You are invited to participate. Your reports are always welcomed! Vol. 1, no. 36 Tuesday, November 5, 1996
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| This week's reports | Downeast Birdline -- discontinuation announcement | Meeting of new group: Greater Portland Naturalists Forum | Publication announcement: Biological Diversity in Maine: An Assessment of Status and Trends in the Terrestrial and Freshwater Landscape |You are invited to participate. Your reports are always welcomed!
Please e-mail Frank Wihbey, Editor: menature@maine.maine.edu
This week's reports
Thursday, October 31. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: 15 mergansers swam and flew about this end of the pond today. Their movements are faster and more tightly coordinated than the similar number of resident mallards, reminding me sometimes of highly choreographed dance, other times of various military sea and air formations. All appeared to be female; is this just that the males lose distinctive color this time of year? W.D.
Saturday, November 2. Otis (Map 24) Morrison Pond. Observed a solitary male hooded merganser. B.G.
Sunday, November 3. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: We woke up this morning to this fall's first accumulated snow here: about one half inch at about 25 degrees F. W.D.
Sunday, November 3. Otis (Map 24) Two inches of snow, the first significant snow fall of the season. B.G.
Sunday, November 3. Orrington (Map 23) Fields Pond. Saw a circumzenithal arc. What's that? A rainbow phenomenon with a reverse curve, i.e. the rainbow segment (the length of the one I saw was about 60 degrees of arc, or about one-sixth of a complete circle) had ends pointing up, and it appeared about 30 degrees ABOVE the Sun, rather than directly opposite, as with true rainbows caused by rain. Also, the Sun was hidden behind cumulus clouds -- normal rainbows only appear when the Sun has emerged from clouds! This kind is caused by ice crystals high in the atmosphere. The weather conditions included: temperature about 37 to 40 degreees, and snow shower activity, after this morning's snowfall. This sighting was a first for me! F.W.
Monday, November 4. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: This last week seems to have seen the last of migrating birds at the feeders. Purple finches left behind a goldfinch couple. Now the goldfinches have left too. Chickadees are now more numerous and common at the feeders. W.D.
Monday, November 4. Otis (Map 24) Morrison Pond. One female Barrow's Goldeneye. B.G.
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