December 22, 2024: Winter Solstice '24

The first day of winter sure came in with a bang, bringing the coldest temperatures of the year, with last night dropping down to 4 degrees Fahrenheit.  But we sure have been on the New Hampshire weather roller coaster, as it was 51 degrees on Tuesday.  All combined, the lake still hasn't frozen over.  But before the warm up we got in some good skating on the coves.

This time of year, before snow covers the lake, there are always interesting phenomena to see, such as these black holes with spider veins, perhaps caused by melt water seeking out low spots in the ice to drain down into the lake.

After the warm-up, melt water on the surface of the ice turned parts of the lake into a mirror.

Too bad we didn't get a flash freeze before more snow fell on what would have been an impeccable skating surface.

⛸

During the warm spell the bears came back out for one last forage for food - I hope.

A nice Black Bear pawprint in soft snow.

But with the cold back, the birdfeeders are once again out and open for business, and they're getting a lot of action now!

I still struggle with Downy versus Hairy, but I think this is a Hairy Woodpecker based on the large beak and lack of spots on the tail feathers

I found something unexpected on top of the snow one day:

Might this be a baby snapper shell?

What animal came up with this small turtle to snack on?  Probabably a mink or an otter.  

I had an incredibly fortunate encounter on the trails this week, and as a result, we're all treated to a rare opportunity to experience Lake Wicwas from a new perspective.  I was on a winter run on Wednesday in the Hamlin Town Forest, and as I approached Crockett's Ledge heading south from the White Mountain Ledge, I heard the unmistakable buzz of a drone.  (Insert jokes about New Jersey here ;-) 

As I came onto the open ledge I found operator Bruce Bouley, his drone hovering overhead.  I stopped to talk and I learned that it's his brother that has a house on Loon Point Road, and he's quite familiar with the area.  I asked if he would send me some pictures, and he told me he would post a video on his YouTube channel.  Yesterday I found the video which you can watch below.  It's really neat - you can see exactly the size and location of the open water on Wednesday, as well as narrow channels of water in the ice and many large ice patterns.  See how many of the houses, islands, coves, and wetlands you can recognize!  

Thank you Bruce for that fantastic opportunity to experience Wicwas and its surroundings from above!  

Later in the week there was still open water.  I didn't get out early this morning to see if the lake finished freezing over, but it probably didn't even with the cold temperature last night due to the strong northwest wind that was blowing across the open area (that's why it's often the last place to freeze).  But I'm guessing once the winds die down it will be the end of a liquid Wicwas.  I just hope the loon that's been observed multiple times over the past two weeks gets the hint and heads out in time.  But someone is watching it, and he's been in touch with the Loon Preservation Center, so they're prepared for a rescue if necessary.  I hope to be able to provide an update on both topics next week.

Until then, with the shortest day of the year now behind us, may the warmth of the intensifying sun's rays shine upon you!

Merry Christmas!

December 15, 2024: A Whole New World

It was last December when I first noticed that beavers were constructing a new dam on the stream that flows out of the Hamlin Town Forest on the west side of Lake Wicwas (A Pond is Born, December 31, 2023).  At that point the beavers had already raised the water level by more than a foot.

Dec 2023:  Note the height of the rocks at the end of the stone wall entering the pond from the right.

Over the course of the past year I stopped by regularly to observe the changes the beavers were making to the area.  Come April, not much had changed other than a repair to the area that was overflowing on the left side of the dam in December.

The repair had brought the water level back up a few inches.

By June the beavers had made significant improvements to the dam, raising it and extending to the left enough to raise the water another six inches, which enlarged the pond significantly.

Note the stone wall now - only the last two stones are visible.

My next observation was in August:

August

Not much had changed other than lots of plant growth.  It was a fairly dry summer, so without much rain the water level wasn't at the top of their dam so they had little interest in raising it.

The last two rocks indicate a water level similar to June.

In October, with leaves off the trees, more of the pond was visible and I could see how large it had become.  

As the pond expanded, it flooded the roots of nearby trees resulting in their demise as shown buy the brown needles on the White Pines:

The trees on what is now an island died in less than a year.

When you see tall dead trees in the middle of a wet meadow you can be pretty confident the area was once a beaver pond - and may well be again in the future.

We remained very dry through November so the dam didn't need much attention, which gave the beavers time to work on gathering food and fortifying their lodge for winter. 

They built their lodge against a large boulder that is now an island.

And they cut down and brought out to their lodge enough trees for their entire winter food supply.  

That collection of branches in the water by the lodge is their winter pantry.

Where did all the building materials and foodstuff come from?

Here's the answer.

Larger trees were also felled and all the branches taken off and stuck in the mud beside the lodge.

There's not much left on the southwest side of the pond.

A year and a half ago this pond was just a wet meadow with a stream running through it.

My most recent visit was this past Thursday, after we received 2.7" of rain.  

Now the water level has risen and breached the top of the dam.

They've probably already been out to repair it - I'll know at my next visit.  One more detail:  Did you notice the tree right in the center of the dam on all the previous pictures?  Well, it won't be there much longer as they've started to take it down.  I'm not sure why they didn't finish.

Those last two rocks at the end of the stone wall have just about disappeared now.  Beavers in New Hampshire need four feet of water at their lodge to ensure their under-water entry hole won't freeze; they need to go in and out all winter for food, and maybe some dam and lodge repair.  I can only assume the beavers have created a pond large and deep enough to get them safely through the winter.  The pod cast "Something Wild" recently did a story titled "What's it Like Inside a Beaver Lodge?"  It's definitely worth a listen!

When beavers create a pond they give birth to an entire new world for dozens of plants and animals - probably more like hundreds.  Some of the obvious ones are the ducks, frogs, turtles, and another similar creatures we see, but also many other less visible animals that are associated with wetlands such as dragonflies, salamanders, and a multitude of other aquatic and semi-aquatic plants and animals.  It's truly a gift to so many species.

If you get out to the Hamlin Forest this winter be sure to check out this beaver pond as well as several others in that forest - there's always something interesting to see!

One last note:  The ice in some coves on Wicwas is 4" thick, enough for skating if you're careful, and the surface is fabulous.  If you go out, be sure to take the proper precautions and equipment, and check the ice thickness regularly.  

My friends the otter triplets were out enjoying it too - before it froze!

Yes, that's open water out there - be safe!

December 8, 2024: Ducks on the Ice

The days of ducks are just about over.  The ice slowly crept its way over the lake this week as cold temperatures settled in.  When you see Wood Ducks walking around on the ice, you know the end is near.

Why don't his wet feet freeze to the ice?!!

This little woody swam along the edge of the ice, then climbed right up and poked around for a while looking for edible bits blown onto the ice.

I found it interesting that the late arrivals were mostly males.  Are they waiting to migrate as long as possible, hoping to yet find a mate?  At any rate, it was a late season treat to see these pretty ducks on the lake right up to the bitter end.

Of course, there will still be plenty of open water on the larger lakes for the late migrants, but on Wicwas, the waterfowl show will now be usurped by passerines - the large family of birds that includes most of our song birds - because with snow on the ground and temps in the teens overnight, it should be safe to put out the bird feeders without fear of acclimating bears to the yard.  

We've already seen most of our winter residents at the feeders, including chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, blue jays, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, even a sparrow.  We haven't seen the Juncos yet though.  

A White-breasted nuthatch departs with his selection from the feeder.

Along with the cold temperatures came the artistic renderings of Jack Frost on the inside of the un-heated sunroom windows.

It was nice to see these because the early snow falling in the open lake before ice formed meant we didn't get the cool ice formations we get when the lake surface freezes on a calm, cold night.  The variety of crystals forming on the glass is always unique, and the detail is beautiful.

I love the way the expanding crystals spawn tiny palm trees in random places.

Lake Wicwas is very close to ice-in.  The next few days will be critical as the temperatures are forecast to rise again, so the small remnants of open water may or may not freeze completely.  

As the temperature rises and falls, and clouds form and disperse, the day to day appearance of the laket his time of year can change dramatically.

Monday

Thursday

The low December sun shines across the Chemung State Forest.

But any way you look at it, it's beautiful.

December 1, 2024: Thanksgiving Snow

The first snow came to the lake late this year, falling right on Thanksgiving day.  It played havoc with travel north of Concord, but it sure made for a beautiful Thanksgiving Day in the Lakes Region.  The morning started with a Barred Owl giving thanks for a good population of little rodents this year.

I only noticed it when it glided down through the air, a flash of brown against a white background.  I lost it when it blended into the shrubs on the ground, but waited for it to take flight again.  The sortie was apparently was fruitless, so it found a new perch to watch and wait, and from its observation post it clearly detected my motion as it stared right at me for the picture above.  After a short stint it decided it wasn't a promising hunting spot and flew to a different post a few dozen yards away.

On the move.

Settled onto a new perch, but still watching me!

I don't know how long it sat there.  

Other avian visitors this week included more migrating ducks:  common mergansers, hooded mergansers, and a large flock of mallards.

Five ducks, almost in a row.  Hooded Mergansers.

Mallards - over a dozen in this flock.

A lone female Common Merganser on a quiet Thanksgiving morning.

The first snow always gets me excited to go right out and see who's been sneaking around the lake without anyone knowing.  Thursday night's tracks revealed several deer, a fox, and a mink - probably the same one I saw last week.

A deer print, and below, its track along the trail.

A nice fox print in wet snow.

And mink tracks, which I wouldn't have noticed weren't for the calling card it left me.

Mink scat - small and twisted.

I'll end with one more picture of our first snow, and a couple from the day after, which is often the prettiest day of a winter event.  

Here's to many more winter scenes as the new season begins - December first is the first day of meteorological winter!