September 10, 2017 - Weed Watch Tour

I took my final weed-watch tour of the summer around my section of Lake Wicwas this week, searching for signs of invasive weeds that may have found their way into the lake. I was pleased to see that our Lake Host Program continues to be successful, as I found no Eurasian Milfoil or other exotic species in the lake.  Eurasian milfoil is just one of several invasive species to watch for in New Hampshire Lakes;  the Lake Wicwas Association Website has an excellent overview of invasive species - take a look so you'll recognize them if you come across them.  If you see something suspicious you can take a picture or collect a sample and contact our Weed Watch coordinator at 279-5242 who will arrange to pick up your sample and deliver it to the NH Department of Environmental Services if needed. You can also become an official weed watcher yourself for any New Hampshire lake - learn more here or contact me or the Weed Watch Coordinator.

Not finding any invasive weeds doesn't mean the trip around the lake was uneventful - there are always interesting sights when one takes a slow paddle around a New Hampshire lake on a quiet day. How about a young turtle, still light enough to float on top of a lily pad while sunning itself?

This painted turtle was about 3 inches long

The next one was enough large that it had to find a old log to support its greater mass.

There were also numerous birds to be seen, both on the water and in the air.

A pair of ducks on the mud flats

A cormorant fishing by the (non-invasive!) weeds

An osprey flies over Wicwas

I have heard osprey calling frequently around the lake the past few weeks, so they are spending a good amount of time fishing on Wicwas.

There are still plenty of colorful plants to be seen around the shores of the lakes, both in the water and on the shore line.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) with some bright red berries photo bombing

Fragrant Water-lily (Nymphaea odorata)

Signs of the fall harvest continue to appear around the lakes.  Perhaps you have noticed the abundant crop of pine cones growing like bunches of bananas in the tops of the white pines.

A bumper crop of white pine cones

Down at their roots the furry animals - squirrels, chipmunks, mice - have been feasting on their seeds, leaving table scraps all over the trails.

Pine cones stripped for their seeds (probably by a red squirrel)

It is also looking like an excellent year for beechnuts.

Beechnuts are plentiful

These also have the appearance of being consumed by rodents, but the bears will be after them as well.  Keep an eye out for bear claws on the trunks of beech trees as evidence they have climbed the tree to access the nuts.

A single set of claws is hard to discern

But multiple sets provide more definitive evidence

Other signs of bears going after beechnuts will be branches broken or ripped right off the tree in order get the nuts.  Sometimes a bear will just pull the whole tree over so it can sit on the ground while it eats its lunch.

Breaking a tree over makes for lazy snacking

Beech trees are an important food source in the forest;  the forestry plan for healthy and diverse forests includes leaving some of the largest beech trees for both their aesthetic value and their food value for the animals. Good foresters do this even though it would be more financially valuable to remove them.

When you're traveling around the Lakes Region during the upcoming fall season you are bound to see land-based invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, and oriental bittersweet. These can be quite beautiful, but sadly will crowd out native species that are more important to our wildlife, and are just as beautiful in their own right.

Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), a native North American plant, enjoyed by humming birds, bees, and butterflies - as well as humans

August 5, 2012

No posting last week, as we were in Colorado for a week of visiting family and touring the Rocky Mountains.  We had a rejuvenating vacation that included tubing the Yampa River, inspiring music at Strings, and magnificent scenery while hiking and biking in the mountains. It's great to have local hosts and tour guides!

Although much of the environment is similar, everything is bigger in the Rockies.  We saw larger versions of woodchuck (yellow-bellied marmots) and deer (prong-horn), and of course, mountains and valleys which dwarf New England.  Unfortunately, the forest fires are bigger also, and we drove through miles of scorched landscape between Fort Collins and Steamboat Springs.  Here's a sample of a lake in Colorado - at about 11,000 feet!  No fires here.  And yes, that's snow still up in the mountains.

Little Causeway Lake, Routt National Forest

Back at Lake Wicwas we were happy to find the find the forest green and lush, as some rain had fallen while we were away.  (Drought is something else the west is having in a big way right now.)  On the kayak, looking to see what new plants are blooming around the lake I found buttonbush, ripe huckleberries, and a couple of white flowers I hadn't identified before.  In this spot on the edge of an island, all four of there were growing together.

With a little research I was able to identify the plant with the rather unusual flower - it is a Turtlehead.  I'd never heard of this plant, but once you know what it's called, it's obvious, and not a name I'll likely forget.

White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

Here's an interesting claim about turtlehead:  according to wikipedia, the Abenaki used it as method of birth control (no guarantee made by the author).

The buttonbush name is also pretty descriptive:

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus)

The exciting news is that the newest loon on the lake has survived its most precarious period, having it's two-week birthday just today. 

Two weeks old

Its parents are taking good care of it, keeping a close eye on it, although they do both dive at the same time, leaving it alone and vulnerable on the surface.

The little guy is starting to dive already, and the parents are teaching it to fish.  Here, all three are looking for lunch.

We watched one adult catch a fish and then play with it for a long time until it was tired out, and then let the chick catch it for itself.

The chick is also starting to spread its little wings.

It's hard to believe they will be strong enough for it to fly away in three or four months.  Let's hope for a late ice-in this year since it got such a late start.

There was also a second pair of loons on the lake this weekend, travelling around together, though keeping well away from the breeding pair.

 Their wings are just a bit larger.

There was a large bass tournament on the lake this weekend, with lot of big, high-tech bass boats out competing with the loons for fish.  But I liked this different approach to fishing!

Did you happen notice the sign of fall in the background....?