May 9, 2021: An interesting Start to Loon Season

Nesting season on Lake Wicwas appears to be getting off to an interesting start with an unexpected twist:  we may be witnessing a change of mates.  Twice now we have witnessed episodes of three loons interacting, both times resulting in one loon wing-rowing all the way across Marion Cove, followed shortly by a second, leaving the third behind.  The two active birds then dove with one of them not surfacing within my line of sight, and the other returning to the third bird which had remained distant and aloof to all the action.  The two of them then sailed serenely off out of the cove.  My thought was it might be a single loon claiming the cove, and driving the pair away.  

The following day on an afternoon paddle around the lake I saw two loons right up against a small marshy island, something they rarely do unless it's nesting time.

A couple of loons checking out a potential nesting site.

I stopped on the far side of the lake and watched what looked like scouting for a nest - they would poke around in the weeds, with one raising its head high up to check out the surroundings. 

"What do think about this spot?"

"It's nice and quiet, but is it far enough from shore to keep away the predators?"

I watched as they worked the area for a while - I clearly wasn't disturbing them - and then I continued on my way.  On my return trip they were still in the same area, but this time one of them was up on the tiny land mass trying it out for size.

As I watched, the second loon climbed near the edge, at one point revealing its leg which showed a band - it was our nesting male, banded in 2019!

Silver band with black dot - that's him.

Hurray - it appears our nesting pair has returned and is starting to look for a homestead for their new family.  When I returned to home and zoomed in the pictures I took, I saw a glimpse of a green band and immediately assumed it was our banded female which has a green band on one leg.

But when I checked my notes, I remembered our female has a green band on its left leg, and the band I saw was on a right leg!  

Remember when I noted a few weeks ago that we had a visiting loon on the lake, a female banded on Lake Pemigewasset in 2018?  I went and checked the data, and this bird also has a green band, but it's on the right leg.  And a closer look at my photo does show a hint of silver on that leg, which the Pemi loon has on her second band - and not a hint of red which our Wicwas loon has on its second band.  It's the Pemi female!  Could our male be a two-timer, or is he deciding it's time for a new mate?  That doesn't seem like a very nice thing to do right before Mother's Day....

I sent these observations off to the Loon Preservation Committee, and the response came back, yes, we may be observing a changing of mates.  Perhaps the action in Marion Cove wasn't two males fighting, but rather two females, with the Pemi loon chasing away our long-term female, just as she was chased off Lake Pemigewasset two years ago.

The water level in Lake Wicwas is quite high and dropping quickly, and it's still early to be selecting a nesting site, so we're hoping however things get worked out, they'll wait another week or two for the water level to stabilize before nesting.  At that point we may be able to determine who's paired up with whom.  Until then, all our loon observers will be keeping a close eye out for signs of bands - of course at a safe, non-interfering distance.  Stay tuned - we'll report what we learn as the nesting season proceeds.

It's a great time to go for a paddle on the local lakes right now because the lack of aquatic vegetation and the high water levels allow exploring areas inaccessible come summer.  On another paddle later in the week in one such shallow area I came upon (fear alert) a huge snapping turtle.  

Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

The well-armored reptile was only slightly concerned with my presence, as it didn't swim away but just exhaled, bubbles streaming from its beak, and sunk down to the bottom of the lake which was only about two feet deep.  As it dove I got a good look at the big, clawed hind feet which the females use to excavate the holes into which she deposits her eggs.  (I don't know whether this was a male or female.)

Both ends of a snapping turtle mean business.

I'm very happy to keep my distance from both ends of these pre-historic monsters!

More pretty flowers are joining the spring parade of color, blooming all around the the Lakes Region now, including the bright and showy Serviceberry (also known as Shad Bush - see the March 5, 2016 post for the meaning behind the name).

Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier)

They are such a pretty sight in early May along the edges of the lakes which are still mostly drab as leaf-out is just starting.

It's the perfect treat for all the mother's out there.  

Happy Mother's Day!

May 17, 2020: Fresh Fish for Dinner

There is so much going on around the lakes these days, with wildflowers blooming, birds arriving, animals nesting, that I was already struggling with what to eliminate to keep this week's journal entry from being too long, and then something exceptional came along that trumped all.  One evening, right at dinner time, Linda saw a large raptor fly by with a good size fish dangling from its talons.  Then, lucky for us, it decided to savor its dinner just about a hundred yards away and though it was partially blocked by trees branches it was clear enough for us to see that it was an osprey, and for us to watch what unfolded.  I should warn you, this might get a little graphic.

Somehow the bird managed to land on a branch with one foot without dropping the flailing fish - which was very much alive - from the other foot .

It held on to the tree with one leg and onto the fish with the other.

It looked like it caught a horned pout (aka catfish, officially the brown bullhead), but I'd be happy to have any fishermen out there weigh in on the identification.

Looks like a Bullhead to me.

If it is a catfish, that's interesting, as catfish prowl around on the bottom of the lake - not where I'd expect an osprey to be fishing.

When the fish gave a violent thrash it would throw the osprey off balance and it would have to use its wings to keep its perch on the branch.  This went on for a while, and at one point the bird seemed to yell at the fish, "Give up, your fate is sealed!"

"It's over!"

Eventually the fish lost enough strength that the osprey was ready to partake in its catch.  (This is where it gets bloody.)  The osprey started at the head, perhaps even avoiding the skin, and reached inside the fish's mouth to extract choicest cuts of meat.

The first tasty bite.

It would rip out a chunk of flesh and then lift its head up to swallow it down.

A piece of fish being chewed.

Every now and then it would look over at me to make sure I wasn't an eagle that was going to swoop in and steal its hard-earned dinner.

We watched for while, but eventually the osprey flew off with most of the fish still intact.  This was most likely a male, as females do most of the incubating while the males provide food for the nest.  Mom - and any chicks if they have hatched yet - will be happy to have fresh fish delivered right to their home for dinner.

OK, even with lots of other action taking place right now, it all pales in comparison to that, but here's a quick run down of what else is happening around the lakes right now.

Downy Serviceberry and Leather Leaf are blooming.

Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) grows right at the waters edge.

Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier), also called Shadbush, are blooming all around the Lakes Region,
some growing as tall as 30'.

Their blossoms will produce edible fruit.

So are many azaleas.

The beech have followed the maples in pushing out new leaves.

Early beech leaves.

Last week's pond lilies have already pushed buds up above the surface of the lake.

Yellow Pond Lily.

Ferns are sprouting, and Jack has woken up.

Linda got some of these at Moulton Farm this week - they're delicious with butter and garlic!

Jack (in-the-Pulpit) is just getting started.

I also saw my first butterfly, first dragon fly, and heard my first leopard frog and spring peeper this week.  I'm seeing deer tracks regularly on my morning walks, including this set along the edge of the road.

Deer tracks near Chemung State Forest.

The warblers are arriving in mass now, which means one thing is certain: black flies.

Is seeing and hearing these pretty birds worth suffering with black flies?

 .

Those swarming, biting insects may drive us crazy, but they're a critical food source for all our beautiful song birds.  And the fish rely on them too, especially their larvae.  Which means, in turn, our fat and happy osprey does as well.

Off in search of his next meal.

May 13, 2018 - Happy Mother's Day!

Our particular latitude of planet earth is robing itself in the color of new life as trees burst out to show off their new summer sportswear.  The drab hills of brown and gray, having passed mostly through the short crimson phase, have progressed to the lime-green of emergent leaves.

The lower trees tend to open their leaf buds first, as seen by these beech leaves which have escaped their long, thin buds.

Newborn beech leaves

And smaller red maples have done the same.

Red maple showing its true color before being masked by chlorophyll

Upstairs, the taller trees lag behind, but only by a few days this year as the sudden warm weather pushed all residents along in quick succession.

Tinges of red linger among the lime green

One doesn't have to look hard to find flowers among the trees this time of year, as many are wearing white flowers with their green leaves to recognize Mother's Day.

Shadbush (Downy Serviceberry)

After a cold and misty start early on this Mother's Day, the morning turned bright and mostly sunny here in the Lakes Region.

A misty start to the Mother's Day

So in observation of Mother's Day, here is a bouquet of birds and blossoms that made an appearance this week to honor all mothers.  Happy Mother's Day!

Daffodils at the Chemung State Cemetery

Painted Trillium in the Hamlin Conservation Area

An Ovenbird or "teacherbird" (Seiurus aurocapillus) visits the Harris Conservation Area

Azalea along Wicwood Shores Rd

Large-flowered Trillium also on Wicwood Shores Rd

A Common Yellowthroat sings in the Chemung State Forest

Common Violets are in many fields and roadsides

Love you mom!

May 15, 2016

Our loons appear to be settling in and getting ready to nest;  I have seen them several times around the lake fishing quietly together and checking out potential nesting sites.

What do you think of this cute island, dear?

They are well behind the loons on Pleasant Lake which have already laid their eggs.  But they (on Pleasant Lake) have a distinct advantage:  they get to move into a pre-fabbed floating nest site, all set for them in a protected location and ready to go.  Our pair has to do it the old fashioned way.  They have to scout out a good  site, private and secluded, safe from predators, protected from waves, and on terra firma at a point that won't get flooded if the lake rises, yet is still close enough to plunge into the water at an instant's notice.  It is not an easy task.

They might also have to fend off competing loons.  As recently as this past Tuesday there were interluders still trespassing on our pair's territory.

Intruders are still disturbing the peace

Most every night there are loud, distressed calls echoing over the lake.  Hopefully they will soon be left alone so they can select a site and begin their four-week period of tending to their eggs.

Other signs of life are springing forth all around the lake, including the evolving color of the hills as the trees push out their pale green new leaves.

The color green is reasserting itself

The Shadbush are blooming all around the lakes and mountains this week.

Shadbush, also known as Serviceberry

I knew Shadbush has an alternate name of Serviceberry, but I only recently learned the source of this name.  When someone passed away in winter in the days before machinery, they were placed in a receiving vault until the ground thawed enough for a grave to be dug.  In New England, the earth thaws out just about the time the Shadbush bloom, so these trees were nature's adornment at the services for those that passed away in the winter.  Thus, Serviceberry.

I much enjoy watching spring unfurl its beauty in the least expected places, such as a pile of dead oak and beech leaves.

Bright colors push through the remnants of 2015 (coltsfoot)

Purple Trillium

Spring literally unfurling

I will end this entry with Friday's sunset and a quote from Henry David Thoreau. 

     It is an agreeable change to cross a lake, 
     after you have been shut up in the woods, 
     not only on account of the greater expanse of water, 
     but also of sky.
                                        -    Thoreau
 

With the arrival of spring I hope you soon will be crossing a lake which you find agreeable.