October 5, 2025: Summer Continues

It's hard to remember it's October with seemingly endless summer weather coming day after day.   The forecast for Meredith is for three more days with the temperature hitting 80 degrees before rain arrives on Wednesday.  On one of those gorgeous days this week I took a long, peaceful paddle around the lake and was treated to several large bird sightings.  First was this mature eagle perched in a prime spot to watch over the world.

Farther along I saw an eagle fly high over the lake, and later a third one, immature, swoop down low, right at the loons.

An eagle on the hunt for fish - or loons.

The loons were aware of both of these. They sent out a general alert about the high-flier, but when the immature eagle came on its strafing run, they let out some pretty impressive shrieks that resounded across the lake.  Fortunately, all the loons evaded the attack.  There were three that I saw on this paddle, two together which swam amicably towards a third.   All were adults in various stages of losing their sharp summer plumage.  I didn't come across Spangle.

The northern territory male loon is still on the lake as well.  Perhaps he's sticking around to keep other loons out of his territory, or perhaps he's making sure he's visible to any eligible females that might fly over Wicwas on their way to the ocean.  (I don't know about this, I just like to consider various hypotheses - which sounds better than just making stuff up.)

The rest of my trip was spent just savoring a quiet, late summer day - and I wasn't the only one doing so.

A couple of painted turtles soak up some warm summer rays.

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)

Groundnut (Apios americana)

Groundnut, also know as wild potato, has edible tubers and legumes.  The tubers were an important food source for the native Americans, and were boiled like potatoes.  Europeans also relied on them during their early years in Massachusetts.  [Ref: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center]  I've seen groundnut growing in multiple locations around Lake Wicwas.

As leaves turn and start to drop from their branches, the sightlines through the forest are returning.  I had walked this section of trail a few times this summer but never saw this huge hornets nest until now.

It's a beauty - and so big it's bent the branch it's attached to almost 180 degrees - they must manufacture some pretty strong glue.  Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and pack a powerful sting, so I was careful in walking behind the nest to take a video of the residents coming and going as they performed their duties.  Click below to see the video:

They know to create the opening facing away from the prevailing winds.  I wonder how many hornets call that nest home.

 

Soon all the leaves will be gone, and the hornets too.  But as long as they last, let's relish in these last glorious days of summer.