Maine Nature News

Vol. 7, no. 30, Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Quick jumps:  | This week's report | Home page | Wild blueberry report |

Wednesday, July 17.  Caribou (Map 65).  For the past two seasons we have noticed young downy woodpeckers with distinctive plumage features that are not described in any of the popular field guides.  Adult males are distinguishable by a small-to-medium-sized red spot on the back of the head. The red spot may or may not be divided by a black stripe that extends down the back of the head.  Adult females have no red patch.
    We have noted both male and female adults feeding fledglings that have large red patches covering the top of the head and extending down over the forehead.  Both male and female young seem to exhibit that pattern, but none of the books mention it.  C.B.K. and G.E.K.

Saturday, July 20, 6:30 am. Brewer (Map 23)  Driving to my lake for the Loon Count I saw a large black bear cross Wiswell Road.  He emerged from a buffer of brush and shrubs along open meadow and wetland between widely separated houses.  My first bear sighting in Maine or anywhere!  J.B.

Sunday, July 21. Orono (Map 23) Two stinky things in one day:  For several days I thought a raccoon had died under my porch.  After trying yet again to find the raccoon, I noticed 4 unusual-looking mushrooms on my lawn.  They were the source of the foul odor, and they are called Ravenel's Stinkhorn.  Then I needed a snake for an educational program, and I found a small garter.  I hoped it was too small to make that smelly musk –yecch -- but it was not.  J.K.M.

Sunday, July 21. Monson / Elliotsville Township (Maps 31 / 41) Appalachian Trail. Low flow made stream crossings easy.  Very little deer and moose sign even though the section of Trail I walked passes by four ponds. However colorful dragonflies and damselflies brightened up the shores and bogs.  Many wonderful forest bird songs and calls, including my favorite, the ethereal hermit thrush.   Blueberries are not rip yet.  F.W.

Monday, July 22. Fort Kent (Map 67)  In extreme Northern Maine, blueberries still have a ways to go. I have seen a few bushes and they do have some fruit, but quite small yet. We really don't get many berries until the first week of August (later in the week).  D.R.

Monday, July 22. Fort Kent (Map 67) At last check, still all green blueberries.
There are so many flowers in bloom now.  In the St. John Bog:  Grass Pink Orchids, Sundews, Pitcher plants.  Along the St. John River:  Monkey Flower, Blue Vervain, Marsh Belllflower, Vetchling, Yellow Loosestrife, Swamp Candles, Intermediate and Spreading Dogbane, Hemlock Parsley, Boneset, Wild mint, Common St. Johnswort, and a smaller one.  In the fields,  all the clovers  (red, white, alsike, Rabbit's foot, Hop), Fire weed and early goldenrods, Mullein.  In the woods: Wood Sorrel, Northern Green Orchids, Partridgeberry. Red Baneberry and its white form have colored fruit now, as does Rosy Twisted Stalk. 
Crows mobbing a Northern Harrier on July 20.  Can now eat wild strawberries, Skunk Currants, Bristly Black  Currants, and Dwarf Raspberries (Rubus pubescens).   G.F.

Tuesday, July 23. Newfield (Map 2) The status of the wild blueberries is:  lower count than previous years, first ripe berries are large, they are 30-40% ripe with the remainder still green but coming along, and perhaps 10% are over-ripe. ( I still pick those as they have a higher sugar content).  D.W.

Maine Wild Blueberry Report for July 17-23, 2002

Unripe fruiting stage: Aroostook, Penobscot Piscataquis Counties
Early ripe fruiting stage:  Hancock, Washington Counties
Middle ripe fruiting stage:   York County
No reports: other Maine counties

Your participation is welcome! Please e-mail Frank Wihbey, Editor, Maine Nature News:  menature@maine.edu