birds

This afternoon is the perfect winter day. Forty degrees Fahrenheit, warm for February. A little breeze out of the west and not a cloud in the sky! As you can see most of the snow is gone from the fields but there is there is still plenty in the woods.

Just in from a long walk around the neighborhood. It is cold today but not too, high of twenty degrees Fahrenheit. A breeze out of the North at about fifteen miles per hour and brilliant sunshine blocked by only a few wispy clouds. It has been a while since we have had fresh snow and the stories in the snow are really showing up!

This morning on our walk Argy and I heard a loud tapping in a dead maple tree. We looked up and saw a Pileated Woodpecker working on the tree. We stood for a while and watched as he worked intently. After a few minutes I wished for my camera and Argy responded, “Go get it. Worst case he is gone when you come back.”

In the last few days clients have had more to see than just great weather and beautiful scenery. The critters have been showing up more than usual and in unusual ways. One afternoon on a perch fishing trip we were anchored in a cove out of the breeze. I heard a splash and looked up to see a young osprey about twenty yards away, nothing unusual here. Except the young bird was floating on the surface of the pond, wings outstretched, rather than launching himself (or herself) back into the air.

Our great stretch of September weather continues, clear blue skies, cool nights and warm days. A great time of year to get out and fish or explore. Clients from around the country have taken advantage of the great weather this week. Changes in the flowers are noticeable this week. Purple and white wild asters began to show in the roadside ditches this week and goldenrod is everywhere. The young goldfinches are out flying with their parents we have a small flock here in the yard.

I just finished two mornings of trips that were part of the Nature Discovery package that Maine Outdoors offers in cooperation with LeVatout in Waldoboro. Yesterday seemed hot and muggy when I picked up my guests Waldoboro but when I pushed the boat from the trailer in Thomaston it was foggy and cool.

Most of the folks that I get to spend time with outdoors are a pleasure to be around and sometimes we are like old friends after only minutes. The couple I took on the lower Saint George Saturday were an absolute delight. The stripers did not cooperate at all but we were successful in capturing mackerel and watched lobstermen haul their gear up close. They were very interested in this world so different from the center of the country where they live.

This morning as I was bass fishing with my clients on Megunticook Lake in Camden we were surprised by a pair of loons. The loons came from a considerable distance behind us. Actually my clients came from a more considerable distance, but that is another story. Each loon swam under the boat seconds apart (they were very visible passing by in the clear water) and came up only a few feet away. In hindsight it was one of the best photo opportunities I have ever had to get an image of a loon they were so close that the green neck band was very prominent in the sunlight.

I enjoyed a great nature exploration canoe trip this afternoon; in spite of the fog and threat of rain. All of the recent rain has the river and ponds at very high levels so it was fun to paddle over the marsh at the outlet of Round Pond and well up into the brook at the north end of Seven Tree Pond. There was little wind when we started and only a light breeze when we returned. We had the place to ourselves as there was not another boat anywhere or a person at Ayer Park.

The past week I have been near eagle nests on Damariscotta Lake, Megunticook Lake and the Saint George River. As the season has progressed it has been interesting to watch the young birds grow. Last week I first noticed that one of the adults was not always right around the nest. Indicating that the chicks had gotten big enough to lessen the worry of them being eaten by a crow or other bird had diminished. Then the young birds heads appeared over the edge of the nest and it was possible to see the them checking out the world below or begging for a fish from a nearby adult.