Maine Nature News
Vol. 10, no. 13 Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Quick jumps: This week's report | Editor's column | Home page
Wednesday, March 23. Lisbon (Map 6) Tonight at my back light I saw my first identifiable moth of 2005: a Morrison's Sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni). According to the excellent field guide, Eastern Moths (p.114), these members of the Owlet family are very common in New England during late winter/ early spring. A.R.S.
Wednesday, March 23, 4:45 am. Franklin (Map 24) I woke up to the nasal "peent, peent" of American woodcock (Scolopax minor). It *must* be spring! B.G.
Thursday, March 24. Lisbon (Map 6) Lisbon Falls. About 27 gallons of maple sap was collected over the past few days. It's running on most days but very slow. This was boiled down to make a little over 2 quarts of a medium amber syrup. Very sweet tasting. S.Y.
Friday, March 25. Bangor (Map 23) A Firebrat, an arthropod in the same order as Silverfish, was found between glass panes in the front counter of Bangor Photo. J.K.M.
Friday, March 25. Milford (Map 33) Saw a huge tom turkey and ten females following him, out on the ice on Otter Stream which runs behind our house. Also, a river otter came up through a little hole in the ice, chomping on a big fish he had just caught. I guess spring is coming at last. K.T.
Sunday, March 27. Lambert
Lake (Map 46) I watched a Short-Tailed Shrew for about 5 minutes. It
scuttled across the snow, tunneled under leaves and prostrate grass, then
emerged and scuttled across the ground on top of leaves, back and forth in
frenetic activity. With its pink nose and feet, and velvety gray fur with
silvery highlights, it seemed quite handsome. This was my first protracted look
at shrew behavior, other sightings have been split-second.
I also saw footprints and scat of a bobcat. J.K.M.
Sunday, March 27. Lisbon (Map 6) Lisbon Falls. It's Maine Maple Sunday, so time to pay a visit to some sugar houses to see how their year is going. Most say the sap run has been on the slow side, which makes me feel a little better. Back home 7 gallons of sap were collected on Friday night and about the same on Sunday. Still a slow run. With the number of trees I have tapped 15+ gallons would be near normal in a good year for just one day. Things seem to be kind of running at half speed at best. Boiled down this 14 gallons down to about 1 gallon and will add more sap to it in a few days. The weather forecast is calling for warm days and nights this week along with some rain, so that won't be very good for sugaring or spring skiing. S.Y.
Monday, March 28, morning. Old Orchard Beach/Scarborough (Map 3) The latest new arrival at my feeding station in Old Orchard Beach/Scarborough is the goldfinch. I thought I had seen one a few days ago, but I couldn't be sure. Now I am. E.A.C.
A heartfelt "Thank you!" to all for your faithful reporting. That's what makes the Maine Nature News happen.
Frank Wihbey
Editor and founder, Maine Nature News
menature@maine.edu