Please e-mail Frank
Wihbey, Editor: menature@maine.maine.edu Vol. 3, nos. 30/31, Tuesday, July 28/August 4, 1998
Quick jumps: | This week's reports | Wild blueberry report | Prior weekly Nature reports | Prior black fly reports |
You are invited to report on any aspect of Nature in Maine
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.
Thursday, July 23. Caratunk (Map 30) We picked the first quart of blueberries this week! There are still many to ripen yet, though. Also, the wild raspberries are plentiful and juicy. A loon was born Saturday, the 18th at Pleasant Pond, the first that I have ever known of. Observers report that the mother sat on her nest for three days before the egg hatched. B.Y.
Saturday, July 25. Kennebunk (Map 3) The Kennebunk Plains were a sea of green with occasional pink spots of northern blazing star (Liatris scariosa v. novae-angliae). In a couple of weeks the Plains will be a sea of pink when this endangered plant is in full bloom by the acre. The first fountains of Canada goldenrod were yellow. But the blueberries were well picked over in all the areas open. Eight crows discussed the situation. I have counted 50 crows at once in years past, when the land was in commercial production. Lots of blue showed in the areas closed to picking for the sake of the nesting Grasshopper Sparrows and Upland Sandpipers. One of the Sandpipers flew over, calling. N.M.
Monday, July 27. Orono (Map 23) There were 14 metamorphosing or recently metamorphosed bullfrogs around the edge of a small pond in Orono. A few still had a 2" tail, but most were fully metamorphosed. I also counted over 100 newly metamorphosed Leopard Frogs in a mile of grassy roadside along the edge of the ponds. Several Green Frogs and Bullfrogs were still singing too. J.K.M.
Tuesday, July 28. Caratunk (Map 30) The blueberries are plentiful - very thick! We've been picking and eating them for a week now. The raspberries seem to be going by. B.Y.
Wednesday, July 29. Newburgh (Map 22) The blueberries in the Newburgh area would be classified as in the early fruiting stage heading towards the abundant ripe fruit stage. S.W.
Monday, August 3. Holden (Map 23) a Short-tailed Weasel dashed across the road in Holden, near the Fields Pond Nature Center. Also a Meadow Jumping Mouse and a Milk Snake were found on the Nature Center property. J.K.M.
Tuesday, August 4. Orono (Map 23) Seen as I paddled up the Stillwater River: cormorants, mallard ducks and a downy woodpecker. The water lilies are in flower. L.C.W.
Maine
Wild Blueberry Report for July 22-August 4, 1998
Early ripe fruiting stage: Aroostook County
Middle ripe fruiting stage: Southern Penobscot County (most areas), southern
Washington County
Late ripe fruiting stage: Hancock County (most areas), Waldo County, York
County
No reports: other Maine counties