Maine Nature News

Vol. 8, no. 41  Tuesday, October 14, 2003

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Friday, October 10. Windsor (Map 13) So far, these past two months have been "typical". The warm days slowly cooling at the end of the season, an occasional night that's quite cool.  No real frost here on Windsor Neck Hill until October 7.  Deer sightings in the fields, busy crows, woodpeckers and blue jays. 
    One constant night presence has been the coyotes -- their howls, growls and noisy chases ending in the meal they were hunting. And, of course, the skunks making their quiet presence known occasionally. 
    My personal situation leaves me very close to the house however, so I've been missing the details. I broke a small bone in my foot so walking on rough terrain isn't possible. Just after Labor Day, I was sitting by the back of the house thinking how much I was missing walking in the fields and woods and realizing that the turkey poults wouldn't get to know me. I have walked this land for almost 20 years, and the hens, poults and toms, at different times, have all met me out there and gotten used to the fact that I'm there and not going to bother them except for some conversation. I have always mimicked them some with a gobble or a whistle.  And, I was missing my chance to know the new little ones. I felt a pang of sadness and my thoughts moved on. 
    Soon the turkeys came into the yard, and the hens led their chicks nearly to my chair! They came to within four feet of me, happily pecking and speaking as they came. There were more than twenty, coming to say hello! Since that day, they have traveled through the dooryard at least twice a day, a not unusual occurrence here, but they have often come very close to me when I'm alone.  It makes me feel as though I'm not missing quite so much.
    On Wednesday of this week, as temperatures rose into the seventies, the yellow jackets were busily flying and investigating. They too were coming close, but I don't quite feel as fondly toward them! P.S.H.

Saturday, October 11.  Stow (Map 10) I spent this day hiking in the Evans Notch section of the White Mountain National Forest and the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness Area. The plan for the day was a loop hike over Blueberry Mountain, starting on the White Cairn Trail. Its on this trail only a couple hundreds yards in a family of beavers have made a dam on a small stream, flooding parts with a foot or two of water. Once past this and on the summit ledges the views west and south are outstanding. There was a little haze in the valleys but mother natures fine fall colors were at their finest. A short walk up the Blueberry Ridge Trail will also offer a good view down into Evans Notch and ponds off to the south. The trip down was on the Stone House Trail ( not as steep) which near the bottom runs along Rattlesnake Brook. There are a couple of short side trails here to a nice cascade and pool then a bridge over a gorge. I rounded out the weekend on Sunday Oct. 12 Woodstock (Map 10) kayaking on Bryant Pond (Christopher Lake) a very attractive small pond surrounded by hills all decked out in their autumnal beauty. S.Y.

Sunday October 12. Eustis (Map 29). I don't think the weather and fall foliage could have been more spectacular this past weekend. It was perfect for hiking, camping and touring.
    While driving north on Route 27 just north of Stratton I spotted a Gray Jay (Canada Jay) alongside the road and we turned the car around. I love these birds that I call "giant chickadees" due to their resemblance to chickadees both in appearance and bold behavior. We had an open box of fruit and nut filled cereal that I tossed on the ground to attract a pair of these birds but to my surprise they showed a preference for eating right out of our hands! They perched several times on our cupped and cereal-filled outstretched hands to fill their crops and then fly a short distance away to stash their loot before returning for more. This provided a great opportunity to photograph them as they fed. What a magical experience! M.M.L.