Maine Nature News

Vol. 2, no. 41, Tuesday, October 14, 1997

Quick jumps: | This week's reports | Prior weekly Nature reports | Prior Black fly reports |

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Please e-mail Frank Wihbey, Editor: menature@maine.maine.edu

This week's reports

Report format = Day, date, [time]. Location (Maine Atlas Map number) Report text. Initials of correspondent.

Tuesday, October 7. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam. Just after I noted having not seen beavers here for months, a small animal appeared more than one evening this last week, swimming by our dock. About a dozen killdeer continue to perch on the lake's granite rocks and to yell their piercing calls as they dash about. The trees across the lake are about 50% turned; the trees across US 1 are impressively brilliant, especially in the setting sun; and many trees are beginning to drop leaves. Given good weather, this area should be beautiful for The Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust's Fall Foliage walk, Saturday at 10, starting at the Craig Brook Fish Hatchery. Still only light frost damage here, even with more than one morning dipping to 29 degrees. W.D.

Wednesday, October 8. South Orrington (Map 23) A beautiful ringneck pheasant was foraging in our recently tilled garden plot this morning.
Temperature 28°F. -- our first killing frost this fall. South Orrington, near Route 15. P.S.

Wednesday, October 8. Wiscasset (Map 6) This whole region is approaching 50% - the forests along the rivers and at the edges of fields and roadsides is further along than the interior of the forests. We haven't lost a lot of leaves to the ground yet, though the pine needles began a big cascade on Tuesday morning when a stiff NW breeze came through. The needles just came down by the bushelful. D.H.

Thursday, October 9. Orono (Map 23) I saw birds traveling along the Stillwater River, in a flock whose shape was nearly continuously changing. At first the flock formed huge ball about 100 feet in diameter. It quickly split into two odd-shaped pieces, then reformed into a single oblong-shaped flock. It was obvious that there was always some coherence and individuals rarely strayed far. They landed in the top of some giant poplars on Main Street. Judging by their chatter and behavior I guessed they were migrating red-winged blackbirds. They remained there for the night. F.W.

Thursday, October 9. E. Orland (Map 23) Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. Many sparrows are moving through the area now. Identified a dead Lincoln's sparrow found at the hatchery - not a nester in this area, I presume. C.P.D.

Friday, October 10. Wiscasset (Map 6) I wanted to get back to you today with the news that the maples are starting to drop fast down here. A lot of oaks are just turning - which contributes to the fact that I think we are just reaching the half way point. However, since the maples (bright reds) are starting to fall rapidly, it appears that we have passed the peak. From the standpoint of color that may be true. But, there are a lot of trees out there that are just now turning. D.H.

Saturday, October 11. (Map 16) An Eastern garter snake was seen on the Long Pond Trail, basking in a patch of sunlight, escaping the chill of this 45 degree afternoon. A "raft" of about twenty sea gulls were seen floating on the southern end of Long Pond. K.W.

Saturday, October 11. (Map 16) Trenton (Map 16) Thompson Island. We saw a blue heron feeding in the tidal marsh immediately adjacent to the Route 3 causeway. This is very close to a heavily traveled road and so was a bit unusual for a sighting of a heron. F.W.

Sunday, October 12. Orono (Map 23) Saw a bird feeding high up on a pine, walking up the trunk and pecking at the bark. At first glance I thought it was a woodpecker, though it seemed too small, and then was surprised when it came into better view and I realized it was a black-capped chickadee! This must be a change of behavior to suit the food-finding of the present season. It reminded me not to assume anything when observing Nature. F.W.

Sunday, October 12. Auburn (Map 11) The weather this last week has been beautiful. The black flies are biting down here. That has never happened in the fall before. A.W.

Monday, October 13. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam. Bird morning: Starlings stopped to sample arrow-wood berries, still plentiful at our shore after several weeks. Blue jays show strong preference for the whole sunflower out back, while the red-breasted nuthatch and tame, chickadee cousins whittle away at the feeders' supply. Parent and young loon swam by the house just before a pair of cormorants perched nearby on a car-sized, partially submerged tree trunk. The cormorants stayed the day and occasionally spread their wings for tourist cameras. (Two or three days ago what appeared in silhouette in early dawn as a female hooded merganser fished here, the first I've seen here in months.)
The lake continues to get lower. Nights have been mild with no frosts.
Leaf displays have paled A good percentage of leaves have fallen, many in a front that passed last Friday.
We walked a woods lane during that windstorm. As trees were denuded, thousands of leaves followed vortexes above our heads for a hundred feet. The vortexes displayed a variety of species. As one puff subsided, baying, almost like hounds among the crackling leaves, came from the east. About two dozen Canada geese struggled at right angles to the dusky wind. W.D.

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