the bright sunshine and blue skies. I trekked the Welch-Dickey loop and it was as pretty as ever.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi4WBskjjLg8vrWu3ls3jh7q6aikaCSSUvYrtN00ojdHj2nF5krz9xXNKK8TrWs2N7TK9pu58q-mxJpotfwd4YOvKLPWD3RKYtV83ga-C1ym7a1lCzimc_9sYV6ddhXFo4GQzxJ_WkXtmNSxyojQXctqTT5RyyP4RVbIMazvVd5n1ZtKtlzFQ9T8IR6g/s902/PXL_20240205_164115111a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi4WBskjjLg8vrWu3ls3jh7q6aikaCSSUvYrtN00ojdHj2nF5krz9xXNKK8TrWs2N7TK9pu58q-mxJpotfwd4YOvKLPWD3RKYtV83ga-C1ym7a1lCzimc_9sYV6ddhXFo4GQzxJ_WkXtmNSxyojQXctqTT5RyyP4RVbIMazvVd5n1ZtKtlzFQ9T8IR6g/w640-h360/PXL_20240205_164115111a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up Mt. Welch.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNM9Xb5HQ7uQjnt3IRe66C3o8MYokZjkJRqHLOA02KpabyXYEusJuhBsnhF8VVovagumxKVYc0oBo9MhKdAbGASf0kJDJGmU6Qhl2Um4A3uwtwwhb7_mDVH9gYAIJBANOPhyEW41sTMuWfZowSS1vPjUmWX-iQnJSTLWBv8Hrq56bBtOy5CJgfCJhOg/s900/PXL_20240205_163934440a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNM9Xb5HQ7uQjnt3IRe66C3o8MYokZjkJRqHLOA02KpabyXYEusJuhBsnhF8VVovagumxKVYc0oBo9MhKdAbGASf0kJDJGmU6Qhl2Um4A3uwtwwhb7_mDVH9gYAIJBANOPhyEW41sTMuWfZowSS1vPjUmWX-iQnJSTLWBv8Hrq56bBtOy5CJgfCJhOg/w360-h640/PXL_20240205_163934440a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Prior warm days had helped create some impressive ice flows on the ledges.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1yLzZUaub4xXpg_YrjKbbSeAn2nmFwzfXglEMx9c6oRnpRk6-FEmks2r6cWERo4E30oZmJwPNo7uI2X2jBmEEYsM-ZmC8BfdWWilB2XU52-WvglCdjZUKS2Ibw4i0rN2Q16tgxx8WbbcX7dzR52s8ZBQTxG_6N2XhfIqNe5_t-n6xErzy2xtgC5A7eM/s902/PXL_20240205_165746360a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1yLzZUaub4xXpg_YrjKbbSeAn2nmFwzfXglEMx9c6oRnpRk6-FEmks2r6cWERo4E30oZmJwPNo7uI2X2jBmEEYsM-ZmC8BfdWWilB2XU52-WvglCdjZUKS2Ibw4i0rN2Q16tgxx8WbbcX7dzR52s8ZBQTxG_6N2XhfIqNe5_t-n6xErzy2xtgC5A7eM/w640-h360/PXL_20240205_165746360a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There's a great view of the Kinsman and the Franconia Ranges from the north slope of Welch. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphctYENLSR3KN0_LOlhdddsQnpWgbaUFFDhFHUyyw4qLmwftbATYnrhbZBcHL-K24B7kUvgt2bO8uuK6OWHiKnLRVITSfbtTam0HQDC1EjOeJUBHtkaWl_DAhw0fILFlX6xWxp2LjrcwJwXt1aFyU1M97P6SubuKlW2S64YsZd8QizAhiYKtscDFxSOs/s902/PXL_20240205_163607521a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="902" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphctYENLSR3KN0_LOlhdddsQnpWgbaUFFDhFHUyyw4qLmwftbATYnrhbZBcHL-K24B7kUvgt2bO8uuK6OWHiKnLRVITSfbtTam0HQDC1EjOeJUBHtkaWl_DAhw0fILFlX6xWxp2LjrcwJwXt1aFyU1M97P6SubuKlW2S64YsZd8QizAhiYKtscDFxSOs/w640-h290/PXL_20240205_163607521a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: S. and N. Kinsman, the Cannonballs, Cannon, then Liberty, Lincoln, and Lafayette.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>These White Mountains are living up to their name this winter!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-33301968270582281222024-02-04T07:55:00.000-05:002024-02-04T07:55:18.189-05:00February 4, 2024: Pond Hockey '24<p>This weekend Meredith is hosting the 15th New England Pond Hockey Classic Tournament.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFWKDnQjZl_ktn8z-O2cAtprCqIhkZjftgDJ6WSer_biueo37pOoO0nmWPBQt3T4-nJmwG-vWrGWeCBRy96GlXPho-Tn4VG1b0Muq4sA9TX9W_oYQiogsJSzgo-XjpOC2ssz71R5XtpKBaItUB1m6VPjsAUen7ypmbFFDTgL_hWB8Poz9vG3Bfyrhnqg/s900/PXL_20240203_160048408a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="900" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFWKDnQjZl_ktn8z-O2cAtprCqIhkZjftgDJ6WSer_biueo37pOoO0nmWPBQt3T4-nJmwG-vWrGWeCBRy96GlXPho-Tn4VG1b0Muq4sA9TX9W_oYQiogsJSzgo-XjpOC2ssz71R5XtpKBaItUB1m6VPjsAUen7ypmbFFDTgL_hWB8Poz9vG3Bfyrhnqg/w640-h290/PXL_20240203_160048408a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great weather and big crowds for Pond Hockey.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The event was held on Lake Waukewan due to insufficient ice on Meredith Bay in Winnipesaukee. Moving the tournament to Waukewan means there aren't all the on-ice features such as food trucks, open fires, and the Labatt's Beer Tent because Waukewan is the town's drinking water supply. But it's a beautiful venue with the White Mountains looming over the 26 rinks to the north and the east.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuBnKVdVuyhAIMJWmqjHBUZrasfcstrPQ1guEfpQwGc1J4qWQXJE9gdHZ8Zo1Sly8abZ6wCxyslxRhZEC0bBog2NHUGgrSXLDyPN8w5yITKr0h-8BxwYmeWKMNc-nHotARLXXJO5ZThPwyma4sbWahAqoAAQkmrzcThha3_uVJkK6O4i-DeKu9PBDRjE/s901/IMG_3179a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="901" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuBnKVdVuyhAIMJWmqjHBUZrasfcstrPQ1guEfpQwGc1J4qWQXJE9gdHZ8Zo1Sly8abZ6wCxyslxRhZEC0bBog2NHUGgrSXLDyPN8w5yITKr0h-8BxwYmeWKMNc-nHotARLXXJO5ZThPwyma4sbWahAqoAAQkmrzcThha3_uVJkK6O4i-DeKu9PBDRjE/w640-h428/IMG_3179a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ossipee Range watches over Lake Waukewan.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>There was still plenty of activity on the ice though, including a large village set up by the players.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO0bSxLZ4Ys6PoIJqcnsHN3mzV-Io7Qz8Bfj2DEcEJay6k23UUApsGOSMoaqTToToDSuE1X-NjyFLHCnv5rOmrwPme6ileOwlyLiVAvgeE1L9-Jm-4lUOovm317ajg2rgqQIrEphNRf2hMyVy3jfAGgrZnO3OOw8Ugn4-USrE9_xFKfOM6qtBnkjtmsI/s726/PXL_20240203_162628919a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO0bSxLZ4Ys6PoIJqcnsHN3mzV-Io7Qz8Bfj2DEcEJay6k23UUApsGOSMoaqTToToDSuE1X-NjyFLHCnv5rOmrwPme6ileOwlyLiVAvgeE1L9-Jm-4lUOovm317ajg2rgqQIrEphNRf2hMyVy3jfAGgrZnO3OOw8Ugn4-USrE9_xFKfOM6qtBnkjtmsI/w640-h360/PXL_20240203_162628919a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Saturday was about the best weather the athletes could ask: Bright sunny skies, light winds, and temperatures cold enough for firm ice but not brutally cold like last year. There was plenty of good hockey action to watch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHNXV2durClp7gaa4iEgl4U4hpjvcvGr-STtGpJ1SrjjmikUs3DXLb88Lsb6hh4n1iy-WjAYwSzymslj_iZ2Rdd_5twgAObh8x1li0NhrD8va-3Y5Li1456-CZ6xcoEe6o6BqzeJQ1t9mx3FydtuqaXDesdwO0oY0MA_SsNHG2qYXrqgdHEDHmHEAdK0/s900/IMG_3141a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHNXV2durClp7gaa4iEgl4U4hpjvcvGr-STtGpJ1SrjjmikUs3DXLb88Lsb6hh4n1iy-WjAYwSzymslj_iZ2Rdd_5twgAObh8x1li0NhrD8va-3Y5Li1456-CZ6xcoEe6o6BqzeJQ1t9mx3FydtuqaXDesdwO0oY0MA_SsNHG2qYXrqgdHEDHmHEAdK0/w640-h480/IMG_3141a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM201kwvGgqDwxJIbxJy6W0ELpm908j6Rr-amQsxuwF-bIHSbrzAL0FjOr_Modw1j6K-wl4JvRxusHR4LuCzDqFcwZCBmN7emOfF33_FbrAhmMi_AL2LYWYW4Fh1-f5M1BGP6rfvoai-9Myyr6zQBh73ofbJFQC6YF4X6mRP_fk7CgIzznLa0xDYZf5c/s900/IMG_3100a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="900" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM201kwvGgqDwxJIbxJy6W0ELpm908j6Rr-amQsxuwF-bIHSbrzAL0FjOr_Modw1j6K-wl4JvRxusHR4LuCzDqFcwZCBmN7emOfF33_FbrAhmMi_AL2LYWYW4Fh1-f5M1BGP6rfvoai-9Myyr6zQBh73ofbJFQC6YF4X6mRP_fk7CgIzznLa0xDYZf5c/w640-h410/IMG_3100a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Between games the players and the support teams all kick in to clear the rinks of ice shavings in preparation for the next round of games. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTamAJb8O8B-wZTafJ5OGKb9vT7QoI6KfI7OifKp2DB1ScBLA34EK8LW8QSPMh4oL7L1ckNAFIMC9-Y9HCnn2ZAshcpF1xj3YGlylfk0sPKsW_27VIuuEAM8o5j_UBLlBaF9IkRAgECT2_p5kMJbkNLNYvnbwEBJgZuFM6sYYieXRiRAgQAp_ETqN0s0/s900/IMG_3185a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTamAJb8O8B-wZTafJ5OGKb9vT7QoI6KfI7OifKp2DB1ScBLA34EK8LW8QSPMh4oL7L1ckNAFIMC9-Y9HCnn2ZAshcpF1xj3YGlylfk0sPKsW_27VIuuEAM8o5j_UBLlBaF9IkRAgECT2_p5kMJbkNLNYvnbwEBJgZuFM6sYYieXRiRAgQAp_ETqN0s0/w640-h428/IMG_3185a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Zambonis, but plenty of shovels and power brooms to clear the ice between games.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It's a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and it's not too late to see the action as the games continue today (Sunday) until 1:15pm. </p><p><br /></p><p>The weather also cooperated earlier in the week with a nice snowfall coming Sunday night to set up some more great skiing for the week. Monday morning I headed out to the trails on those same Ossipee Mountains, trails maintained by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust at Castle in the Clouds. I was early enough to be setting first tracks through a pristine snow-caked forest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GicCjwOhHUPw23nbY3afht9tt_iMy4eIDxihQADYV9xAEVX4UPK3tQsicHRo88Kc84XqcfvZeBeHSoC0t38d_Pj_0WKb7PYc2T7Xk4DNN7mgK_cFbkX1pb0yX2izBZkCwASiTATt4L-N414AoCKgASZfoq7Is70vnrLkdhrDvDsmsnwObC_z8OX68Ho/s902/PXL_20240129_154936445a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GicCjwOhHUPw23nbY3afht9tt_iMy4eIDxihQADYV9xAEVX4UPK3tQsicHRo88Kc84XqcfvZeBeHSoC0t38d_Pj_0WKb7PYc2T7Xk4DNN7mgK_cFbkX1pb0yX2izBZkCwASiTATt4L-N414AoCKgASZfoq7Is70vnrLkdhrDvDsmsnwObC_z8OX68Ho/w640-h360/PXL_20240129_154936445a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Faraway Mountain Trail.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh_HP7ZkoZ-WdygaPsPB_1nMTb-CH5yfZ79MizAcE3PVGUhZyfSsiWxza4llrlP7TStYsF85YM_Q69V-HkjaV284oQOXEFJD7cCGpcoZVd9Vsr237OZ48iHbRjMo4LA_KY2p8x7_2ig7EkhJYu5OQEPifk1yQZSJcqAnRJHhlvL9hUc_TJcl9SsQatTU/s900/PXL_20240129_160237597a.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh_HP7ZkoZ-WdygaPsPB_1nMTb-CH5yfZ79MizAcE3PVGUhZyfSsiWxza4llrlP7TStYsF85YM_Q69V-HkjaV284oQOXEFJD7cCGpcoZVd9Vsr237OZ48iHbRjMo4LA_KY2p8x7_2ig7EkhJYu5OQEPifk1yQZSJcqAnRJHhlvL9hUc_TJcl9SsQatTU/w360-h640/PXL_20240129_160237597a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div></div>It was overcast all day which created some really satiny sights from the Bridle Path viewpoint overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Mountains.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-201RGAZ2snfN5WKamH98ikuxSrYL4aWcC1kmJveCvJbqzw0X1VpCHoz2MRcedR1GIgp235SCIOW8qTZO-GcHFXHhepAYt6ZmGJpKjF8LG-B2M9G2KnobAx1IpZgNSGoREGBZ4f6Jtl7gye3iWsaGHXJI_bjXpZZJTM5AEawKmPiI9pN-VP-gS7bnQQ/s1967/PXL_20240129_172229074a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1967" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-201RGAZ2snfN5WKamH98ikuxSrYL4aWcC1kmJveCvJbqzw0X1VpCHoz2MRcedR1GIgp235SCIOW8qTZO-GcHFXHhepAYt6ZmGJpKjF8LG-B2M9G2KnobAx1IpZgNSGoREGBZ4f6Jtl7gye3iWsaGHXJI_bjXpZZJTM5AEawKmPiI9pN-VP-gS7bnQQ/w640-h360/PXL_20240129_172229074a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjC5Ee1ItxtQU-Ve0Fp7MzOQ934aWLoanSwpci0hgBVbKxd_sfTEneiHcPQR9GHKK1ThAWGHxQYVRQ5BEXss13Cve5-mr9MgcmttetmjPXfflI-vt3ZTh5dozJKKQOo03hKvCJ5aD76TYGeBeLEASGRALSCwgSh2lwOjcKnvFceuQDkm5avlbnHhjDCI/s2660/PXL_20240129_170310666~2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2660" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjC5Ee1ItxtQU-Ve0Fp7MzOQ934aWLoanSwpci0hgBVbKxd_sfTEneiHcPQR9GHKK1ThAWGHxQYVRQ5BEXss13Cve5-mr9MgcmttetmjPXfflI-vt3ZTh5dozJKKQOo03hKvCJ5aD76TYGeBeLEASGRALSCwgSh2lwOjcKnvFceuQDkm5avlbnHhjDCI/w640-h266/PXL_20240129_170310666~2a.JPG" width="640" /><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQOcr5UPbiueDHK6IxI1lJm15dul_Bcgm5Y6JJmnbwFC1gMIkzblOUTqe6NTse3uL4nVoy0y7ppyt5CYFPdboK8mePk8Ql6qLXSF9MyNvqDb6e7fYPEdwh9LzB5_FeYMmb1XHXSQHAufsYdQHE4gF5BMCZlFyUhjzFMMP-MM2dFCzRcUYnJ32AlbKoEc/s1201/PXL_20240129_170310666~2ax.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQOcr5UPbiueDHK6IxI1lJm15dul_Bcgm5Y6JJmnbwFC1gMIkzblOUTqe6NTse3uL4nVoy0y7ppyt5CYFPdboK8mePk8Ql6qLXSF9MyNvqDb6e7fYPEdwh9LzB5_FeYMmb1XHXSQHAufsYdQHE4gF5BMCZlFyUhjzFMMP-MM2dFCzRcUYnJ32AlbKoEc/s16000/PXL_20240129_170310666~2ax.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p>Stream crossings were tricky as water levels are still high and it hasn't been cold enough to form ice bridges over them.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSLuNPl0MAaMxr6-tgAFvcQi_1XvQKNP1h2Z-VrlQG7Gkz0pVrzkhS9Nq036kNT92_P1xL5hJoewvu2N9BXuW9B-_JCapanjV1mOL2pP6q6FC55VHaVJVwnI5IF5ckcmEr0MgTU7lPSFrRh1Fz0NKK48CPDRs2u6e9Gh7rlFBxR8O8nbCu8Xf24nMVwY/s900/PXL_20240129_151546815b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="614" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSLuNPl0MAaMxr6-tgAFvcQi_1XvQKNP1h2Z-VrlQG7Gkz0pVrzkhS9Nq036kNT92_P1xL5hJoewvu2N9BXuW9B-_JCapanjV1mOL2pP6q6FC55VHaVJVwnI5IF5ckcmEr0MgTU7lPSFrRh1Fz0NKK48CPDRs2u6e9Gh7rlFBxR8O8nbCu8Xf24nMVwY/w436-h640/PXL_20240129_151546815b.JPG" width="436" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shannon Brook drains the east flank of Ossipee Mountains.</td></tr></tbody></table>Temperatures remained cold until Friday so the snow hung, frozen onto the trees for several days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CeWJoFBriA5PBaL0cxYjVrE0ublNRn7zQCPR9lsYt6IhskpIcoXiOzZ0pftdGKm7geaOa4VpK-6Mgq9AmoBvz2lgpLY5FJQw1R4WOrJZAw36lKDmYxZuRShsBW63LZx8e_C-EzsbZAiFuYbsCm3X6O8rI8akLeNto5P7W2Fs_CDoBk_1yo5zlRqnlgk/s901/PXL_20240129_130733017b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="901" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CeWJoFBriA5PBaL0cxYjVrE0ublNRn7zQCPR9lsYt6IhskpIcoXiOzZ0pftdGKm7geaOa4VpK-6Mgq9AmoBvz2lgpLY5FJQw1R4WOrJZAw36lKDmYxZuRShsBW63LZx8e_C-EzsbZAiFuYbsCm3X6O8rI8akLeNto5P7W2Fs_CDoBk_1yo5zlRqnlgk/w640-h498/PXL_20240129_130733017b.JPG" width="640" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclKYVd0RseyzfwzXIstZzw9xRB6WZRwFA3HzYXozcpmX2XDkPN4K5gPGsWVoueAgvZ3ezSspe3xp8PrvDaG7cQANYswgMb7ZXGrlSC0ORc_xJE9MzGA0W-PtWae7uey7Wm-E9ASAkB123qu5weXPzjfj3ynNgUumW63CTieMn02tEotwxDVVhXuOsDg8/s1967/PXL_20240130_155129247a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1967" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclKYVd0RseyzfwzXIstZzw9xRB6WZRwFA3HzYXozcpmX2XDkPN4K5gPGsWVoueAgvZ3ezSspe3xp8PrvDaG7cQANYswgMb7ZXGrlSC0ORc_xJE9MzGA0W-PtWae7uey7Wm-E9ASAkB123qu5weXPzjfj3ynNgUumW63CTieMn02tEotwxDVVhXuOsDg8/w640-h360/PXL_20240130_155129247a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the summit of Ragged Mountain in Danbury.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>Even on Friday when the sun finally came out and the temperature rose into the 40's the snow was still nice enough to take a ski from Lake Wicwas through the Chemung State Forest over to Lake Winnisquam.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHclxTqK2M8kW6hNdhEd20arRJSfIoCETIjlWLEx7N1WziuBf0IyhFIVZiARBFxopNg87PJ1YpuBQzJ4F0jclT2umaiaXY-pMtsVGfspwJ1R1LtgV7E-ePSOsWvGfzNrBBKJiluDJemIue3JlKHwFUOKdGzi2Ecex3ZChnCDAKybdZMfjEMIRC7xnPRW4/s1967/PXL_20240202_175220845a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1967" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHclxTqK2M8kW6hNdhEd20arRJSfIoCETIjlWLEx7N1WziuBf0IyhFIVZiARBFxopNg87PJ1YpuBQzJ4F0jclT2umaiaXY-pMtsVGfspwJ1R1LtgV7E-ePSOsWvGfzNrBBKJiluDJemIue3JlKHwFUOKdGzi2Ecex3ZChnCDAKybdZMfjEMIRC7xnPRW4/w640-h360/PXL_20240202_175220845a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south down Lake Winnisquam from Chemung State Forest.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>There wasn't a lot of animal activity to see this week, just some otter slides on the lake, some bobcat tracks, and lots more bird activity with a good snow pack now on the ground. I did catch the bobcat a couple of weeks ago on my trail camera going up the driveway at 7 pm and back down at 4 am. Or, maybe it was the other way around....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs0B7dzdUNkG_XViK6JH6sGcIZn16auhsaplhZkRYwbLWvQ5IS2ZWCSpIhwz4njF4O_ywJwg6K5jU9Dbf6FueRaa8-TxPsiboq7gEEBJVErg0PvLCNpkLtI7NmQXymTA3K2lkXNBzbcDqTUhdEcZOEieeKPZ3JxgOQuAjSFksPbwjcyBhSTUJSwfy4eE/s900/01010011a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs0B7dzdUNkG_XViK6JH6sGcIZn16auhsaplhZkRYwbLWvQ5IS2ZWCSpIhwz4njF4O_ywJwg6K5jU9Dbf6FueRaa8-TxPsiboq7gEEBJVErg0PvLCNpkLtI7NmQXymTA3K2lkXNBzbcDqTUhdEcZOEieeKPZ3JxgOQuAjSFksPbwjcyBhSTUJSwfy4eE/w400-h268/01010011a.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4:03am</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrrjtl3RVSuBPULOP5FLYbEU9LRcIkD9MYk2C6_9wQbLx2owoGlL05uWtUw4MPERpxasQYpCyRnhGmVRuVBQFKoCp0RqO4FGxyFFoYJbh3OgzQEaB99T1N72HXgWWGzJX2UCCmGbHP5r_-dMRelN3zAw1FFVVjQ557luJFKlUNi1qWBlLq7grMVGO3PE/s900/01010048a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrrjtl3RVSuBPULOP5FLYbEU9LRcIkD9MYk2C6_9wQbLx2owoGlL05uWtUw4MPERpxasQYpCyRnhGmVRuVBQFKoCp0RqO4FGxyFFoYJbh3OgzQEaB99T1N72HXgWWGzJX2UCCmGbHP5r_-dMRelN3zAw1FFVVjQ557luJFKlUNi1qWBlLq7grMVGO3PE/w400-h266/01010048a.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7:09pm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Either way, the birds and the squirrels - which are out in force now - better keep an eye open!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfLMMe-alsEpgxpOTpsNRr5HNEqD0jFH0ffKXYYt-L-zoe-TaBWniLQTX3EoRUeTIviPkeykQJgJqZjg3Dr4FkdFBwC3zklO8nwgz12TaafEUUCI_zf21EUiTMGGQTHZ55RrI7O7Ap8h5pAlNlOemiOu0jtFqjCncVx4lekBhDCd4_pyCpdDk1yK3oOI/s901/IMG_2968a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfLMMe-alsEpgxpOTpsNRr5HNEqD0jFH0ffKXYYt-L-zoe-TaBWniLQTX3EoRUeTIviPkeykQJgJqZjg3Dr4FkdFBwC3zklO8nwgz12TaafEUUCI_zf21EUiTMGGQTHZ55RrI7O7Ap8h5pAlNlOemiOu0jtFqjCncVx4lekBhDCd4_pyCpdDk1yK3oOI/w640-h426/IMG_2968a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Next weekend: The big Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-20042342551944740682024-01-28T07:39:00.000-05:002024-01-28T07:39:12.282-05:00January 28, 2024: Ice can be Nice<p>More crazy New England weather brought us just about every kind of precipitation this week including the dreaded freezing rain. Fortunately it came after a nice snowfall which gave us a couple of days of perfect dry snow to ski on. And the ice we got was just a thin layer, not enough to be much of a problem with power outages, but enough to make things really pretty for a snowshoe trip in the sparkling forest when the sun came out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi51aLBSch8vE0cEGhP4mqbJvaSvngErxE5tNNv8H6uLfIk2CfvNYZNEmwFxGDO44aLikEge9425mjuIxmkpfjrUw9pqY5FJ3i7p4IQxgLTK0Kg9tDIryh0t8PJJmVkOsrpTXqmgesdpn2mDobYwmmuTevxwz6RrGJyh1i9bH0j4R422yzZSElkkSvDA/s902/PXL_20240125_163507534a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi51aLBSch8vE0cEGhP4mqbJvaSvngErxE5tNNv8H6uLfIk2CfvNYZNEmwFxGDO44aLikEge9425mjuIxmkpfjrUw9pqY5FJ3i7p4IQxgLTK0Kg9tDIryh0t8PJJmVkOsrpTXqmgesdpn2mDobYwmmuTevxwz6RrGJyh1i9bH0j4R422yzZSElkkSvDA/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_163507534a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Crockett's Ledge on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>There was a thin coating of crystal-clear frozen water on the all tree branches.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeBQ48gfJqlom5yjJAnFaE7lxKbF_RamuVoPRrM0_Ub8QSBwe_A35niCove7JpOrGXZ8gDmqGh0WnyDpZ4X_DAiPZPZ2mgC-Ttopb8m0G0lDzHGZdz2VYmo9vo3UgjfVvHiq-jWxp8Eh9rBg8dNnVgrlsWhlI1jxacgZZ6YK9G2aS2vy8eMNAZYFNe_8/s902/PXL_20240125_161028449a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeBQ48gfJqlom5yjJAnFaE7lxKbF_RamuVoPRrM0_Ub8QSBwe_A35niCove7JpOrGXZ8gDmqGh0WnyDpZ4X_DAiPZPZ2mgC-Ttopb8m0G0lDzHGZdz2VYmo9vo3UgjfVvHiq-jWxp8Eh9rBg8dNnVgrlsWhlI1jxacgZZ6YK9G2aS2vy8eMNAZYFNe_8/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_161028449a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjRyzmKa83Cm672UjKeTRoSJ08RrjGO_VvF8XjytWsQOyN4XC5UKt5ga-7iUF9VO-BBvfHieN7-CAVusq1Z46sbi-1DjPtcX33REhoE8VzzXbeowdmY1u5mYZ6eqrA5NksqXA61gjUahA0Z5MmotDaEXsV6M53camgLhMUFXw-n_jzEg9zGX2pVSFwzY/s902/PXL_20240125_161126505a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjRyzmKa83Cm672UjKeTRoSJ08RrjGO_VvF8XjytWsQOyN4XC5UKt5ga-7iUF9VO-BBvfHieN7-CAVusq1Z46sbi-1DjPtcX33REhoE8VzzXbeowdmY1u5mYZ6eqrA5NksqXA61gjUahA0Z5MmotDaEXsV6M53camgLhMUFXw-n_jzEg9zGX2pVSFwzY/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_161126505a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNyZgJ-_kFKIuRze7ojf5NLC2xws7d1zodIvKj3FocJzjf0Zx2AHQCSXlYFLaWvIDKyoe4qgz_apqNCVTdm21Yfpb_7JFEgMF31XPhfjVzIg1-9W3X91oUcseOgQgH-LF23kolGfDx_PtA87LKuODKS8C4UKABynVDe_rVwj49hD7jb7y0i45SrCgeOQ/s902/PXL_20240125_161048798a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNyZgJ-_kFKIuRze7ojf5NLC2xws7d1zodIvKj3FocJzjf0Zx2AHQCSXlYFLaWvIDKyoe4qgz_apqNCVTdm21Yfpb_7JFEgMF31XPhfjVzIg1-9W3X91oUcseOgQgH-LF23kolGfDx_PtA87LKuODKS8C4UKABynVDe_rVwj49hD7jb7y0i45SrCgeOQ/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_161048798a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Trees without leaves handled the weight fine, but the pine and hemlock with their leaves still on had more of a problem.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNWYl9THQdUnnmDLTf4rRoyrXcXjTUz4hLaDNg-lYrhzDB1__7QDXPEwQ4lfIraA_hZWweUAg_9KiAT2UJwaBE1-BB0uxqsIrful7R57tgQaiWHRw4fDjCA8qHC7RMwxFmnBHCLNQ4qeuM9LVWg0fANjAS1Dvqsq_Z6FF7ewhQaLVkfqTPyPo9q8ps04/s902/PXL_20240125_161620409a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNWYl9THQdUnnmDLTf4rRoyrXcXjTUz4hLaDNg-lYrhzDB1__7QDXPEwQ4lfIraA_hZWweUAg_9KiAT2UJwaBE1-BB0uxqsIrful7R57tgQaiWHRw4fDjCA8qHC7RMwxFmnBHCLNQ4qeuM9LVWg0fANjAS1Dvqsq_Z6FF7ewhQaLVkfqTPyPo9q8ps04/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_161620409a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowed hemlock turned the trail into a limbo course.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK4_BM-Q58Q-b9CQvHXyNmiBPagpHgoaqoMn8TARuLxQ30WkK6rTuzAx2D25NU-WhpqZAA7IyRZJO1QzfAWwUEoyNmlbXDriXtAJJf9kj9KR4fcbuNPWCquaPO9-1P6g_FMolO6cw1MkpnedfyEP52mkIctWG0bJosZimvFR4nPbx5_Y8_r78tXn8brk/s902/PXL_20240125_161548622a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK4_BM-Q58Q-b9CQvHXyNmiBPagpHgoaqoMn8TARuLxQ30WkK6rTuzAx2D25NU-WhpqZAA7IyRZJO1QzfAWwUEoyNmlbXDriXtAJJf9kj9KR4fcbuNPWCquaPO9-1P6g_FMolO6cw1MkpnedfyEP52mkIctWG0bJosZimvFR4nPbx5_Y8_r78tXn8brk/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_161548622a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued past Crockett's to the White Mountain Ledge, and then heading back to the trailhead I took a chance at exploring the beaver ponds that are encircled by the Blue Trail, knowing full well that high water flowing in streams that run through them would make travel on the ponds treacherous. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0mL7_LeMF43JdEd0QWF2ZJe_nor1c_wa2hrValUesWjvCoUUFLLU7iemvauWgxBHzUIf1rhd4hO9tnEn2NvylRKGlkKVU33P7bwqeD0tSoR4vVSdNQow1gb8iiFqATF7memCDj0AETnEmWdXVuRmSNH0l-HsA4hicBQkNAXrzRnYmYshxjD118MWorw/s902/PXL_20240125_172805508a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0mL7_LeMF43JdEd0QWF2ZJe_nor1c_wa2hrValUesWjvCoUUFLLU7iemvauWgxBHzUIf1rhd4hO9tnEn2NvylRKGlkKVU33P7bwqeD0tSoR4vVSdNQow1gb8iiFqATF7memCDj0AETnEmWdXVuRmSNH0l-HsA4hicBQkNAXrzRnYmYshxjD118MWorw/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_172805508a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of water flowing in the streams.</td></tr></tbody></table>Some of the ponds are long and narrow with the current flowing right through them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNuxp3107lWRmPcf61NkjWnombnprQ5VKBAUUJs8ecsyaHHSNFS76Nhow1EwtA8KT-jOoRl5u_a4DEDdcWDZPpUJfgPv7DdgvLNGXU59azuUvSlVbXXLRBva4_d08lSbs3SqeIuCTLwyhfLpsHQaymhnueYsyJel6Uax-a3h7xkDSm1MD_EIR8qqt7bE/s902/PXL_20240125_172419678a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNuxp3107lWRmPcf61NkjWnombnprQ5VKBAUUJs8ecsyaHHSNFS76Nhow1EwtA8KT-jOoRl5u_a4DEDdcWDZPpUJfgPv7DdgvLNGXU59azuUvSlVbXXLRBva4_d08lSbs3SqeIuCTLwyhfLpsHQaymhnueYsyJel6Uax-a3h7xkDSm1MD_EIR8qqt7bE/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_172419678a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>But by following the animal tracks - they know where to walk to avoid getting their feet wet - I was able to get across all four ponds without falling through, though there were a couple of close calls. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj098D8gK2BDJQeTs2mC20GgRrj5m0TP2eItsDsGam2in-8RlB3chxUx_Y3Cz0B180fbsy2N-h3XoYYEDo6iE8Fr2aqwW7Ddeq2cvEMIMkORycLtmCd9eGxHMzUaVNsfXycAjJpIGcMbqRfuyNP0nEhs69I7GAprXZmFwSY2ypvZ78fEl_LK6rZ7fYRE5Q/s902/PXL_20240125_171822115a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj098D8gK2BDJQeTs2mC20GgRrj5m0TP2eItsDsGam2in-8RlB3chxUx_Y3Cz0B180fbsy2N-h3XoYYEDo6iE8Fr2aqwW7Ddeq2cvEMIMkORycLtmCd9eGxHMzUaVNsfXycAjJpIGcMbqRfuyNP0nEhs69I7GAprXZmFwSY2ypvZ78fEl_LK6rZ7fYRE5Q/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_171822115a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The fox and coyote tracks helped locate the firmest footing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>The largest pond was easier to cross, but there were still plenty of weak spots to deal with.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRgkq_18lpUXJUc_k7EYwtWy_SxRWbGGLMhgzzoHDBBx5j7dixWkylwZCXG8WggbNRmhrMl0Y4NgBk964Ue6kbvX0kM03aMXhidWf5MbeTQIMajy1FCUwyLIvBGdjr3ccDYDlOo8mZfFVKHRoME59wciMXirotHhgxAx60e_ckiOG9l78J1WVzKDWo-w/s902/PXL_20240125_173025003a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRgkq_18lpUXJUc_k7EYwtWy_SxRWbGGLMhgzzoHDBBx5j7dixWkylwZCXG8WggbNRmhrMl0Y4NgBk964Ue6kbvX0kM03aMXhidWf5MbeTQIMajy1FCUwyLIvBGdjr3ccDYDlOo8mZfFVKHRoME59wciMXirotHhgxAx60e_ckiOG9l78J1WVzKDWo-w/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_173025003a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I was extra careful where streams flow into the ponds as well as out again at the dams that hold the water in.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIRNZ6iB_R7fXm88eq9M-HJUfCPYZhC04gGXxCth2bL5aurXXKFLCu3CXJ6k43w_SUIpbJZp0PnvwnHrDLKF7DsgphsaGZrl_-kUu4TDn9FATxN8O5_D5mT7sZjCakZWMp-wiWDeH7Ul4S-KXuxSAaAEDIKwUMfn51wKhR-nAtYNlhsge7lrR-BN-xfM/s902/PXL_20240125_172442114a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIRNZ6iB_R7fXm88eq9M-HJUfCPYZhC04gGXxCth2bL5aurXXKFLCu3CXJ6k43w_SUIpbJZp0PnvwnHrDLKF7DsgphsaGZrl_-kUu4TDn9FATxN8O5_D5mT7sZjCakZWMp-wiWDeH7Ul4S-KXuxSAaAEDIKwUMfn51wKhR-nAtYNlhsge7lrR-BN-xfM/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_172442114a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water coming in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriaVirGDnVpvQZBCyguz-fz6nOknzFQQNiLV-2WEaKcpITYumgNDrwN5GgvMdHAEpbc6tGlSRTgaw1nupqY02uVbJDFTkX_U2bM70erzL6Pn9IX2yRBkjyWxVs8vlQonN__z3Sr1iyPD12WdGo-0uSvZMBLgDZ8WZUs2BW9E8Zg0FVjxSv8Cyrzp8KQE/s902/PXL_20240125_172120826a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriaVirGDnVpvQZBCyguz-fz6nOknzFQQNiLV-2WEaKcpITYumgNDrwN5GgvMdHAEpbc6tGlSRTgaw1nupqY02uVbJDFTkX_U2bM70erzL6Pn9IX2yRBkjyWxVs8vlQonN__z3Sr1iyPD12WdGo-0uSvZMBLgDZ8WZUs2BW9E8Zg0FVjxSv8Cyrzp8KQE/w640-h360/PXL_20240125_172120826a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then flowing out at the dam.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>It all made for a fun trip on a nice warm day. </p><p><br /></p><p>It was on a different snowshoe trip that I came across more bobcat tracks. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrexSWNF2MGaNT0JcvGGE-7yllK5Uw4orNSi6tIWwBy-FIKZpYMllT8tivInCvFzovI2pM_IxhyphenhyphenOVB4oFtag5EUmnDhx9UoT-0PhSew5LF9wJSdsLkvib05ebKhyiK8yonNWIwLE8i3E-nnlH0L0bt7QNWwN8GDNMzZS8z1j6kTbwwNxsJhx6xyj93T8/s900/PXL_20240120_164814417a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrexSWNF2MGaNT0JcvGGE-7yllK5Uw4orNSi6tIWwBy-FIKZpYMllT8tivInCvFzovI2pM_IxhyphenhyphenOVB4oFtag5EUmnDhx9UoT-0PhSew5LF9wJSdsLkvib05ebKhyiK8yonNWIwLE8i3E-nnlH0L0bt7QNWwN8GDNMzZS8z1j6kTbwwNxsJhx6xyj93T8/w360-h640/PXL_20240120_164814417a.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice set of bobcat prints in the snow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I followed the tracks along through thick woods and open clearings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQH9wHYkHh3GLdE6XMJYl1yKqF73KazbQRQHUardg5mHna4LPiyqxdK1eUBVU_hUhWRPy_q7HxbOkrxecOPx4oxEMFN7ZH5tQGgX78g0se3v5ElWgjx01lUQBfVmTN6Pgju_f0dK2XCwT_wZIc0DCefisfA2IifRCZmQbK7Lp6cnqFKad5HdCgLWnRzE/s900/PXL_20240120_164806738a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQH9wHYkHh3GLdE6XMJYl1yKqF73KazbQRQHUardg5mHna4LPiyqxdK1eUBVU_hUhWRPy_q7HxbOkrxecOPx4oxEMFN7ZH5tQGgX78g0se3v5ElWgjx01lUQBfVmTN6Pgju_f0dK2XCwT_wZIc0DCefisfA2IifRCZmQbK7Lp6cnqFKad5HdCgLWnRzE/w360-h640/PXL_20240120_164806738a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><p></p><p>And eventually came upon a spot where it bedded down for a while beside a tree, either to watch for prey or just to take a short cat nap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2MjPpJ98La8am4uxt5nseAKIsv5CuzTidXfPUSU46NO85UZbrPMv5wdJY7O4GcFLn30Eyh8jzZxh8z1BJuabFu7EsHVWR_VaWv-M2jqLu-6PmwBkonw9gi9v9_MgB-QFS0H99XlcccWUBju0Twb-VeyuCTKw03qEvibmLcyU4fGZv0aejXhyLeffjHo/s902/PXL_20240120_164724213a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2MjPpJ98La8am4uxt5nseAKIsv5CuzTidXfPUSU46NO85UZbrPMv5wdJY7O4GcFLn30Eyh8jzZxh8z1BJuabFu7EsHVWR_VaWv-M2jqLu-6PmwBkonw9gi9v9_MgB-QFS0H99XlcccWUBju0Twb-VeyuCTKw03qEvibmLcyU4fGZv0aejXhyLeffjHo/w640-h360/PXL_20240120_164724213a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It left some very nice prints in the soft snow that really help discern the difference between bobcat and fox tracks, which being the same size can be hard to tell apart. But bobcats have retractable claws, so claw marks are almost always absent in bobcat prints, while they usually register in fox prints. Bobcat prints are also very round; fox prints are longer than they are wide.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz3oVmAKlNPQDhFh-t-zJrxOd_fG3jEa2bTaGYolpE8h-3gSSDsasdPPkSqVFLFPwN1XqXMLNujHIhyphenhyphentB9zuRaZCA_NqhBz6WRyUwOcGT-ldSgSuMKmEIN2digNymO5eIv9cxJsovfMaDM0WrdXB7Jmy1e70uPUgiT_TXOrI3mKG1p6fNQ07aXdiA5KM/s942/PXL_20240120_164744064ba.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz3oVmAKlNPQDhFh-t-zJrxOd_fG3jEa2bTaGYolpE8h-3gSSDsasdPPkSqVFLFPwN1XqXMLNujHIhyphenhyphentB9zuRaZCA_NqhBz6WRyUwOcGT-ldSgSuMKmEIN2digNymO5eIv9cxJsovfMaDM0WrdXB7Jmy1e70uPUgiT_TXOrI3mKG1p6fNQ07aXdiA5KM/w612-h640/PXL_20240120_164744064ba.JPG" width="612" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the nearly perfectly round print with no claws marks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>One more animal note: We sure are having fun with all the juncos this winter. There's been a flock of at least 20 of them here every day ever since the snow arrived.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJLNEs65MhcmlepuTDBe2RSN6dY-zHfWY0dnlmcvbKX8au776Tf1FL5WC00ZLOo-Sv9IVtEzEzrPpHyzghBcRaVMr2ytPREyduWQWB_5R6PWBIlujhPIhtW_UinpmIyFvKEJ-SfMK1d5HXcAglhah3DlAkxnIfrQRxyv1w4OWPdBMA9ElrCpss3HReWs/s900/PXL_20240124_150452149a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJLNEs65MhcmlepuTDBe2RSN6dY-zHfWY0dnlmcvbKX8au776Tf1FL5WC00ZLOo-Sv9IVtEzEzrPpHyzghBcRaVMr2ytPREyduWQWB_5R6PWBIlujhPIhtW_UinpmIyFvKEJ-SfMK1d5HXcAglhah3DlAkxnIfrQRxyv1w4OWPdBMA9ElrCpss3HReWs/w640-h360/PXL_20240124_150452149a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />They are everywhere, on the ground, the feeders, the suet.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ4NZqfO_HzIpqyEAeOCbKcsXmmCWIJLvJGD79-Tm6S6rwLLHzWbpDxR2HhIJhBTtZVcYLJ3LWfNl4jQS_Ux3NcUWCUFjD3QL7h2xXHSy9Op9J-i3ImUdzktDi_UhBK3qVvNpP0KzXZ0RuwysPDmCU0PkaZdY6CY_wgS3vxp-QBuSCGzE9Gw5dNYrPR0/s885/PXL_20240124_150458511a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="885" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ4NZqfO_HzIpqyEAeOCbKcsXmmCWIJLvJGD79-Tm6S6rwLLHzWbpDxR2HhIJhBTtZVcYLJ3LWfNl4jQS_Ux3NcUWCUFjD3QL7h2xXHSy9Op9J-i3ImUdzktDi_UhBK3qVvNpP0KzXZ0RuwysPDmCU0PkaZdY6CY_wgS3vxp-QBuSCGzE9Gw5dNYrPR0/w640-h366/PXL_20240124_150458511a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl94av2sHPZE7Ac9oeZSFORTusL9JUlHcpxWe3XKJrVKevmyR5NGc7xux7NmIm0x-lXWlW3H9P5e1mm2npWf05QWf3Did0oDVPrqEBHNnAmTVyVmhOC_mwBsTrssN5Ht9rrapd6pCpaLiZRNSCyX2QopZnakVBimxkXytMNT1dT96iSPPI02Lpwjo5NQ/s900/IMG_3074a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl94av2sHPZE7Ac9oeZSFORTusL9JUlHcpxWe3XKJrVKevmyR5NGc7xux7NmIm0x-lXWlW3H9P5e1mm2npWf05QWf3Did0oDVPrqEBHNnAmTVyVmhOC_mwBsTrssN5Ht9rrapd6pCpaLiZRNSCyX2QopZnakVBimxkXytMNT1dT96iSPPI02Lpwjo5NQ/w640-h426/IMG_3074a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div>Even the front door step.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8usTzAL01G6DIMceL1xDq-TGJZ40w27vhOD6K1Pbv-drF9GjFGXZ2AaIkbREHC67xvlH6dcoEBCq__e2v8bsAEPggw1Aj2NXQbVU8XEB_2SMDkgvBcbyLAz37ENHiQVI0GNS9RNC6aIZwL-82cjmYlvU5S4B6jexRBoIf-VoV0_GA93gnJYbXhyphenhyphenqR8bg/s900/PXL_20240124_154844029a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8usTzAL01G6DIMceL1xDq-TGJZ40w27vhOD6K1Pbv-drF9GjFGXZ2AaIkbREHC67xvlH6dcoEBCq__e2v8bsAEPggw1Aj2NXQbVU8XEB_2SMDkgvBcbyLAz37ENHiQVI0GNS9RNC6aIZwL-82cjmYlvU5S4B6jexRBoIf-VoV0_GA93gnJYbXhyphenhyphenqR8bg/w640-h360/PXL_20240124_154844029a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junco prints on the door mat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p>So it was another roller-coaster weather week where a little fresh snow, a little freezing rain, and a little bright sun conspired to make some memorable outings around Lake Wicwas. Even with freezing rain it's a beautiful place.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZScqC3g9J2zKGYzwCWBAVgQqhfleR9o2XPhDXBX7Te-jo5ODDrjW3kzEoNaDcqdAn5aphp_FF8xpiDgziJAKfAq0PlHkxTVDno2bNExPs6z_ystpLGwQhvzIfAkbq4oRifNTgqydUv95EniWD05LH7oX4JOU-JMEjTdJ28_OMUIE0nWIEulQVT0XxfU/s902/PXL_20240125_164654959a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="902" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZScqC3g9J2zKGYzwCWBAVgQqhfleR9o2XPhDXBX7Te-jo5ODDrjW3kzEoNaDcqdAn5aphp_FF8xpiDgziJAKfAq0PlHkxTVDno2bNExPs6z_ystpLGwQhvzIfAkbq4oRifNTgqydUv95EniWD05LH7oX4JOU-JMEjTdJ28_OMUIE0nWIEulQVT0XxfU/w640-h310/PXL_20240125_164654959a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North from the White Mountain Ledge.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpm43imnh2Pqrem3dAf_e5mNm_RrQ6sQMmywBjBdDglMN3qyJs3CDXhG5vzDPUMuYc9nDfc1wUjhaR883MNa3342G6UpVHMBtHSgq8aBhIiCoxdOPqIqElb7xOREB5TtC2PFNyJrComPoy6XF-gp5IJOZSv44VF1rejHlCXRnW-p5qyVvafoU5WcYbMs/s900/Lafayette%203a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="900" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpm43imnh2Pqrem3dAf_e5mNm_RrQ6sQMmywBjBdDglMN3qyJs3CDXhG5vzDPUMuYc9nDfc1wUjhaR883MNa3342G6UpVHMBtHSgq8aBhIiCoxdOPqIqElb7xOREB5TtC2PFNyJrComPoy6XF-gp5IJOZSv44VF1rejHlCXRnW-p5qyVvafoU5WcYbMs/w640-h374/Lafayette%203a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mts. Lincoln (left) and Lafayette (tallest), seen from the White Mountain Ledge.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-38814180409447680822024-01-21T08:31:00.000-05:002024-01-21T08:31:34.333-05:00January 21, 2024: Pine Siskin<p>Light fresh snow and cold temperatures have provided the first good tracking conditions of the season - along with some really nice skiing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2jwgexzUiJx9kFBuOQ8cYsmq0kdqyTxpj1oHUDasnUBI69cwn_ur4wZ_zCm40ilFHjYQVvWPrFUvLsgKof4iMcBrco5kiB46ATBxsV2eFUXPln28yCYxDg_tTTc9cwdBMPIx-uQXsPX5yalIfwSYtFAFTA2KeWqksA_HZX-HNI2DSRRbALlubS-OZz4/s902/PXL_20240118_202819723a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2jwgexzUiJx9kFBuOQ8cYsmq0kdqyTxpj1oHUDasnUBI69cwn_ur4wZ_zCm40ilFHjYQVvWPrFUvLsgKof4iMcBrco5kiB46ATBxsV2eFUXPln28yCYxDg_tTTc9cwdBMPIx-uQXsPX5yalIfwSYtFAFTA2KeWqksA_HZX-HNI2DSRRbALlubS-OZz4/w640-h360/PXL_20240118_202819723a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A late afternoon ski on Lake Wicwas.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>On my first ski trip on the lake this winter I came across more signs of my new best friends, the otters. This time there must have been three of them out having a blast on top of the ice rather than under it. For a long stretch along the shore near Sheep Island I followed their hop-slide-hop game of follow the leader. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrRVZOd_U2brw2RMiAPh3cAeWgh0QMFO3Tlwjf4wEkWJUmCAwOL4N-diP4eGJDkoZWuMJEN7f1NdXIAVQ71ZUuAp5ZHA6bLimSaVmNjxmRu-vIb2kNh89wUwyZKHJFuMrp3YUpS51ZjhU7xc2NsP518wI3tui1lgwkUGXb5sQxJV0FcYRg32aDifwBFo/s902/PXL_20240116_195623857.PORTRAIT.ORIGINALa.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrRVZOd_U2brw2RMiAPh3cAeWgh0QMFO3Tlwjf4wEkWJUmCAwOL4N-diP4eGJDkoZWuMJEN7f1NdXIAVQ71ZUuAp5ZHA6bLimSaVmNjxmRu-vIb2kNh89wUwyZKHJFuMrp3YUpS51ZjhU7xc2NsP518wI3tui1lgwkUGXb5sQxJV0FcYRg32aDifwBFo/w640-h360/PXL_20240116_195623857.PORTRAIT.ORIGINALa.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trio of river otters out sliding on the ice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>On a different trip in the woods behind the lake I found this animal sign right in the middle of the trail for all the animals of the forest to take note.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9k1IJabOCFv8L8Qp51OlVRnKFbQhgW1rrQrGFlqOTzVFcCMoWXeueo4C4_912TPsGCFh9kH7F2-7J5qDgwX6Ih1Tk4mgAEFB2v5cpagGtfGnXnpTRA83m-LrWyBbi7YiijTT9iWfm3n0Tkjqoo2rxdd_qRyTron5G5I8cKVhNxdcY5rP3-TfyyvJES8/s1600/PXL_20240115_202817060a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9k1IJabOCFv8L8Qp51OlVRnKFbQhgW1rrQrGFlqOTzVFcCMoWXeueo4C4_912TPsGCFh9kH7F2-7J5qDgwX6Ih1Tk4mgAEFB2v5cpagGtfGnXnpTRA83m-LrWyBbi7YiijTT9iWfm3n0Tkjqoo2rxdd_qRyTron5G5I8cKVhNxdcY5rP3-TfyyvJES8/w360-h640/PXL_20240115_202817060a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Based on the small, twisted form of the scat, it looks the calling card of a weasel.</p><p>On another beautiful, bright day Linda and I took a snowshoe out to the new viewing platform at the Page Pond Town Forest over looking the pond on the Quarry Loop Trail. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhADy6wUoUrIheriVqDk9JKnIMRX4c3S8HWqBeEabxYHnC6E9zQOqjubS13IMPxcnQ0_uJgpRtLKNoX-N2R1EebqaItaV7OLlmnUPNpycIw_KR-OFpPwyWC9mBOk2Ft9yWp_3FOaUjfvNaNbRJR9Au4xL8AHNis1VyRlwN4EOJxtboZIifAMDCO8OoT_0Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhADy6wUoUrIheriVqDk9JKnIMRX4c3S8HWqBeEabxYHnC6E9zQOqjubS13IMPxcnQ0_uJgpRtLKNoX-N2R1EebqaItaV7OLlmnUPNpycIw_KR-OFpPwyWC9mBOk2Ft9yWp_3FOaUjfvNaNbRJR9Au4xL8AHNis1VyRlwN4EOJxtboZIifAMDCO8OoT_0Q=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new viewing platform at the Quarry Loop at Page Pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There were plenty of animal tracks to be seen there including white-tailed deer tracks right at viewing platform. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDBtMD1g-SDxn3rxOQmC-V4nNDcpSrZnB21FPPjnokpFd4oh_9baUNUnd98_S0vsQfuGnfsP945K9DS7DJ-0bYYM4WgV9Va1m035D2J-a4uGSdpG15Sny-ImGa-3lcKrr_ceMIHo9akf-WPzz2Rc9XxRPSoqBdgnxu5mnc-3U2U1emBOcomZc_W9mr5Ds" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDBtMD1g-SDxn3rxOQmC-V4nNDcpSrZnB21FPPjnokpFd4oh_9baUNUnd98_S0vsQfuGnfsP945K9DS7DJ-0bYYM4WgV9Va1m035D2J-a4uGSdpG15Sny-ImGa-3lcKrr_ceMIHo9akf-WPzz2Rc9XxRPSoqBdgnxu5mnc-3U2U1emBOcomZc_W9mr5Ds=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed deer were exploring the edge of the pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHXiM90bG4mvaOZvWk0r5hmI5YNJ4BIIdQUngckr0JDKlirnCdTvwz3KvH8zK0RHC-8-7fqM5kyPQJ4U7KE2TGN6zixKLfVD_VuNqNpU11R45b9v4vvjEHD6quwbM4LSOtGskibtTeIhC8Ri-rGwfqk9k-klBpdxpa33yXwMAxSzmSk29CWgktJYo9Hvk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHXiM90bG4mvaOZvWk0r5hmI5YNJ4BIIdQUngckr0JDKlirnCdTvwz3KvH8zK0RHC-8-7fqM5kyPQJ4U7KE2TGN6zixKLfVD_VuNqNpU11R45b9v4vvjEHD6quwbM4LSOtGskibtTeIhC8Ri-rGwfqk9k-klBpdxpa33yXwMAxSzmSk29CWgktJYo9Hvk=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hoof print that also shows the deer's dew claws (on the left).</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW0zD-9-c67L15NQxqOeYnZLu73-5ifC8hb6FqW0puhDH8TdJ-drQyk14-Uohdx-K_sqo2mGvrhvmdLxRsDRx5LBByloQ3Z7wRAewRLtN_Gu1aQtOZtJhdQ-5bEtSIi2NMmhgfKhLR9l9Jj6UafFZ95hU4BFs5vTu2CoHtRkNxddfThD3bhv7Gx0Mk3uQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW0zD-9-c67L15NQxqOeYnZLu73-5ifC8hb6FqW0puhDH8TdJ-drQyk14-Uohdx-K_sqo2mGvrhvmdLxRsDRx5LBByloQ3Z7wRAewRLtN_Gu1aQtOZtJhdQ-5bEtSIi2NMmhgfKhLR9l9Jj6UafFZ95hU4BFs5vTu2CoHtRkNxddfThD3bhv7Gx0Mk3uQ=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the other end of the size spectrum: mouse tracks on the pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Standing quietly beside the pond we heard a rambunctious bird song that I thought was a bunch of goldfinches in the trees, but every now and then there was a distinct upward spiraling raspy call that wasn't anything I'd heard before. I recorded his song and ran it through the Cornell BirdNET app which identified it as pine siskin - a new bird for me. I looked for the rambunctious singer there at the pond as well as three other times when I heard one singing, but I could never find it high up in the branches. Here's a picture of a pine siskin from the Cornell ornithology website that shows how it blends in so well, making it impossible for me to locate.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiMSmA5CxAZSB-jPj4tlqukAHoe0d-y8EiZ5GqVvalSQoMChbvcM3V8jEK9Vwu2yEwdBUKjJdWSgxcbmGrI-TvkoLL719VM9uvsevfmhjz9U5xLasDcC7j6T3IdmDdf_ol6UaXPxbvAz1OQpcstqbUPlTSqb2B-pQheVS7E9zRq4wGVR5Zjx42ZHT_xg/s666/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="666" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiMSmA5CxAZSB-jPj4tlqukAHoe0d-y8EiZ5GqVvalSQoMChbvcM3V8jEK9Vwu2yEwdBUKjJdWSgxcbmGrI-TvkoLL719VM9uvsevfmhjz9U5xLasDcC7j6T3IdmDdf_ol6UaXPxbvAz1OQpcstqbUPlTSqb2B-pQheVS7E9zRq4wGVR5Zjx42ZHT_xg/w640-h520/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine siskin; photo from Cornell Lab of Ornithology.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>If you participate in the NH Audubon Backyard Winter Bird Survey you should have received their recent newsletter about the upcoming survey. It predicts the pine siskin will be "the finch of the season" so maybe we'll see (hear?) more of them. If you're interested in the backyard survey you can find out how to participate at the NH Audubon <a href="https://www.nhaudubon.org/2023-backyard-winter-bird-survey/" target="_blank">Backyard Winter Bird Survey</a> - it's very easy to participate, you can spend as much or as little time as you'd like, and you don't even have to leave your warm home!</p><p style="text-align: center;">🐦</p><p><br /></p><p>Before the most recent snow fell there were a few interesting items visible on the top of the old crusty snow.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGtombVOiYfqoAvcb-EOLxXaYhEIIg5ptweeVhVSk8stJoKLA7OnH6bKRmf0rOvmGxF_WwaPgJEFLpc7SCkKAIe2I7uLeljSt-FrkYVf99aQrjc1N3E065Vy0K1_vcSzmYOi5LP207fXdZy1qxMtkc5p5TgENVF-0r34-DjRUqW-DMquEnNzhPk1kyD8/s902/PXL_20240111_163153149a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGtombVOiYfqoAvcb-EOLxXaYhEIIg5ptweeVhVSk8stJoKLA7OnH6bKRmf0rOvmGxF_WwaPgJEFLpc7SCkKAIe2I7uLeljSt-FrkYVf99aQrjc1N3E065Vy0K1_vcSzmYOi5LP207fXdZy1qxMtkc5p5TgENVF-0r34-DjRUqW-DMquEnNzhPk1kyD8/w640-h360/PXL_20240111_163153149a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White pine cone scales shredded by red squirrels.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>This particular patch of forest was covered with scales from white pine cones scattered uniformly over the snow. I'm guessing here, the squirrel was up in a tree shredding pincecones and the scales fluttered down, spreading out over the ground. Compare it to this situation where a squirrel sat on the ground having its meal:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xf9wwuiZXGIjeIJnwrSifofOU-vdtcc1wjYP22TVN8-hUV_CmuGqf6GT_fx_jghmeheHl_GBYJltClcDcgPFp0W0impagXoTkYMgeQxYHtWn_Cru9rDMTJoCzQV8MY5uz5O51I0xiZd3vlTD4pJLTx467Ig8gRMlwTfj1luR3QAG4SCpMuPEvccjOvM/s901/PXL_20240120_171938604b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="901" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xf9wwuiZXGIjeIJnwrSifofOU-vdtcc1wjYP22TVN8-hUV_CmuGqf6GT_fx_jghmeheHl_GBYJltClcDcgPFp0W0impagXoTkYMgeQxYHtWn_Cru9rDMTJoCzQV8MY5uz5O51I0xiZd3vlTD4pJLTx467Ig8gRMlwTfj1luR3QAG4SCpMuPEvccjOvM/w640-h422/PXL_20240120_171938604b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinecone scales and the stem from which they were removed.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>In another part of the forest the snow was littered with maple seeds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSyRZCsbjkgh8MB7q3KtJNqEOBAxRyacB4P2VcVz1G1T_YjjZZKpI1rRt8xoeD30X_JGOZoY8pcVXA0Q-cRJAsLsydeLGj7zq8z4R0izeBS0nTbCpSAfMKRs1N3YHhoFqu5pMx2JlHNXUMZcEicQ3a8sd_ny7Ai8OEpk9z4lXZMyIXr-AAvkMFRLNOS0/s902/PXL_20240115_204015415a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSyRZCsbjkgh8MB7q3KtJNqEOBAxRyacB4P2VcVz1G1T_YjjZZKpI1rRt8xoeD30X_JGOZoY8pcVXA0Q-cRJAsLsydeLGj7zq8z4R0izeBS0nTbCpSAfMKRs1N3YHhoFqu5pMx2JlHNXUMZcEicQ3a8sd_ny7Ai8OEpk9z4lXZMyIXr-AAvkMFRLNOS0/w640-h360/PXL_20240115_204015415a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple seeds all over the snow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Maple seeds in January? I've always seen these released in the spring; it makes no sense to me why trees would produce seeds now when there's no hope of them finding warm soil on which to germinate. Could the tree have been confused by all the warm weather in December?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlYvk0xiKEzw4HhatJ6LJVZeanZdWxY4Phra3FHUEAkkwjhJgqjy7qW5eMGAgK3lMrFM7nKvjRuK0kzD78_b1NHZXYAMxD8tw3VDtpPH5Lz4YviBAsIG25XHjzHu-LWBDqtDcAvaZTod6JnUqckUS-vkjERqIA5QbMphSmUn5nlGKb3Y3scQKl_TgL2g/s1600/PXL_20240115_204004253a.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlYvk0xiKEzw4HhatJ6LJVZeanZdWxY4Phra3FHUEAkkwjhJgqjy7qW5eMGAgK3lMrFM7nKvjRuK0kzD78_b1NHZXYAMxD8tw3VDtpPH5Lz4YviBAsIG25XHjzHu-LWBDqtDcAvaZTod6JnUqckUS-vkjERqIA5QbMphSmUn5nlGKb3Y3scQKl_TgL2g/w360-h640/PXL_20240115_204004253a.JPG" width="360" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXskG5-qH2G6cvajiI9U76Qc85rf7UW0cZwjo9wz1hTyefAN7axxahf7SWunPysHKVe5zjb26RM-c5C_YiKJoBDH-MhpKbNjxHNkY3fVKW0XvNfDzv5ybt7uXhTYSIcVR-X6s_UyFyp4LiE5FH76y5YX10_CdhwvJAe19Q4dhmEKLXYvvAqv9xVwilQk/s1600/PXL_20240115_204059123a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXskG5-qH2G6cvajiI9U76Qc85rf7UW0cZwjo9wz1hTyefAN7axxahf7SWunPysHKVe5zjb26RM-c5C_YiKJoBDH-MhpKbNjxHNkY3fVKW0XvNfDzv5ybt7uXhTYSIcVR-X6s_UyFyp4LiE5FH76y5YX10_CdhwvJAe19Q4dhmEKLXYvvAqv9xVwilQk/w400-h225/PXL_20240115_204059123a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /><p>One more bit of good news from the cold weather (it got as cold as -5 this week): People were fishing on Meredith Bay on Friday! And the Pond Hockey rink area has been staked out on Lake Waukewan. If it remains cold they should be able to hold the tournament on Winnipesaukee, but Waukewan will be a backup if needed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It sure is nice to have real winter arrive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcEaswaTUBnNN7aNiJdtj8sdQVp44-LW2Puo1Y3nk_x8mRJZXiFkIqDNSbxYnSNwHoiqH5Z5TxG2AgNw9QmdUEfpB9pWSE5oepoTrPkv9rhRHcWRQRYnum5KXzo0YzTZnMw4mttWzaNe7ElTULndU57c__t3XscqK2gPBWg4ne2QM6kJ5OcuEm6pmd0c/s902/PXL_20240118_163359823a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcEaswaTUBnNN7aNiJdtj8sdQVp44-LW2Puo1Y3nk_x8mRJZXiFkIqDNSbxYnSNwHoiqH5Z5TxG2AgNw9QmdUEfpB9pWSE5oepoTrPkv9rhRHcWRQRYnum5KXzo0YzTZnMw4mttWzaNe7ElTULndU57c__t3XscqK2gPBWg4ne2QM6kJ5OcuEm6pmd0c/w640-h360/PXL_20240118_163359823a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-24637641423481519752024-01-14T07:50:00.000-05:002024-01-14T07:50:06.329-05:00January 14, 2024: Snowing, Skiing, and Skating<p>Last weekend's storm ended up delivering just over a foot of light powdery snow which set us up for some really nice skiing. I was able to ski from the Hamlin trailhead all the way around the Four Ponds loop and up the Yellow and Red trails to the White Mountain Ledge with plenty of snow cover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k-fx3nH7h-kqVq-WSyJVUGi5cpqk-VVWv5brHBCm2hvhlLpswI7UuT352HMVVqhBjC_0Pb6gzKgNKXX63sYqZn0UHysG68YgR2s_F-BvUXs97JkGjdQTpD2oRs8C9d6jqw9BjKYo-wveaPgagJKdHJ865AZVAnjIhOdQW2sLGav1diR_p3aMwIcs2ss/s900/PXL_20240109_163826205a.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k-fx3nH7h-kqVq-WSyJVUGi5cpqk-VVWv5brHBCm2hvhlLpswI7UuT352HMVVqhBjC_0Pb6gzKgNKXX63sYqZn0UHysG68YgR2s_F-BvUXs97JkGjdQTpD2oRs8C9d6jqw9BjKYo-wveaPgagJKdHJ865AZVAnjIhOdQW2sLGav1diR_p3aMwIcs2ss/w360-h640/PXL_20240109_163826205a.JPG" width="360" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMG0VyLxhQaVtFQTfzI_pHZAHKFdDSZHuzqCl_6dUtdq6hfQ-jsm7RP55pnBBppp089sSres3FH7UDKPQa9OZIihKg03wjN6TNnxyh_w0EF1yC2n1bwrJRs3nZA80Od5w69BfZrKaWtYh7dPuHDM4ZZMhZry_dYxIgTe_QCgaRCy1vzM3XvteDmbykhA/s900/PXL_20240109_164730373a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMG0VyLxhQaVtFQTfzI_pHZAHKFdDSZHuzqCl_6dUtdq6hfQ-jsm7RP55pnBBppp089sSres3FH7UDKPQa9OZIihKg03wjN6TNnxyh_w0EF1yC2n1bwrJRs3nZA80Od5w69BfZrKaWtYh7dPuHDM4ZZMhZry_dYxIgTe_QCgaRCy1vzM3XvteDmbykhA/w360-h640/PXL_20240109_164730373a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>On Monday we received another four or five inches of snow, but that storm ended on a wet note with a lot of rain, but there was enough base that the snow survived it well and good ski conditions continued. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb9avPzu9I5blkb9Pixi4_tPnd6bGo3QXo758NQlp7a9iU8yW5AP5ugHj8yzMo6XhSesiyRlhHA48OnHp9SpUMTXSGdCZlThbwjJvOivumdUVHtACL72ygDGg3VqLn8Hs_wSrcgJAs9561Pkxd1NRnyBTWS2Uf0mIjVkufi-VtAWnsMKQTxY742HMCDs/s900/PXL_20240111_164825850a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb9avPzu9I5blkb9Pixi4_tPnd6bGo3QXo758NQlp7a9iU8yW5AP5ugHj8yzMo6XhSesiyRlhHA48OnHp9SpUMTXSGdCZlThbwjJvOivumdUVHtACL72ygDGg3VqLn8Hs_wSrcgJAs9561Pkxd1NRnyBTWS2Uf0mIjVkufi-VtAWnsMKQTxY742HMCDs/w640-h360/PXL_20240111_164825850a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFnZnzot_rFcbnLDOkJuKNvvrdUGa66Cnda0dMzp6IETs57Jq4G5JI5FPje-3QwS25rMUZO4vLCOBi0RK8cCgP_T8uxy4z271MC4l39_nbczM5i-HVhU7W4DdnOPT7F5KXiOzq7pg-AYnkA9PqZCSRjQdrO6vAidymmHR7DsL7t7J6B-EDRkDDtLRZ7c/s900/PXL_20240109_163809484a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFnZnzot_rFcbnLDOkJuKNvvrdUGa66Cnda0dMzp6IETs57Jq4G5JI5FPje-3QwS25rMUZO4vLCOBi0RK8cCgP_T8uxy4z271MC4l39_nbczM5i-HVhU7W4DdnOPT7F5KXiOzq7pg-AYnkA9PqZCSRjQdrO6vAidymmHR7DsL7t7J6B-EDRkDDtLRZ7c/w640-h360/PXL_20240109_163809484a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But wherever the rain water had flowed it took all the snow with it, making some of the stream crossings a challenge. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxam2ErPYUunXMJIByf09JU-llBxbTZ6QVo8Wds0_p9NHMBOEBjqcO4TKggac7EO7Fhq1Uv65RlzJVnIo9e5Y3wXRQp1-RA-sEEmTD0q4_rUnfF9NyYKviEPoaonYgs-7GD4Fgosl3iUw1hIva4cCDOJy4Cw56lq7r8VR261-uJTNhHGTqQ_alu9J34SQ/s900/PXL_20240111_163931238a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxam2ErPYUunXMJIByf09JU-llBxbTZ6QVo8Wds0_p9NHMBOEBjqcO4TKggac7EO7Fhq1Uv65RlzJVnIo9e5Y3wXRQp1-RA-sEEmTD0q4_rUnfF9NyYKviEPoaonYgs-7GD4Fgosl3iUw1hIva4cCDOJy4Cw56lq7r8VR261-uJTNhHGTqQ_alu9J34SQ/w640-h360/PXL_20240111_163931238a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drainages and low area were saturated.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I came across a few animal tracks on my ski trips including those of a bobcat that crossed the trail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rpMmvzUkMUdBR9AQPxHyVw2rv1ljQOWlW59UUJN2xEtVYO89gk0qdx95MHeNglq754zUqZdwLotIZ7inIxiFSrQo2DrHRXbPJ_sNYTRc1ZiSuCGA4C45cXhC5CLLm1vvh4MGg4PkioN3yFNY-UcgcbswU2a7azaiwkHNYWFyF3M7YioXKRoD3zHgM-s/s900/PXL_20240111_163323655a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="610" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rpMmvzUkMUdBR9AQPxHyVw2rv1ljQOWlW59UUJN2xEtVYO89gk0qdx95MHeNglq754zUqZdwLotIZ7inIxiFSrQo2DrHRXbPJ_sNYTRc1ZiSuCGA4C45cXhC5CLLm1vvh4MGg4PkioN3yFNY-UcgcbswU2a7azaiwkHNYWFyF3M7YioXKRoD3zHgM-s/w434-h640/PXL_20240111_163323655a.JPG" width="434" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We've had a few more birds at the feeder since the snow, but still not as many as usual except for the juncos. They have been out in force again. Juncos usually hop around on the ground under the feeders gleaning what's spilled by the other birds. But right after the snow there wasn't enough spillage and some of them were doing their best to perch on the feeder. Their bodies certainly aren't adapted for perching!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC6RlWSu0rqhDONXp7Mk8k274VKrTFfq9rkcxbi0XQ-rYP9JtoIKd5qCCuWzlOgrQMP_UCY3ixwUxumrBKk0xqFh7yOPEM02R6jiJFEfgXJ6Kdd3nNTXaWgyIehaS2ovEZVZnx9H_8h3C2OCHJayUAg8grASTCl_aDccoX7SatX9M_reUIA4tpnBRy-I/s900/IMG_2910a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC6RlWSu0rqhDONXp7Mk8k274VKrTFfq9rkcxbi0XQ-rYP9JtoIKd5qCCuWzlOgrQMP_UCY3ixwUxumrBKk0xqFh7yOPEM02R6jiJFEfgXJ6Kdd3nNTXaWgyIehaS2ovEZVZnx9H_8h3C2OCHJayUAg8grASTCl_aDccoX7SatX9M_reUIA4tpnBRy-I/w640-h480/IMG_2910a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But then a large flock of white-breasted nuthatches arrived, and nuthatches intentionally shovel loads of seeds out in search of the largest nut in the whole feeder.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVtMIedN1d8CA8iDbX51FMeJtCXnLdZQ8SnApbcY6Vwc2CN5kHPof5ZMC5rVpS0TGCyu5BpZBBUozZNoWR-vxk3nUpjhmB3nlfxdg3ku3SUknZlVFzR9mTSNWRREX1uyeVrz4F46WgKF49lcXZuMZvWnD6lyaxZlJChS8piTV51fj2nNrdepkC3gcthw/s900/IMG_2894a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVtMIedN1d8CA8iDbX51FMeJtCXnLdZQ8SnApbcY6Vwc2CN5kHPof5ZMC5rVpS0TGCyu5BpZBBUozZNoWR-vxk3nUpjhmB3nlfxdg3ku3SUknZlVFzR9mTSNWRREX1uyeVrz4F46WgKF49lcXZuMZvWnD6lyaxZlJChS8piTV51fj2nNrdepkC3gcthw/w640-h426/IMG_2894a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white-breasted nuthatch is the junco's best friend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Soon the juncos were plenty happy back down on the ground. Their tracks show that, unlike doves and turkeys which walk as a human does, juncos hop along on both feet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3W5xtq4XQ03G7rJLLajfeER38gwA-Ian1cX_7-6pmMHG0u0WOJYvm7wRBfQe0AhpyzmXbk4DeoD8fEF65guF2HoCAxdeyDMWBpwD5igqn_c1gRkKkgaIQnaKbxwGqIxoJ_UHV_MUD88pX0i3bDrpUqTmnKjVMzMrNHvxmZQiai5T1uJzrmePRegAfNc/s900/PXL_20240109_175527589a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3W5xtq4XQ03G7rJLLajfeER38gwA-Ian1cX_7-6pmMHG0u0WOJYvm7wRBfQe0AhpyzmXbk4DeoD8fEF65guF2HoCAxdeyDMWBpwD5igqn_c1gRkKkgaIQnaKbxwGqIxoJ_UHV_MUD88pX0i3bDrpUqTmnKjVMzMrNHvxmZQiai5T1uJzrmePRegAfNc/w640-h360/PXL_20240109_175527589a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junco Junction</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The week was cold enough that the ice in the lake grew thicker. By Wednesday there were about four inches in Marion Cove with a couple more inches of water and slush on top. By Friday enough of the top layer had frozen with a nice smooth surface to allow a bit of skating.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8iWMHvjE4b-B62DJmZ1MwpEitQOX6EV2h-SARRHZCCbTak346_aCbKZk9uoeugm8Ff3HqO1SDoMNRTLztDb5RXh4YMLF3VFF8UrSCjkO4tIm1dS-xtqmWCI6VyJR1QmtpA-UrzznyyC7RyuKL78lbr14xXNqtHbxne6KyWrG6lr47JjWmQFP6si4JVs/s900/PXL_20240112_211407955a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8iWMHvjE4b-B62DJmZ1MwpEitQOX6EV2h-SARRHZCCbTak346_aCbKZk9uoeugm8Ff3HqO1SDoMNRTLztDb5RXh4YMLF3VFF8UrSCjkO4tIm1dS-xtqmWCI6VyJR1QmtpA-UrzznyyC7RyuKL78lbr14xXNqtHbxne6KyWrG6lr47JjWmQFP6si4JVs/w640-h360/PXL_20240112_211407955a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But just a bit. Though the ice at six inches was safe (where I skated) that three-layered cake made things interesting. In places where the top layer was soft, my skate would break through into the wet intermediate layer and drop to the top of the hard black ice layer. It was an entertaining skate. We're about to head into our first deep freeze of the winter, so skating conditions may get really good next week.</p><p>On the subject of ice, Simon Pendleton, a professor in Environmental Science and Policy at Plymouth State University, is continuing his research on ice and snow in the Lakes Region and has once again selected Lake Wicwas as one of the water bodies on which to collect data. He has installed a small kiosk at the Wicwas boat ramp with instructions on how we citizen scientists can collect and submit data for the research project. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0vEk48xoYaFsSVtgby3zxhDsGoIeqpeRkhQcp8KB67Yx_nCuy7AEf2BLEcsLTXY87KZUCayUK_IG-biOnA58jjxY5zNV_XzsTUpIKM0cW8EbmEZ06xp6yZNHuPOj3eaxU4oqIGy4Ry21GwkNkC94rnNRf7RM-vVG5d9gH6N6rk6IqV8HOn0SJO4zxKQ/s900/PXL_20240112_154346878a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0vEk48xoYaFsSVtgby3zxhDsGoIeqpeRkhQcp8KB67Yx_nCuy7AEf2BLEcsLTXY87KZUCayUK_IG-biOnA58jjxY5zNV_XzsTUpIKM0cW8EbmEZ06xp6yZNHuPOj3eaxU4oqIGy4Ry21GwkNkC94rnNRf7RM-vVG5d9gH6N6rk6IqV8HOn0SJO4zxKQ/w640-h360/PXL_20240112_154346878a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>People may also submit data for other locations around the lake, though reporting at regular intervals is most valuable. His research will help us understand the changing planet and its impact on all aspects of life, especially its impact on winter sports such as skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. Here's a <a href="https://www.simonpendleton.com/research/nh-lake-ice-and-snow-citizen-science" target="_blank">link to information on his project</a> which includes the link to report your observations.</p><p>Let's hope the coming cold snap will get the larger lakes frozen in time for the Meredith Fishing Derby, Pond Hockey Tournament, and all our other winter-related events.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw9ZDq8ohjaiSL4Oczq6PGAtrLnv21fBsLrPgZDinnJLBQ0Eiy4gG5hi9tQMyhMqvZXw8H1dHnXfjTs2u8enVVXgYdWZoym-lLvdJHMkhAJdVMp6Val8mNgRH0IvDmS5Wrgc18EosXvnUcbp7a8lE3NHsdIdDfT2T1LLUniBgcr-7ga1PAlZuoPtgKxA/s999/IMG_5073a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="999" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw9ZDq8ohjaiSL4Oczq6PGAtrLnv21fBsLrPgZDinnJLBQ0Eiy4gG5hi9tQMyhMqvZXw8H1dHnXfjTs2u8enVVXgYdWZoym-lLvdJHMkhAJdVMp6Val8mNgRH0IvDmS5Wrgc18EosXvnUcbp7a8lE3NHsdIdDfT2T1LLUniBgcr-7ga1PAlZuoPtgKxA/w640-h314/IMG_5073a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meredith Bay, February, 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>P.S. I want to give you advance notice that the Meredith Conservation Commission is hosting a guided snowshoe trip to Arbutus Hill Pond in the Hamlin Town Forest on February 17th. Registration is required and limited to ten people. You can find details on the trip and how to register at the <a href="https://www.meredithnh.org/conservation-commission/news/guided-snow-shoe-tour-hamlin-town-forest" target="_blank">Commission's Website</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-76344639414259379542024-01-07T14:08:00.000-05:002024-01-07T14:08:24.571-05:00January 7, 2024: Otters Under the Ice<p>We finally have ice-in on Lake Wicwas. It was called yesterday, January 6th, after a few cold nights. It's the latest ice-in date on record, matching the prior record set on January 6, 2015, and the third time we haven't had full ice cover by the end of December. Here's the ice-in trend over the past 22 years along with the linear best-fit trend line.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY23llmQ5kH3wx-3pnFWEE-eedOcG38cPn5ZYred4NnZbgXxhOBi8KKdylXe_b-Q7d3dy5A_yogDkHAfZjeIlAWj2egBNjo7tX_YRZvxLu5mWcjeohjN4px1z45OerEjOPLd_p8Z4xUqPpf1EQ2nHP84XpEY5_MzP12qzOobqiIyklho6FVGyYqUgUeEI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="794" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY23llmQ5kH3wx-3pnFWEE-eedOcG38cPn5ZYred4NnZbgXxhOBi8KKdylXe_b-Q7d3dy5A_yogDkHAfZjeIlAWj2egBNjo7tX_YRZvxLu5mWcjeohjN4px1z45OerEjOPLd_p8Z4xUqPpf1EQ2nHP84XpEY5_MzP12qzOobqiIyklho6FVGyYqUgUeEI=w640-h324" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>The historical data for ice-out and the number of days of ice cover are just as disturbing. <p></p><p>Two days before ice-in we had a quiet, perfectly calm morning, and I was standing at the edge of the lake enjoying the view of thin ice that covered about 80% of the lake at that time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJytLLM0KvHR8jUqoaeLdTDjXkQ15AvEc-IM6Op78Pz1-qOc2GEYriDKsUc9hJS5qTMTMImQ4xrK0qDXgFni-7UVfdFtvvIgohOPd4I3rmcJsqTeVJrvIN5DOUOUxAEvtPsIELPtito90Ybog2E-JF01xy9YDSPKL1XtBIb89M9CBDG2XvL5u5ArGNYUo/s902/PXL_20240103_133846817a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJytLLM0KvHR8jUqoaeLdTDjXkQ15AvEc-IM6Op78Pz1-qOc2GEYriDKsUc9hJS5qTMTMImQ4xrK0qDXgFni-7UVfdFtvvIgohOPd4I3rmcJsqTeVJrvIN5DOUOUxAEvtPsIELPtito90Ybog2E-JF01xy9YDSPKL1XtBIb89M9CBDG2XvL5u5ArGNYUo/w640-h360/PXL_20240103_133846817a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Being calm, I was surprised when I heard water sloshing at my feet - there was no wind to make waves and certainly no boats. Next I heard air moving - again, strange. Water and air bubbles visible under the clear ice were suddenly moving and I heard increased air noise like blowing. It started to dawn on me that there was an animal under the ice near a small opening at the shoreline. Was it a beaver? A muskrat? Maybe a mink? Suddenly there was streak of brown visible through the ice, and a fast, slender animal flashed away underneath the clear black ice. It was undoubtedly an otter! I waited quietly and soon it came back, followed by a second right on its tail. The two zipped back and forth a bit before one of them returned to the breathing hole. It stuck its nose up through the tiny hole, and this time I was ready - I knew where to aim my camera.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S2DSH2UUsMemQ3aTcYM8jzONWNF8eTD9yR_x3-S7VU51wZTqIcXjtYukOEb7ulpWtv0EK6NTjzv5YgHN51v-QYqogTAdcJFh5W9alfTpCEp8Pp1yTV4NwsUWNv3g8gIWRjTLGxiXd5r28jrkByGO3NITo6pemb4PEUeCFlOn8L6FqnfWiG-JJNw3gbg/s1200/otter%20no%20circle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S2DSH2UUsMemQ3aTcYM8jzONWNF8eTD9yR_x3-S7VU51wZTqIcXjtYukOEb7ulpWtv0EK6NTjzv5YgHN51v-QYqogTAdcJFh5W9alfTpCEp8Pp1yTV4NwsUWNv3g8gIWRjTLGxiXd5r28jrkByGO3NITo6pemb4PEUeCFlOn8L6FqnfWiG-JJNw3gbg/w640-h360/otter%20no%20circle.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I couldn't see anything, but I was pretty sure I had the right spot, so while I heard breathing and cracking ice, I just kept taking pictures; it wasn't until I got home and blew them up that I found the little critter.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhnlvG8fwxhhGN0cAJTl2DX1D6xNmGp3Rgpc6LaTCe0tcaUnLMzW1I6bwtp2WkAY3NKvEdlN86G4rCD7mdQcdwDg9yUqooA3FcCd7TbEdxPTTyok_F_uICHf4i-7sTTNKDV_O2uIWMlzMgoNuj4BMbQ6CoS-1GeZfUjsFhzKQ3tauUlTQbbhPbDhnrqs/s1078/otter%20circle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1078" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhnlvG8fwxhhGN0cAJTl2DX1D6xNmGp3Rgpc6LaTCe0tcaUnLMzW1I6bwtp2WkAY3NKvEdlN86G4rCD7mdQcdwDg9yUqooA3FcCd7TbEdxPTTyok_F_uICHf4i-7sTTNKDV_O2uIWMlzMgoNuj4BMbQ6CoS-1GeZfUjsFhzKQ3tauUlTQbbhPbDhnrqs/w640-h358/otter%20circle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look in the circle.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucUquRcHHzLnqKQ-jr_plaUlAVxbFVSxmSjOfuj7I9qctvH2pWUebmjfZ4UbsoBn5JtGVb3vp5EDYm7j_2eM3z5IB7WAp4CP6Z3nv5vIHBUVzqcqPfLSTcD_a3uSPNHCRtjWfwLRRdgG1-e_UiALKUl-sxg71faCJrRew0c5ccGXiInvS-p8xK5PI5ZA/s900/a%20nose.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucUquRcHHzLnqKQ-jr_plaUlAVxbFVSxmSjOfuj7I9qctvH2pWUebmjfZ4UbsoBn5JtGVb3vp5EDYm7j_2eM3z5IB7WAp4CP6Z3nv5vIHBUVzqcqPfLSTcD_a3uSPNHCRtjWfwLRRdgG1-e_UiALKUl-sxg71faCJrRew0c5ccGXiInvS-p8xK5PI5ZA/w640-h480/a%20nose.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There he is.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><p></p><p>It was panting hard, like a swimmer that had just come up from a long dive and was restoring the oxygen level in its blood in preparation for another. In a minute it was gone again, zipping away under the ice. I didn't move. Another minute or two - both otters came back. This time one was on my left at a different hole, the other back on my right. The one on the right decided it wanted a bigger hole and I heard the ice break as it pushed its nose further up through the ice, enough to expose its whiskers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBhmdrI0CmWosqF1P_Oyhxbx-sM-F1mdOxlVESp-MY5Tz_ZekfOW1BeakLL8RoRV_dASApl7c4_XVrRfkJCrK-6Odhru-lSupGW1xKLvOngFAQDMSMXMMIyvu6Z0JzFDxUJLJhwM7BwcAYANXDJ3F3RmipTEnX-ZQpNyM8DygVZU9KzqZnOPP8UP5eiQ/s900/b%20whiskers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="900" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBhmdrI0CmWosqF1P_Oyhxbx-sM-F1mdOxlVESp-MY5Tz_ZekfOW1BeakLL8RoRV_dASApl7c4_XVrRfkJCrK-6Odhru-lSupGW1xKLvOngFAQDMSMXMMIyvu6Z0JzFDxUJLJhwM7BwcAYANXDJ3F3RmipTEnX-ZQpNyM8DygVZU9KzqZnOPP8UP5eiQ/w640-h490/b%20whiskers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It pushed up yet further, opening its mouth, perhaps to suck in more air.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGa6ZbrNIaZJPjZ_B_fd1E5mrqj4TcFqbDrNRu8gaPz8C6jPwnIo1IhnxY0U6fyIQayz24QM4mg-0q4g0Yzwx0dlSssWV2A4KudywF83j52I4xyLkby01Nz9wlda7s8DplH0Enq6KVgHAb5MYIShPvDZE8HTLP6lUeilamB3L7Bplhr7aIm-HB106bko/s903/c%20tongue.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="903" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGa6ZbrNIaZJPjZ_B_fd1E5mrqj4TcFqbDrNRu8gaPz8C6jPwnIo1IhnxY0U6fyIQayz24QM4mg-0q4g0Yzwx0dlSssWV2A4KudywF83j52I4xyLkby01Nz9wlda7s8DplH0Enq6KVgHAb5MYIShPvDZE8HTLP6lUeilamB3L7Bplhr7aIm-HB106bko/w640-h480/c%20tongue.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otters have tongues!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Finally, it opened wide and showed off its fish-chomping teeth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkdVCVlQ8j_X_dJWm7pnmS3nhe50_orE3CQEqz-AUV8SgiNVaETDg8R93pPHJ1QZ4bXlGXnbdFDjCZNDdpgzaPgc0jGMw33GAcI5xi5qsaXw8TLGRYoxA-RvncJfszm43CKBWLzDDvR6wQKGI9HIomIyDfSW3yTEGqyVo82scoRHWsoKjwLG2S-Ij0G4/s900/d%20teeth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="900" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkdVCVlQ8j_X_dJWm7pnmS3nhe50_orE3CQEqz-AUV8SgiNVaETDg8R93pPHJ1QZ4bXlGXnbdFDjCZNDdpgzaPgc0jGMw33GAcI5xi5qsaXw8TLGRYoxA-RvncJfszm43CKBWLzDDvR6wQKGI9HIomIyDfSW3yTEGqyVo82scoRHWsoKjwLG2S-Ij0G4/w640-h500/d%20teeth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When I first heard the breathing, before I located the hole, I took a couple of videos. In this first video you can hear a couple of breaths while I was trying to find the source.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gafBS3QDtrs" width="320" youtube-src-id="gafBS3QDtrs"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>In the second video you hear water splashing from the otter to my left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MWjHsK-MviI" width="320" youtube-src-id="MWjHsK-MviI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>Two otter reports in two weeks - this one was a lot more enjoyable than last week's. There I was, standing four feet away from a river otter, close enough to hear it breathing - does it get any better than that? And now, having woken up this morning to a world of white, I'll be on the hunt for otter slides as they toboggan on their bellies down onto the lake!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoGi5adfK6uG-1S68rDtYZbI90LfG-0thlnVfPzkUfNTiP6Ugs-YAWikD_vrRjgR6gsYF7kDIEL2acheW-ME6wWwJdARCl6Eze4S4rU-AowQcKMhIZscnTpD89bchL0boYYgkI9fmrhQ0eq5uGAPGGmtU-MSD1ZqWoEo3kXtltS21LCKvBnYVa_-OEnw/s4032/PXL_20240107_182150265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoGi5adfK6uG-1S68rDtYZbI90LfG-0thlnVfPzkUfNTiP6Ugs-YAWikD_vrRjgR6gsYF7kDIEL2acheW-ME6wWwJdARCl6Eze4S4rU-AowQcKMhIZscnTpD89bchL0boYYgkI9fmrhQ0eq5uGAPGGmtU-MSD1ZqWoEo3kXtltS21LCKvBnYVa_-OEnw/w640-h360/PXL_20240107_182150265.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter at Wicwas.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-16446844311827617522023-12-31T07:30:00.001-05:002023-12-31T07:31:26.072-05:00December 31, 2023: A Pond is Born<p>It's not looking much like the last day of December. Instead of skating and ice fishing taking place on the lake, I was out in a boat on Friday. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzruGXYrAnfwSl3jGxSVcWQIgzwwVr-sS2SuFvp9x1Sde6iRHpONFG6vW-8v9lOe3YSDbbw9Rbi3RKqo7zw3MPOP9PpJuing7dKvSSl-qeRf83Y2jE5I6kgjGEh_mkGlFKQF2dUGPHYUbNGODHBuifaa-17_6x4kM91JWpc2QsSDzIrXIeNHIpqD3H_Jo/s900/PXL_20231229_165728107a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzruGXYrAnfwSl3jGxSVcWQIgzwwVr-sS2SuFvp9x1Sde6iRHpONFG6vW-8v9lOe3YSDbbw9Rbi3RKqo7zw3MPOP9PpJuing7dKvSSl-qeRf83Y2jE5I6kgjGEh_mkGlFKQF2dUGPHYUbNGODHBuifaa-17_6x4kM91JWpc2QsSDzIrXIeNHIpqD3H_Jo/w640-h360/PXL_20231229_165728107a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The mission was to rescue some of the dock items that floated away during last week's flood, and the job was greatly facilitated by the fact that almost all the ice on the lake has cleared out. An enthusiastic team joined forces to pull, row, and paddle the wayward docks back to their proper winter homes. It went off without a hitch, and it once again shows how a close-knit, supportive New England community comes together to help each other.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9m0vjWqEyYDU_5sKY0MMVqDKoc5F82zcU72ISTofMasza7BbT2iBuzH2piwSceCenWoF9BP1TVSKilkMRcIX6OcNzK7mhsL4JaiZqIiggGkoyGGas-cQ5ClUkXWAjZ36lSZ8hG1oWOuDPnGtnJVuk7yNbWdEHS1D1j0e071mTx7ohcklD_wcnTbWviY/s900/PXL_20231229_164147888a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9m0vjWqEyYDU_5sKY0MMVqDKoc5F82zcU72ISTofMasza7BbT2iBuzH2piwSceCenWoF9BP1TVSKilkMRcIX6OcNzK7mhsL4JaiZqIiggGkoyGGas-cQ5ClUkXWAjZ36lSZ8hG1oWOuDPnGtnJVuk7yNbWdEHS1D1j0e071mTx7ohcklD_wcnTbWviY/w640-h360/PXL_20231229_164147888a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlnlI-wvVBs2Nz1tyb1zg5GTALFg7QggOr3a4HIfwGZqCjsIM-UybhMc2GROgBEBEQI1mRf2frwFp8J-FT4Ulnl1foaZaibHXegYgmXke_OGg27TpkTxXGXWDe6rmP4Im7jCxMQ_wX4NXm5_jholdSMYYfmQd1dTrTeGz7wQoRsZP9hyphenhyphenK9v7jF67yGbU/s758/PXL_20231229_165559244a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="758" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlnlI-wvVBs2Nz1tyb1zg5GTALFg7QggOr3a4HIfwGZqCjsIM-UybhMc2GROgBEBEQI1mRf2frwFp8J-FT4Ulnl1foaZaibHXegYgmXke_OGg27TpkTxXGXWDe6rmP4Im7jCxMQ_wX4NXm5_jholdSMYYfmQd1dTrTeGz7wQoRsZP9hyphenhyphenK9v7jF67yGbU/w640-h428/PXL_20231229_165559244a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The lake has dropped about a foot since last week but is still seven inches above normal water level. The drop is evident by sheets of ice that collapsed around the shore line as the water receded.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_h0b3TRI56LrSNeM9KcvsgWTU2ek2J8CDv5yZ6Jne3o0fFcSFiYNPQhlrFhix21yWD_jQEVysdMmOX-1PL0gWiAAzywDZeuX5UUZ5VHLprqt-csmtALgjNq3w1HxAGn7ryhjL6TPicVa9WozJJ-1q__axYAf_LcBHGd3adbzaZcUfMVN6evKZ3wF2jQ/s4032/PXL_20231228_203820949a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_h0b3TRI56LrSNeM9KcvsgWTU2ek2J8CDv5yZ6Jne3o0fFcSFiYNPQhlrFhix21yWD_jQEVysdMmOX-1PL0gWiAAzywDZeuX5UUZ5VHLprqt-csmtALgjNq3w1HxAGn7ryhjL6TPicVa9WozJJ-1q__axYAf_LcBHGd3adbzaZcUfMVN6evKZ3wF2jQ/w640-h360/PXL_20231228_203820949a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice hung up on shore shows how much the lake has dropped.</td></tr></tbody></table>The lake is only dropping slowly because the streams flowing in are still swollen with rain and snow melt.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7x9_0GPozhpTZQ8ajjiKdNBNGbC_ktHqZWsBgaI6nHenToOJY9W3mo98lc7CxPjFbeCNEfbpRqOAtmvOcyk6wPAuJrHKGO6vDr-LMkHsezmeK4AIUS7-L9KC-EGPbmpSeNCn8vYp1UXdnrXEp2ncUGwvHGm9acFBitX-HaRlPbLSKmNTYJPFLXPHe_0/s900/PXL_20231224_174357681aa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7x9_0GPozhpTZQ8ajjiKdNBNGbC_ktHqZWsBgaI6nHenToOJY9W3mo98lc7CxPjFbeCNEfbpRqOAtmvOcyk6wPAuJrHKGO6vDr-LMkHsezmeK4AIUS7-L9KC-EGPbmpSeNCn8vYp1UXdnrXEp2ncUGwvHGm9acFBitX-HaRlPbLSKmNTYJPFLXPHe_0/w640-h360/PXL_20231224_174357681aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Now to the birth of a pond. I think we're about to have an opportunity to witness the creation of a new pond right here in Meredith. It's not a totally new pond, but rather the restoration of a prior wetland that was abandoned years ago. On a recent work day repairing storm erosion in the Hamlin Town Forest, I noticed a few trees that had just been harvested by beavers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5553OTvePFMrctZ_WHkhkidtRkjEn3XkITO-UP_vw969wlGvmcTlJ_cVdEjQ9uPQWirBEy99ueZDHklt8XCoRBnjiQIfy6gV4xDy1aeZnba8SHbCLIHAo6utqcRIsmJGygbj3wRBob2n1wZyt-dWB3PBH0EOxdDRUaaQRdK1oCmIzjty7DQFP4-v5XjI/s1201/PXL_20231224_174312621a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="1201" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5553OTvePFMrctZ_WHkhkidtRkjEn3XkITO-UP_vw969wlGvmcTlJ_cVdEjQ9uPQWirBEy99ueZDHklt8XCoRBnjiQIfy6gV4xDy1aeZnba8SHbCLIHAo6utqcRIsmJGygbj3wRBob2n1wZyt-dWB3PBH0EOxdDRUaaQRdK1oCmIzjty7DQFP4-v5XjI/w640-h318/PXL_20231224_174312621a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Investigating further I discovered it wasn't a few trees, but many.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8Uia8qUdiVh92iiD8z8duqE2hcy3QcoOVBNwbL1Zv8M31P88SW6VgSr-zrV87cQChFpOiwNDPVyc58C1Fh3iOYNztO-jgPeZjIuO8Cye0fOHkFYfKv-nB8WaLjNQL-vTIB7x5CdogG6PAWZVrB8zaavLDzNnJZYn84LBAmBHgdjepP94Zy1RbqVSXWc/s1200/PXL_20231224_174242593a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1200" height="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8Uia8qUdiVh92iiD8z8duqE2hcy3QcoOVBNwbL1Zv8M31P88SW6VgSr-zrV87cQChFpOiwNDPVyc58C1Fh3iOYNztO-jgPeZjIuO8Cye0fOHkFYfKv-nB8WaLjNQL-vTIB7x5CdogG6PAWZVrB8zaavLDzNnJZYn84LBAmBHgdjepP94Zy1RbqVSXWc/w640-h597/PXL_20231224_174242593a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many stumps in an area being cleared by beavers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And then I found a new dam that had appeared since the last time I was there and is surely where much of that felled wood ended up. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkMunfJ4Macmh8ejJ_wuKqiHPRoHKduBosR29jcGmArHDDj4akdmwY03DxdNKViklvEhRD4OzNp_8j_ULwB26fZovQGy8oO9B2SrKyfcIQK2Frd7qwHC1nTGuFa4aFx5mQ_-CWzOVJOVTd6Spm1idYF_t1Z4NxgyAilvdyZVQX1RCKhl1DFWzz14SsR0/s1200/PXL_20231224_174221493a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkMunfJ4Macmh8ejJ_wuKqiHPRoHKduBosR29jcGmArHDDj4akdmwY03DxdNKViklvEhRD4OzNp_8j_ULwB26fZovQGy8oO9B2SrKyfcIQK2Frd7qwHC1nTGuFa4aFx5mQ_-CWzOVJOVTd6Spm1idYF_t1Z4NxgyAilvdyZVQX1RCKhl1DFWzz14SsR0/w640-h360/PXL_20231224_174221493a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This nascent dam was overtopped on the left by the rain, but held firm nonetheless.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>What is presently a large wet meadow with a stream running through it, was at one point a beaver pond. But many years ago, probably after the resident beavers had consumed all the desirable trees within easy reach from the safety of the pond, they moved on to greener pastures. Over time the dam fell into disrepair and the pond slowly drained away. Today, the trees around the pond have regrown enough that a new generation of beavers has returned with the intent of restoring the old estate to a vibrant family homestead. </p><p>I went to google earth to look at historical photos of the pond dating back to 1984. In those 60 years it has gone through two cycles of meadow to pond. The last time there was open water in the pond was 2005, almost 20 years ago - long enough for the beaver's preferred size of tree to have regrown. </p><p>It's in such an accessible location that anyone interested in watching what happens over the next few years can easily do so. The meadow is just to the left as you leave the trailhead and cross the first bridge. 100 yards down the Yellow Trail, a short spur leads to a view point (binocular icon) where one can see a good portion of the meadow. I'll report on changes here, but there's nothing like watching it develop it first hand over the years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAQSZwQpDgE2il6L63J6jHz8-DLDCA-pzBD4Vn9lEnS23IFCeYdMDLH7UyV49-LPOeHa6vtoYHy9aCHt-uPfGbCbQWCTpIWPQBfVzLhEGzV4S5zQUSD6GPsjNCtfIeVY-lTRNFnMv06QFvoyiaiacV-F-7Et50J30dGZVXK3-EMq4hWKPMWCabx0UiC0/s790/Pond.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="790" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAQSZwQpDgE2il6L63J6jHz8-DLDCA-pzBD4Vn9lEnS23IFCeYdMDLH7UyV49-LPOeHa6vtoYHy9aCHt-uPfGbCbQWCTpIWPQBfVzLhEGzV4S5zQUSD6GPsjNCtfIeVY-lTRNFnMv06QFvoyiaiacV-F-7Et50J30dGZVXK3-EMq4hWKPMWCabx0UiC0/w640-h429/Pond.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>While I was out on Lake Wicwas this week I took note of a huge food store that beavers living in the largest lodge on the lake have amassed for the winter. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbHmpZdzuuXY62sO4_kQVE27UtT2tTPFUo6bRgSfe4IHzd5J5m2FhQ25JSyehG5LaE0VRcqrkjuKQRskHap7igm2kzb9Gauo2dpuwOfgou3Z_BsQ0GjqNkHPwUToUYUcheMrnub-wOXpKDjy8i2S7ly91L95Woc5cRl4TIjv5G8PWQJxS78GbYF2tq-0/s900/PXL_20231229_163600308a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="900" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbHmpZdzuuXY62sO4_kQVE27UtT2tTPFUo6bRgSfe4IHzd5J5m2FhQ25JSyehG5LaE0VRcqrkjuKQRskHap7igm2kzb9Gauo2dpuwOfgou3Z_BsQ0GjqNkHPwUToUYUcheMrnub-wOXpKDjy8i2S7ly91L95Woc5cRl4TIjv5G8PWQJxS78GbYF2tq-0/w640-h328/PXL_20231229_163600308a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pantry is right next to the lodge for safe and easy winter access.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>There must be a healthy population of beavers living in that home.</p><p>That's the goods news from the lake, but there's sad news also, and you may want to skip this next section as it relates to the demise of one of my favorite wild animals.</p><p>Right at the dam, where's there's just a narrow strip of road that separates Lake Wicwas from the wetland below the dam, I found an animal dead beside the road. It was a river otter, one of the most interesting and fun-loving animals in New Hampshire.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHk-4zlU8xM3aHJZbQvvEb15scw9Vil8dLMYjWrVf7uk18axsy1BasRVd9gzS-0pRAzOMhFzWgxEMPvkJgEs9JYAGiPGnKV8CdrzHn3vvW96OUV4xQd-h5AFzuzoOPGn3fP9osKGhN2IpmJ5adigA_AGtRfoaAfLAEfm_D8G4s0JYwDqSZqwA4ZL0Lrk/s902/PXL_20231226_164512414a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="902" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHk-4zlU8xM3aHJZbQvvEb15scw9Vil8dLMYjWrVf7uk18axsy1BasRVd9gzS-0pRAzOMhFzWgxEMPvkJgEs9JYAGiPGnKV8CdrzHn3vvW96OUV4xQd-h5AFzuzoOPGn3fP9osKGhN2IpmJ5adigA_AGtRfoaAfLAEfm_D8G4s0JYwDqSZqwA4ZL0Lrk/w640-h360/PXL_20231226_164512414a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>These are quick animals, and no doubt had its demise due to bad timing as it leaped up out of one water body to cross over to the other. Perhaps otters usually travel under the road through the dam spillway, but the high flow over the dam might have required an overland trip for this unfortunate otter. It looked to me to be a young otter as it's not quite three feet long which is the lower end of the three foot to four-and-a-half foot length of a fully grown river otter. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAnKjb05F6Rnq3Jr2fRQy3ytraRnzjwgz-9KPXBp4DqkCem_Rca5dDbjitFTLVpy3azSSPM9prYpIphU0Ay8CqJNT35-p8YjaAbNhIOKdOiu5cWR-sbA870_kXP5WKUZal-nb3U-NumfomIEWWzDSd7hXl3QPgQIvWSScnrIBn64OyT39_RpuC-yjxMI/s900/PXL_20231229_210433148a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAnKjb05F6Rnq3Jr2fRQy3ytraRnzjwgz-9KPXBp4DqkCem_Rca5dDbjitFTLVpy3azSSPM9prYpIphU0Ay8CqJNT35-p8YjaAbNhIOKdOiu5cWR-sbA870_kXP5WKUZal-nb3U-NumfomIEWWzDSd7hXl3QPgQIvWSScnrIBn64OyT39_RpuC-yjxMI/w640-h360/PXL_20231229_210433148a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A mature otter weighs between 15 and 30 pounds, and this animal weighted well below 30 pounds. Before giving it a proper burial I took advantage of the sad situation to observe some of the detail on these animals. Otters have five well-developed toes on each foot, with the hind foot somewhat larger than the front. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-EKg_zLjZxEflP6UYMDoOLBP-4Ekt7HS3I6vlexlNOTB5mlPmjccf9m7QbhmWnCNDOIRil_893pIUhA8C24MpFHX6bFUe2Ssfzb8io7053uCctQCtOvhw7LDlSDqt10ZN9w4pwb4s7HcBIaUL854bPFT98ax9OmKzWdy-gBu9-2C9VnuBTH_roq-kak/s1200/PXL_20231226_164519159a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="924" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-EKg_zLjZxEflP6UYMDoOLBP-4Ekt7HS3I6vlexlNOTB5mlPmjccf9m7QbhmWnCNDOIRil_893pIUhA8C24MpFHX6bFUe2Ssfzb8io7053uCctQCtOvhw7LDlSDqt10ZN9w4pwb4s7HcBIaUL854bPFT98ax9OmKzWdy-gBu9-2C9VnuBTH_roq-kak/w493-h640/PXL_20231226_164519159a.JPG" width="493" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front foot with well defined claws, toe and heel pads.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzc7vsX8bBCfTu2ZkivMZRSUwou0Ns97XP0QwE07vECDapJnaFZbuzHn9Id7n3zJ6vkvTylAH6bbwbTHrGvtEebwP2C9VtHE9DovyAW6of1IU8LRFkF8QYHW-LSkCix9NH5BAn2Xoj8Yu2wZ-TXPCgamMpY2kR5jy0ld1FSIhaAb6BPT9jyDl546snDA/s900/PXL_20231229_210614737a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="900" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzc7vsX8bBCfTu2ZkivMZRSUwou0Ns97XP0QwE07vECDapJnaFZbuzHn9Id7n3zJ6vkvTylAH6bbwbTHrGvtEebwP2C9VtHE9DovyAW6of1IU8LRFkF8QYHW-LSkCix9NH5BAn2Xoj8Yu2wZ-TXPCgamMpY2kR5jy0ld1FSIhaAb6BPT9jyDl546snDA/w640-h470/PXL_20231229_210614737a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see a bit of the webbing between the toes on this hind foot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br />All four feet are webbed which helps them be such good swimmers and hunters. Otters have many whiskers on their nose which they use to sense motion of fish both at night and during the day in deep, dark areas of the lake. They can swim under water for up to a quarter of a mile. It's their great efficiency in hunting that supposedly provides them so much time for play.<p></p><p>To leave on a happy note, I'll share a video of several otters having a great time in the snow. This is from Washington State, but it could just as well be any lake with otters here in New Hampshire.</p>
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="314" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKIRO7Seattle%2Fvideos%2F434462325070391%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><div><br /><div>All we need is some snow. Come on winter!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #ffa400; font-size: xx-large;">🎉 </b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy New Year! </b></span><b style="color: #ffa400; font-size: xx-large;">🎉</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-76759118360984031572023-12-24T10:36:00.000-05:002023-12-24T10:36:30.849-05:00December 24, 2023: Merry Christmas!<p>Unless mother nature brings us a Christmas Eve Miracle we aren't going to have a white Christmas this year. That huge storm that swept up the entire East coast wiped out all the snow right up through the mountains. But she didn't leave us empty, bestowing us with other forms of winter beauty and fascination.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMT4i3OkcobroZm2zkuaycPKDuR86NRGvMnzvit1PxmtnED6RfyN3xNdOhkcnr0hWyUGX4Ro7xENOYbDI-zWfld2fcEdly7jKiWuAmDQrKbBCSwfLCvQId-b-YTy83rkqZtEX3OwLKlPuTa35mB-T_rgCj2wGRt5lVbgnoGEQFKYXdg7b6dgPj2-cOM3E/s1200/IMG_2776a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMT4i3OkcobroZm2zkuaycPKDuR86NRGvMnzvit1PxmtnED6RfyN3xNdOhkcnr0hWyUGX4Ro7xENOYbDI-zWfld2fcEdly7jKiWuAmDQrKbBCSwfLCvQId-b-YTy83rkqZtEX3OwLKlPuTa35mB-T_rgCj2wGRt5lVbgnoGEQFKYXdg7b6dgPj2-cOM3E/w640-h426/IMG_2776a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice crystals that formed in clear water in a roadside ditch.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>One never knows where nature's wonders are hiding until one looks in the most unexpected places.</p><p>So there are no snowy winter scenes to share this Christmas, but all that rain raised the water level in Lake Wicwas over 20 inches, and the high water adorned the lake with other forms of winter art. Most interesting were three-dimensional sheets of ice that formed as the receding water froze.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIyUMKcsqmGqx8XaZTcw9G_OgXkHkSh8OkNbnlvqbGEs7lsrP44yfJpWd8_0pgPGN0A04P74CvapeQ0j9EmRj-WZlRkEU1lOC5SMVB1bfxCT1Dl7YK-CFtp33sj0oC9QpuaFP9vjQ31H1uhz3-iWGa4ssXG9LL5fT3wlaymafAs30NSG_OUFSz6XaiNs/s900/PXL_20231222_193515812b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIyUMKcsqmGqx8XaZTcw9G_OgXkHkSh8OkNbnlvqbGEs7lsrP44yfJpWd8_0pgPGN0A04P74CvapeQ0j9EmRj-WZlRkEU1lOC5SMVB1bfxCT1Dl7YK-CFtp33sj0oC9QpuaFP9vjQ31H1uhz3-iWGa4ssXG9LL5fT3wlaymafAs30NSG_OUFSz6XaiNs/w640-h480/PXL_20231222_193515812b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many flooded areas of shoreline.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It created shapes that look like topographical maps with elevation contour lines.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXVhVtgc1c50xqU6aQrHcDw3z1QF3-I0-25LO2oB56qkTpLlV57mcAIPIwlTNH6PqHu0jyHvg7uHpOM8xPNR6p6NSBi0oPFjDzZ85C6MuOQ1U2PqOAwhFScMCuVXwAelRagzuyhYVbBmaCOMRkkp5ujOBB4Y87hgGcv8JBrDGRIISfMYdd4K3ds1fanQ/s900/PXL_20231222_193515812c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXVhVtgc1c50xqU6aQrHcDw3z1QF3-I0-25LO2oB56qkTpLlV57mcAIPIwlTNH6PqHu0jyHvg7uHpOM8xPNR6p6NSBi0oPFjDzZ85C6MuOQ1U2PqOAwhFScMCuVXwAelRagzuyhYVbBmaCOMRkkp5ujOBB4Y87hgGcv8JBrDGRIISfMYdd4K3ds1fanQ/w640-h480/PXL_20231222_193515812c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a topographical map to me.</td></tr></tbody></table>I spent some time thinking about how this might occur, and here's my theory: Ice starts forming from the side of the lake and works its way outward. Simultaneously, it thickens from below by adding more ice at the interface of ice and water as long as ice forms faster than the lake level drops. But when the water level drops enough that it is no long in contact with the ice - which is fixed to the shoreline - then no more ice can form at the bottom, and new layer of ice starts at the outer edge of the now-suspended ice sheet. This process repeats with the multi-tiered sheet being supported by land on the shore-side and floating on the lake on the outer edge. That's my guess!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSN-qd3TvbQ_zoeSEQnazPm4xbC7iS_t1zdEbMJPz-FHlpsVsfcP0X_rs5eci1ByHTX_MPyl7bNhOKVQTMgksAxb7bed0icO5tPG6Ur9uqXdFKUWJKb4zjboTSPhvBVJMfQBI4AbSC8l6DHMbIqKCGeWa2p9avBGHT9fCFiLjkJvw4FutZYCtr-81w4s/s900/PXL_20231222_193614141a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSN-qd3TvbQ_zoeSEQnazPm4xbC7iS_t1zdEbMJPz-FHlpsVsfcP0X_rs5eci1ByHTX_MPyl7bNhOKVQTMgksAxb7bed0icO5tPG6Ur9uqXdFKUWJKb4zjboTSPhvBVJMfQBI4AbSC8l6DHMbIqKCGeWa2p9avBGHT9fCFiLjkJvw4FutZYCtr-81w4s/w640-h426/PXL_20231222_193614141a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Shorelines with a drop-off to the lake rather than a gradual slope developed icicles as runoff dripped slowly off and froze before each drop could make its escape.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiaWl9jFJ0aeAETEjJJCHtEoQRQlCNVeAktDhxSRlqom70qBphRqJwxy8L55Q0kgOb0l2nhLYbZdTU016YSZRIk2SHgCFOKcRZoS6nIIxJgPJisnNaTFcVTmXkB6Vj205KCjVjYLslrwh95E_fa5VNpi6NvVB_giVSPF2nlv6YCCobYpGbzZ0iHBxf_U/s900/IMG_2787a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiaWl9jFJ0aeAETEjJJCHtEoQRQlCNVeAktDhxSRlqom70qBphRqJwxy8L55Q0kgOb0l2nhLYbZdTU016YSZRIk2SHgCFOKcRZoS6nIIxJgPJisnNaTFcVTmXkB6Vj205KCjVjYLslrwh95E_fa5VNpi6NvVB_giVSPF2nlv6YCCobYpGbzZ0iHBxf_U/w640-h426/IMG_2787a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM7LvlhjD3wEWdYRyB9qybO9_SN_XOPTmCHrGhl-84kY1OrO5t-Km38uaS3M7wKw2XaBiCtawkUgZdM5jSc_xjumiTDn1Q0SotED1H2PRCsy7GfDNuYVr3NWrpK0HCETBxOt3j8GlUt8VDYwnKwgGo-NJIuCHbYOLdAwh8Zow80BgB7Ey9z06O03FWIA/s900/IMG_2794c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM7LvlhjD3wEWdYRyB9qybO9_SN_XOPTmCHrGhl-84kY1OrO5t-Km38uaS3M7wKw2XaBiCtawkUgZdM5jSc_xjumiTDn1Q0SotED1H2PRCsy7GfDNuYVr3NWrpK0HCETBxOt3j8GlUt8VDYwnKwgGo-NJIuCHbYOLdAwh8Zow80BgB7Ey9z06O03FWIA/w640-h426/IMG_2794c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p>The rising water also caused enough shoreline flooding that several docks and rafts left untethered and too close to the lake were swept away with the wind and current. One large group of dock parts ended up where one would expect - right up against the dam.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMt4VVz4EyqCoYgUIqxYiPM5fsGiY98E2A6c9PiuWWevnOgKQzRMwfb1X6D3Dud7Aj6QW92JJucuEW51YotKPWU0yHVjqTe7ajRVa2ps563Vd9KbtHPy-ToBo2tU7L3fTT-vdG3zKwqNB0tE0tzvrShdHrWVs3CZ-X0D7iBeQFQmkt_m5yZ3Kt8xGlQc/s900/PXL_20231221_172758259b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMt4VVz4EyqCoYgUIqxYiPM5fsGiY98E2A6c9PiuWWevnOgKQzRMwfb1X6D3Dud7Aj6QW92JJucuEW51YotKPWU0yHVjqTe7ajRVa2ps563Vd9KbtHPy-ToBo2tU7L3fTT-vdG3zKwqNB0tE0tzvrShdHrWVs3CZ-X0D7iBeQFQmkt_m5yZ3Kt8xGlQc/w640-h360/PXL_20231221_172758259b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Fortunately it arrived unscathed and the Meredith water department crew came out and moved it away from the dam immediately after I alerted them. The owners of this dock have been found and are working on retrieving it.</p><p>A second item got tangled up on the flooded shore line on its way down to the dam.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmebMMU80VzOpP4FEHYo5jx8Tg76f5XLZanrTMey5dhs6ZR0T3Gjesx1I1MwuKYlbMrmGO3f5Y12jtlE7LZ3UZNsIMTPn6dE-lS9ZWTRMU1Yt1jBksDTtEv2AXhYnabCG3hzcGrF5JpUEeiEoc0vQZ41XAntdFeUn7AImnOiAn6DUF8GXOX2cWP3t4iZ0/s1599/processed-B8DADA26-8EDC-4056-B672-41B83778233Ba.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmebMMU80VzOpP4FEHYo5jx8Tg76f5XLZanrTMey5dhs6ZR0T3Gjesx1I1MwuKYlbMrmGO3f5Y12jtlE7LZ3UZNsIMTPn6dE-lS9ZWTRMU1Yt1jBksDTtEv2AXhYnabCG3hzcGrF5JpUEeiEoc0vQZ41XAntdFeUn7AImnOiAn6DUF8GXOX2cWP3t4iZ0/w300-h400/processed-B8DADA26-8EDC-4056-B672-41B83778233Ba.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Its owners are also working on a rescue. The final item has also be claimed; it didn't go far from home and is now secure. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0BOVETCXnNqMeGXUoYBUpNTr1_w22AjXZdkGVbSbAYF25HFUg84XFgER5MJWAM9xE8VTwOpyQIgMImmhaddR_SPXGckthHhcb7IZXCJz5RZP7hyphenhyphensolGwrlJYSNJOqmItZkm10yVHo2zrgBVFANY1z8J9OBGiJLhD2JhAMznblJ5g6B_ommCyGdhh67I/s2472/PXL_20231220_170712111a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0BOVETCXnNqMeGXUoYBUpNTr1_w22AjXZdkGVbSbAYF25HFUg84XFgER5MJWAM9xE8VTwOpyQIgMImmhaddR_SPXGckthHhcb7IZXCJz5RZP7hyphenhyphensolGwrlJYSNJOqmItZkm10yVHo2zrgBVFANY1z8J9OBGiJLhD2JhAMznblJ5g6B_ommCyGdhh67I/w368-h400/PXL_20231220_170712111a.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br />Many thanks to all who helped with identifying and retrieving these!<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Humans aren't the only ones that have to deal with increasing rainfall events. The wetland downstream from Wicwas was flooded.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJbajE-xw22picOnp_O7uCKo0cPh6oAnJpo1l3KG_hEyRs618Vtf0qYVwmp6qTkzZa2MEHb35Raxp4vIkPeQ-yOw9gY3OSaT0iVcorUIUhgNWOcXkEYjCd681J0lBrwxe1eEnPJUlW9uqAKK-VeDIrRV5_7U7kAnnYc9WrANIBDn7_iC1GNNvZ70rczw/s900/PXL_20231219_165800573a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJbajE-xw22picOnp_O7uCKo0cPh6oAnJpo1l3KG_hEyRs618Vtf0qYVwmp6qTkzZa2MEHb35Raxp4vIkPeQ-yOw9gY3OSaT0iVcorUIUhgNWOcXkEYjCd681J0lBrwxe1eEnPJUlW9uqAKK-VeDIrRV5_7U7kAnnYc9WrANIBDn7_iC1GNNvZ70rczw/w640-h360/PXL_20231219_165800573a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Did you notice the freshly chewed trees?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGZQNQB9Nijd-6Yq7Lmvu1vgW2D9fRy22i5t4gL5hwqwgnsmYb7dm7B9-Q4mbdE1hEINhwd1eejTg3n7kP2oZabf4eg_RMPuow4Bz6JHFrWjkat7UWdsBoIqPoSXsyr-U4EojBpsvVctLXnmfkFLeV3kNgsYwURleMXaAYBEZWEuhncy__lOb9KlPw3w/s900/PXL_20231219_165754554b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGZQNQB9Nijd-6Yq7Lmvu1vgW2D9fRy22i5t4gL5hwqwgnsmYb7dm7B9-Q4mbdE1hEINhwd1eejTg3n7kP2oZabf4eg_RMPuow4Bz6JHFrWjkat7UWdsBoIqPoSXsyr-U4EojBpsvVctLXnmfkFLeV3kNgsYwURleMXaAYBEZWEuhncy__lOb9KlPw3w/w640-h480/PXL_20231219_165754554b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY3DNKjTFvfnylCErlyOMSigjnAPG2gonoh7BrFbEh1UBl_d_P4BKZzS_5PHdMsFLpoiVOLTJQEncjZ_yDnfl5Gw2Ru4Rjnfho7lBwQYsvPx09wyTicwKaqOlpDGMOLEQQlnIX8T-cUbZ2-mZSPb28TgUZQHbEX-1CPMrGEGfo2bLyhOXcEJZS4kIjBM/s281/Screenshot%202023-12-23%20113631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="281" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY3DNKjTFvfnylCErlyOMSigjnAPG2gonoh7BrFbEh1UBl_d_P4BKZzS_5PHdMsFLpoiVOLTJQEncjZ_yDnfl5Gw2Ru4Rjnfho7lBwQYsvPx09wyTicwKaqOlpDGMOLEQQlnIX8T-cUbZ2-mZSPb28TgUZQHbEX-1CPMrGEGfo2bLyhOXcEJZS4kIjBM/w93-h90/Screenshot%202023-12-23%20113631.jpg" width="93" /></a></div><p></p><p>The beavers must be in need of more material to reinforce their dams from the higher water. It makes me wonder if their homes were flooded. With the water dropping now they should be fine even without a white Christmas to insulate (and decorate) their lodges.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas to all!</span></b></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-21517321997323431712023-12-17T08:22:00.002-05:002023-12-17T08:28:16.015-05:00December 17, 2023: Cat and Mouse<p>Snow squalls this week dropped enough fresh snow to reveal the cat and mouse games that constantly take place in the forest. I say cat and mouse, but the antagonist was just as likely to be a canine as a feline. </p><p>For a good mile, both sides of the path I was following through a hardwood forest in the Rumney area were peppered with the trails of mice. Maybe. They could also have been voles, moles, or even shrews - I don't know. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo78zOS-XbfLU-7YmW-Xwzg5PpQs0eO9eh88aBUizajMaxEO55ZnIhyphenhyphenZ_kRpGmKFu6BjT0Ed6Lv83XHsmxlvffpUWLSwXKnnxwoLd6HqAK3Qytw49yen_-HFtEWQmxNhoFq-Y-mS3kJeh5PSgkQ65oIfzr7v3EMG-StvLuTKpbV-iEjPTy5lSq_OU1CX0/s2275/PXL_20231215_163542095c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="2186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo78zOS-XbfLU-7YmW-Xwzg5PpQs0eO9eh88aBUizajMaxEO55ZnIhyphenhyphenZ_kRpGmKFu6BjT0Ed6Lv83XHsmxlvffpUWLSwXKnnxwoLd6HqAK3Qytw49yen_-HFtEWQmxNhoFq-Y-mS3kJeh5PSgkQ65oIfzr7v3EMG-StvLuTKpbV-iEjPTy5lSq_OU1CX0/w614-h640/PXL_20231215_163542095c.jpg" width="614" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail of some small rodent out searching for food. <br />Note the larger predator tracks coming in from the upper left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>But they sure were busy gathering up the bounty of this fall's mast.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6QaMVAmiUX0d1ip3kXZkn0amAXQYDwBpHCf91Sz8hs3gi_SdZQu45g1JMIh_jTlEyWhdmBIHHyaXByRMdeXK2UZ2zNby6l-gcBpPeoKPEhjS7_ML86Z2P65L4TY_Md6eRVmEMCClNn3YltaQQyd3hxbbcjjVc2FMspMBVSVGKacPDdDCNQKoY7jV2Cw/s3098/PXL_20231215_165556902d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="3098" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6QaMVAmiUX0d1ip3kXZkn0amAXQYDwBpHCf91Sz8hs3gi_SdZQu45g1JMIh_jTlEyWhdmBIHHyaXByRMdeXK2UZ2zNby6l-gcBpPeoKPEhjS7_ML86Z2P65L4TY_Md6eRVmEMCClNn3YltaQQyd3hxbbcjjVc2FMspMBVSVGKacPDdDCNQKoY7jV2Cw/w640-h364/PXL_20231215_165556902d.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These larger tracks look like squirrel.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And then there were the tracks of the animals hunting for all those high-protein meals.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05xeisgBNVDcIndmvSA4J1WXlmeqCJ_Unl5XN3O_kNxfgVovaqqF96uXP5skYnH5OioMgV2Asiz9nbh_RdoNBYGEkE9CRyjb5eFTpftJAC2Vg7Yng9BUIGEcbMTemSULcT6lNUZIaVvyGxfDmfhkX0PJIopB0ACiY7B4WX6pzPjLU78sjAZ2TalDjhGw/s2909/PXL_20231215_164511499a.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="1814" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05xeisgBNVDcIndmvSA4J1WXlmeqCJ_Unl5XN3O_kNxfgVovaqqF96uXP5skYnH5OioMgV2Asiz9nbh_RdoNBYGEkE9CRyjb5eFTpftJAC2Vg7Yng9BUIGEcbMTemSULcT6lNUZIaVvyGxfDmfhkX0PJIopB0ACiY7B4WX6pzPjLU78sjAZ2TalDjhGw/w400-h640/PXL_20231215_164511499a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">This track may be a bobcat. B</span><span style="text-align: center;">obcat often drag their feet in snow, and f</span><span style="text-align: center;">ox usually trot with their feet landing in a perfectly straight line.</span><p></p><div>The snow cover isn't deep enough to provide the hunted much protection from the hunters, and often they took just a small excursion out from a safe hideaway and back again.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kORE3NFJtPqtKQMh7D4IQ_4OqkLepbzuH4XeIltZ8FMtTOlPED17aNjENZCNOVZ8bk7hz8vBKFIxlDQ6ANmsGzutCFCq5GQez4rkDGbAMuPungA7bEfxhiN24wO7c82TLNmqDsqaAMbAfDr6AMJzGTsp3i40YRzv8dPXkZOEstILU92BXgctumVtF1Q/s2336/PXL_20231215_163551985a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1975" data-original-width="2336" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kORE3NFJtPqtKQMh7D4IQ_4OqkLepbzuH4XeIltZ8FMtTOlPED17aNjENZCNOVZ8bk7hz8vBKFIxlDQ6ANmsGzutCFCq5GQez4rkDGbAMuPungA7bEfxhiN24wO7c82TLNmqDsqaAMbAfDr6AMJzGTsp3i40YRzv8dPXkZOEstILU92BXgctumVtF1Q/w640-h542/PXL_20231215_163551985a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Other trips were more extensive, but all trails still had ready access to multiple safe hiding spots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIpwDEYh6Ur-Pf1Uj1K1_rmnj7COrQKykbsm0cHrI9IFRBo-LL-m6-sukiQA_2kRAHMDz5pnW0kW1Wg0c0nx05pnWmZDA9vBQ3G02A-6ymqhmkGITGwXYicHWzXSHe4lX2GBXaktOf4v_tZTVbrQVoMCh91dyQpRpOPikkLSNESUkd5pDhoj32_536QM/s3110/PXL_20231215_164452936a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3110" data-original-width="1932" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIpwDEYh6Ur-Pf1Uj1K1_rmnj7COrQKykbsm0cHrI9IFRBo-LL-m6-sukiQA_2kRAHMDz5pnW0kW1Wg0c0nx05pnWmZDA9vBQ3G02A-6ymqhmkGITGwXYicHWzXSHe4lX2GBXaktOf4v_tZTVbrQVoMCh91dyQpRpOPikkLSNESUkd5pDhoj32_536QM/w398-h640/PXL_20231215_164452936a.jpg" width="398" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYrdwugta4H5Pg2PVKoCGNLPsDm_qrT2sfNeUQy46MWb4O00D7zMcehQw2oFTJD5YjpZT5aWdFc8rQMjmq8qQo2UiDA5QjSb6VLZNjY9mTfsqeiSSLk9JHT1zSKYX9SgLKZtrSYENPjxL-eaHxf4sqV-gszdeJniAqiOX5pgIYKG3hUgygtqWviUkHdc/s2777/PXL_20231215_164443974a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2777" data-original-width="1759" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYrdwugta4H5Pg2PVKoCGNLPsDm_qrT2sfNeUQy46MWb4O00D7zMcehQw2oFTJD5YjpZT5aWdFc8rQMjmq8qQo2UiDA5QjSb6VLZNjY9mTfsqeiSSLk9JHT1zSKYX9SgLKZtrSYENPjxL-eaHxf4sqV-gszdeJniAqiOX5pgIYKG3hUgygtqWviUkHdc/w406-h640/PXL_20231215_164443974a.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tail-drag is quite evident here which makes me think this is a mouse <br />because they have the longest tails.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>The hunters knew they were down there; they circled around, smelling that savory treat like one would a hot turkey roasting in the oven on Thanksgiving Day. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFnGeSrqI6Gi5UKJcbRuVVS0rQ8KvLKq59GiYIqBELUOD2ay2MCR8AUQTSdii7Ilsp7xFQLHg6Sf6iVshOMLqgIkJaD_xzBIXBL7YU1G9eU_VO7iOlGja3T3Alk_E8zhXbkSU1Wxkaz6IrxRssmoBV2yHOdn_owt2OJ2TJZFPqxM9gXdrSoF6UzCoHu0/s3175/PXL_20231215_164611091a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3175" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFnGeSrqI6Gi5UKJcbRuVVS0rQ8KvLKq59GiYIqBELUOD2ay2MCR8AUQTSdii7Ilsp7xFQLHg6Sf6iVshOMLqgIkJaD_xzBIXBL7YU1G9eU_VO7iOlGja3T3Alk_E8zhXbkSU1Wxkaz6IrxRssmoBV2yHOdn_owt2OJ2TJZFPqxM9gXdrSoF6UzCoHu0/w458-h640/PXL_20231215_164611091a.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere under that small spruce tree a mouse was surely hiding.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">This hunter I don't know. It left large prints - maybe a coyote? </span><span style="text-align: center;">Probably not a bobcat as they prefer to lie patiently in ambush, waiting for lunch to walk by, and then pounce.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p>Back at the lake, the progress we had been making towards ice-in had a set back this week when a warm, windy day took out the ice from most of the lake. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq6YPcPJzjrJL2kNzT0fuazw4v2AS0yfxA-5jLCP8wuRTUwOGnjicN7E0wrcjxUhWrWA3LKjMZVT1OT1NPmhR6fp6vDjMr8F-NNotDZJJx9hyphenhyphenaPvL4j8Imvw6hg6cZ7qP7mkqd3glWq6uapiPV6N5jSFTJDj0qLrca2DWozJNXiwqjU3KCbbsXUZnUAM/s900/IMG_2716a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="900" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq6YPcPJzjrJL2kNzT0fuazw4v2AS0yfxA-5jLCP8wuRTUwOGnjicN7E0wrcjxUhWrWA3LKjMZVT1OT1NPmhR6fp6vDjMr8F-NNotDZJJx9hyphenhyphenaPvL4j8Imvw6hg6cZ7qP7mkqd3glWq6uapiPV6N5jSFTJDj0qLrca2DWozJNXiwqjU3KCbbsXUZnUAM/w640-h322/IMG_2716a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much ice on the lake as of yesterday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Our protected cove managed to hold firm as it had a thicker covering. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbboWKZQyUU6Hjf2aQ3-4urN4eAXBDQnjWVlYmmMbPhWiFQcv84LwCmYgITDcUq6hGKQNo-o6YNl-wTkao1QGoHp9yKrFJTWo6vGQOmnCVfq1IKp4FQtZgQd8mK5WsfnAqneWIxTSFkY0TZ7v6PkUb_QqKWz0Lq3sq2SPDSoxcxEJqlT-IcFeu8Ru2Zs/s900/PXL_20231214_181519807d.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="900" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbboWKZQyUU6Hjf2aQ3-4urN4eAXBDQnjWVlYmmMbPhWiFQcv84LwCmYgITDcUq6hGKQNo-o6YNl-wTkao1QGoHp9yKrFJTWo6vGQOmnCVfq1IKp4FQtZgQd8mK5WsfnAqneWIxTSFkY0TZ7v6PkUb_QqKWz0Lq3sq2SPDSoxcxEJqlT-IcFeu8Ru2Zs/w640-h366/PXL_20231214_181519807d.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>After a couple of cold nights mid-week I ventured out a few feet to cut a hole and found three inches of solid black ice - not enough for safe use, and by today I wouldn't even dare step out to check the thickness. It was one of those short squalls that put that trace of snow on the ice. </p><p>There were some pretty days this week.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6aP1sDm_1SWUFhE0Wpuhyt41F9To2DNSTt9FSzUyOXFpzITn3MOGS1SNF0YmVNv_cu3c9iyWB5XQPsZ9MyWyCm5d_I-gUFlxxp5Bnv4J9m4wog5CHqhqDBFgKSHqQadOEdATd1WVHGpPZTc1gQzKJJcMsiVGwgaZhMTTeSaW71njyK4MYceB1gMrg2w/s900/PXL_20231214_181617723~3a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="900" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6aP1sDm_1SWUFhE0Wpuhyt41F9To2DNSTt9FSzUyOXFpzITn3MOGS1SNF0YmVNv_cu3c9iyWB5XQPsZ9MyWyCm5d_I-gUFlxxp5Bnv4J9m4wog5CHqhqDBFgKSHqQadOEdATd1WVHGpPZTc1gQzKJJcMsiVGwgaZhMTTeSaW71njyK4MYceB1gMrg2w/w640-h332/PXL_20231214_181617723~3a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue skies and bright maple branches.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I'll close with a late afternoon picture of the White Mountains as seen from Wicwood Shores Road. Mt. Tecumseh is on the left, Osceola in the middle, and Sandwich Dome on the right. That half circle of white is snow on the ski trails at Waterville Valley.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3J2q1H0PGrvdOyvgvz92cm4lwO1X-YiDGHpTfEaKDM-nTBrjiLdyUEjZrc2CJwtyQrXdbV5yesG9iUGuQChprw3-pk7lhwBtcUEJyqCp32bz2P8ott8EZ8WCSQM3re_xzqD7PAC6-wtvMqAWNuSJgTKkBTEzyITGaYRMDhxGINmNyOJzXEWanuUpi0c/s1200/IMG_2738e.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3J2q1H0PGrvdOyvgvz92cm4lwO1X-YiDGHpTfEaKDM-nTBrjiLdyUEjZrc2CJwtyQrXdbV5yesG9iUGuQChprw3-pk7lhwBtcUEJyqCp32bz2P8ott8EZ8WCSQM3re_xzqD7PAC6-wtvMqAWNuSJgTKkBTEzyITGaYRMDhxGINmNyOJzXEWanuUpi0c/w640-h300/IMG_2738e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north from Wicwood Shores Road.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Will everything be white by Christmas?</p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-63037062749827397092023-12-10T09:56:00.001-05:002023-12-10T09:56:58.334-05:00December 10, 2023: It Arrived<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">If winter was close last week, this week it arrived.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1cEVUAUJHQqVqoiuHI4TbQUe-R24Gjf2lGTypQTBwDYzcUHcZBBU-iM9zEMiEw5JMBEyTSdhOjeMaZmMudV9IludUNtFAVjgwtHvYNS9lQRDwIDfX7YEuTLv83JmtCAmKkAf3lbi3QnRV0DbZK35KMSOq2tWquofGw6aTLLrn2Eq0GGH4Fbl1SeNCtU/s1200/PXL_20231206_173537703ba.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1cEVUAUJHQqVqoiuHI4TbQUe-R24Gjf2lGTypQTBwDYzcUHcZBBU-iM9zEMiEw5JMBEyTSdhOjeMaZmMudV9IludUNtFAVjgwtHvYNS9lQRDwIDfX7YEuTLv83JmtCAmKkAf3lbi3QnRV0DbZK35KMSOq2tWquofGw6aTLLrn2Eq0GGH4Fbl1SeNCtU/s16000/PXL_20231206_173537703ba.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north from the White Mountain Ledge.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Our first good snowfall came last Sunday night and it turned the lake into a winter wonderland ready for the Christmas season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRrqSX7W3x7zZ0MF3oe85gBdV27XbjQpmcRnrFMdCvs63WOn1P1q5CDX7VpXFAqT1sdgG-XqYbLHtcFzoqm1S5wAmANRBNKKxWOh2YGVn4h1p3HGjWTYz3QHC97IuuY00NFNlC7sXuwQOZeqrxo5YCBi5ImRL0oHQ84NFhP-L0t89LtkDTbJKmq7Xk6E/s900/PXL_20231204_145400827a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRrqSX7W3x7zZ0MF3oe85gBdV27XbjQpmcRnrFMdCvs63WOn1P1q5CDX7VpXFAqT1sdgG-XqYbLHtcFzoqm1S5wAmANRBNKKxWOh2YGVn4h1p3HGjWTYz3QHC97IuuY00NFNlC7sXuwQOZeqrxo5YCBi5ImRL0oHQ84NFhP-L0t89LtkDTbJKmq7Xk6E/w640-h360/PXL_20231204_145400827a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Wicwas Christmas Card.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The snow was dense and wet and got plastered to everything it touched. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVQDLeb-Klx4OGP5g_CIUw9dJXGFhLEMqL5nlnZt4L_1Jmh3qv-LyRZOPDD1y3ix8HCe61c88u_YkMiNUNl57kOgx-lHbXEOMTqvM3s-0o8MT0wdEh3_vJVtrEJA_suyCGb4iFX_b8wqkUCBlx3fIyhdOXDCOp124dJQbIClqS9vvSDqJgFd0kXvDuZw/s900/PXL_20231204_143626276~2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="900" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVQDLeb-Klx4OGP5g_CIUw9dJXGFhLEMqL5nlnZt4L_1Jmh3qv-LyRZOPDD1y3ix8HCe61c88u_YkMiNUNl57kOgx-lHbXEOMTqvM3s-0o8MT0wdEh3_vJVtrEJA_suyCGb4iFX_b8wqkUCBlx3fIyhdOXDCOp124dJQbIClqS9vvSDqJgFd0kXvDuZw/w640-h398/PXL_20231204_143626276~2a.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRs3a0fSXkEATgYVUY8YAzvnvpbEBstWeohufR26Lk6AaG7WwZvsfi5kJpAIQ3u3VCd6Ugh7R0gsiDu5rmIUdvqEyaFpWj_-i6tM8vfEzvJ94IMxDZFylFkJlT8Fld7g2x19LymKWiQxMfcMPb73ORiIrhnGu5edYrJr6YR7ZZbDi5-UxHP-RnBF_2rU/s900/PXL_20231204_114714321a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="610" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRs3a0fSXkEATgYVUY8YAzvnvpbEBstWeohufR26Lk6AaG7WwZvsfi5kJpAIQ3u3VCd6Ugh7R0gsiDu5rmIUdvqEyaFpWj_-i6tM8vfEzvJ94IMxDZFylFkJlT8Fld7g2x19LymKWiQxMfcMPb73ORiIrhnGu5edYrJr6YR7ZZbDi5-UxHP-RnBF_2rU/w434-h640/PXL_20231204_114714321a.JPG" width="434" /></a></div><br /></div><p>Cold temperatures after the storm let it stay that way for days. </p><p>Prior to the snow, everyone I spoke with had the same report about the birds - there were none at their birdfeeders. Usually when we put up the bird feeders around the first of December it's only a matter of minutes before they find it, with the chickadees always the first. But this year we had none - at least that we saw - for days. When they did appear it was a single chickadee or a random titmouse.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh59AiKgDAjcpM4a1Q9swsyRRQTRfZ1w-HLwVObzLDksz-dh_TRCa91df-9zLFCC9SNBleNEoxp8FALerM9XM-n2z-CKiNwxc0dgLuONHtaP0xakGZ3XBbrmH5kIpqJXmfSuI3UGKy5cy49VXvDJq3o5NDfJCZ2cXkQtgBHV3ZBWZMQLR6Tnfdau0ySYs/s1103/DSC03718a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1103" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh59AiKgDAjcpM4a1Q9swsyRRQTRfZ1w-HLwVObzLDksz-dh_TRCa91df-9zLFCC9SNBleNEoxp8FALerM9XM-n2z-CKiNwxc0dgLuONHtaP0xakGZ3XBbrmH5kIpqJXmfSuI3UGKy5cy49VXvDJq3o5NDfJCZ2cXkQtgBHV3ZBWZMQLR6Tnfdau0ySYs/s320/DSC03718a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-capped Chickadees are the first to find the feeders.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>But when the snow covered the ground, suddenly they flocked to the feeder. So far we've had chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, and juncos - no woodpeckers yet. </p><p>After the initial rush the level of activity subsided as some of the snow melted and re-exposed patches of bare ground. It appears the birds really do prefer to forage for natural food sources when it's available. </p><p><br /></p><p>A few weeks ago when I was walking at Page Pond I heard a bird song I only remember hearing previously at the top of a mountain, the "old Sam Peabody" call of the white-throated sparrow. I couldn't convince myself that really was what I was hearing until later in the walk when I saw a little brown bird hopping around in the leaves. I stopped and waited for it to expose itself which it kindly did on a rock and then a branch, and getting a good look, I decided it was in fact a white-throated sparrow. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPaEE3ETv2-XaOVf-YUHIDd05JGgGSmi3gWXNMSkO0ud6I2tm0BsG09X8zQ67WWO7pO1UiyG3EdfDtTSvekeUxvqjQy0fOhHTTHfmoYpm7AVTw3TSqftuRs0W47FDVdyDsLmFURGot5Wq6ZeRLHHGre6bzZY9H6IfjDb72BNLViF_G73lmj2PSS3V3F4/s900/IMG_2484%20big.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPaEE3ETv2-XaOVf-YUHIDd05JGgGSmi3gWXNMSkO0ud6I2tm0BsG09X8zQ67WWO7pO1UiyG3EdfDtTSvekeUxvqjQy0fOhHTTHfmoYpm7AVTw3TSqftuRs0W47FDVdyDsLmFURGot5Wq6ZeRLHHGre6bzZY9H6IfjDb72BNLViF_G73lmj2PSS3V3F4/w640-h426/IMG_2484%20big.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated sparrow.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've never had a good look at these birds in the mountains so didn't realize they have a bright yellow spot between the eye and the bill (an area called the "lore" in bird anatomy). </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll8b_jF7Bm6exyrWivJ-XaTx9iGNBluSX5xxo9QHDGFwPEl-BDG1rlARZQK1wHXcGHmQyv4N_nN3-olgREhTmTebOMlXGjQcNkALvJhpPrke7wkpQ9SJA2TQT1bcL_e3bR5RffxhOBQskCBP4I7dRZUJNsYwMm1RbYAd8KRts8FXM6dU6Kl6NtWnOBo8/s1660/IMG_2498b.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1660" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll8b_jF7Bm6exyrWivJ-XaTx9iGNBluSX5xxo9QHDGFwPEl-BDG1rlARZQK1wHXcGHmQyv4N_nN3-olgREhTmTebOMlXGjQcNkALvJhpPrke7wkpQ9SJA2TQT1bcL_e3bR5RffxhOBQskCBP4I7dRZUJNsYwMm1RbYAd8KRts8FXM6dU6Kl6NtWnOBo8/w640-h490/IMG_2498b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology range maps shows we are right on the line between their breeding and year-round ranges, so maybe I have seen them near the lake many times but never recognized them by sight. I also learned that this species has two distinct morphs, one with a white line behind the eye (like the one I saw) and other morph with a tan line. The two morphs have an equal share of the population because birds of one morph almost always select a mate with a bird of the opposite morph. It reinforces the old adage that opposites attract!</p><p><br /></p><p>Snow on the ground gave away the fact that turkeys have been invading our yard.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyE5RoKOTzB-k-qMJJ5NexdvbiBMO0I7C_-HiRgQxhoDIIRoiQGL9KZEIzPIeesKesz9GWOF8GQeS1bSUNZFKgpGqdY_A2P-dP6Zoy51HUhRx8K7nGWAYYPEdt4iSLjRRy-hw3chCljoyR2RjUF4W9JSVc84DoYwrCXFzRF74um5YD_D5PhbZmGy2QHI/s900/IMG_0167a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyE5RoKOTzB-k-qMJJ5NexdvbiBMO0I7C_-HiRgQxhoDIIRoiQGL9KZEIzPIeesKesz9GWOF8GQeS1bSUNZFKgpGqdY_A2P-dP6Zoy51HUhRx8K7nGWAYYPEdt4iSLjRRy-hw3chCljoyR2RjUF4W9JSVc84DoYwrCXFzRF74um5YD_D5PhbZmGy2QHI/w480-h640/IMG_0167a.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turkeys took a walk down the steps.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I knew they were around because I've seen their scratchings in the leaves where they've been uncovering acorns and other seeds. The tracks show just how big these birds are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUQbbz1c1FhtPKxPmGrUtPmfa54ylEWEV7AUevu_-yTtK2lZSX_F6NMtkk789DZt6sk7sViLa3cgpNydCi0jKJZ_eUYKmcczhCcOKzaxrDMnMbUENgOs1WpdXFs9K2EHJ5g-9D-mT1BhnFEGoiFL9JgVPYXctndXifV4qpvrnvmt33KmcG49RvQ5mS8s/s900/IMG_0169a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUQbbz1c1FhtPKxPmGrUtPmfa54ylEWEV7AUevu_-yTtK2lZSX_F6NMtkk789DZt6sk7sViLa3cgpNydCi0jKJZ_eUYKmcczhCcOKzaxrDMnMbUENgOs1WpdXFs9K2EHJ5g-9D-mT1BhnFEGoiFL9JgVPYXctndXifV4qpvrnvmt33KmcG49RvQ5mS8s/w640-h480/IMG_0169a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>A couple of cold nights with lows down in the teens put ice over much of the lake. Perhaps you'll recognize some of these partially frozen shorelines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO5RBOwe81r9QGFjeYUgBy-JYuCJ-DzNpo0okEp08cuCrDWb1Tw6dhCn_CKdt5xXN8SsYtgHHzSlbqNTIlhuvMb5r29w27i-SoAwpzwmp09tKQJAXZWOAo7vOaTnZY6W1eN4uazxcVqqyT5dKAD2MgF-oMy5_pZZMI60W4kvAOBoSJbNc_w6XY6tMcMM/s4032/PXL_20231207_185402652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO5RBOwe81r9QGFjeYUgBy-JYuCJ-DzNpo0okEp08cuCrDWb1Tw6dhCn_CKdt5xXN8SsYtgHHzSlbqNTIlhuvMb5r29w27i-SoAwpzwmp09tKQJAXZWOAo7vOaTnZY6W1eN4uazxcVqqyT5dKAD2MgF-oMy5_pZZMI60W4kvAOBoSJbNc_w6XY6tMcMM/w640-h360/PXL_20231207_185402652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0-J-ZjxYMsFh9t-RdzZ28b8ut1vO8ozl0xHWLeSx5-JuG_8Xv-PZ67HDe0i6gaNmV9p3YMf-fw8FbCt2k_FISUuzrmDoC4daNKe4QzUjAfwX4Xz_aBh0BlsPzJtKoKMriuBs21XutJDQJmNgZFZ_U4szb2QuwpB1l5A4BTtpgqJK5U2cZiYLJuIaHlg/s4032/PXL_20231207_185247651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0-J-ZjxYMsFh9t-RdzZ28b8ut1vO8ozl0xHWLeSx5-JuG_8Xv-PZ67HDe0i6gaNmV9p3YMf-fw8FbCt2k_FISUuzrmDoC4daNKe4QzUjAfwX4Xz_aBh0BlsPzJtKoKMriuBs21XutJDQJmNgZFZ_U4szb2QuwpB1l5A4BTtpgqJK5U2cZiYLJuIaHlg/w640-h360/PXL_20231207_185247651.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65hJCSoKMbNgkgrCYHDcHCT5RY_ML1nM60uxCXgepiWlQzRa5njr67Naev8u6zLwcOY50Wk6ydsdt13jHkyA_ZfyT2XFCviDaQxu_05mL-F4QIyHkByG9nzVfZWQAonSNyOZme0fjpKzD3ge1VuLBuc_1v2jf5Ju-mJFdbOnnwQXtUc69hTJkEfnn0Hg/s4032/PXL_20231207_185158905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65hJCSoKMbNgkgrCYHDcHCT5RY_ML1nM60uxCXgepiWlQzRa5njr67Naev8u6zLwcOY50Wk6ydsdt13jHkyA_ZfyT2XFCviDaQxu_05mL-F4QIyHkByG9nzVfZWQAonSNyOZme0fjpKzD3ge1VuLBuc_1v2jf5Ju-mJFdbOnnwQXtUc69hTJkEfnn0Hg/w640-h360/PXL_20231207_185158905.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Warm weather and rain today may erode the ice and send winter back north for a time, but it will return soon enough. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ht7GzQ2A7e15XETBCUTYv6c2txaVkUccIVBXcW9aGHSs06lIb3eMOoLCdlq5J2q_GDjA8W9fgIPuQ6tcwJzLvpRNzY-s5obA-B-TjVN3np3AFx-k_eg6M1KskrsMAdTIUkainVUjsrTjnPm0mqdM99z90k5WbwgT2iObGSmc64s4wXTIQb3LidWLDcM/s800/Wicwas%20Crockett's%20Ledge_e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ht7GzQ2A7e15XETBCUTYv6c2txaVkUccIVBXcW9aGHSs06lIb3eMOoLCdlq5J2q_GDjA8W9fgIPuQ6tcwJzLvpRNzY-s5obA-B-TjVN3np3AFx-k_eg6M1KskrsMAdTIUkainVUjsrTjnPm0mqdM99z90k5WbwgT2iObGSmc64s4wXTIQb3LidWLDcM/w640-h480/Wicwas%20Crockett's%20Ledge_e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Dave Thorpe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-56066207759577588782023-12-03T06:47:00.002-05:002023-12-03T06:54:39.751-05:00December 3, 2023: Winter is Close<p>By close, I mean geographically. The snow we received last week is essentially gone from around the lake, but just 20 miles north - as the crow flies - there are a few inches on the ground, and quite a bit more at elevation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6guJX-wCBxqKO2TzAkv00ZJebTLlXeazDvyjxw7lqw1WHa9rORUgc3kWtmBQKaf3HR6ICcS7QC8P9tHtsTVtz4bmptzM8QkoE2VhcBQ9_7asbC8gx8gnBz0Tqeke8w6-VqZnwt_lRji_OcTwLEs-Bo8Z3PieGTm6Egmvmz0MnVv6UNg-s7fH6h66W8c0/s900/PXL_20231130_172746403~3a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="900" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6guJX-wCBxqKO2TzAkv00ZJebTLlXeazDvyjxw7lqw1WHa9rORUgc3kWtmBQKaf3HR6ICcS7QC8P9tHtsTVtz4bmptzM8QkoE2VhcBQ9_7asbC8gx8gnBz0Tqeke8w6-VqZnwt_lRji_OcTwLEs-Bo8Z3PieGTm6Egmvmz0MnVv6UNg-s7fH6h66W8c0/w640-h292/PXL_20231130_172746403~3a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow on the ground and rime ice on the trees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>That's from the summit of Mt. Tecumseh, the lowest elevation of the 48 mountains that make the list of New Hampshire's 4000 footers. At lower elevations, up to about 2500', bare branches let the sun shine through on the fresh pristine snow. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CBeO_DeRMXcdI_vatK8AxkscNp1VgrgmR-t2xYJrfA3FIzxdLisHqhhqfRcXzISmyRwhd9_reFHPF8shzSeO4k5hxGfJk4U6urBCIeFTuMX3-HB4ZXAcjx_S2rLYR1odNwAC-Uh86403iQXz_3M_7QH9zCdMoJ0roxHhoG0135xnmA16MBXa7Izplno/s900/PXL_20231130_185507575a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CBeO_DeRMXcdI_vatK8AxkscNp1VgrgmR-t2xYJrfA3FIzxdLisHqhhqfRcXzISmyRwhd9_reFHPF8shzSeO4k5hxGfJk4U6urBCIeFTuMX3-HB4ZXAcjx_S2rLYR1odNwAC-Uh86403iQXz_3M_7QH9zCdMoJ0roxHhoG0135xnmA16MBXa7Izplno/w640-h360/PXL_20231130_185507575a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But as the forest transitioned to spruce, the terrain became shaded, with the snow contrasting against dark green needles and blue sky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd27OEvyrHYP02FO3hx90jP1pHKLVVgy8EXdqwvjRE-sDm8lKAwiIbshKHNr2mghf0lJSGa9SvUtqamgvfoDhlRvu0bbyX4-2HuX26OM0HejN4RYsyl1gvpRvMtP3ql1KxAbEDv1xKmPPJJnbBcgCaP1EuVykGymyX-iwhHlKFrVnBHCfgpcCYJTTZmlE/s900/PXL_20231130_171712170a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd27OEvyrHYP02FO3hx90jP1pHKLVVgy8EXdqwvjRE-sDm8lKAwiIbshKHNr2mghf0lJSGa9SvUtqamgvfoDhlRvu0bbyX4-2HuX26OM0HejN4RYsyl1gvpRvMtP3ql1KxAbEDv1xKmPPJJnbBcgCaP1EuVykGymyX-iwhHlKFrVnBHCfgpcCYJTTZmlE/w360-h640/PXL_20231130_171712170a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There were mountain ash trees scattered along the trail above 3500' with the red berries either falling off or being plucked off by the birds, as there were bright red spots that looked like drops of blood on the snow. The berries right at the summit were frozen solid, covered with rime ice.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-XbVo3RYJapsvWCaBhNrieeVL4ZJSHHGwjxDc_J5Qw_G423VFoYNTXimBNAktlAh9RHjz_y8fvQRlITPEtFcTR6BWUhelGBixtK2eMXBrCzENhcB_BvvKbgq-rFdaXl_dONSAXgAlx7VCbG5_37x4wwhkOCvlf9oAA1siL-5o4SWajXFlIkDhwUvGyA/s755/PXL_20231130_172847689~2a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-XbVo3RYJapsvWCaBhNrieeVL4ZJSHHGwjxDc_J5Qw_G423VFoYNTXimBNAktlAh9RHjz_y8fvQRlITPEtFcTR6BWUhelGBixtK2eMXBrCzENhcB_BvvKbgq-rFdaXl_dONSAXgAlx7VCbG5_37x4wwhkOCvlf9oAA1siL-5o4SWajXFlIkDhwUvGyA/w428-h640/PXL_20231130_172847689~2a.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rime ice on the mountain ash.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Streams are still flowing well and icicles have started to form where water drips over rocks and ledges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscPXNhXUOohcQvGzIerqPoypRn-MHuppumLtXQ6qxD2O_q1d-MZqvX9IrG1ePepJYWO5oj7694k6tqVCecuro8Pc7PfcAA6Er_4J7VJ8UlHW21QGNospwXqdj5mb43JFTricM1-RscYFo4u7nFNfVr_xzH1YNU3a4jJHJ39BJZCPc7wtNVV3LU_S8qmg/s900/PXL_20231130_163403809a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscPXNhXUOohcQvGzIerqPoypRn-MHuppumLtXQ6qxD2O_q1d-MZqvX9IrG1ePepJYWO5oj7694k6tqVCecuro8Pc7PfcAA6Er_4J7VJ8UlHW21QGNospwXqdj5mb43JFTricM1-RscYFo4u7nFNfVr_xzH1YNU3a4jJHJ39BJZCPc7wtNVV3LU_S8qmg/w640-h360/PXL_20231130_163403809a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FG0NviyegmLAvGt8AiAx1TKWHcHKcKR_GL-x4zo4fXXMrwvK8GDYI-SMYlT_vu1fsP_y4DvdafHN2Kculi-hjDrYS_3HJNEsgbOCp2DFXWwf_8yHXmUNHD0PcQRg3qcPeipgfsDlPU_xzbn3Y6Puw8jxVZLLJ9MWEKtmU3S-JB0zXdmQaDaX_WvEuL4/s900/PXL_20231130_172113842a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FG0NviyegmLAvGt8AiAx1TKWHcHKcKR_GL-x4zo4fXXMrwvK8GDYI-SMYlT_vu1fsP_y4DvdafHN2Kculi-hjDrYS_3HJNEsgbOCp2DFXWwf_8yHXmUNHD0PcQRg3qcPeipgfsDlPU_xzbn3Y6Puw8jxVZLLJ9MWEKtmU3S-JB0zXdmQaDaX_WvEuL4/w360-h640/PXL_20231130_172113842a.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>I saw absolutely no birds on this hike, not even a gray jay or a boreal chickadee like I saw when I was here about this same time last December. The only wildlife was a brave chipmunk still out collecting food for the winter. </p><p><br /></p><p>Back at the lake, winter is starting to take shape; our cove had its first full skim of ice form on Thursday. On Monday morning the cove was still open water as the moon set to the west.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisttHDm9uFBAB00Lbw5CGPDUb2yIHcvoMPOz81rYFAlZMu-okp89hBq4YqvBhtTLA9nKJDJSDOmqJyafjVeri7vTWl6h06Ke-iAxtQQF9aflMu4OLU2glVOhXydr58bZHERcnQmBWmnw7_dPsDb8S9Sa9XhHl4b5XgJE6s2PzhxqEUaeZogHeSsjwVWHo/s900/PXL_20231127_113226261a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="900" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisttHDm9uFBAB00Lbw5CGPDUb2yIHcvoMPOz81rYFAlZMu-okp89hBq4YqvBhtTLA9nKJDJSDOmqJyafjVeri7vTWl6h06Ke-iAxtQQF9aflMu4OLU2glVOhXydr58bZHERcnQmBWmnw7_dPsDb8S9Sa9XhHl4b5XgJE6s2PzhxqEUaeZogHeSsjwVWHo/w640-h322/PXL_20231127_113226261a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>By Thursday morning, ice had crept out about half way across the cove.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyC8MkQEDnuVEWDdBk3rbX8ANdPV4mJ9LwOWe_VlZwgJJodWE_2PdkL89u0ee6ROOPSIDxJ2J4shG3gDfptOoPq8bonotnBmyvr_hWRUWH1q9opSIHr-pK9of2k4akcQv-p-2GrxvDoORrhoQSdAhvQmGKo0JY1Tz-RrIOj8wZBziUZ81Q8hcZowjC4U/s1200/PXL_20231130_132951614a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1200" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyC8MkQEDnuVEWDdBk3rbX8ANdPV4mJ9LwOWe_VlZwgJJodWE_2PdkL89u0ee6ROOPSIDxJ2J4shG3gDfptOoPq8bonotnBmyvr_hWRUWH1q9opSIHr-pK9of2k4akcQv-p-2GrxvDoORrhoQSdAhvQmGKo0JY1Tz-RrIOj8wZBziUZ81Q8hcZowjC4U/w640-h364/PXL_20231130_132951614a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thursday, November 30th.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And by Friday the entire cove was skimmed over.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIurQBhuw6FlQWaJTw_Mvr8CAR-O3_h4-OfZsDAUCrRpQ-cuQmVw-PdlozMXdWMEAEOuOoiGE5duHyR_EYgoSskx4hhPa_x4iv_9TSe7J3f2ip2hEefHiiO2P3AR08-JPhOLgEX9Eu7c2j_C8JuOuuO2UdXUGz0moagZdxfBOCrtsjaMUY3L4qnlUnzdk/s1200/PXL_20231201_124930336a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIurQBhuw6FlQWaJTw_Mvr8CAR-O3_h4-OfZsDAUCrRpQ-cuQmVw-PdlozMXdWMEAEOuOoiGE5duHyR_EYgoSskx4hhPa_x4iv_9TSe7J3f2ip2hEefHiiO2P3AR08-JPhOLgEX9Eu7c2j_C8JuOuuO2UdXUGz0moagZdxfBOCrtsjaMUY3L4qnlUnzdk/w640-h360/PXL_20231201_124930336a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday, December 1st.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>On Saturday there was even a skim of ice growing up the main part of the lake from the southern end.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUsFXnC83leIDEtBS76ccBQCbZysCuxpfsZpaBGakNYQu-FjdWkkS5oxH9pcTgpjPlHzDYLvnsk4o7UakdB_iIUkZdmtS1XrOJqHq5CBupR1gnFVc9uRqsHjSY0aC98sur7mv1DH1Ke4Cr9-Wt653nPoSAAaSKNRTEB_cC9lAWtSLBCx-QG2H-MiO8vM/s900/PXL_20231202_134529056a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUsFXnC83leIDEtBS76ccBQCbZysCuxpfsZpaBGakNYQu-FjdWkkS5oxH9pcTgpjPlHzDYLvnsk4o7UakdB_iIUkZdmtS1XrOJqHq5CBupR1gnFVc9uRqsHjSY0aC98sur7mv1DH1Ke4Cr9-Wt653nPoSAAaSKNRTEB_cC9lAWtSLBCx-QG2H-MiO8vM/w640-h360/PXL_20231202_134529056a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A warm, foggy Saturday morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>You can barely make out a path where what was probably the last boat on the lake made its way through the ice to the boat ramp.</div><div><br /></div>Warm weather yesterday melted much of the ice away, but with snow forecast for today it will probably fill up with slush and ice and be ready to freeze solid with one good cold snap. The possibility of ice on the lake and snow on the ground means winter may be about to creep down those 20 miles as the crow flies south from the mountains to the lakes.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU7vRdnlpl_DHSXnpj-DX-Nr-4DEITdgy0Pia_HRGl3xskyi0_1hxfU3ZQ43RJBhkz3YQsFcRWvYTT_jchcLk_CIw1l9J7yTrE8h1uVzofmQljLrVNve1g82qZSieWPTDeJ6g3GWwPI-N2QQYjlhp1vq0EkwlXPcLSdBFJL_h4sNLL6rjQOg5t6Pr_OI/s900/PXL_20231130_172709028a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU7vRdnlpl_DHSXnpj-DX-Nr-4DEITdgy0Pia_HRGl3xskyi0_1hxfU3ZQ43RJBhkz3YQsFcRWvYTT_jchcLk_CIw1l9J7yTrE8h1uVzofmQljLrVNve1g82qZSieWPTDeJ6g3GWwPI-N2QQYjlhp1vq0EkwlXPcLSdBFJL_h4sNLL6rjQOg5t6Pr_OI/w640-h360/PXL_20231130_172709028a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We're ready for winter!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-495176633514405462023-11-26T08:05:00.000-05:002023-11-26T08:05:09.458-05:00November 26, 2023: Ice & Snow, Needles & Birds<p>I had the good fortune this week to be walking the trails behind Lake Wicwas with a group of friends when we came upon some needle ice beside the trail. The ground was warm and well saturated from recent rain and snow, and the night before was cold enough to freeze water exposed to the surface, providing the right ingredients for these cool crystals to grow.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3IoSpWlTf5DQ3FQyfoPHbZjuxIY2hUrWqkVF6gqzdRIARkbbcD0JDaBhF-JTML1uKIlMe1HbqOU3K80fePxygf2PSkHLjsIHDiU08NrhbKIYROSy-Wb51fkxnV65H5UrXICb6E5LEYyVwyKgwtk6xCXKTNog5fXfYE6Jn9fRyzQjg7nFpmHvRpCr0go/s900/PXL_20231121_145636333a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3IoSpWlTf5DQ3FQyfoPHbZjuxIY2hUrWqkVF6gqzdRIARkbbcD0JDaBhF-JTML1uKIlMe1HbqOU3K80fePxygf2PSkHLjsIHDiU08NrhbKIYROSy-Wb51fkxnV65H5UrXICb6E5LEYyVwyKgwtk6xCXKTNog5fXfYE6Jn9fRyzQjg7nFpmHvRpCr0go/w640-h480/PXL_20231121_145636333a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Needle ice growing up out of warm, wet soil.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Once an ice crystal is formed on the bottom of a grain of sand, heat from below is transferred through the stone to the air which cools the water beneath it, resulting in more water freezing at the bottom of the crystal. As the process continues the crystal grows skyward creating needle ice. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnTSn4Z4dUob6NyM3Z5JiV3dobcKPe53Eus1BD95NB_loLS3CNErXvbBnDj3kHOdWFftBq6WYKormBhREbKZv4r6PL_MmrdOK1Yhx25IQciLF2-_JH9B4huS2C8tn4G2MC6-ylpDZkmBhpDJ90sS-43wH_rv_2q-e6EpkeNJC3fBM5MICaxC7IvQiho/s900/PXL_20231121_145628807a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnTSn4Z4dUob6NyM3Z5JiV3dobcKPe53Eus1BD95NB_loLS3CNErXvbBnDj3kHOdWFftBq6WYKormBhREbKZv4r6PL_MmrdOK1Yhx25IQciLF2-_JH9B4huS2C8tn4G2MC6-ylpDZkmBhpDJ90sS-43wH_rv_2q-e6EpkeNJC3fBM5MICaxC7IvQiho/w640-h480/PXL_20231121_145628807a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand and small stones provide the heat path to start the process. A few beechnut shells rode up on top.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Late fall is the time when conditions are right for these to form, and it's always a treat to find them. </p><p>On cold, calm nights this week, interesting ice patterns were forming in other places too, such as on the surface of the lake in secluded areas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdXsh9IqpWcoV-OULjegB7U_Aj1B2Y0SRFLjzFFARkhg9UVB8uGVgr2nTAJIoyp_Hpghsi5tYmwO26k3n1o-ylRntJ6VhyFN4CxWuXryJCIkOlKVdVLrAHq81yf3rpiHKmmDsh7-6p3nXklMgc_jSlQ-r1bhp8xZZYBYVdtdRU4kiHo8vlbmzAxwiwjg/s900/PXL_20231124_125233680b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="900" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdXsh9IqpWcoV-OULjegB7U_Aj1B2Y0SRFLjzFFARkhg9UVB8uGVgr2nTAJIoyp_Hpghsi5tYmwO26k3n1o-ylRntJ6VhyFN4CxWuXryJCIkOlKVdVLrAHq81yf3rpiHKmmDsh7-6p3nXklMgc_jSlQ-r1bhp8xZZYBYVdtdRU4kiHo8vlbmzAxwiwjg/w640-h358/PXL_20231124_125233680b.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK4iSLNnxiGhPPwM0MwQVfgBsEY212Sk3FhHKDhmdMVrAc0X-aLq4MlC_CQeJkUc-CziRWxu_uSx7erAbwOWP2hfJZs8oyMHDKEXiE80AC21j0cyXcNXNdBuMin_YQMAIeqOaEmKRHId5btNOv4jQgGf1Ti1VQAuYpb_gdyFS-2jmP0MEDX0uuAFWh9w/s900/PXL_20231124_125246618a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="900" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK4iSLNnxiGhPPwM0MwQVfgBsEY212Sk3FhHKDhmdMVrAc0X-aLq4MlC_CQeJkUc-CziRWxu_uSx7erAbwOWP2hfJZs8oyMHDKEXiE80AC21j0cyXcNXNdBuMin_YQMAIeqOaEmKRHId5btNOv4jQgGf1Ti1VQAuYpb_gdyFS-2jmP0MEDX0uuAFWh9w/w640-h276/PXL_20231124_125246618a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p>These always remind me of Disney's Fantasia, and the fairies transforming water into ice to the music of Tchaikovsky's <i>Waltz of the Flowers</i> from his Nutcracker Suite. I didn't realize those swirling ice creations were real until I saw these flourishes for the first time with my own eyes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogujEW8DE92jl2BdmtCzKQzMfdQLNHPBYCC1PPLp439GmhNmYaVdKkNsRuglu24S1gOf5r_aJfAcfpQHDyMAA0L2h7_65tN2ZD8MjHi9gTkaivGhZZo8FJieR-F6N1AW7g-hrMwyP65YMNkHbaCBUU9pB4O6Xiz63n_rE1Nri9jmuvmyNtoHvnNnUVzs/s900/PXL_20231124_125233680a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="900" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogujEW8DE92jl2BdmtCzKQzMfdQLNHPBYCC1PPLp439GmhNmYaVdKkNsRuglu24S1gOf5r_aJfAcfpQHDyMAA0L2h7_65tN2ZD8MjHi9gTkaivGhZZo8FJieR-F6N1AW7g-hrMwyP65YMNkHbaCBUU9pB4O6Xiz63n_rE1Nri9jmuvmyNtoHvnNnUVzs/w640-h422/PXL_20231124_125233680a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8Y3XzTselQsOXvOVZtgOyZPEvaJ_t2Bnz1OVwueP-LHNaXC2w-drchAV6EDhG9KFCIsL6u078j6qbjFeUNdznVPbBcBwDUQWbufvE2NB0-a-qHQAZkJm7RroZInscZ5iQA6y1T9pAhr9I-LAdmuF6hptB8cHpUuvIl-3rpX71LAkUhQaA5uKP1SsxCk/s900/PXL_20231124_125246618b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="900" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8Y3XzTselQsOXvOVZtgOyZPEvaJ_t2Bnz1OVwueP-LHNaXC2w-drchAV6EDhG9KFCIsL6u078j6qbjFeUNdznVPbBcBwDUQWbufvE2NB0-a-qHQAZkJm7RroZInscZ5iQA6y1T9pAhr9I-LAdmuF6hptB8cHpUuvIl-3rpX71LAkUhQaA5uKP1SsxCk/w640-h322/PXL_20231124_125246618b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Wednesday morning we got our first measurable snow, which thankfully was cleared out in time for the big Thanksgiving travel day. And as if on queue, that morning the snow birds appeared - a big flock of them. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai17bAxxwOUygybCacEqsoCLCoYh1qd3fhfpyMnk0dyHSHwSv3a2EfxWWa7mpXF3eBnAs2HtqdPDq6GyE5MgKvYC4zeYcTOv2MkNeuWivJWJcUADgtf_KbJ4hp4dT2IQolKWFhwkPBRsuOr8uXEeGfo7SSNJZIitNcMJxqLSVb0mFX67TIbGEavbPQq8/s900/IMG_2621a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai17bAxxwOUygybCacEqsoCLCoYh1qd3fhfpyMnk0dyHSHwSv3a2EfxWWa7mpXF3eBnAs2HtqdPDq6GyE5MgKvYC4zeYcTOv2MkNeuWivJWJcUADgtf_KbJ4hp4dT2IQolKWFhwkPBRsuOr8uXEeGfo7SSNJZIitNcMJxqLSVb0mFX67TIbGEavbPQq8/w640-h426/IMG_2621a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-eyed juncos, aka snowbirds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>They were happily picking seeds that were exposed where I had cleared snow from the road. There are lots of hemlocks and a few while pines over the road here, so those are most likely what they were feasting on. </p><p>We've all noticed how big the white pine seed crop was this year, as have the squirrels. I came across this huge stash of white pine cones which a red squirrel must have collected this fall. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUKUW5sHJUVmrKZ2NiBOafGngaRgJanJfnC_748fKXyCdC3ogvfSFVGHctlDJrODEIRCIGarwG2xDt17l5kMgPKdwUBEF5TG1jWhrF-aOsEmAddGe3eFyOS3w-ULstuMxJNdHUYhdYo5XWP_klb51rT6omFpZtAY6_0bjUoDfxEYaFLKtiVVrYs4NEMw/s900/PXL_20231124_130737619a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUKUW5sHJUVmrKZ2NiBOafGngaRgJanJfnC_748fKXyCdC3ogvfSFVGHctlDJrODEIRCIGarwG2xDt17l5kMgPKdwUBEF5TG1jWhrF-aOsEmAddGe3eFyOS3w-ULstuMxJNdHUYhdYo5XWP_klb51rT6omFpZtAY6_0bjUoDfxEYaFLKtiVVrYs4NEMw/w300-h400/PXL_20231124_130737619a.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large cache of pine cones collected beneath a large Eastern white pine. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrjQkJS-XUzF-LXbUPgbSqt6uLDcAH3sZFGKait3SFs6LbP3oawuhBWyLwAZrjSbgsojKLAolvTDedFIM5_klE8tbAXHspPDaNDzrAjJZbTXK-Tts4eyi8ASAiytdEq545CAc2s79yNrCQXIe787qtVpVni4NWxS_9g08tQBNcW3DYjDMsMbH4sXtHEo/s900/PXL_20231124_130744268a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrjQkJS-XUzF-LXbUPgbSqt6uLDcAH3sZFGKait3SFs6LbP3oawuhBWyLwAZrjSbgsojKLAolvTDedFIM5_klE8tbAXHspPDaNDzrAjJZbTXK-Tts4eyi8ASAiytdEq545CAc2s79yNrCQXIe787qtVpVni4NWxS_9g08tQBNcW3DYjDMsMbH4sXtHEo/w640-h360/PXL_20231124_130744268a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then, just a few feet away, were three more piles.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqWrBICbZg4vHdEx03YJBbPET1DEdwN4JqtrKWe1ugxW75J-fS1mxvs82SbYH6cTridH7DWY14H6jwq_gfwn2ylF769_SSGaLhtRcpVZBpXyAptme7j5mBYV6t6KTqg99ZjU3YAA8vETQdt-FouKls7SwQWpxOHW5uo_jQtpIeXPjsw-Porw6hmZ2U-0/s900/PXL_20231124_130816791a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqWrBICbZg4vHdEx03YJBbPET1DEdwN4JqtrKWe1ugxW75J-fS1mxvs82SbYH6cTridH7DWY14H6jwq_gfwn2ylF769_SSGaLhtRcpVZBpXyAptme7j5mBYV6t6KTqg99ZjU3YAA8vETQdt-FouKls7SwQWpxOHW5uo_jQtpIeXPjsw-Porw6hmZ2U-0/w640-h360/PXL_20231124_130816791a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pantry is strategically located around the dining table where<br />Mr. Squirrel can safely observe his surroundings while he dines.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>This is quite a winter pantry - one squirrel won't go hungry this winter. I'll try to remember to visit this spot a few times during the winter.</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope the juncos and squirrels weren't the only creatures that feasted well this week. I hope you too had a wonderful Thanksgiving with food, family, and friends - quiet, peaceful, and safe.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtplaA_eCnGNI3Rg7zT-Zp0fEm5-9vszxwuUBMjd-nmGyi-ELswb-JXsnxkPPugh0iPUb8wt86hdZJlf3EM8Zqsi_LCFFyWFHPZTi44vpALNyOrq3HbKtAg44EEIvYdHszRop8VdKKH6tRc7X7b-cegB8F0agaTVF8zykkunCAnyIUOadbXG6LVNE_eMs/s650/PXL_20231124_125342574a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtplaA_eCnGNI3Rg7zT-Zp0fEm5-9vszxwuUBMjd-nmGyi-ELswb-JXsnxkPPugh0iPUb8wt86hdZJlf3EM8Zqsi_LCFFyWFHPZTi44vpALNyOrq3HbKtAg44EEIvYdHszRop8VdKKH6tRc7X7b-cegB8F0agaTVF8zykkunCAnyIUOadbXG6LVNE_eMs/s16000/PXL_20231124_125342574a.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Thanksgiving from Lake Wicwas.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-72566456390781533122023-11-19T08:24:00.003-05:002023-11-19T08:32:59.398-05:00November 19, 2023: A Farewell to LuLu and Checkers<p>Before I say goodbye to Lake Wicwas' newest loons, I'll mention another confusing bird moment I had this week. We took a walk at Little Harbor in Portsmouth, which is also the site of <a href="https://www.nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/wentworth-coolidge-mansion" target="_blank">Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Park</a>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn5DGg4msDR7iUM4zQ3y7jIbZoXytVBM-29T7Bp-dPDGtY4-CXfunoS8N5WZZ0J5J6Cqn-EBY2AEJGOxpW457uqCSkNYhKnkyn-fopt6-W4IHwMbxFfnHzXLgqVbgNm-_mvb3xOJzXy4i4aq6cjKkdb6XIK8F9Gjv_8AM85xsmQtMZqjh_wH4M3oylSk/s900/PXL_20231116_180922934a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn5DGg4msDR7iUM4zQ3y7jIbZoXytVBM-29T7Bp-dPDGtY4-CXfunoS8N5WZZ0J5J6Cqn-EBY2AEJGOxpW457uqCSkNYhKnkyn-fopt6-W4IHwMbxFfnHzXLgqVbgNm-_mvb3xOJzXy4i4aq6cjKkdb6XIK8F9Gjv_8AM85xsmQtMZqjh_wH4M3oylSk/w640-h360/PXL_20231116_180922934a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion on Little Harbor in Portsmouth.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The setting is gorgeous and peaceful, with beautiful views over a well-protected inner harbor, yet with easy access to the open ocean. It's plain to see why the first NH governor chose this site for his home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwSIN_yLfVNy8RQbvOeUR66A9EgTiBf2wYzGwb8mssk92UfTNZb9LQBZzhdrszQUPMN2fmayaA2egb3jTLJMHXkiI_Y-0YO8gKHpQyhr1UUHN8m8U3RzqDnVsN1tE8ihHxaYsyV6GgZrzkVEVWMDeF3jX2VGZpFVafKFz8sBf5Cp9MBUlFbzqS49LKeI/s900/PXL_20231116_180449286a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwSIN_yLfVNy8RQbvOeUR66A9EgTiBf2wYzGwb8mssk92UfTNZb9LQBZzhdrszQUPMN2fmayaA2egb3jTLJMHXkiI_Y-0YO8gKHpQyhr1UUHN8m8U3RzqDnVsN1tE8ihHxaYsyV6GgZrzkVEVWMDeF3jX2VGZpFVafKFz8sBf5Cp9MBUlFbzqS49LKeI/w640-h360/PXL_20231116_180449286a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Harbor</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpjKHQRJU9M7yvJEPWCAPv01CUZCJVy_YVEk7xJJnD0HQ6uCqAqB2GfEAQDqi9aldpdA3GvR6V9MaD7WrVoaLVZzi2sRIvTfeMPcS9you5rBSNVkhnBWW2jn7i9xUJIy-dJaG65b0elKHZpa7tjaVdNe1pRtkzl-I7SO7ZyIeFTjPkit-Fkzn0CwqElQ/s900/PXL_20231116_181129948a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpjKHQRJU9M7yvJEPWCAPv01CUZCJVy_YVEk7xJJnD0HQ6uCqAqB2GfEAQDqi9aldpdA3GvR6V9MaD7WrVoaLVZzi2sRIvTfeMPcS9you5rBSNVkhnBWW2jn7i9xUJIy-dJaG65b0elKHZpa7tjaVdNe1pRtkzl-I7SO7ZyIeFTjPkit-Fkzn0CwqElQ/w640-h360/PXL_20231116_181129948a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Governor Wentworth didn't see bridges or lobster boats in his view.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><p></p><p>The Little Harbor Loop Trail passes along a stretch of shoreline, goes out to a view point on the Piscataqua River, and travels through some mature forests. It's a nice two mile walk with a lot of variety - there's even a kayak launch for paddlers. You can find <a href="https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia/c53525d0-403f-437f-8fdc-f3c52b9c69f3/Little-Harbor_Loop-Trail_Map.aspx" target="_blank">a map here</a>.</p><p>Looking out over the bay we watched a flock of white gulls picking fish out of the water, and those are what presented an identification challenge. The two birds that seemed the most likely candidates - the black-headed gull and the Bonaparte's gull - both have black heads, and these had white heads. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oDB147xZicBwe34buBVjz1WJHbutcs7pYZEmTZeBMRSE4MKpiQMJ1cODyh_YCU2Oa_rWAe1Dv-Yuz0YY2Cu1f88fwm8pIWyS8l6UAlTBVPlTUCs6g3HMinL4LBEu6XYK6QuCkqEgxMSopGsq2EDFXlXpZgatfeZzzjwRmq7dLHkMZhBRUF15seIWCnY/s900/Immaturea.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oDB147xZicBwe34buBVjz1WJHbutcs7pYZEmTZeBMRSE4MKpiQMJ1cODyh_YCU2Oa_rWAe1Dv-Yuz0YY2Cu1f88fwm8pIWyS8l6UAlTBVPlTUCs6g3HMinL4LBEu6XYK6QuCkqEgxMSopGsq2EDFXlXpZgatfeZzzjwRmq7dLHkMZhBRUF15seIWCnY/w640-h426/Immaturea.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostly white with a dark spot on the side of its head.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>It took time with the field guides to find that in winter, both of those birds have white heads, and both have black spots as these birds did. However, only the Bonaparte's gull has the black tail band, and that's only on a first-year winter bird. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LzDjHlCHEC1dLJDyqx61yZiGiynvJo5u9hHy_picqlW1F7idvHvu5bcRCuz29diYwJl-Wqtos_F6_LxsnrgsePnNTOCza2IKjQGcdBbHe5QlHRAw2ydP5uRVSr0yS-58sXyxuCBhOaah0SMqO3hojSTyzAZR95IH9UsNRUdQ9JPjH4Q81cWwkystJBo/s900/IMG_2564a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LzDjHlCHEC1dLJDyqx61yZiGiynvJo5u9hHy_picqlW1F7idvHvu5bcRCuz29diYwJl-Wqtos_F6_LxsnrgsePnNTOCza2IKjQGcdBbHe5QlHRAw2ydP5uRVSr0yS-58sXyxuCBhOaah0SMqO3hojSTyzAZR95IH9UsNRUdQ9JPjH4Q81cWwkystJBo/w640-h480/IMG_2564a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black on wing tips, edges, and the end of the tail are clues.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Orange-red feet also pointed towards the Bonaparte's gull.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y5goiSyfYgCIEBgOTuD_e9zoT9zKJFW4AXiXn6GRc5XLsDzT2QMG6zMTDHQA43dmovq7UJv_aUNLYA2PR7Zsp4tFoexSMTt5vua2uyNbUt5mCK0WkfSyM2ovk9D9cfbAk0JM4-tZR4E0EZwyvOUW248zMVQ8T9myZrJtMB941Et2XkKHL_ac991E7xU/s900/Feeta.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y5goiSyfYgCIEBgOTuD_e9zoT9zKJFW4AXiXn6GRc5XLsDzT2QMG6zMTDHQA43dmovq7UJv_aUNLYA2PR7Zsp4tFoexSMTt5vua2uyNbUt5mCK0WkfSyM2ovk9D9cfbAk0JM4-tZR4E0EZwyvOUW248zMVQ8T9myZrJtMB941Et2XkKHL_ac991E7xU/w640-h480/Feeta.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-red feet are exposed here.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>It was Harper & Rows "Complete Field Guide to North American Wildlife" [1981 Eastern Edition, Harper & Row Publishers] that provided sufficient detail for me to conclude they were Bonaparte's Gulls, and even still, I'm not certain I have it right. As one of my friends said about last week's loon mystery, nature has a lot of idiosyncratic variation; it doesn't read or comply with the field guides. (Thanks for the support RB!)</p><p><br /></p><p>One other observation I've had the past few weeks is actually a non-observation. I haven't seen any signs of deer along my travels. November is the time of the rut when deer are most active and I usually see rubs on hemlocks and scrapes on the ground. But I did observe multiple signs of coyotes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV12mbpaMK4Dez5x0tIAYUQr_kc6n_UzGZKZn2eMwai2FlSih6nqcNxXWKo9DAMCpIuJJ_Sm6ZObAWJ1BgzUQ0_e2jiAPinuQMdMad2ShkI5p0w8a3VxGNipEUYxCPiaHARLtmyyGzutnIS-ya_KqvwiuALKFAGKsSsYcxtFawDx-OrkcSOlRKLVEGjl8/s900/PXL_20231117_131538856a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="829" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV12mbpaMK4Dez5x0tIAYUQr_kc6n_UzGZKZn2eMwai2FlSih6nqcNxXWKo9DAMCpIuJJ_Sm6ZObAWJ1BgzUQ0_e2jiAPinuQMdMad2ShkI5p0w8a3VxGNipEUYxCPiaHARLtmyyGzutnIS-ya_KqvwiuALKFAGKsSsYcxtFawDx-OrkcSOlRKLVEGjl8/w590-h640/PXL_20231117_131538856a.JPG" width="590" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very fresh coyote scat.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2wXwV8Rgc_igKzhaKQrDvOTQVm2NKeSqvSb3fsOZA1w_fPD5RJxmrrveqo4yB9ME3gbY8xQjIgUKiZwZ6X0iLdu7JlrYG1bPXL3hBPm713uMFeQcqeWpC1dsoj3QuG5XnQvkveK1jC9kCuFNHsFH5j56NyfkWZh902Kb1N0HPxOssGtP4id2PTUuW9o/s900/PXL_20231117_130805978a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2wXwV8Rgc_igKzhaKQrDvOTQVm2NKeSqvSb3fsOZA1w_fPD5RJxmrrveqo4yB9ME3gbY8xQjIgUKiZwZ6X0iLdu7JlrYG1bPXL3hBPm713uMFeQcqeWpC1dsoj3QuG5XnQvkveK1jC9kCuFNHsFH5j56NyfkWZh902Kb1N0HPxOssGtP4id2PTUuW9o/w574-h640/PXL_20231117_130805978a.JPG" width="574" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And another several days old.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>The diameter of this scat is over 3/4" which indicates coyote rather than fox, which has scat less than 5/8" in diameter. At first I thought the scat was full of hair, but closer inspection made we wonder if it's just grass.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl2l8S3UuJWAJxh8v_KY1BiG3kii4qdwELQmD9yRr-OLUfZabFfDWz0Xb1MaRej_NjKyfT6EZofI5Qx7IyaRMDcz89MvL7k-1CvK5z0i9Zcz9IFR-8v0uxI3y8YxgZat4YpvCnnyVWcyhCzWBrXE5qKBVh1kbtGrO_UixbQROoiNT2t3FRMo31Pcb2eM/s900/PXL_20231117_131735081a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl2l8S3UuJWAJxh8v_KY1BiG3kii4qdwELQmD9yRr-OLUfZabFfDWz0Xb1MaRej_NjKyfT6EZofI5Qx7IyaRMDcz89MvL7k-1CvK5z0i9Zcz9IFR-8v0uxI3y8YxgZat4YpvCnnyVWcyhCzWBrXE5qKBVh1kbtGrO_UixbQROoiNT2t3FRMo31Pcb2eM/w588-h640/PXL_20231117_131735081a.JPG" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hair or grass - there are no bone fragments which I would expect to see if the coyote was eating rodents.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Could these two observations be related? Are the coyotes keeping the deer away from this area? Searching for answers, I explored a particular pinch point that focuses deer travel between two water bodies, and here I did find deer tracks in the mud. So the deer are present, but perhaps staying off trails where coyotes travel and leave their scent.</p><p><br /></p><div dir="auto">Now it's time to close out the 2023 loon season, at least on Wicwas. (A faithful loon watcher on Lake Winona - thanks PH! - reports that one juvenile is still present there.)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">This summer's loon breeding on Wicwas was one of calmest in memory and we all enjoyed watching this experienced pair raise their young. </div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk8S36vgjGxOtbOiuU5y_Qsqoubd0DpnljX3S4LJyjGyFrCEAs3CKGuH7u-otTvltbz0K2CHkugCUS_nefppTb4L8qaytHDBXoeWwZ-_BQvJCzIrrNJyTJCIIpsfSCYT6OByEs0Sr66VpOJo-bwerZd9J8fI8gdK-v3yAkQtv1jjW6LLx56QccMwqeN8/s900/6.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk8S36vgjGxOtbOiuU5y_Qsqoubd0DpnljX3S4LJyjGyFrCEAs3CKGuH7u-otTvltbz0K2CHkugCUS_nefppTb4L8qaytHDBXoeWwZ-_BQvJCzIrrNJyTJCIIpsfSCYT6OByEs0Sr66VpOJo-bwerZd9J8fI8gdK-v3yAkQtv1jjW6LLx56QccMwqeN8/w640-h426/6.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both parents tending to their chicks. Bands on the adults are visible.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>That doesn't mean it was easy though, as the parents had to regularly fight off attacks from other loons as well as the occasional eagle. But they had their act together; the female would hide the chicks safely against the shore while the big male went out to protect family and territory. Even the siblings got along well with each other. Sometimes one chick will pick ruthlessly on the other, but these two got along nicely, often traveling and fishing together right up until the day they left. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT6O8lkmj1jkFq3Z6rxWBeN6Spfc8ZI1hnudHJH2m7yXcwolDbCOMfFOX_O5qe7gzl9IJWsMt7t9eBvUa3_4yF5xx76CH0zs2lq-ldfXuf2fDA3ArFmbbU368hXzu32Lt3MG3qfSR_coDTEMb6gTeOFUWm7VM7wm-GlcuYcci_a2JFSJ59OMgo9ATK9A/s1200/IMG_1682a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT6O8lkmj1jkFq3Z6rxWBeN6Spfc8ZI1hnudHJH2m7yXcwolDbCOMfFOX_O5qe7gzl9IJWsMt7t9eBvUa3_4yF5xx76CH0zs2lq-ldfXuf2fDA3ArFmbbU368hXzu32Lt3MG3qfSR_coDTEMb6gTeOFUWm7VM7wm-GlcuYcci_a2JFSJ59OMgo9ATK9A/w640-h426/IMG_1682a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LuLu and Checkers, age 11 weeks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div dir="auto">Here's a short memory of the lives of LuLu and Checkers on Lake Wicwas. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="538" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/upLTWzmQGhg" width="648" youtube-src-id="upLTWzmQGhg"></iframe></div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Thank you for the joy and beauty you gave us - travel safely until we meet again.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-33824550332830271742023-11-12T07:00:00.001-05:002023-11-12T07:00:00.152-05:00November 12, 2023: Woolly Alder Aphids<p>Lake Wicwas saw the first accumulating snow of the season this week and though it had mostly melted by today, it gave us a few days of soft, gray-scale November scenery.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSmjbEtVr4wG9u3_aivS8tbaizxsEl9r6VPC5tophDSL72nO6ah15BYVtQyWsltCVYHoMCNFpp_WItuj27AU7tL9OlrLbppYJ21pk5Awbw5qWW9cIhcgm9gbabLuazTbfN0Scc-TAg3ERjbTWqINryQnEgyXsF1rtrUZkso0AJGKdQQtvGD9J9-HJo2I/s1200/PXL_20231109_143717216a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1200" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSmjbEtVr4wG9u3_aivS8tbaizxsEl9r6VPC5tophDSL72nO6ah15BYVtQyWsltCVYHoMCNFpp_WItuj27AU7tL9OlrLbppYJ21pk5Awbw5qWW9cIhcgm9gbabLuazTbfN0Scc-TAg3ERjbTWqINryQnEgyXsF1rtrUZkso0AJGKdQQtvGD9J9-HJo2I/w640-h296/PXL_20231109_143717216a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November Gray</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Earlier in the week one might have thought a strange erratic snow had already accumulated on some alder trees.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIWfd8-ZDzbi7u9s6iDIAcdaRoLHf5WOwJeM-fNm_2_dI9XkchleaILlhlQLYcRX2rLEEhfsY0YOd4_5sYkTnx9frSIASCjrEFwgyKmtPKv421k-HrYCKgP0Bggf_Lx_cAG2E5ykW9ulTY9OsBEwrIOi1av1w7_BaZdOCdfqDdwSOh6XYXKzX3PqocJA/s900/PXL_20231104_200049675a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIWfd8-ZDzbi7u9s6iDIAcdaRoLHf5WOwJeM-fNm_2_dI9XkchleaILlhlQLYcRX2rLEEhfsY0YOd4_5sYkTnx9frSIASCjrEFwgyKmtPKv421k-HrYCKgP0Bggf_Lx_cAG2E5ykW9ulTY9OsBEwrIOi1av1w7_BaZdOCdfqDdwSOh6XYXKzX3PqocJA/w360-h640/PXL_20231104_200049675a.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I haven't seen this in several years and it's been almost a decade since I last spoke of it in the Journal. These are insects, Woolly Alder Aphids, named because they use alder as their host tree, and because it looks like wool when they colonize a tree.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEDkHS9wNY8Fjpf3mWrVYOu4m_zSQjLMJnYPj1FtqxYRKeAHjdnBMeTg_hvJwWIRl4hczwlQUVQAZByKcW6hfF6Q_u-ySGVCpMVUr9UEfBsnXabhTUD8tXkNaQk6fldVwLOshQ525wu71-1i9V-cvVXIv4D6aoKiqdl47rqe40PsXQWYY4Hfu7h0XIuU/s900/PXL_20231104_200156628a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="609" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEDkHS9wNY8Fjpf3mWrVYOu4m_zSQjLMJnYPj1FtqxYRKeAHjdnBMeTg_hvJwWIRl4hczwlQUVQAZByKcW6hfF6Q_u-ySGVCpMVUr9UEfBsnXabhTUD8tXkNaQk6fldVwLOshQ525wu71-1i9V-cvVXIv4D6aoKiqdl47rqe40PsXQWYY4Hfu7h0XIuU/w434-h640/PXL_20231104_200156628a.JPG" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woolly Alder Aphids on an alder tree.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Like other aphids, they live off the sap in plants, sucking the sweet, sugary juices of alder through the bark. They secrete a white, waxy substance which they use to cover themselves as a defense mechanism - predators don't recognize them as an insect, and even if they do discover them, they find the waxy coating unpleasant to eat and leave them alone. I brushed a bit of the coating off to expose them; I was surprised that it came right off with just a light brushing - it's not stuck to them much at all. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wd1JzpRtyKpPq-tCoHAZQXkjTl5Ri7dscQI3ezCpUCio64MS3O5ZqwdHlIoqGgDJYU_dzO9VAIaS2vczWxHtKLjlapFecFWa49b6aJ_vTz1n4lp-3Xuf3wWhzwl8lXz4Px6lTs1aQhjO5wIfz7_ba_VkT-3vCH3S0jH_6j90itV519ff1L3Z9EMWrjg/s787/PXL_20231104_200133596a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wd1JzpRtyKpPq-tCoHAZQXkjTl5Ri7dscQI3ezCpUCio64MS3O5ZqwdHlIoqGgDJYU_dzO9VAIaS2vczWxHtKLjlapFecFWa49b6aJ_vTz1n4lp-3Xuf3wWhzwl8lXz4Px6lTs1aQhjO5wIfz7_ba_VkT-3vCH3S0jH_6j90itV519ff1L3Z9EMWrjg/w546-h640/PXL_20231104_200133596a.JPG" width="546" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's hiding under that waxy barricade.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Here are few in my hand. The really tiny ones are newly hatched aphids.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOVBr2Ez8gTFbPQNBvdhqUJhOTaoIhLUT-sYG-SPRF6X_x3FbUbQKTzqoVgvM3uLRiof-P4XGsxdPWu4scowlDCOav2tZmS2wLFNxoHhdG-Z_IwsEbJmMJ5izSrJXCrjLs3sxZIJw1m4Dx5JQgAcfKmFZEWoHuW4dvWYVvyzpFe3FP-FEC2EgTPXNn9U/s900/IMG_3639a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOVBr2Ez8gTFbPQNBvdhqUJhOTaoIhLUT-sYG-SPRF6X_x3FbUbQKTzqoVgvM3uLRiof-P4XGsxdPWu4scowlDCOav2tZmS2wLFNxoHhdG-Z_IwsEbJmMJ5izSrJXCrjLs3sxZIJw1m4Dx5JQgAcfKmFZEWoHuW4dvWYVvyzpFe3FP-FEC2EgTPXNn9U/w640-h480/IMG_3639a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>They have some interesting facets to their life cycle. During the summer the females reproduce asexually - no male required. That's when they build the large colonies on alder trees. Then later in the year the females search out males to mate with, resulting in just a single egg, which will then generate a new colony of aphids. This is thought to maintain diversity in the gene pool. [Ref: <a href="https://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2017/11/21/waxy-ladies-on-alder-woolly-alder-aphid-iparaprociphilus-tessellatusi" target="_blank">Michael J. Raupp, Ph.D, University of Maryland</a>]</p><p><br /></p><p>Before the snow fell this week we had some really nice weather to get out and savor the waning days of fall. I had perhaps my last kayak of the year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRN40ZszLoLVEDs8acHHoR5MV2PaZ39lr0R8w8CD54ClV9Ezg4nPCwxQ1c_9rMO6ggpzvUjuAKPhLq_rPnG6dMJCIYLLLCBQ__2-iyLRFhkp3h4VkXoBfl8sygnpmaukpxu31KRPs_4KpsZeYh8kI9fCaIS-dum9G1leD3_4GMHVXjiORhvon3V-JlMk/s900/PXL_20231107_174231786a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRN40ZszLoLVEDs8acHHoR5MV2PaZ39lr0R8w8CD54ClV9Ezg4nPCwxQ1c_9rMO6ggpzvUjuAKPhLq_rPnG6dMJCIYLLLCBQ__2-iyLRFhkp3h4VkXoBfl8sygnpmaukpxu31KRPs_4KpsZeYh8kI9fCaIS-dum9G1leD3_4GMHVXjiORhvon3V-JlMk/w640-h360/PXL_20231107_174231786a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sure looks like November.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was a nice paddle even though I didn't come across any wildlife other than a few ducks. We still might get a nice day later in November, or even December, so the paddle hasn't been put up for the winter just yet. </p><p>Amy Wilson was also out on the lake last week and she did see wildlife, including this loon which sent us looking to understand its status.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuj0-y33U-Wsn2xiEdXTi2biHAsUN98x3dyawPl2aFGe8h35eKs5SBBAqKJym5af2X_MuTN1l7PPW1rnHU7YQiKuhaz6Yamlx2nT667o3cmNebyNum5nXrFfFCtUuwCyTkUnw974fQo4SF7zrqYGS8cEfG88WIg6oLVxfGdpZsK3L3WBSy7VeqybyTnw/s3348/A47A2988%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="3348" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuj0-y33U-Wsn2xiEdXTi2biHAsUN98x3dyawPl2aFGe8h35eKs5SBBAqKJym5af2X_MuTN1l7PPW1rnHU7YQiKuhaz6Yamlx2nT667o3cmNebyNum5nXrFfFCtUuwCyTkUnw974fQo4SF7zrqYGS8cEfG88WIg6oLVxfGdpZsK3L3WBSy7VeqybyTnw/w640-h426/A47A2988%20copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A loon with perplexing markings. (Photo by Amy Wilson.)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It has some aspects of a juvenile, but not the chevron pattern of one of this year's brood. It is sporting what looks like a few white dots on its back, reminiscent of an adult's breeding plumage. It also has an unusual black and white coloring on its beak, unlike either the black beak of an adult nor the white beak of a juvenile. Referring to photos and descriptions from both the <a href="https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/appearance/" target="_blank">Loon Preservation Committee</a> and the <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/photo-gallery/308050931" target="_blank">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>, I believe this to be either a non-breeding immature adult, or a molting adult transitioning to its winter plumage. It could be one of our breeding loons, but more likely it's a visitor on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.</p><p>Tramping on terra firma around Lake Wicwas, I twice came across a flock of turkeys, but they are so aware of their surroundings that they heard me coming and just melted away into the forest before I could get a picture. But Neil Crimins caught what is surely the same flock as it made its way right through his yard.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtssyC_lgyq6YdBU6m7IbXzYYMsWhCJVz19GZAGhxQzlMAP-5tFzNbwgr2Qw4ORz-hPK8lRr1hHwPP-jx0IZFin_CdJIFuRmxrsHh3D9hswwxIj8-61-ytUjFYo5lj1vdWhjP8xumM465lT7Ol5Jm1QY4TlEhyazjhKODWxjqPVovrE0rXG6bktT1zLU/s900/turkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="900" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtssyC_lgyq6YdBU6m7IbXzYYMsWhCJVz19GZAGhxQzlMAP-5tFzNbwgr2Qw4ORz-hPK8lRr1hHwPP-jx0IZFin_CdJIFuRmxrsHh3D9hswwxIj8-61-ytUjFYo5lj1vdWhjP8xumM465lT7Ol5Jm1QY4TlEhyazjhKODWxjqPVovrE0rXG6bktT1zLU/w640-h334/turkey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighborhood flock of turkeys. </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>I also took advantage of the nice days to walk in the Page Pond Town Forest. I stopped by the new accessible trail and viewing platform overlooking the quarry pond on the Quarry Loop Trail - it's great!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnFlA5BghyphenhyphenJBlMrtI6mwXQV1o6z5aiGKqkNDpsySwbibRsp1lgXzTaZ5I5x3aRQbvzSMLJu4s-4vnL4LtfVi1d1EMnzo2FCgx5iNVkeULGjxoa6nEOtYB_p2_OIxUJ1zkrk0GfB4cO8PuBacVYZURvNL5x7NK0z7jWi4luzPWuT33qZ818vaio88XbWw/s900/PXL_20231106_152616636a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnFlA5BghyphenhyphenJBlMrtI6mwXQV1o6z5aiGKqkNDpsySwbibRsp1lgXzTaZ5I5x3aRQbvzSMLJu4s-4vnL4LtfVi1d1EMnzo2FCgx5iNVkeULGjxoa6nEOtYB_p2_OIxUJ1zkrk0GfB4cO8PuBacVYZURvNL5x7NK0z7jWi4luzPWuT33qZ818vaio88XbWw/w640-h360/PXL_20231106_152616636a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The viewing platform and accessible trail on the Quarry Loop built by the Meredith Rotary Club.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I continued down the Yellow Trail, across the beaver dam, and returned via the Page Brook Trail. On the way I passed by this huge old pine tree that lies just a few yards off the Yellow Trail.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpoKU0nXb-uCFsaAdEawjTZezgENN19EKsYro_LsbLgSRTLsW0wMmWviIm4GsYstWdFYjhO1DdHx4x-uzxMScPA0epQqekZIXoVmckXM4J-dfXK3NwEPI0DMQU7pFFrnzk53K83bM4CR_XavEPt5Tv2mymYTNaWHqMuufn1YqjIoU2IlmWiYjeaIj1_s/s900/PXL_20231106_155658217~4a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="900" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpoKU0nXb-uCFsaAdEawjTZezgENN19EKsYro_LsbLgSRTLsW0wMmWviIm4GsYstWdFYjhO1DdHx4x-uzxMScPA0epQqekZIXoVmckXM4J-dfXK3NwEPI0DMQU7pFFrnzk53K83bM4CR_XavEPt5Tv2mymYTNaWHqMuufn1YqjIoU2IlmWiYjeaIj1_s/w640-h458/PXL_20231106_155658217~4a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One big old pine tree.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>My final walk of the week was up Whiteface Mountain in the Belknap Range (not the 4000' Whiteface up by Wonalancet) after the snow fell. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6My23H-mjaLhZRduUrJkwWOkYW3jpfcvZwUTocH6cA-vCmVC6tkiUaNcGPkyv2-WOyjki3g1QsZ7GyC1Mkuf3_mB1O5DDZLVSTAkEXE4KXCNvcZiGBc-sGmLrC-vi6CpF7NwotLYdxBu7QxVvcxs1Z0bd_GYJhU6K9pIUitwYZFiCrbmgThaXRwH4HLI/s900/PXL_20231110_164722456a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6My23H-mjaLhZRduUrJkwWOkYW3jpfcvZwUTocH6cA-vCmVC6tkiUaNcGPkyv2-WOyjki3g1QsZ7GyC1Mkuf3_mB1O5DDZLVSTAkEXE4KXCNvcZiGBc-sGmLrC-vi6CpF7NwotLYdxBu7QxVvcxs1Z0bd_GYJhU6K9pIUitwYZFiCrbmgThaXRwH4HLI/w640-h360/PXL_20231110_164722456a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wintery scene on the top of Mt. Whiteface.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>November could be the definition of grayscale.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-62684338471273215122023-11-05T08:00:00.003-05:002023-11-05T08:00:56.171-05:00November 5, 2023: Beaver Scent MoundsHere we are in early November and we just had our first frost at the lake. And that was just barely, with frost fomring only in open areas subject to radiational cooling with a clear view of the sky. Leaves on the ground and small plants had just a tinge of frozen ice crystals on their surfaces.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeJz89b7Eqp7bWPwK4ZL8QhRKaUULNe14hdM7jQZq577E_Kn2SDbHmfM3zR6m8OBCnx5srv0sAK208FzyKwlcGNElP8ZfaS_ytRFfVgKh-ioW9-u-dhkODD1aUJejJQfRT51QotEcuCQdIAKf6AIGDC56ys8bqzuSwuJqoBxlkB_uz4yDMWmO42F5vfQ/s900/PXL_20231102_115817223a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeJz89b7Eqp7bWPwK4ZL8QhRKaUULNe14hdM7jQZq577E_Kn2SDbHmfM3zR6m8OBCnx5srv0sAK208FzyKwlcGNElP8ZfaS_ytRFfVgKh-ioW9-u-dhkODD1aUJejJQfRT51QotEcuCQdIAKf6AIGDC56ys8bqzuSwuJqoBxlkB_uz4yDMWmO42F5vfQ/w640-h426/PXL_20231102_115817223a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first frost on November 2nd.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCoMmM4OOxykU9Zt8MEEtU-RxCsTd6S_GTWHBuLUm_pquSGARGQPq38Zxrm8ZKGeri7ohc4BCKG9slKiCGWkXyr6Uk2ONtWVYUeUGyPlhyoENmG2Lz8PpWzF5wHG8W6F7X_45MjJsVYtYrxdhj-WRzuCUtCquLwyqt1kEtrysyPBX4L9d0HklO5vpOSM/s900/PXL_20231102_115703225a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCoMmM4OOxykU9Zt8MEEtU-RxCsTd6S_GTWHBuLUm_pquSGARGQPq38Zxrm8ZKGeri7ohc4BCKG9slKiCGWkXyr6Uk2ONtWVYUeUGyPlhyoENmG2Lz8PpWzF5wHG8W6F7X_45MjJsVYtYrxdhj-WRzuCUtCquLwyqt1kEtrysyPBX4L9d0HklO5vpOSM/w640-h480/PXL_20231102_115703225a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was surprised to find ice in the shallow marshes around the lake where the surface had cooled enough for a skim of ice to form.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPxnG75hjOD1pnDEkatCusxiAuLTyfFVipCRp8vbuY64ezWO1ZFhvUf9rtXqSuX-RELyoD_aqO5QcIkvwdd4Ar_Z3FUJBtMn373gGm0D90URYSVyOGwRECecp37aLEGOXZRrAZ4yzMfidhwBupr1IEKCPWzI_WYIwOep3OVLqD1RvdKUikrkBiuEODtY/s900/PXL_20231102_121014014a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPxnG75hjOD1pnDEkatCusxiAuLTyfFVipCRp8vbuY64ezWO1ZFhvUf9rtXqSuX-RELyoD_aqO5QcIkvwdd4Ar_Z3FUJBtMn373gGm0D90URYSVyOGwRECecp37aLEGOXZRrAZ4yzMfidhwBupr1IEKCPWzI_WYIwOep3OVLqD1RvdKUikrkBiuEODtY/w640-h360/PXL_20231102_121014014a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ice on the lake. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On a hike on Leighton Mountain in the Chemung area there were even a few icicles that had formed from water dripping off a ledge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrHWgiGk-egdRjblb-QjPNp4BYLpLefI6oo8K4bn6UG5lL7OUxQOdVSJV9Tjy-MLmBoyytNZ9JItvFz7vIORRdhgI7bkttRrVzXYhLR-vfL-dCJHCjFBEaSlgn2smtCT4Rykl0l4zTlubV2hJT-UZNL5YGdvMwlRlMF9OGAZ4_9bMSLrKeVCg7EoSQiI/s900/PXL_20231031_153759366a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrHWgiGk-egdRjblb-QjPNp4BYLpLefI6oo8K4bn6UG5lL7OUxQOdVSJV9Tjy-MLmBoyytNZ9JItvFz7vIORRdhgI7bkttRrVzXYhLR-vfL-dCJHCjFBEaSlgn2smtCT4Rykl0l4zTlubV2hJT-UZNL5YGdvMwlRlMF9OGAZ4_9bMSLrKeVCg7EoSQiI/w245-h400/PXL_20231031_153759366a.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><br /></div><div>On that same ledge was an obvious cave where an animal was probably sleeping as we went by.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRxTkFocRXjdp1cijDHSsW4kwjKVi3iuFC8xG7YkJJNXNaG332jPQzewhODFkHR_oHTqoDkjvgwVJaiXha_CMwotqbM3HyHkpNya6x5nF3m5emuvrq1md-WRDb0eVoYKa8ExchmmM8ywN2xMFrUa9BJw4pEAgt4OpbgAIswA1ySv-o1hMJkseqrJpOms/s900/PXL_20231031_153653002a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRxTkFocRXjdp1cijDHSsW4kwjKVi3iuFC8xG7YkJJNXNaG332jPQzewhODFkHR_oHTqoDkjvgwVJaiXha_CMwotqbM3HyHkpNya6x5nF3m5emuvrq1md-WRDb0eVoYKa8ExchmmM8ywN2xMFrUa9BJw4pEAgt4OpbgAIswA1ySv-o1hMJkseqrJpOms/w640-h360/PXL_20231031_153653002a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Fresh dirt pushed out of the entrance shows it's an active den.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoufeesYFwkM3D2KY2IYgMMjj1EgA9aC7g0ByauJuQ9ztBiJzSrEiFQL24gMDtNR0QpQVpu15xEqQM0nyeO0xiaNPcaMSHdS3fOiRNK71Fu_k1_ViA6LFrkXb_Z5WcLqCWQMLowFh9nF05QzyiTYcC-iO3F8YxsGJsoGV1wRpStaZ0GVzyxCzUPjx9vnc/s900/PXL_20231031_153701661a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoufeesYFwkM3D2KY2IYgMMjj1EgA9aC7g0ByauJuQ9ztBiJzSrEiFQL24gMDtNR0QpQVpu15xEqQM0nyeO0xiaNPcaMSHdS3fOiRNK71Fu_k1_ViA6LFrkXb_Z5WcLqCWQMLowFh9nF05QzyiTYcC-iO3F8YxsGJsoGV1wRpStaZ0GVzyxCzUPjx9vnc/w640-h360/PXL_20231031_153701661a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It looks like a nice warm and secure home deep in the hillside, though I don't know whose home it is. It's in the right location for a porcupine, but there was no scat at the entrance, and no signs of trees stripped of their bark around the den. It appears too small for a bear den, and too far from water for a racoon. Fox like better hidden areas with concealed entrances. So I'm guessing a bobcat lives here. It's too far away for me to trek back and forth with a trail camera, but maybe this winter I can go back when there's snow on the ground and look for tracks. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a walk near the lake I noticed an area where beaver had been coming on shore apparently to mark territory, so I placed my camera there to see if I could catch the claimer of the land. Sure enough, the very next night, at 1:30 am, the beaver appeared.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G4VRIVuVK6WcVkQKFWI9wEtBy3jneGrfZO4eP3BOG82aW6oHc3qm6A74zr6ryE2IZ30caCGrXwcOtdk6HZBNRXa_kPnAg2XROb-N76lWjGeHm0a4yMTwt5CfxFv9YUKJXugKlIB5qOLnIss51FgoblA5VEyHtbyNcMbaZ3L2R_EegLHYtgXETI6ff7s/s900/11020007b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="900" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G4VRIVuVK6WcVkQKFWI9wEtBy3jneGrfZO4eP3BOG82aW6oHc3qm6A74zr6ryE2IZ30caCGrXwcOtdk6HZBNRXa_kPnAg2XROb-N76lWjGeHm0a4yMTwt5CfxFv9YUKJXugKlIB5qOLnIss51FgoblA5VEyHtbyNcMbaZ3L2R_EegLHYtgXETI6ff7s/w640-h450/11020007b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beaver collects material for a scent mound.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The camera recorded a short video of it doing its thing. It collected an armful of leaves and pine needles, and formed them into a small pile. It then climbed over the pile and deposited its scent right on top. The whole process took about 20 seconds. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qe8P7GlBw9s" width="320" youtube-src-id="Qe8P7GlBw9s"></iframe></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Beavers have a set of glands called castor glands that produce castoreum, a highly aromatic substance they use for marking territory. (The strong smell makes it a common ingredient in cosmetics.) If you turn the volume up you can hear the beaver release the castoreum at five seconds into the video.<br /><div><br /></div><div>One of my walks this week found me at a beaver pond which has created the right habitat for a heron rookery. Their nests look like large tangles of sticks at the tops of dead trees. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg983P45zi_g9yrDsg5V2EUMumKbM_dVdc3cK4dJXKmoErdzt21B-q3sdGvmQaXDLMQLn73lGi1XQkDd5x6Vq3hI8INM76nKRRHr7ITrAoDiAUb6l1PSth4QFbHIyfUyVGr0DXan3mqx6_oVBZO3iH0PlwBEHMS3goWmBZQXHdwEtyOSqEXUm8-_0Z1Xp0/s660/PXL_20231031_135250393a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="660" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg983P45zi_g9yrDsg5V2EUMumKbM_dVdc3cK4dJXKmoErdzt21B-q3sdGvmQaXDLMQLn73lGi1XQkDd5x6Vq3hI8INM76nKRRHr7ITrAoDiAUb6l1PSth4QFbHIyfUyVGr0DXan3mqx6_oVBZO3iH0PlwBEHMS3goWmBZQXHdwEtyOSqEXUm8-_0Z1Xp0/w640-h490/PXL_20231031_135250393a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Great Blue Heron nests are visible in the treetops at the far side of the pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The dammed-up pond dammed flooded the roots of the trees, killing them, creating the ideal platform for herons to nest and raise their young. Beavers create valuable environmental benefits for many animals including birds, amphibians, reptiles, and humans.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another week has passed without any sightings of the juvenile loons LuLu and Checkers, so I think it's time to say they have left the lake. We will never know if they return after their four or five years spent on the Atlantic Ocean. My last sighting of them was October 21st.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwdybvNUngZolgZQBXpWNUpb_rCzpdORWc17qUowIPUoKzAa1LyLmn5nI2mv9wWam6OydyTbwNfSww12AwIxUM9cXAMm72rBVRn5-bBaseoRf_BholGRCAGxTjaIfNTYHv31V3S1hyFn9TKDZ2C1dd_YMppuNaese48mKWWBCatCVATUMYI5qKlN7G7c/s900/Oct%2021b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwdybvNUngZolgZQBXpWNUpb_rCzpdORWc17qUowIPUoKzAa1LyLmn5nI2mv9wWam6OydyTbwNfSww12AwIxUM9cXAMm72rBVRn5-bBaseoRf_BholGRCAGxTjaIfNTYHv31V3S1hyFn9TKDZ2C1dd_YMppuNaese48mKWWBCatCVATUMYI5qKlN7G7c/w640-h426/Oct%2021b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last picture of LuLu or Checkers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>In an interesting coincidence, October 21st is the exact same date of the last sighting of the chicks Coca and Jimmy in 2021. Lake Wicwas has now successfully fledged ten loons over the past six years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll close with one more autumn moment from my hike on Leighton Mountain, a pretty scene looking over Randlett Pond.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAZ8dl_nCOZQgVEvNIfpfSxcem39uarQxVSOstg7GpQoc2tuaTrF_htdcEWwv58MnXAkMlV2dVqvZ5wInjZNcKNSS2VoKDJKgBOdgcLFhySkBlxm78X7FWyRJA_UFT0ZpFUgDrm5uPbkRxplCHqcWC7TFwzdDYTm8_LW4M6s-6iBcCj2ZAslQ8MbWjHg/s900/PXL_20231031_133330211a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAZ8dl_nCOZQgVEvNIfpfSxcem39uarQxVSOstg7GpQoc2tuaTrF_htdcEWwv58MnXAkMlV2dVqvZ5wInjZNcKNSS2VoKDJKgBOdgcLFhySkBlxm78X7FWyRJA_UFT0ZpFUgDrm5uPbkRxplCHqcWC7TFwzdDYTm8_LW4M6s-6iBcCj2ZAslQ8MbWjHg/w640-h360/PXL_20231031_133330211a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randlett Pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>A bit of fall remains, but the drab of November is almost here.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-77394470457399780192023-10-29T07:42:00.002-04:002023-10-29T07:42:44.968-04:00October 29, 2023: Red OctoberLate October is treating us well this year. I spent one of those fabulous warm days this week in the Ossipee mountains on a trek up Mt. Roberts. As expected on a warm humid day, the distant views were hazy, but other sights were brilliant, and the color of the day was red with the mountain ash at the summit of Roberts stealing the show.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMC8jY1-Hq93fOyE1zPWKrW25Ipkb-nA5chT0v8TUd6XKZsoq3KxJ2HjULqW_QTrqgSsx1Z3_z1yQL-7KmpQH9-Xz75GD4qqSzfDR0c_Sxz9tn-Z3XOUYJlrZZKay8653TrY6_x_SlDZwjj_AzZwrT-emOYyKg6ioaUSHhXgxRKrYdOp2DZLgiiM_USE/s900/PXL_20231026_145847228~2b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMC8jY1-Hq93fOyE1zPWKrW25Ipkb-nA5chT0v8TUd6XKZsoq3KxJ2HjULqW_QTrqgSsx1Z3_z1yQL-7KmpQH9-Xz75GD4qqSzfDR0c_Sxz9tn-Z3XOUYJlrZZKay8653TrY6_x_SlDZwjj_AzZwrT-emOYyKg6ioaUSHhXgxRKrYdOp2DZLgiiM_USE/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_145847228~2b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The White Mountains languish in the haze behind a red ribbon of mountain ash.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>American Mountain Ash (<i>Sorbus americana</i>) is a northern species, though it does grow as far south as Georgia at high elevation in the Appalachian Mountains. I remember first seeing them on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. Their abundant bright red berries last well into winter, providing high calorie food to animals that inhabit the alpine zone such as grouse; moose browse on their winter twigs and sweet bark. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0YIgd6XqPRjt7X0Efle2-Z-Sd55BsmiWJ4p66xmLmPP8bev5rm2gQdQCr9HiOI6wgZzbP27NdL9Ld00bsRA5akLVzXkBO9_xI5ewFnFtVyDTk-gkrRzEWzCHc2zON7hHjfov98d_cfGYO8HgTHr33Kyr1FBp01ScUmSFvaqaJPxkw1T2_XXVZGxBzDI/s900/PXL_20231026_145528696a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0YIgd6XqPRjt7X0Efle2-Z-Sd55BsmiWJ4p66xmLmPP8bev5rm2gQdQCr9HiOI6wgZzbP27NdL9Ld00bsRA5akLVzXkBO9_xI5ewFnFtVyDTk-gkrRzEWzCHc2zON7hHjfov98d_cfGYO8HgTHr33Kyr1FBp01ScUmSFvaqaJPxkw1T2_XXVZGxBzDI/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_145528696a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd8Y5oddD_0mdQL6m9bH-iK2dGAOuxX3bafup0bcpiJByFZohY8eVA4Tg-ToDjXs0mrrbK0BmYrmrauy4hxGEEvbR3x3X-LtqHATWKUEfmU3y6PjgiQdAYmP_qqbN4JibUHyGwURnXURIlafd6GqR_lYzTbohnWFZoYvwkYoz7VbJ3eW6s2FCAg5RiTY/s900/PXL_20231026_145545041a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd8Y5oddD_0mdQL6m9bH-iK2dGAOuxX3bafup0bcpiJByFZohY8eVA4Tg-ToDjXs0mrrbK0BmYrmrauy4hxGEEvbR3x3X-LtqHATWKUEfmU3y6PjgiQdAYmP_qqbN4JibUHyGwURnXURIlafd6GqR_lYzTbohnWFZoYvwkYoz7VbJ3eW6s2FCAg5RiTY/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_145545041a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've seen both grouse and moose on Mount Roberts and the High Ridge Trail leading over to Mt Shaw. Mt. Roberts is a moderate but highly rewarding 5.5 mile hike with great views of mountains and lakes from the many open ledges. You can pick up a <a href="https://lakes-region-conservation-trust.square.site/product/castle-in-the-clouds-conservation-area-and-red-hill-conservation-area-hiking-trails-map/15?cs=true&cst=custom" target="_blank">trail map </a>describing the many hiking trails from the <a href="https://lrct.org/" target="_blank">Lakes Region Conservation Trust</a> which stewards over 5000 acres of land in the Ossipee Mountains.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaSpK6KYjINZ2v1LTheDvV_Ula664PWPp-0AbclRCpZgQOXA6GBrOIV2pcoimGow3-VsEJHHuxJ1GcaGwULsFuqacWRyWJDqiXIqItxzFltlcLe1CpNKDNBhQmU4lw8ea8yNzpuqkZEYfe1VRBBE3_-hLQ-tE_3sN83jTo_Y73x5k_KxNfjOfftnZWDk/s900/PXL_20231026_152531487a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaSpK6KYjINZ2v1LTheDvV_Ula664PWPp-0AbclRCpZgQOXA6GBrOIV2pcoimGow3-VsEJHHuxJ1GcaGwULsFuqacWRyWJDqiXIqItxzFltlcLe1CpNKDNBhQmU4lw8ea8yNzpuqkZEYfe1VRBBE3_-hLQ-tE_3sN83jTo_Y73x5k_KxNfjOfftnZWDk/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_152531487a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views along the Mt. Roberts Trail are nice even on a hazy October day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>On the hike up, well before I reached the summit and the mountain ash, another red flash had already caught my eye.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMjymowYe9V6mlQL6Zmj-3NAgGkzFsybNDoFNvZEhNRD56E4RptlfcaEr7-L48mQrto8lLhUitWnGXjzCKn-WSnQnY0Gx2eLm8lHLMPyuXcPeyGDNcnnNh0R5Mx7vfwIEHnnrGcRygibWC39gH5lAHhZb6L-KbMdLT-D_DQTLdEmTTVegNG2f-t7QVio/s900/PXL_20231026_143453122b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMjymowYe9V6mlQL6Zmj-3NAgGkzFsybNDoFNvZEhNRD56E4RptlfcaEr7-L48mQrto8lLhUitWnGXjzCKn-WSnQnY0Gx2eLm8lHLMPyuXcPeyGDNcnnNh0R5Mx7vfwIEHnnrGcRygibWC39gH5lAHhZb6L-KbMdLT-D_DQTLdEmTTVegNG2f-t7QVio/w640-h480/PXL_20231026_143453122b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-toothed Cinquefoil (<i>Sibbaldiopsis tridentata</i>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Three-toothed cinquefoil is an evergreen plant, keeping its leaves throughout the winter; the red leaves are last year's growth. I don't know what happens in the third year, but there are dead, gray leaves on the ground so my guess is they are shed after two years. It's a resilient alpine plant that thrives in the harsh environment by rooting itself in the tiniest cracks in the granite, and growing low to the ground under the winter snow. On the bare ledges leading to the summit there was an abundance of these hardy plants.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDHZxe7H26jC-pUmpHS9Nkz1_kdfDaHzGUt-JEqhF0k1_kjoV2xRs7dozhpsyWSfDdaODbXM0-d-CPj1YD2nMaFxJzjEdSXE6KWhuyhON4r4Jku-CYOiLnUi_YpOj4Ze6fg_DYjfN8mKoUqXEjAu9rxpveWaXwNeDZosV-vF_SFYn8ldqwuk7F-ToOKE/s900/PXL_20231026_143443216b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDHZxe7H26jC-pUmpHS9Nkz1_kdfDaHzGUt-JEqhF0k1_kjoV2xRs7dozhpsyWSfDdaODbXM0-d-CPj1YD2nMaFxJzjEdSXE6KWhuyhON4r4Jku-CYOiLnUi_YpOj4Ze6fg_DYjfN8mKoUqXEjAu9rxpveWaXwNeDZosV-vF_SFYn8ldqwuk7F-ToOKE/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_143443216b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding life in a crack in the granite.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /><br /><p>At lower elevations the colors slanted higher in the color spectrum with yellow and burnt orange predominating.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceqR_IrNrliMQ3_enIDUauIe9KVXeIoQU6QErDVofzPuRAVM7W5Yfdyfq7wG-hfptT9yhj9YduoOPWuQHshxx4rXhWfabBy5HbywN2O6J4Se4dWNjFBzUuOynx53i6yaIxd4L3FtzW1hjGOO2qsZTsJqmq1vMXji4cKQdgRsMpMN3NA8zcYhOlU6cd8M/s900/PXL_20231026_134819295b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceqR_IrNrliMQ3_enIDUauIe9KVXeIoQU6QErDVofzPuRAVM7W5Yfdyfq7wG-hfptT9yhj9YduoOPWuQHshxx4rXhWfabBy5HbywN2O6J4Se4dWNjFBzUuOynx53i6yaIxd4L3FtzW1hjGOO2qsZTsJqmq1vMXji4cKQdgRsMpMN3NA8zcYhOlU6cd8M/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_134819295b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beech trees along the Settlement Trail.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The beech stands formed a tunnel through which the trail passes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQp6mSjp5TsScXkTlED_vekz8Sx-aRTWU9FKP6oQ9FTZUyqfTlE0aOxoJpOwYTwTW6NesRVIPxN8sLvWAtIPcG16d7T1Ja5_1LTiRAM6QRortkxiJfyyzbzZJzAryzm3BiAwNMvG1vYOMhuADPrsNcs7gAIn7bDgA2FuIJ9tjTohqKQQHDvu_beTsc4g/s900/PXL_20231026_160219606b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQp6mSjp5TsScXkTlED_vekz8Sx-aRTWU9FKP6oQ9FTZUyqfTlE0aOxoJpOwYTwTW6NesRVIPxN8sLvWAtIPcG16d7T1Ja5_1LTiRAM6QRortkxiJfyyzbzZJzAryzm3BiAwNMvG1vYOMhuADPrsNcs7gAIn7bDgA2FuIJ9tjTohqKQQHDvu_beTsc4g/w640-h360/PXL_20231026_160219606b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Back down at lake-level there's still some red to see: a few late maples and the deep red of huckleberry bushes along the shore.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-JQl_IH4XX-PbLA8YMVwn2oQcJ9s2Yal-DBjULMS69WmMweIDSR5TwgX8AXNKSA76HCKmcVQaw3djHNVYQj2DRPV2kq6CvYVjjMOlrVd5Jy_FcIEIFuW9aKmf8cxRIKIh8gh-p7M2nw2GddLETsMF53AGAb5I-vP1hz-ELAq3fo1rhSKarP7Jk-SMs4/s900/IMG_2462a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="900" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-JQl_IH4XX-PbLA8YMVwn2oQcJ9s2Yal-DBjULMS69WmMweIDSR5TwgX8AXNKSA76HCKmcVQaw3djHNVYQj2DRPV2kq6CvYVjjMOlrVd5Jy_FcIEIFuW9aKmf8cxRIKIh8gh-p7M2nw2GddLETsMF53AGAb5I-vP1hz-ELAq3fo1rhSKarP7Jk-SMs4/w640-h376/IMG_2462a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huckleberry might hang on to their leaves well into November.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnRX84dWX49q6vUja0b793lGs6-nLLOcsB21prWrLHz9No2c3OSrEoyY97uCWfACt2pOWt_BJIbwnZLv_Y_lxOiPMWMw6fWlkKExj1ZGdO4AOxhLQm0UTU9Pm3na8w1C0X1KrjJsiB7Qliw9Xmfhqj-AeVDXeMcXQKezGRfKck44VIy2Rp4gSknAEQPc/s900/IMG_2442a.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnRX84dWX49q6vUja0b793lGs6-nLLOcsB21prWrLHz9No2c3OSrEoyY97uCWfACt2pOWt_BJIbwnZLv_Y_lxOiPMWMw6fWlkKExj1ZGdO4AOxhLQm0UTU9Pm3na8w1C0X1KrjJsiB7Qliw9Xmfhqj-AeVDXeMcXQKezGRfKck44VIy2Rp4gSknAEQPc/w640-h480/IMG_2442a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Things were very quiet on my long, lazy paddle around the lake, trying to make the late summer moment last. No more kip-kip call of the osprey, no loons pestering their parents (I saw only one lone loon - no sign of LuLu or Checkers), no turtles sunning themselves on a log on that sunny, 70 degree day. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh-s1u_BrR5FBEnb6HCvgzfcORgx4E0yoJdTxT9WZcSBhKs1hZkLI_-UkIBiHbgykthizTZOKZHKNtes5GnXyR_vcA60dBs4BKRvIqQiTH1ShPrmO92k7QGrWBdqmY3hhjQqgpVK2jcrtRONJO64gK1vXJaOWb1IiK8eDJbbbA4qZj0g8GpXiMcTA_eY/s900/PXL_20231027_164452163a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="900" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh-s1u_BrR5FBEnb6HCvgzfcORgx4E0yoJdTxT9WZcSBhKs1hZkLI_-UkIBiHbgykthizTZOKZHKNtes5GnXyR_vcA60dBs4BKRvIqQiTH1ShPrmO92k7QGrWBdqmY3hhjQqgpVK2jcrtRONJO64gK1vXJaOWb1IiK8eDJbbbA4qZj0g8GpXiMcTA_eY/w640-h378/PXL_20231027_164452163a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for excuses to dawdle on the lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Yes, things are starting to wind down as the days become shorter and the water cooler, though some locals are still hanging around.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3v2AE2VRcC2xTnnJlqCrjFZ_RxCFGAZn9daW0kkfq6JAat9MVNi7JfLiZbsVKt8EsjBBM6D6WH1Uyu6y9FdN3BdMOhGkkkhtGWIhn4fze6GVnX3wY6oVVzfB68vpFN8idEuNvFcIcbSixLVhM4A5_7wxYFsKIzbnlqeO7qMu62NZU9bL3k91iyVPFyI/s900/IMG_2396a.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="900" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3v2AE2VRcC2xTnnJlqCrjFZ_RxCFGAZn9daW0kkfq6JAat9MVNi7JfLiZbsVKt8EsjBBM6D6WH1Uyu6y9FdN3BdMOhGkkkhtGWIhn4fze6GVnX3wY6oVVzfB68vpFN8idEuNvFcIcbSixLVhM4A5_7wxYFsKIzbnlqeO7qMu62NZU9bL3k91iyVPFyI/w640-h354/IMG_2396a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having just landed, a great blue heron walks to one of its favorite fishing spots.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Did you see the full October moon on Friday night? I caught it as it was setting on Saturday morning, with Venus watching over from above.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZSVfB3BCS2V6VwP6W5Cph5gG6XIroh29f8AkUlx8a4JWV_NsJu2cUei39xW2fwANUbhS99B4uWAlNoizm-ERgQGMArQzZvvSw1spAsKoFGo9TMakUkM0eu2oSZ-pOOlpyx8zEnyAY2WRuh8noJP7lO2QI-XYS_iKMq_WQ-4GPsYTIfGdCQl198o-tPA/s2966/PXL_20231028_101531602.NIGHTc.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2966" data-original-width="1827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZSVfB3BCS2V6VwP6W5Cph5gG6XIroh29f8AkUlx8a4JWV_NsJu2cUei39xW2fwANUbhS99B4uWAlNoizm-ERgQGMArQzZvvSw1spAsKoFGo9TMakUkM0eu2oSZ-pOOlpyx8zEnyAY2WRuh8noJP7lO2QI-XYS_iKMq_WQ-4GPsYTIfGdCQl198o-tPA/w394-h640/PXL_20231028_101531602.NIGHTc.JPG" width="394" /></a></div><br /><br />It was a near-monochromatic scene, but just a few minutes later came the real show, in full technicolor, courtesy of Neil Crimins.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_3tBBhMCMYdSiLsMNpz0BlxqXtYNMOSYo_FBoEv6Z9rcXNvZLaPAV91exVPDTnbXWTmnoVCInwg9dHakHNsOVamV55DciqRaS787wm4ZvqZyiUIlAylkZco50leeXKjEzYbtq9bIXpdbhfxxh5NTII2bFKYwiPC0gkCc2j6MlD3u2Rsl9UHgS-38gzc/s900/IMG_3405b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="900" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_3tBBhMCMYdSiLsMNpz0BlxqXtYNMOSYo_FBoEv6Z9rcXNvZLaPAV91exVPDTnbXWTmnoVCInwg9dHakHNsOVamV55DciqRaS787wm4ZvqZyiUIlAylkZco50leeXKjEzYbtq9bIXpdbhfxxh5NTII2bFKYwiPC0gkCc2j6MlD3u2Rsl9UHgS-38gzc/w640-h374/IMG_3405b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for sharing Neil!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Can we please have a few more days like this?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-63160252679327249462023-10-22T07:45:00.000-04:002023-10-22T07:45:43.074-04:00October 22, 2023: Fog in the Woods and Woodies in the Fog<p>October days often emerge with fog in the valleys and over the lakes that sometimes doesn't burn off until mid-morning. It's interesting to see what emerges from the fog as it lifts. This week it has been wood ducks.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08K4tJ-G_t75iVY2t774tQ3Jb3dor2XmYUOCFISkEf6bHnwum5IZEzVpc21_bXpaUgFClAcrnY76fb61uZmBcLekgAM9rXmCGQ73YUim2XOmNC_GOXWo3l42g9DB2F1CQ1pt7rvsNkrY1k4n5cmJUDrAVTLzPv_E9bcm7iX5e_yovJRFxlRLWmpOeNR4/s900/IMG_2321a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08K4tJ-G_t75iVY2t774tQ3Jb3dor2XmYUOCFISkEf6bHnwum5IZEzVpc21_bXpaUgFClAcrnY76fb61uZmBcLekgAM9rXmCGQ73YUim2XOmNC_GOXWo3l42g9DB2F1CQ1pt7rvsNkrY1k4n5cmJUDrAVTLzPv_E9bcm7iX5e_yovJRFxlRLWmpOeNR4/w640-h480/IMG_2321a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of wood ducks in the morning fog.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>As the day brightens more and more of them materialize. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-X5Pi_j4ji8Fh3XR4fhNyKxkqmTt_zmr4UnGGLWj8MlDQfveA7nlEDZ-S9UkAM6VwzKYivrjuFhGkQn2Q770bLPxHDbXVk22D56Gni0ZIiWlDPvp8qq4oKZMQDJQfTOhwEcYWDceazT7nPIgaB4Mqx8g-sz7QeDFs_C1YbFgJs12zMY4KN9Z4oEhKgQ/s900/IMG_2316a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-X5Pi_j4ji8Fh3XR4fhNyKxkqmTt_zmr4UnGGLWj8MlDQfveA7nlEDZ-S9UkAM6VwzKYivrjuFhGkQn2Q770bLPxHDbXVk22D56Gni0ZIiWlDPvp8qq4oKZMQDJQfTOhwEcYWDceazT7nPIgaB4Mqx8g-sz7QeDFs_C1YbFgJs12zMY4KN9Z4oEhKgQ/w640-h426/IMG_2316a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Daoeg6WMVPLmIoA21vjFwTxU8P4u5fOPh9STcDw4BukFGc3wg9nmY7loUUQqrumw8t5wEnClP8olKl2oDfI2t2lDcv2GSiSeJJMQZ6o3_0fwQexsHbPcuhrhfHJKURya7rYTxvcZj0hoV7dNUjKS9BwlmUPvuS-WzjXvmmh5hW58PnipGFmHbEK5fo/s900/IMG_2363a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Daoeg6WMVPLmIoA21vjFwTxU8P4u5fOPh9STcDw4BukFGc3wg9nmY7loUUQqrumw8t5wEnClP8olKl2oDfI2t2lDcv2GSiSeJJMQZ6o3_0fwQexsHbPcuhrhfHJKURya7rYTxvcZj0hoV7dNUjKS9BwlmUPvuS-WzjXvmmh5hW58PnipGFmHbEK5fo/w640-h426/IMG_2363a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p>Each day this week I've seen at least half a dozen on the lake.</p><p>The loons paddle around in the fog as well, both the two juveniles as well as adults. This adult was probably stopping by Wicwas for a visit or a rest stop on its way to the ocean.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkitMOSoSWCtYFdmPASaQq1CpE8EPqhWQDZfu88UZ6ZyIG1P7Cjk2OuM7_fIWtMClsQuZEdfUU142g12kRMOc4oHiWhxGDz8Yrx0ryKAgbVP1ybatDFySrZS1d8hHppJeseAaFJt0j1of41xeN_Jzh77HOyXbttXypcTilGYj5fyvIU1-5bbG-s2jcfo/s900/IMG_2344b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkitMOSoSWCtYFdmPASaQq1CpE8EPqhWQDZfu88UZ6ZyIG1P7Cjk2OuM7_fIWtMClsQuZEdfUU142g12kRMOc4oHiWhxGDz8Yrx0ryKAgbVP1ybatDFySrZS1d8hHppJeseAaFJt0j1of41xeN_Jzh77HOyXbttXypcTilGYj5fyvIU1-5bbG-s2jcfo/w640-h480/IMG_2344b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mature loon part way through its molt.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I have to look carefully to tell adults and juveniles apart now. It's possible both of our nesting adults have left the lake as I haven't seen LuLu and Checkers with either parent this week, though it doesn't mean they won't return for visit to check on the kids. The young ones are very quiet now - no whining and nagging for food when they're on their own.</p><p>I found the hobble bush viburnum to be especially interesting this foliage season, transitioning through a sequence of colors from green to red to a deep burgundy.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S-vaIZucWer-BNEM3iOV5GtoqfXTcmBxGO_xBPEZzvi6WOdWCZz22NibkTCMMD-3ykcLVX3X1oeCIIUfleINoA6v4RP7IggPMgv8zo4aFDxqWD7h9hSHFcsE8_JF6DbupzRzXgn1ypUSaT7mU_sDz1yMQAqgJD0YHq1CcB4BIOHGJ0kA8EgUu4aqD38/s900/PXL_20231013_115109768a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S-vaIZucWer-BNEM3iOV5GtoqfXTcmBxGO_xBPEZzvi6WOdWCZz22NibkTCMMD-3ykcLVX3X1oeCIIUfleINoA6v4RP7IggPMgv8zo4aFDxqWD7h9hSHFcsE8_JF6DbupzRzXgn1ypUSaT7mU_sDz1yMQAqgJD0YHq1CcB4BIOHGJ0kA8EgUu4aqD38/w640-h360/PXL_20231013_115109768a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobblebush viburnum on October 13th.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW61iDrbY_pk5JM4hdJ0nWtpr2uTcTR1CYoEmUMcrwy-50Od5Bsg4YLxMIakjA4F3ZgL3L35wurs9dAYi_gO_jJlZD2RVNDdz3reGKQPN_yjLI2XrlzuQq-B5QiLbCEB8hUkwkCwMjl2NTPJuhO3fMIEFojG2i9lCBeMZ5istZXrm6K3ngA46BR1LBiFg/s900/PXL_20231019_122549572a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW61iDrbY_pk5JM4hdJ0nWtpr2uTcTR1CYoEmUMcrwy-50Od5Bsg4YLxMIakjA4F3ZgL3L35wurs9dAYi_gO_jJlZD2RVNDdz3reGKQPN_yjLI2XrlzuQq-B5QiLbCEB8hUkwkCwMjl2NTPJuhO3fMIEFojG2i9lCBeMZ5istZXrm6K3ngA46BR1LBiFg/w640-h360/PXL_20231019_122549572a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And six days later.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuslYklQpmChe_CfQl3SnKv0y0T8O1_FpmmYFezD63b9PlVVzdnxdl3ugINngo1RlHL6aB7eFswUyue0ZFLsgcwZUjpBWLtoPS8eXe6FHi8iywsA_TUr3z_wVpSv7PLMUt8E4usO9Zaxbi6GoQcQElNE89bJDqd2n1DbvxS8vy2ipuL_FsUKHBzSFq1Q/s800/PXL_20231019_122514975a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuslYklQpmChe_CfQl3SnKv0y0T8O1_FpmmYFezD63b9PlVVzdnxdl3ugINngo1RlHL6aB7eFswUyue0ZFLsgcwZUjpBWLtoPS8eXe6FHi8iywsA_TUr3z_wVpSv7PLMUt8E4usO9Zaxbi6GoQcQElNE89bJDqd2n1DbvxS8vy2ipuL_FsUKHBzSFq1Q/w640-h480/PXL_20231019_122514975a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><p></p><p>They do this even as they are putting out new growth from the end of their stems.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsR_i3QlTlDbsgIT6vLrpR5ZuX1jiWUINpffAPqw3yaObFhli0unt1Doie_IeLRd3qc5Cp2pDltbDtiTSANFhMi9KhlZSwue8wZjMIluq5BRhXe2DHS2vM-cqnc-wZ6-4vBEVQnV6AJdyovO4rNs26ClK-mEXZu7jWq2yY8uXX6w6ebH07qPpxvNcsnc/s900/PXL_20231019_122549572c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsR_i3QlTlDbsgIT6vLrpR5ZuX1jiWUINpffAPqw3yaObFhli0unt1Doie_IeLRd3qc5Cp2pDltbDtiTSANFhMi9KhlZSwue8wZjMIluq5BRhXe2DHS2vM-cqnc-wZ6-4vBEVQnV6AJdyovO4rNs26ClK-mEXZu7jWq2yY8uXX6w6ebH07qPpxvNcsnc/w640-h480/PXL_20231019_122549572c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New growth just emerging.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I'm afraid today's wind is going to bring an end to the best of the foliage for this year. The oaks will hang on to their leaves for another couple of weeks, but the red, yellow, and orange maples will probably sacrifice most of their leaves to the forest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0whrmFBN2C-UUews7e323Pq13rDeCJDisFpb4XLp8yG6kac3mGcFwsiKeTRdVjwgdwPiX2TvwglemBQh0A10a3bzxjs-L_TFuYwks6EtbQgWl64KVcDfPZnLojEvAyNvWW4V41NRIISOC1r0_y8q0eC-t1DGQc2C4gaK0tOTI81UXn77q8IJ8mLXw8U/s900/IMG_2312a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0whrmFBN2C-UUews7e323Pq13rDeCJDisFpb4XLp8yG6kac3mGcFwsiKeTRdVjwgdwPiX2TvwglemBQh0A10a3bzxjs-L_TFuYwks6EtbQgWl64KVcDfPZnLojEvAyNvWW4V41NRIISOC1r0_y8q0eC-t1DGQc2C4gaK0tOTI81UXn77q8IJ8mLXw8U/w640-h426/IMG_2312a.JPG" width="640" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFGb4UdBpN7M8D2u9Yzj5wb2Giy-VmLqrNshnK2oCxmd_O-IEDMOh8CsPHnSZ7ekS1cOfeusZKZTsSLhPtF4GW0Z62GpXonfWdxuCHzEDyFH9_qAV5Kyz-q4MnZpKlQnH3JJjnwPBQtDoJabCa_CqJxxVHlW6yx7WVzF5stVict_F5umLFsyu8O7ufx8/s900/IMG_2327a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFGb4UdBpN7M8D2u9Yzj5wb2Giy-VmLqrNshnK2oCxmd_O-IEDMOh8CsPHnSZ7ekS1cOfeusZKZTsSLhPtF4GW0Z62GpXonfWdxuCHzEDyFH9_qAV5Kyz-q4MnZpKlQnH3JJjnwPBQtDoJabCa_CqJxxVHlW6yx7WVzF5stVict_F5umLFsyu8O7ufx8/w640-h426/IMG_2327a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A calm morning after the fog.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>Damp mornings bring out the bright colors of the leaves that have left their homes and found their way to their final resting place, ready to start the process of giving themselves back to the forest floor to sustain new life as they decompose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD2oBqXfiv5WSvHHX4BwgYDjLUtNGftYyp01ct4h751iVAg6cSbTq314uuOgp_2o4kF5kWL2PBLBEHH9FIG4s_ufoZAzKgo290lfydJxGkP8iAmdw0wMganFv7WtQJHvrq8XsAjUyZQQndJqtbrceYxUMFm2_AOO4DjVz13zsw2ATKgKTdQYmCNhuN5c/s900/PXL_20231021_124123400a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD2oBqXfiv5WSvHHX4BwgYDjLUtNGftYyp01ct4h751iVAg6cSbTq314uuOgp_2o4kF5kWL2PBLBEHH9FIG4s_ufoZAzKgo290lfydJxGkP8iAmdw0wMganFv7WtQJHvrq8XsAjUyZQQndJqtbrceYxUMFm2_AOO4DjVz13zsw2ATKgKTdQYmCNhuN5c/w640-h360/PXL_20231021_124123400a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93qgbsvzVPhILz-kka2ElIJbmujZy1z4c1IgzCs1SgXaub4vnWkiW5HMOyeg9gpc_0FxwbnGv3RTaSjJEjhmJRg-uNjKT8j6hQIPE93ZiTl9ANpqPBcHdsY5ROqVKiMbs7VWF4A64aKrhbfwwjjZyoTwu_0d2QvKhyphenhyphenbOrM5yKQYDZXAtClBPGoUCug6s/s900/PXL_20231013_114540149a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93qgbsvzVPhILz-kka2ElIJbmujZy1z4c1IgzCs1SgXaub4vnWkiW5HMOyeg9gpc_0FxwbnGv3RTaSjJEjhmJRg-uNjKT8j6hQIPE93ZiTl9ANpqPBcHdsY5ROqVKiMbs7VWF4A64aKrhbfwwjjZyoTwu_0d2QvKhyphenhyphenbOrM5yKQYDZXAtClBPGoUCug6s/w640-h360/PXL_20231013_114540149a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>I hope you're able to take in the fall beauty that nature has left to give us before it fades into a much different personality, known as "November".<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBpVz9uW6E9kSlVzCYme7tMU1COtcWQI26e8RcpxDf_dPOdP5pHP8vGK4ufbDxHISRsLIVYjcZS5k6RPEXtxpF7IB875IZ-gTqaSoxATiX6ytssLOJv2mctGC9oaGPYKaNXqoTo75kSDSfe4pGZqxHmsCkp1Licpxtx6k-jqs9YrOyKE1eWwaGpCImPU/s900/IMG_2352c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="900" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBpVz9uW6E9kSlVzCYme7tMU1COtcWQI26e8RcpxDf_dPOdP5pHP8vGK4ufbDxHISRsLIVYjcZS5k6RPEXtxpF7IB875IZ-gTqaSoxATiX6ytssLOJv2mctGC9oaGPYKaNXqoTo75kSDSfe4pGZqxHmsCkp1Licpxtx6k-jqs9YrOyKE1eWwaGpCImPU/w640-h438/IMG_2352c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two different beings pursue their piscium prey below the rising fog.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div><br /></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326314496983974829.post-68918484854632274062023-10-15T09:40:00.001-04:002023-10-15T09:40:40.318-04:00October 15, 2023: Now There are Two<p>Last week I saw an eagle over by Bryant Island - this week there were two eagles on the Rawson Wood Island right next to Bryant. I saw the first one far across the lake, sitting way up high at the very top of a dead pine tree.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB3lxhfxeW_sbV4YbfbZMfchXFmMsMm45u92wDhyphenhyphenSLGAGfkBewjdyHix_Mc5DRaqO8T4oKhyphenhyphenuPXa6v5O3lZeEDFVLFOd2ELIz25rHlA2AAAQ8UwnTTPamODqWX5bQrwmvMz7is5S5eTJCIc809C6Oz2SfawGw-ixkaZVcIRxKb1NR_awPivpeMXQ44ac/s900/IMG_2226a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB3lxhfxeW_sbV4YbfbZMfchXFmMsMm45u92wDhyphenhyphenSLGAGfkBewjdyHix_Mc5DRaqO8T4oKhyphenhyphenuPXa6v5O3lZeEDFVLFOd2ELIz25rHlA2AAAQ8UwnTTPamODqWX5bQrwmvMz7is5S5eTJCIc809C6Oz2SfawGw-ixkaZVcIRxKb1NR_awPivpeMXQ44ac/w640-h426/IMG_2226a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UYaebpBVtSPSvqm5DGzIHCcc6bgfTY0hyphenhyphenGVuS2rui4EC4NiiXqe0wfmjuEjpIjWO4xYaw4lkTCArssalzJOazdw376EqfABCkC69sQcMS-eWaK21NXiOKOi3n5GRAATHx3luQagZcPIpGY7lFQjWW7Hg3SKhRwrrx9XcIfSfC6UjnXoPDd-G-v2t0zM/s900/IMG_2212a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UYaebpBVtSPSvqm5DGzIHCcc6bgfTY0hyphenhyphenGVuS2rui4EC4NiiXqe0wfmjuEjpIjWO4xYaw4lkTCArssalzJOazdw376EqfABCkC69sQcMS-eWaK21NXiOKOi3n5GRAATHx3luQagZcPIpGY7lFQjWW7Hg3SKhRwrrx9XcIfSfC6UjnXoPDd-G-v2t0zM/w426-h640/IMG_2212a.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to scan well above the horizon if you're looking for eagles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I stopped and watched for a while as it just perused its surroundings, acting as though it was at the top of the food chain - which it is. When I saw it start to raise its tail up in the air,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ65N5qlypAbP8VcDT8M4-qC5-LNnBAtVXEFFjOM_bPpGed9a_73uvQnCDjSzvtyuBRwm-noM3p51a5GSfpgkSB38fI5oTVYhWLzDopsS45BSWeH0J5O806-M20cu_MShGORpbLS5IJjijbo_mhgj397Ysn5MP3q6oddkpf2IEZrHeZi4x-Lmn1-_4ESA/s900/IMG_2220a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ65N5qlypAbP8VcDT8M4-qC5-LNnBAtVXEFFjOM_bPpGed9a_73uvQnCDjSzvtyuBRwm-noM3p51a5GSfpgkSB38fI5oTVYhWLzDopsS45BSWeH0J5O806-M20cu_MShGORpbLS5IJjijbo_mhgj397Ysn5MP3q6oddkpf2IEZrHeZi4x-Lmn1-_4ESA/w640-h480/IMG_2220a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9qPtTnRL9M-twbfk3cyc-3Tpo2GJXHh9_IPM6Edoa0TxcBvZG_-9TA7CTutAaZzvbgUHJWwON4Og3oNVxC_dQNkCnpkU8kBnt_VDUr5D7m_v1DVDE9TJuL9MyyQoEKJsZnBz8XQXhD7O51jTqOXG0Qn9DUDFrE0z8VIcd2z9APuDEFAymDX7nwj3vpM/s1125/IMG_2217a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1125" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9qPtTnRL9M-twbfk3cyc-3Tpo2GJXHh9_IPM6Edoa0TxcBvZG_-9TA7CTutAaZzvbgUHJWwON4Og3oNVxC_dQNkCnpkU8kBnt_VDUr5D7m_v1DVDE9TJuL9MyyQoEKJsZnBz8XQXhD7O51jTqOXG0Qn9DUDFrE0z8VIcd2z9APuDEFAymDX7nwj3vpM/w640-h480/IMG_2217a.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91FzCSM81k5gSVW2RmUtKREbIza-ABgXDV5qZsRSWDoR4Q_PX9RBcmpPv3tJOkeLi2gBznUjhifoLlPiViBstZwNjcQzLB6U_WigQex3818jJ5ClHwOA3AJihH8Oc0CBLU5Mza5nCelo9S3fcC8dnM6z3aYgNgJHm_kqJiIy5i-SD3PxYRsZ3CPfRwqc/s900/IMG_2218a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91FzCSM81k5gSVW2RmUtKREbIza-ABgXDV5qZsRSWDoR4Q_PX9RBcmpPv3tJOkeLi2gBznUjhifoLlPiViBstZwNjcQzLB6U_WigQex3818jJ5ClHwOA3AJihH8Oc0CBLU5Mza5nCelo9S3fcC8dnM6z3aYgNgJHm_kqJiIy5i-SD3PxYRsZ3CPfRwqc/w640-h480/IMG_2218a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><p></p><p>I knew what was about to happen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uFEG6eBhgjzg7z0zZeJPHcsG8rUeM9kGlnOkFZbMiGyvTqWmAsMjuuAGvbuvqsqLVIIS9A3OuKLmFmKCcSW295Msidpd0toJvfCH0KBfdRmGzP1eSQhdfQLeqSbC9889Ot-eLfVB70OdOWIK-b8raudIAo2_Rid78F6P0pDH3UShQyG3o9Pv7AH8YXs/s900/IMG_2219a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uFEG6eBhgjzg7z0zZeJPHcsG8rUeM9kGlnOkFZbMiGyvTqWmAsMjuuAGvbuvqsqLVIIS9A3OuKLmFmKCcSW295Msidpd0toJvfCH0KBfdRmGzP1eSQhdfQLeqSbC9889Ot-eLfVB70OdOWIK-b8raudIAo2_Rid78F6P0pDH3UShQyG3o9Pv7AH8YXs/w640-h480/IMG_2219a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Right after it had reduced its ballast, it took flight and I watched it fly over to a neighboring pine. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeAggCoOlJdxLoL_Zo6RcV7CFjvSy8SltOKKb_8KQ3SoPCR2ZMkb8jPislJj1rZxjnRtEXNrvZAK40BiPVnJ6HeuZteKpG7uxTWDRoZ6Tge-wXuZxFACmVPM2E8tKyFV2RPesHfc-APVKeUOxkXCl77oODd_3c6jZzNv0oWwZ1ZD4Iz2wTwOREJTvwUA/s900/IMG_2236a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeAggCoOlJdxLoL_Zo6RcV7CFjvSy8SltOKKb_8KQ3SoPCR2ZMkb8jPislJj1rZxjnRtEXNrvZAK40BiPVnJ6HeuZteKpG7uxTWDRoZ6Tge-wXuZxFACmVPM2E8tKyFV2RPesHfc-APVKeUOxkXCl77oODd_3c6jZzNv0oWwZ1ZD4Iz2wTwOREJTvwUA/w640-h426/IMG_2236a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />That's when I saw the second eagle, this one perched at the top of that tree, up with all those pine cones.<p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYhl0GO7jnQXRmLZDCifFIQ-CaVWQlgttX0njfemdgMvD7mqgnB4ucwhE3uUxVJ3oeyrNr5Dt2s2PZlmYum9djMgVCL8qbPd8s9MaX8nd5IRH9yc_5dvGiv1A_l_3wVjC70jnfhX6_p7dLfW_szblrlE8GXaKCpYJZyhFEUf4dfiAvWQexf1qVy8z6F4/s900/IMG_2275a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYhl0GO7jnQXRmLZDCifFIQ-CaVWQlgttX0njfemdgMvD7mqgnB4ucwhE3uUxVJ3oeyrNr5Dt2s2PZlmYum9djMgVCL8qbPd8s9MaX8nd5IRH9yc_5dvGiv1A_l_3wVjC70jnfhX6_p7dLfW_szblrlE8GXaKCpYJZyhFEUf4dfiAvWQexf1qVy8z6F4/w640-h480/IMG_2275a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's only room for one at top.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I figure they must be a pair. It makes we wonder if eagles don't excrete their waste where they live.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the same trip that I saw the eagles I also found both juvenile loons together with one parent. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirorXSqDpzEyOqG4H58GEijrG09sffmH7nsHFyVaUxlOe1fWie9ont8PJcj0srsyFSsWUJDFS2XUoqjfsigWHmSQoTAFMNMdeAaDfV_ViPuT6JHbe2dsPSti-uFiE_wMvQv1dvEG2-bjJB7mObclWooMy3br1h6SiqMNhSwc8_XiTGuu3XrNT3p6jaysU/s900/IMG_2188a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirorXSqDpzEyOqG4H58GEijrG09sffmH7nsHFyVaUxlOe1fWie9ont8PJcj0srsyFSsWUJDFS2XUoqjfsigWHmSQoTAFMNMdeAaDfV_ViPuT6JHbe2dsPSti-uFiE_wMvQv1dvEG2-bjJB7mObclWooMy3br1h6SiqMNhSwc8_XiTGuu3XrNT3p6jaysU/w640-h426/IMG_2188a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>I'll keep reporting on them as long as they stay on the lake, which last year was all the way until Christmas.</p><p>I've seen a few wooly bear caterpillars this year, the species that some people say predict the winter weather, but I also saw a new caterpillar which I think is a Virginian tiger moth. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqZjetxFaKIFqC9f1z2_All8fUgRJ87aCenU4_xkR1ccU9U5QQMXYrZpdVozKFZvHBBL8VIJExlBI2u6b_m04nXBtJrhyphenhyphenZMswqmQjJ7bjlJZA8s52NwrDAXYBvfm_1VHw-lpmHQ0zX0IpyXHZYEymYpjl6IdQcyrss6r0mQjutWkMWlQ8GxYw6bLUVYw/s900/Tiger%20moth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="900" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqZjetxFaKIFqC9f1z2_All8fUgRJ87aCenU4_xkR1ccU9U5QQMXYrZpdVozKFZvHBBL8VIJExlBI2u6b_m04nXBtJrhyphenhyphenZMswqmQjJ7bjlJZA8s52NwrDAXYBvfm_1VHw-lpmHQ0zX0IpyXHZYEymYpjl6IdQcyrss6r0mQjutWkMWlQ8GxYw6bLUVYw/w640-h500/Tiger%20moth.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The well-known black and brown wooly bear caterpillar is also a member of the tiger moth family; it's formal name is the Isabella tiger moth (<i>Pyrrharctia isabella</i>). The Virginian tiger moth caterpillar I saw is a solid, rich golden color and not something I recall seeing before. Looking up what the adult moth looks like, there's a good chance I've seen one around but never noted it, as they are a plain, non-descript white moth, sometimes with black spots on its wings. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvfI6Ml7n0lRHnGIhCBOUwyOcHgRhE6D53WIJzvpeiC6PZClS9IlsqTSoyi9JxGuxs2p1MG3yXjBL9HS0XRPuE86qoIsV-c4KNxhAwLV1Jde1hbhr6oXmLKCFzMjpzKCMQIT8-I1wXDhJe_a0pK3S1YCFvLweZTP5J9RLNZ1iiRXaWvKA8JRfxoxmsBI/s500/moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="500" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvfI6Ml7n0lRHnGIhCBOUwyOcHgRhE6D53WIJzvpeiC6PZClS9IlsqTSoyi9JxGuxs2p1MG3yXjBL9HS0XRPuE86qoIsV-c4KNxhAwLV1Jde1hbhr6oXmLKCFzMjpzKCMQIT8-I1wXDhJe_a0pK3S1YCFvLweZTP5J9RLNZ1iiRXaWvKA8JRfxoxmsBI/w400-h385/moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginian Tiger Moth. Photo by <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/18984537" target="_blank">Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>Someone asked recently how many beaver lodges are on Lake Wicwas. I have found 12 on the lake plus three more on streams right above or below the lake, though some appear to have been abandoned. Here's a map showing the locations of lodges I've found, but there are certainly others I haven't discovered. Each lodge may have 6 residents in the summer: two parents, a couple of last years kits as well as the new years kits. If eight lodges are occupied that would mean 48 beavers on the lake.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcxzEmWPdvaf4t_4pJqMbS-h6oHWLY-nRdrcQNfqbmIjeV8bB_XUpoLjy-QhnPh4anCNPRbtFqurdDvrSwI8M0CbJagj3guMWtrzKp_sRR8etB1VymXFXSbzKYaVQSd-J-HmJsZ2Dq_qhHEn00Z8eceZmBXvpRjUbjEKfDf9bSjYlvE8MKk-wvMQRZOE/s960/Beaver%20Lodges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcxzEmWPdvaf4t_4pJqMbS-h6oHWLY-nRdrcQNfqbmIjeV8bB_XUpoLjy-QhnPh4anCNPRbtFqurdDvrSwI8M0CbJagj3guMWtrzKp_sRR8etB1VymXFXSbzKYaVQSd-J-HmJsZ2Dq_qhHEn00Z8eceZmBXvpRjUbjEKfDf9bSjYlvE8MKk-wvMQRZOE/w400-h300/Beaver%20Lodges.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>It sure was nice to have some classic fall weather this week to allow pleasant walks in the woods and paddles on the water - with no bugs! The foliage might not be as brilliant as in some years, and as mentioned last week, one theory is that there was too much rain for deep colors to form. And here's another observation: Maple trees right on the shoreline, which have had even more water than usual with the high water levels flooding their roots all summer, have the best color I've seen anywhere. Maybe they have adapted to wet conditions over time so the wet summer didn't affect them. My grandfather did call them swamp maples after all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNlvHZLq41ur1urz2PDt_4RM-1L91Kb4f5oJLDWsjYiSpbx_8XAp2KtrvYZmLSTWPhpCgSAwlAzVUTwMx1VDVBr2CRpamU8vyd28mViMFgagrveOjB4hufoISTKOjnDNMOBfGHggWH-_XUxi3T3H9Fz3FjISJUc4esNGtDP04Z5-kWHXpkl2hSJX8HVA/s900/IMG_2302a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="829" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNlvHZLq41ur1urz2PDt_4RM-1L91Kb4f5oJLDWsjYiSpbx_8XAp2KtrvYZmLSTWPhpCgSAwlAzVUTwMx1VDVBr2CRpamU8vyd28mViMFgagrveOjB4hufoISTKOjnDNMOBfGHggWH-_XUxi3T3H9Fz3FjISJUc4esNGtDP04Z5-kWHXpkl2hSJX8HVA/w590-h640/IMG_2302a.JPG" width="590" /></a></div><p>To find the best color this year you may need to go no farther than a local wetland.</p><p><br /></p></div>Scott Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080725219145672444noreply@blogger.com0