February 12, 2023: More Fun with Ice

Last week it was hockey, this week it's the Great Meredith Fishing Derby run by the Meredith Rotary Club.  But first, some other fun with ice this week:

Profile Falls

We took the short hike up to Profile Falls in Bristol, expecting that the fluctuations between warm weather to get the Smith River flowing, and cold weather to form ice might have created some interesting sights, and we weren't disappointed.

The river was flowing strongly and there were lots of ice formations above, along, and below the falls.

Closer to home, on a walk out to some local ledges to see what the porcupines are doing this winter (more on that in a future post), some icicles that formed on a rock outcropping caught my eye.

As I approached to get a closer look I saw these incredibly resilient ferns growing among the icicles.

Rock Polypody (Polypodium virginianum)

Not only are they still green here in the middle of winter, but they have found a way to eke out a living on the exposed face of a granite ledge.

I believe this is rock polypody which is found in several natural communities in New Hampshire.  It somehow thrives on rocky exposed surfaces, and growing throughout the year, is a winter food source for animals including deer, turkey, and grouse.  [Ref:  Sandra Mitchell, Evergreen Ferns can be Enjoyed Year Round, Northern Woodlands]  I expect the ferns take advantage of moisture and nutrients collected and stored by the moss and lichen that share the ledge.

As for the ice on the lakes, there was a lot of activity on Wicwas and Waukewan for the fishing derby because the larger lakes aren't safe.  We took a walk out to see the action on Lake Waukewan - it was breezy, but nothing like last weekend, and a lot warmer!  

Ice fishing action on Waukewan

And a quieter scene on Wicwas.

The NH Audobon Backyard Bird Count took place this weekend.  My inventory included:  chick-a-dee, goldfinch, downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, bluebird, mourning dove, titmouse, house finch, and red and gray squirrels.  I didn't see any blue jays, hairy woodpeckers, or even crows.

Eastern Bluebird

House Finch

Red-bellied woodpecker

The bluebird and house finch were seen near Lake Waukewan; all the others at Wicwas.  I also received a report of a pair of bald eagles on Waukewan (thank you BG!) , but they don't go on my bird count list.

I also saw one other bird during our visit to Profile Falls Park where there's a nice walk (or snowshoe or ski - they groom a short trail there) to the Pemigewasset River.  There we found the only wildlife on that excursion, three American black ducks out on the ice.

American Black Duck

It's not only humans that enjoy the ice in New Hampshire.

The Pemigewasset River in February.