February 23, 2025: Tracking Page Pond

The Meredith Conservation Commission sponsored a guided snowshoe tour of the Page Pond Town Forest yesterday that toured the entire Page Pond Loop trail in search of animal signs.  

Gathering at the Quarry Road Trailhead at the start of the trip.

Fresh snow and perfect weather greeted an intrepid group of 14 snowshoers - including people approaching 80 years old - that navigated the entire 3.2 mile trip with aplomb! 

Along the way we discovered signs of at least 14 different animals including deer, coyote, fox, porcupine, beaver, weasel (or maybe ermine), mink, red and gray squirrel, mouse, pileated woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, and chickadee.  A few we were hoping to see but didn't were otter, bobcat, and turkey - maybe we'll find them next time.  One of the more interesting tracks was that of a porcupine in the fresh, light snow.  In these conditions, rather than a deep channel plowed through the snow, we saw the wobbly track, footprints, and grooved furrow where its quilled tail dragged through the snow.

A porcupine waddled its way on top of the snow, dragging its prickly tail behind.

Another unmistakable sign was left by a pileated woodpecker that had very recently excavated a hole in a white pine as it probed deep into the trunk to feed on a nest of carpenter ants living inside the tree.

Large wood chips hacked out of a white pine tree by a pileated woodpecker.

Someone asked if that would kill the tree.  The woodpecker hole itself probably won't, but if ants continue to gnaw their way through the heartwood, and woodpeckers cut holes to get them, eventually the trunk will weaken enough that a strong wind will blow it over, the tree breaking at the weakest point at one the holes.

Several old holes and one new one - this woodpecker remembers where to find food in winter.

The group walked along the beaver dam that holds back the large pond which contains at least two beaver lodges.

A couple of beaver lodges out in the pond.

Earlier in the week Linda and I were on the same trail and saw the tracks and slides of mink near the dam at the beaver pond.

A long mink slide - narrower than the otter slides I've shared before.

This was the first time I've seen a mink slide.  It looks just like an otter slide but narrower - about three inches wide rather than the six inch slide an otter makes.  These were melted out by Saturday so we didn't see a slide, but we did see the tracks of what was probably a mink, as they were near water, but they may also have been those of an ermine.  Though much less common in the Lakes Region, ermine are a weasel of similar size to a mink.  Here are some mink tracks, identified confidently as they were part of the slide path, and ermine aren't known to be playful sliders like mink and otter.

Mink tracks.

Some obvious animal signs were the dozens of squirrel tracks all along our route, as well as myriad bits of pine cones, acorns, and hemlock branches that were being nibbled on by the red and gray squirrels.

Signs that a squirrel excavated, shelled, and ate a stash of acorns.

It was the perfect day to out in the woods in February - many thanks to everyone who enthusiastically participated and asked such great questions!  I hope you will join us again.

A perfect New Hampshire winter day.

Keep an eye out for future guided offerings by the Conservation Commission.

February 16, 2025: Winter Bluebirds

 It's certainly mid-winter here at the lake, but are bluebirds a sign of spring?

Well, not really.  Seeing an Eastern Bluebird in New Hampshire in winter was unusual prior to 1990, but since then this pretty songbird has been steadily increasing its winter presence in the state.  First it was only in the southern part of the state, but now they have been observed in winter as far north as Coos County.  This chart from NH Audubon bird surveys shows the dramatic increase in winter bluebird observations in New Hampshire.

The reasons for this are not fully understood but probably stem from a combination of warming temperatures and increased human planting of ornamental fruit trees (fruit is an important part of the bluebird's diet).  You can read more about changes in bluebird behavior in this post by Pam Hunt at the NH Audubon website.

We saw winter bluebirds when we lived in Londonderry as far back as 2006; our first sighting in Meredith was three years ago. (A Bluebird invasion, February 2022)  This past week they've been visiting the feeders every day even though we don't have much fruit in them, just a few raisins and cherries in the mix.  But they'll eat other food as well when fruit and insects are scarce.  They like to sit under the feeders and pluck out small morsels that other birds have dropped, especially the suet as they spend a lot of time hanging out right under the suet feeder, and sometimes perch on it to eat.

They are such a pretty bird.

The males have the beautiful bright blue feathers, but I also like the more interesting color pattern on the back of the females.

The morning I took these pictures there were four of them commandeering the feeders until a big Red-bellied Woodpecker flew in and scattered them all away.  

The woodpecker didn't even go the feeders.

So bluebirds aren't a sign of spring these days, but here's something that is:  Sunrise here at the lake is getting close to 7:00, and sunset is now after 5:15pm.  Sunrise is also the best time to enjoy the full moon on a clear morning. 

The aptly-named February Snow Moon sets over Wicwas on another clear and cold morning.

And the February Snow Moon continues to bring us snow, with another 10" accumulating today.  All this snow means the World Championship Sled Dog Derby in Laconia is a go for the upcoming weekend.  It's a great spectator event with races going on all weekend, starting at 10:00am on Friday and continuing through Sunday afternoon.  You can find information on the different races and the best places to watch and park here.  I like to watch the start - the excitement of the start with each team anxious to run is something to experience if you've never seen it.  And with staggered starts, the action goes on and on, and then soon the first teams are returning to the finish line.  

It really is a unique winter experience that few people have an opportunity to witness in person!

February 9, 2025: Winter Conditions at the Lake

It was a hectic week for me so I didn't get out as much as usual, but I did fit in one beautiful ski trip early Friday morning after about 6" of snow overnight.  I was the first one on the trail that morning so I had a perfect blanket of white in front of me the whole way.

Except for the occasional animal track.  Several animals had been out before me, and they often took advantage of the human-produced trail to make their passage easier.  

The animals are smart enough to follow the trails.

With deep snow I couldn't determine who the early morning hunter was, but based on its timing and route it was probably a fox even though it doesn't show the usual straight and orderly track.

The first part of the trip up the south-facing hill was well protected from the wind; the combination of sun and calm made for a peaceful setting.

The occasional wind gust provided a glittering snow shower in the sunlight.

As is often the case, the Lakes Region was right on the boundary between stormy weather to the north and clearing to the south.  From Crockett's Ledge looking south the sky was clearing.  The building northwest wind after the front passed was already whipping up the dry snow from the trees where it collected overnight.

As I gained the ridge near the north-facing White Mountain Ledge I could feel the cold settling in as the wind was now making a direct affront on the ledge. 

The sun dimmed approaching the north end of the ridge.

Reaching the ledge, the usual expansive view of the White Mountains was completely obscured by a fierce squall.

A total white-out to the north.

I had fairly short visit there for obvious reasons.

Travelling from the trailhead up to the ledge is mostly climbing, but that means the way back down is a lot of fun on skis.

And as soon as I got down off the ridge, the sun was back and the sky was once again blue.  

It was a perfect winter day on what is turning out be a real New England winter for a change - we woke up this morning to another eight inches of fresh powder!

And don't forget today is the last day of the Backyard Bird Count if you want to participate.  You don't even have to leave your warm home!

February 2, 2025: Pond Hockey is Back on the Bay

Last weekend it was airplanes on the lake; this weekend it's hockey.  And after being moved to Lake Waukewan the past two years due to lack of ice on the big lake, it's back on Meredith Bay.  26 simultaneous rinks of hockey games means you have be on constant lookout for pucks flying from every direction - it's an exciting event.  We went by twice on Saturday and it was a quite scene with activity taking over the entire downtown area.  We didn't stop to check out the action, so I have no current pictures but these photos from a prior give you the idea.

It's great entertainment for a winter weekend, and it's nice to be able to grab a hot coffee or a snack out on the ice.  The games continue through 1:00 today, so it's not too late to check it out.

Now let's check on creatures even more wild than hockey players.  The fresh snow this week provided good opportunity for tracking; I had a fun time following this bobcat trail through the forest.

Where the snow was thin the bobcat left nice clear footprints.

The delicate round shape of bobcat print - no nails, and a puff where the cat's thick fur brushed the snow.

Tracking can be a challenge though when a two foot tall cat passes easily beneath the branches of thick stands of young hemlock that are nearly impenetrable by a human.  If you follow a bobcat trail long enough you'll almost certainly come to a spot where the hunter stopped for a rest, usually at a prime viewing point with a wide perspective to watch for something to come along and ambush.

A nicely protected, sunny spot for a cat nap,

With a wide view, yet hidden from its prey by a blind of branches and a fallen tree.

This bobcat brought me near one of my favorite porcupine ledges so I took a trip over to see if they've been active.  Porcupine tracks in deep snow are easily distinguishable because their short legs mean the animal just plows its way along through the snow leaving a trench.  Right now it's not very deep, so you can make out individual footfalls in the trench.

A porcupine track leading up into the ledge.

Porcupines prefer a habitat of steep ledges - with lots of caves and crevasses which they use for hideouts and dens - and well populated with Hemlock trees, a reliable food source all year.

Another porcupine trail at the base of the ledge.

There's a spot on the trunk of the tree at the right side of the above photo where all the bark has been stripped off (though this obviously isn't a hemlock).  Mr. Porky probably clung to that trunk and happily gnawed its way around, eating the bark and the cambium underneath.

A tree girdled by a porcupine.

It's easy to follow their path to see where they went for the night - or just a nap.

Down into a small cave in the ledge.

It's always a revelation when you think you are far away from civilization following an animal track, yet you come across this:

Barb wire sprouts from the center of a Red Oak.

It's a reminder that humans had domesticated almost every acre of central New Hampshire in days past.  And the growth of the tree since the barb wire was fastened to it gives you an idea of just how long ago that was.

Cold air, fresh snow, thick ice, sunny days - it all makes for great weather for all types of winter activity.

Fresh snow on a trail waiting for a pair of skis or snowshoes.

If you're looking for a snowshoe trip with a guide to lead the way, sign up for the Meredith Conservation Commission's guided tour of Page Pond Town Forest on February 22nd.  You can find details here.  But next on the winter schedule is the Great Meredith Fishing Derby on February 8th and 9th!