August 17, 2025: A Leap of Leopards

A group of leopards is called a leap, which seems appropriate for this species of leopard:

Northern Leopard Frog (I think)

It seems everywhere we go around the yard these days we're seeing streaks of motion deep in the vegetation.  It takes a bit of searching because these small leopards blend in well with diverse backgrounds, but as one gets close they jump again, revealing their hiding spot.

I have a hard time telling the difference between the Northern Leopard Frog and the Pickerel Frog.  I tend not to pick them up to study the inside of their thighs where the difference in color can clearly identify them (the pickerel frog has bright yellow thighs which the leopard frog lacks).  But the poorly-shaped and haphazardly arranged splotches on its back are indicative of the leopard frog; the pickerel frog has better defined spots.  Here's a mature pickerel frog I saw last June:

And a Pickerel Frog (I think!)

All the ones I'm seeing now are small, indicating they are newly emerged this year.  Both of these frog species hatch from eggs laid in the spring in ponds.  They develop through a tadpole phase and if they escape predators, they emerge onto land in mid-summer and start to spread out, which we are seeing now.  The pickerel frog is widespread in New Hampshire and not a species of concern, whereas the northern leopard frog is a Species of Special Concern and listed in the NH Wildlife Action Plan as a Species in Greatest Need of Conservation.  Seeing a lot of leopard frogs is a good sign of a healthy habitat.

As quick as they are, frogs are not safe from predators.  They're one of the favorite foods of the Great Blue Heron which are often seen standing like statues on the shoreline waiting for a frog to come within striking distance of their long neck.  But this week on a morning paddle I found a heron in another common, though surprising venue.

Great Blue Heron perched in a White Pine tree.

Whether in water where it's legs imitate lily pad stalks or up in a pine tree, they are well hidden.

Where's the heron?

Spending more of their life away from water, toads are less likely to be taken by a heron, but of course they will be snatched up if found.  Toads are getting large and plump this time of year after feasting on various insects and grubs all summer.

Toads, though amphibians, are found in drier climates than frogs, even at the top of mountains like this one near the summit of Red Hill.

And it sure is dry out there.  At the White Mountain Ledge in the Hamlin Town Forest the blueberry bushes and maple trees at the exposed ledge are curling up and turning brown.

Shriveling blueberries

and brown maple leaves.

It doesn't help that the soil there on top of the granite ledge is very thin and doesn't hold much moisture.  Some areas of the Lakes Region have had cloudbursts lately, but locally, the Lake Wicwas weather station has recorded only a total of half an inch of rain since July 14th.  It a good thing we have beavers.  Many streams are bone dry, but those downstream from beaver ponds - which store water and leak some continuously through the dam - are still flowing, if slowly.

A slowly-flowing stream below a beaver pond.

And Lake Wicwas, fed by two beaver-dammed ponds (as well as springs) is only down about an inch from full lake level.  

Measured at the Wicwas outlet yesterday.

Nature has a way of taking care of itself, if allowed.

The colors of late summer are starting to fully develop; it's a beautiful time to be in the woods or on the water.  But this entry is long enough, so I'll add just one scene of what's to come next to lure us out into nature in the coming weeks.

The colors of late summer at the lake.

P.S.  Regarding the loons, Star hasn't been seen for a couple of days, so we are concerned - stay tuned.

June 30, 2024: Summer Weed Watch Tour

The reminder came out this week that it's time for the early summer weed-watcher inspection of the lake to make sure no invasive weeds snuck in over the late fall or early spring.  The lake is divided into nine sectors that include the entire perimeter of the lake as well as the islands which a team of 12 volunteers join forces to inspect twice a year.  I did my survey on a calm morning with the sun low enough in the sky to minimize reflections, helping me to see down into the water.  The good news:  I saw nothing to be concerned about.  I did however, see plenty of pretty sights on my paddle.

A peaceful morning weed-watching on Lake Wicwas.

The White Water Lilies are always a favorite.

White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)

I recognize many of the aquatic plants but there are always several I have to look up, such as this one: 

Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)

I recognized these large arrow-shaped leaves as a common plant around the lake, but without the purple flowers that are about to erupt from that elongated bud, I didn't identify them right away as Pickerel Weed.

This next submerged plant always warrants a close look:

It's one of six species of native milfoil in New Hamphsire, easily confused with the invasive Variable Milfoil.

My sector of the lake just happens to include the nesting site of the northern loon pair which I was able to quietly paddle past at a distance such it didn't even notice me.

Now that we're on to animals, here are a couple of nocturnal visitors that stopped by this week.  First, Mr. Stinky triggered the light on the motion detector.

Striped Skunk

It's a good reminder to make plenty of noise when heading out after dark.  A few hours later, along came Rocky.  

Common Raccoon

There are more animals out there lurking around in the dark of night than just the ones we hear through open windows on hot summer nights.

I'll close with one more animal, one that hopped right up to greet me as I walked up to the back door.

This lively pickerel frog jumped up out of the grass right onto the doorstep - I must have startled it.  But then it just as quickly leaped back down into grass, but paused long enough for me to take its picture.  Sometime nature cooperates!

May 28, 2023: Pickerel Frogs

I think we're pretty close to having a full contingent of summer residents now.  This week I saw a veery, a Yellow Warbler, and a Red-eyed Vireo, some of the last arrivals.  The amphibians are also out and about; the tree frogs are singing, and I saw my first pickerel frog.

Pickerel Frog

It blended in so well with its surroundings that I never would have seen it if it didn't leap out of my way as I approached.

It was down near the lake where there are lots of good things to eat, but that's also where our resident garter snake hangs out, so it better be on high alert.  Pickerel frogs are considered poisonous as their skin excretes a toxin that is harmful to humans, cats and dogs, other amphibians and some snakes, but the garter snake has developed immunity to the pickerel frog's toxin [Amphibian Planet].  Dogs often learn about amphibian secretions from toads which have a more mild toxin, but the dog still ends up with a foaming mouth.  Pickerel frog secretions can be fatal to small animals, but to humans and pets it's usually just irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.  

Dragonflies are becoming numerous as they emerge from the depths of the lake as it warms.

Common Brown Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura)

I recently learned that dragonflies are actually considered aquatic insects because they spend most of their lives in the water. They live as nymphs in the lake for a few months or even a few years depending on species.  Then most only live for a few weeks as flying dragonflies to mate and lay their eggs back in the lake.  Their mating process is fascinating - a topic for another day.

Another small animal I saw this week was a Dock Spider.

This little guy was hanging out on our screen.  I think it looks like a pirate.

I've never seen such a little one. Usually I find huge ones on the dock or the boat come mid summer.

On a much larger scale, I've seen deer a few times over the past couple of weeks so I set up the trail camera to see what I could catch. What I caught was a rather skinny young deer, nibbling its way through the trees, and then grooming itself in the opening where I placed the camera. 

It must be relieved to have green grass and new leaves to browse on after what looks like a hard winter for it.  It looks like it might have little antler stubs known at buttons - perhaps it's a young buck.

Here's a video as it browsed and groomed and picked off ticks.

Now on to the flowers - the Lady's-slippers are out.

Pink Lady's Slipper

While I was enjoying this one I noticed a dry, brown stalk coming out from its base.  It's last year's flower which is now a seed pod - an empty seed pod.  Inside it would have been many, maybe hundreds, of tiny seeds.

The now-empty seed pod.

The seeds have presumably been released on the ground so perhaps there will be a whole patch of lady's-slippers here in a few years.

Around the lake, the white blossoms of the serviceberry are gone, replaced with chokeberry growing all along the shoreline.

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

The chokeberry flower is very similar to other fruit trees such as cherry, plum, and apple.

You've likely heard about the smoke in the upper atmosphere that was blown here from fires in Canada.  Between the smoke and the pollen there have been some pretty impressive sunsets.

It looks like we're going to have nice sunsets all weekend; let's enjoy this beautiful weather as we remember what this long weekend commemorates.  There will be a memorial service at Oakland Cemetery on Monday morning at 8:00 and all are welcome.

A prior Memorial Day Ceremony at Oakland Cemetery.

June 10, 2018 - A Chipmunk Epidemic

The season of regeneration is here and new life is flourishing all around us.  I don't need to point out the chipmunk epidemic that's happening this year - they are everywhere, by the dozens, chipping at us from the woods, zipping across the roads, and popping out of every nook and cranny.

Remembering back to last fall, there was a tremendous mast crop including abundant acorns and white pine cones, both valuable food sources for many rodents.  Every chipmunk in New Hampshire must have stuffed its pantry with enough food to support multiple litters of many little 'munks.

The birds are also hatching now, the most visible of course being the Canada geese.

Six little fluff balls out for a swim

They grow quickly - here they are just five days later

Even the week before last I saw a different goose family (is that a gaggle?) crossing Meredith Center Road and the chicks were already over a foot tall.  I always keep my eye open for the wood duck family, which I rarely see, but this year I got lucky.

Seven little wood ducklings, all tucked in behind mom

Amphibians are not very visible in their mating season, but they sure are audible.  On those warm spring nights the lakes are filled with calls of frogs and toads looking for love.  Have you heard a creaky door slowly opening and closing continuously around the lake?  It was probably the mating call of a pickerel frog announcing its availability.

Pickerel frog

You can hear the voice of the pickerel frog inviting a mate over for a visit by clicking here.

Loons are now into their prime nesting season.  Some pairs, including the pair on Pleasant Lake, laid their eggs almost two weeks ago.  Our Wicwas pair has been working on finding a nesting site, but I'm not aware they've settled on a home for the year.  Seeing a pair poking around close to shore is a sure sign they are searching for nesting sites.

They have no other reason to venture close to land as they can dive safely for fish in deep water.

Building up a potential nesting site with one loon on watch

We again have a third loon on the lake, but all seem to be sharing better this year;  we'll see what happens as the summer progresses.  As in previous years, the Loon Preservation Committee has a live loon-cam at a nest on an undisclosed lake in New Hampshire - all we know is that it's within an hour's drive from the Loon Center.  There is a lot of great information on their website, and there are some amazing videos if you look back through this year's video highlights.

A frame from this year's loon-cam

Even the butterflies are procreating;  I caught a couple of Tiger Swallowtails having an intimate moment.

More butterflies are on the way!

July 12, 2015

What a great weekend to be in New Hampshire - a few beautiful, hot, summer days, just the way it should be in July.  It was a bit hazy, but not too humid when we took a short hike up Lockes Hill, right off of route 11 in Gilford. 

It's a nice easy hike, less than two miles and only a few hundred feet of vertical, but there are nice views of Winnipesaukee, blueberries at the summit, and a neat set of rock-in chairs along the trail called the "Lake View" trail.

Lake Winnipesaukee from Lockes Hill

A dozen chairs made of NH granite - with a view!

One other great feature - you drive right by Sawyers Dairy Bar on the way home.  You always need ice cream after a good walk!

I didn't have any more loon chick sightings since my post on Thursday, but I had reports today that both Liberty and Freedom are still doing well.  The parents are even leaving them alone on the surface while both adults dive for food.  It must be a challenge finding enough tiny minnows to feed two growing chicks.

The blueberries around Lake Wicwas are ripening now, and the birds and chipmunks are feasting happily on them.  I was surprised to see the birds are also eating the black cherries while they are still completely green.  They are picking off every last cherry long before they have any chance to ripen.

Black Cherry trees picked clean of their fruit

There won't be any cherries left for the bear this year. 

This week I was greeted by several amphibians near the lake.  This Pickerel Frog met me two mornings in a row right in the same spot. 

It must be a hot location for insect catching.

This American Toad was lying in wait for its breakfast to wander by its hiding spot beside a stone wall.

With apologies to the more squeamish viewers, the hot weather brings larger and more interesting insects.  Grasshoppers are abundant and growing bigger by the day.

Soon they'll be as big as your finger.  And spiders are popping up everywhere.

I'm sure none of these summer creatures will mind if we are treated to a lot more hot, humid, serene summer mornings;  I know I won't mind!