Tuesday, September 26 Rangeley (Map 28)
I see the mountain ash are loaded with berries this year. The spruce and fir are also pretty heavy with cones. And it seems that the ash are fruiting heavily all over New England, at least from some reports I've heard. On a hike along a small mountain stream today I had a very large bull moose walk by then stop and rake his antlers against a tree. Must use caution, I remind myself.  KB

Saturday, September 30  Winter Harbor (Map 17)
While driving along the one-way road that circles the ocean shore of Schoodic Head in Acadia National Park, we noticed that a few cars had pulled over and that the passengers were looking at something.   Out of curiosity we stopped.  In a brackish pool just across the road a heron, which one usually sees posing in complete stillness, was walking ever so slowly through the water.  As we watched, it climbed onto the nearby shore and sat down in the vegetation. We had never seen either
of these behaviors before and were delighted to get a glimpse of another aspect of this stunning bird's life.  F.W.

Sunday, October 1 Orono (Map 23)
Walking through the back yard I noticed a spider web whose main body seemed to be hanging from only two strands, which seemed impossible.  One ran from our roof eaves, the other from an ornamental plant hanger below it.  Even more astonishing was that there was nothing apparently near enough to form the critical third support.  But I underestimated this little engineer!  Triangles of course offer the strongest support.  By adding a strand to each major strand, a partial triangular support was formed.
 
Most spectacular however was the third support strand, which ran to another plant hanger 14 feet away!  I assume the spider made use of a fortuitous breeze to sail to the third anchor point.  But how did the critter accomplish the careful steering
needed to make use of a nearly horizontal flight? Here is a rough diagram (not exactly to scale) of the construction, and a photo of our hero.  Needless to say we carefully duck under the strand to respect this marvelous creation, which has already lasted through two weeks of varied weather.  F.W.

Monday,October 2  Rangeley (Map 28)
Watched two whitetail bucks spar in a field early this morning.  I've also had two Harriers hunting in the fields over the weekend.  KB