July 19, 2026: Annual Loon Census

The Loon Preservation Committee's Annual Loon Census took place yesterday.  Each year, LPC hosts an annual Loon Census, when from 8:00 to 9:00am on a Saturday in July, volunteers count loons to collect data that helps the LPC monitor New Hampshire’s loons and their progress on lakes throughout the state.  This year, Lake Wicwas was well represented, showcasing a total of seven loons in the census.  The star of course, was little Pip.

Pip and a parent.

Pip was spotted with both parents at 8:16am in the far northwest corner of the northern pair's territory.

The northern territory family.

A big fish being prepared for Pip.

Pip's parents continue to provide generous meals, though Pip spends a lot of time with its head submerged studying the experts to learn how to fish for itself.  

At the same moment this was being observed, Team-Thorpe was observing three loons in the south territory, two of which are assumed to be the banded south pair.  The third was likely a rogue, looking for nesting territory for itself.  Then around 8:50am, those three were joined by a fourth loon, right at the boundary between the two nesting territories.  

Four loons on the boundary line.

I wonder if the two resident pairs are both pushing the rogues towards the other pairs territory, pinning them at the boundary.  I was able to confirm from the female's leg bands that the south pair (at a minimum the female) was part of this asylum.

Not a great look, but good enough to see the blue and green bands.

So, Lake Wicwas contributed a total of seven loons to the census.  The overall results will be reported by the LPC later in the year.  For more information on our loons, be sure to attend the Lake Wicwas Annual Meeting on August 1st at the Wicwas Grange.

This week I made my first visit to the Red Hill River Conservation Area with a long-time hiking partner.  It's a beautiful, quiet area in Sandwich with a well-flowing stream, an interesting network of gentle trails, and some large, mature trees.  

Red Hill River in Sandwich.

One of many good size White Pines and Hemlocks on the property.

We hiked a 2.5 mile loop along part of the river and over a small hill, and there are other route options as well.  We even discovered an old cellar hole along the route.

A cellar hole with remnants of a stove and brick chimney.

This area is definitely worth a visit; you can find trail information and driving directions here.

There were plenty of  interesting sights back around Lake Wicwas as well.  On one walk I came across a large pile of feathers beside a fallen tree.

It wasn't hard to identify who these feathers belonged to - can you guess the owner?

The bright blue and white colors indicate a Blue Jay met its demise here.  Determining the identity of the predator took a little more digging.  The conditions of the feathers gives an important clue:  note how the feathers are intact, clean, and undamaged. Mammals - bobcat, fox, etc. - tear into their food, ripping, shredding and damaging feathers in the process.  But these feathers have been cleanly plucked right out of the bird; a trademark raptor food-prep method.  Also, raptors frequently sit on a log or a branch to prepare their food, then, after the excess, non-consumable weight is removed, they'll take it away to be consumed elsewhere by themselves or their mate and young.

So, this is likely a raptor kill site.  I first wondered if it might be the Broad-winged Hawk I saw last week, but broad-winged hawks are too large and insufficiently agile to catch a bird in flight; they primarily feed on rodents and amphibians, though they will pluck a baby bird from a nest if they find one.  Broad-winged hawks are buteos which are generally considered ambush predators.

The raptor that caught this blue jay was most likely an accipiter, which in New Hampshire includes Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper Hawks.  These birds are smaller, with short wings and long tails that allow them fly fast and maneuver deftly though tight trees in pursuit of prey.  One source I found said blue jays are a "classic meal" for a Cooper's Hawk, so maybe that was it.

A highlight of the week was a quick visit from the three brothers.

Three River Otters play in the lake.

Otters have round tails, unlike the flat tail of beavers.

These are most certainly the three otters I tracked all winter (I don't know that they're brothers) taking a playful cruise far out in the cove one morning on their way down to the dam and Mill Brook, possibly heading over to Lake Winnisquam.  

I'll close with another cheery face, this one sent to me by a friend and fellow musician that lives in Moultonborough (thank you BB!).  This little guy was checking out some good smell that attracted its attention.

It's better to have a woodchuck staring in your window than a black bear!

 

July 20, 2025: The First Egg Hatches

Last week I came across a Veery nest on the ground.  The incubation period for Veeries is about 12 days, so I went back on Thursday to check on its status. Last year a ground nest was destroyed so I wasn't sure what I would find, but was pleased to see the nest intact and the first egg had hatched.

One of the four eggs has hatched.

By the appearance of the tiny chick it must have just hatched; there was no sign of the other three eggs starting to crack.  Mother veery keeps a neat house as she had already removed the egg shells.  I'd love to go back in two or three days to see if the other eggs have hatched, but I'll resist the urge in order to minimize disturbance.  The veery nesting period is 10-12 days so I'll check next week to learn whatthe status of all the eggs.    

The blueberries ripened up nicely in the hot weather this week and should remain plentiful for at least another week.  With a little luck you'll gather some before the birds and chipmunks get them all.  A large flock of Common Grackles was raiding this blueberry bush and feeding them to their young, sometimes two at a time.

Common Grackle with a mouthful of blueberries; its offspring waits beside.

The Annual Loon Census sponsored by the Loon Preservation Committee occurred yesterday.  Volunteers and professionals alike went out on many of New Hampshire's lakes between 8:00 and 9:00 am to determine how many loons are in the state.  Five loons were counted on Wicwas this year:  The single banded male in the northern territory and the family of four in the southern territory.  The two chicks, Spangle and Star are doing well, and Spangle is starting to dive.  They might not catch their own food for quite a while, but it might help them avoid predators from above such as eagles.  

There is a dramatic difference in the size of the two chicks - Spangle looks to be almost twice the size of Star.

This photo taken by Dave Thorpe during the loon census hints at why, and indicates that it may take Star some time to catch up.  

The stronger, faster bird gets to the dinner table first.

The mid-summer wildflowers are starting to take over the flower show now.  Daisies are going by but Black-eyed Susans are coming on strong and the evening primrose are starting to bloom.  

Evening Primrose

I try to remember to check these in the morning, looking for the Primrose Moth.  If I see one I'll share it here.

I was treated to a rare sighting of a Scarlet Tanager yesterday when it flew down from the high tree tops and into my sight.  I've been hearing it for weeks, always looking for it, but he is way up high, hidden amongst the leaves.  I had been listening to him sing for a long time, unable to find him when suddenly something attracted him down to a Red Maple tree right in my sight where he perched for several minutes.

The bright red and yellow plumage of a scarlet tanager.

He even sang for me.

Another special summer moment provide by mother nature!

Let's end with a dragon - one of the most brilliantly colored of all the dragonflies.

Eastern Pondhawk

Bright scarlet birds and emerald green dragonflies - the variety of nature's creations is endless.

Correction:  Jen Esten and Jon Waage, authors of the The Nature of Pleasant Lake blog, observed that the mustelids in last week's video were likely River Otters.  Checking with the photographer about the location of the video supports otter as the correct identification.  Thank you Jen and Jon!

July 21, 2024: Loon Census

The 2024 loon census was held this past weekend and though there were no new chicks to be included there is an interesting development.  Michael Marion and I did the survey on the north half of the lake and at 8:00 when the count started there was a single loon floating near the vicinity of the northern territory nesting site, and very shortly a second loon came to join it.  The two of them appeared quite comfortable as they came together, and even started preening together.

I had initially thought being so close to the nesting island that one of them would be the breeding male so I took several pictures of them preening, and when I expanded them I in fact saw that one was our banded male. 

Northern territory male identified.

So it appears to me that he has already accepted a new mate, or at the least is evaluating a potential mate.  It also further makes we wonder if his prior mate was killed by this female which wanted to take over the male and its territory - after all, that's how the prior female came to be his mate.  Only the strongest genes survive.  After preening, the pair swam southward together further into Marion Cove.

After observing these two loons we moved slowly out of the cove, and at the north end of Sheep Island we saw four more loons swimming together into Marion Cove where the pair was.

Two of these are likely the southern nesting pair.

We watched the four of them swim down the cove and decided to follow along behind to see what would happen.  As soon as the first pair noticed them they turned around and swam directly north to meet them.  As they came together there was no altercation; instead the six of them grouped up and swam together.

We watched for a minute and then continued on to survey the rest of the lake before 9:00 when the survey ended.  We saw no other loons in the northern half of the lake.  At 9:00 we met to share notes with the Thorpes who had surveyed the southern half of the lake.  It turned out the six loons we saw were the only ones observed on the lake.  It seems certain to me at this point that breeding is over on Wicwas and there will be no chicks in 2024.  The two pairs will likely stay on the lake to defend their respective territories; there has been a lot of ongoing loon interactions with circle dances, head bobbing and wing-rowing chases around the lake.  It will be interesting to see what transpires next year and if a new pair will establish a third nesting territory on the lake.  After discussing the events both parties returned home and on the way we saw the six loons still together and now heading south down the main body of the lake.  

At least two non-resident loons being escorted by the locals.

There was a fascinating twist of nature found on the lake last week by Nancy Marion:  a blue-headed frog.

A pickerel frog with a case of Axanthism.  Photo by Nancy Marion.  

She (nor I) had never seen a creature like this and looking into it she learned that it's a rare condition occurring in a very small percentage of frogs caused by the frog's inability to create yellow pigment - a condition called axanthism.  (Researchers Michael Berns and Lowell Uhler from Cornell found that only 0.003% of the 2 million frogs studied had this condition.  [Wild Rhode Island, Summer 2021, Vol 14, Issue 3])  A frog's typical green color is the result of yellow and blue pigments combined to make green, but when yellow pigment is absent you get a blue frog.  I found only a few studies on the subject, the best was referenced in the article by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management [ibid].  Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Green skin in frogs is caused by three types of cells in the skin working together. Melanophores that contain melanin make the skin darker or lighter, just like in humans, iridophores are cells that reflect light, and xanthophores that contain carotenoids produce a yellow pigment.  After Berns and Uhler’s study was published, several other researchers postulated that the blue coloration was the result of lacking one of the three pigment cells located in the skin of the frogs."  

It appears Nancy came across a true rarity that will be reported to our own Department of Fish and Game!

I came a cross another amphibian on a hike on the Tripyramids this week, one that's not rare, but is nonetheless impressive in its size.

This toad was right in the middle of the hiking trail.

Another not-rare find on that hike was this snake sun bathing in the rocks on the north slide.

Garter snake on the north slide of Mt. Tripryamid.

Even though it's only a garter snake it gave me quite a startle because finding a snake in a dry, rocky, sun-exposed habitat, one's mind instantly thinks rattlesnake.  I know there are very few rattlers in New Hampshire, but there are some, and this is the perfect spot for them.

I saw quite a few more pretty dragonflies around the lake this week, but the insect I'll share today is this Primrose Moth I found in Linda's Evening Primrose flowers one morning.

Primrose Moth on ...  a primrose.

Evening Primrose bloom only at night when moths are active.  The sweet smell of the plant attracts the moths they need for pollination.

I'll end today with two more sights from Mt. Tripyramid:  finally a clear, less humid day, and a pretty mountain stream.

The Osceolas on the left with the Franconia Range in the distance.

Slide Brook

July 15, 2023: Loon Census and Sabaday Falls

LuLu and Checkers, one month old.

The Annual Loon Census took place yesterday from 8:00am to 9:00am and although we had a good count of seven loons, it was a bit of a disappointment considering the day before I saw nine. Missing in the census were little Chip and Dale. Observations included a group of three loons exhibiting aggressive behavior, and a single loon in Harris Cove so it's likely the male was out defending territory while the female had the chicks tucked safely away against the shoreline. There was however a lot of loon ruckus late Friday night so we'll be relieved when someone sees the chicks again. The northern chicks, LuLu and Checkers were both accounted for.

Mom gives the chicks a shower.

Nagging mom for breakfast.

There was only one adult with LuLu and Checkers so the other was probably out on the lake guarding their territory.  Time will tell whether a third pair will fight its way onto the lake.

On Friday I did see all eight resident loons plus a rogue in a battle with what I assume is the father of Chip and Dale. 

The standoff.  "This is as close as you get, fella".

While mom rushed off to hide the kids.

I could see her stop far off against shore where I figured she had the chicks hidden away for safety.  It was only when I blew up the picture of her that I could in fact see two little brown feather balls floating next to her. 

Barely visible, just the way mom wants it.

These loons have their act together - let's hope they continue to fend off all the attacks. 

​The Lakes Region seems to have avoided the worst of the heavy rains that did so much damage to the west, particularly in Vermont.  The White Mountains also got hit with some serious rainfall, so this week's trip was up to Sabaday Falls where I knew the cascade would be spectacular.

The falls are only a third of a mile off the Kancamagus and it's an easy trip on a well maintained path due to its high usage.  After the falls I continued up to the Tripyramids where there were more waterfalls that were at full spring flow levels. 

Nearing the summit I found quite a few small white and lavender flowers which I didn't recognize.

Mountain Wood Sorrel (Oxalis montana)

These are Mountain Wood Sorrel which grow in shady damp areas with highly acidic soil.  I expected to see a leprechaun jump out at every bend in the trail in this dark, dank forest.

The sky even in the White Mountains has been very hazy due to the high humidity and still a little wildfire smoke.

Looking west from North Tripyramid.

Can I sneak in one more before I close?  This softly colored Northern Pearly-eye butterfly was resting right on our house.  

Northern Pearly-eye.

Sometimes you don't need to go anywhere to be regaled by nature.

Well, late last night after I had finished this entry I received some bad news on the loons.  I mentioned the awful loon racket on Friday night, and not seeing Chip and Dale on Sunday for the census, there was some concern.  We were hoping for the best but asked our loon watchers to see what they could find today.  Unfortunately, what Debby Crowley found wasn't good.  The male had obviously been in a terrible fight and was quite badly injured.  So badly in fact that it landed itself on a beach either for protection or to rest.  Also, only one chick was seen with the female.  

Injuries at both head and tail makes me wonder if it was two against one.
Photos by Deb Crowley

A beached loon is not a good sign.

Mom and Chip look fine, but no sign of Dale.

Loons are beautiful, majestic animals that have been around for a long time - at least 20 million years with some fossils suggesting 70 million years.  Only the strongest pass on their genes.  This nature stuff can be hard to watch.  Thank you Debby for that difficult reporting.

A more innocent time for a loon.