A flock of evening grosbeaks flew in with a flourish to an island feeder this past week, making the yard and the area beneath the feeder very colorful with yellow, black and white. This is definitely the time for them to be more and more visible. They are bold, brash and beautiful. Friends in Southwest Harbor sent me a photo of an old, …
On any warmer autumn days that come our way, be on the lookout for strange floating objects (or swarms) in local woods and fields. These swarms contain filmy white insects with blue bottoms! Some people affectionally call them blue-bottom bugs. To me, these ethereal creatures look like something Dr. Seuss created. They are really named woolly …
Although nature is winding down all the nesting, rearing of young and other such duties, there’s still lots to see in the out of doors. Some days it can even be warm enough that a peeper calls out late love songs, still hoping to find a mate. Nothing comes of it now, though, and he …
Days are cooler, winter clothes are at the ready and we know in many ways that we are in a new season and headed into winter. Wildlife, in its many ways, has been preparing to survive the colder days and nights coming. Some of us never really put away winter clothes, for on a boat ride …
Some of nature’s residents are dressed up for Halloween year-round. It’s hard for me not to think first of the spotted salamander in his sleek black skin decorated with large yellow spots! I saw a small dog in the Pemetic School’s Halloween Parade in Southwest Harbor one year sporting a salamander costume. It won first …
Bobcats are the topic of the last couple of weeks. I’ve received many photos and stories about sightings here in Maine, and a few here on MDI. In an excellent little publication written in 1972 by Dale Rex Coman, a well-known and respected naturalist at the time, it said “the status of this animal is of …
North winds are blowing and the leaves will soon be gone, but fall is still filled with lovely days in the out of doors. Warm days and nights now prompt springtime behavior in many creatures. A few peepers may even call, and eagles sometimes do courtship antics. A friend saw two bald eagles in the air, one flying upside …
Fall is a fickle month with warm, lovely days mixed in with chilly to frigid winds, colorful leaves and then fallen leaves. Carefree summer days are mostly gone, but there are still lots of things to see and enjoy in nature. A golden plover surprised some expert birders this past week at Hadley Point. This beach is a good birding area. This island has many …
Signs of fall are everywhere these lovely days and we should all try to get out and enjoy them however we can do so. Staghorn sumacs are bright red as well as the abundant poison ivy and Virginia creepers in some areas. Just remember that little rhyme, “leaves of three, let it be,” in order to avoid touching poison ivy. Virginia creeper has five leaves. Pay attention before you touch the …
Hawk flights in September over this island can be spectacular. Regularly this month, hawk watchers climb the local mountains and find their favorite spots from which to watch this amazing migration. Take a picnic lunch in your pack and spend the day on one of the local mountains. Cadillac is one favorite spot and Beech Mountain is another good …
