Everything happened so quickly this week that there's way too much to discuss, so this entry will pretty much be a recording of events for the journal followed by a few notes about the mergansers which have been so plentiful and entertaining.
Many of the spring birds arrived - here's what I observed for the first time this year:
- Northern Flicker
- Pine Warbler
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Swamp Sparrow
- Hermit Thrush
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Wood Duck
- Common Loon
- American Robin
Robins of course are here year 'round, living off fruit in the winter, but I rarely see them in the cold months. Now that it's spring, they're here and hopping all over the ground listening for insects and worms in the soft soil.
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| Tuning in on lunch down underground. |
The Pine Warblers are usually the first of warbler family to arrive and they have a loud distinctive call so you know when they're here. Much more subtle and absolutely beautiful - perhaps the most eloquent of all the bird songs - is the Hermit Thrush. Their song in the early morning is one of the most satisfying sounds of summer. Another distinctive song is that of the wood frog which I heard for the first time this week, dozens of male wood frogs singing their hearts out looking for a mate. Scientists say males congregate in a single vernal pool so they have a better chance of attracting females to their pool due to the loud sound. Then each frog has to perform solo to gain the favor of an arriving female. [Ref: Discover Magazine]
The first report of a loon on Wicwas was on April 9th, and the following day a pair was observed. I went for a paddle on Thursday but I wasn't able to find them. So far there have only been reports of one pair on the lake.
There were also eagles on the lake this week; I went looking for what was causing a traumatic call from the loons, and there was the eagle soaring overhead.
This was an immature bald eagle. I also saw a mature eagle which landed in one of the pine trees where eagles roosted over the deer kill this winter.
Could it be looking for a nesting site?
Could it be looking for a nesting site?
The loons' arrival on Sunday preceded ice-out on Wicwas by three days; ice-out was called on Wednesday April 12, right in line with the average ice-out day. Ice-out came quickly with the warm and windy weather. (We hit 86 degrees this week.)
On Tuesday there was still a lot of ice in the lake.
By Wednesday it was essentially gone, with only remnants blown onto the boat ramp by the strong northwest wind.
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| Intrepid fisher people on Tuesday, April 11. |
By Wednesday it was essentially gone, with only remnants blown onto the boat ramp by the strong northwest wind.
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| Ice-out was declared on Wednesday, April 12 |
Even with an average ice-out date, the late ice-in date of December 25th meant a lower than usual ice-coverage period of 108 days, quite a bit short of the 123 day average.
Now a few comments on the mergansers. There have been multiple groups of them on the lake, numbering perhaps two dozen in total.
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| Common mergansers socializing. |
They've been interacting quite actively, though their intent isn't always clear. When there are three or four males and one female I assume the drakes (males) are vying for the affection of the hen.
Other times a male is chasing away another male which also makes sense. But sometimes a female is chasing away another female - does that mean she has selected a mate and doesn't want another girl to move in on her chosen one?
When they've had enough action they'll climb up on the ice to preen and rest.
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| Four drakes, one hen. |
Other times a male is chasing away another male which also makes sense. But sometimes a female is chasing away another female - does that mean she has selected a mate and doesn't want another girl to move in on her chosen one?
When they've had enough action they'll climb up on the ice to preen and rest.
The Lakes Region is right on the edge of common mergansers' breeding zone, so most of these are migrants on their way to their primary breeding area in Canada. Too bad, because they are such pretty birds.
And it's fun to watch them dive, as they put their heads down and flip up their tails.
When one group of them was close I captured a bit of their antics, which you can watch here:
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| The scene in Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine on Friday, April 14th. |
It's the time of many seasons all-at-once here in New Hampshire.
Scott….thank you….great week…the circle of life..T
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