Vol. 11, no. 37 Tuesday,
September 19,
2006
Tuesday
and Wednesday September 11-12 Windsor (Map 13)
Temperatures are cooling. The crickets sing mightily during the
sunny parts of the day, they always seem to complete summer with a
vigorous fling. They have even been actively seeking the indoors.
Early in the morning it is quiet. Tuesday morning's light frost
and some breeze probably caused some of the summer's young to
wonder---What's ahead! The coyotes are out just after sunrise and just
before sunset, hunting turkeys? There are a lot of turkeys
around. The coyotes calls, barks, and howls at the bottom of our
fields make their presence known. PSH
Tuesday,
September 12 Orono and area
(Maps 23 and 33)
The National Weather Service predicted "widespread frost" in the lower
Penobscot Valley for last night (actually wee hours of this morning and
the prior night. Checking in with coworkers living in the area,
it never quite got to the freezing point in Bangor, Old Town, Orono and
surroundings. Everybody had heavy dew both mornings. F.W.
Friday,
September 15 Talmadge
(Map 35)
A Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher were feeding in our
pond. I've seen the Great Blue Heron every day since noticing it on the
15th. I hear but don't always see the Belted Kingfisher.
R.F.
Saturday,
September 16 Orono (Map 23)
The National Weather Service has over 100 radar stations spread fairly
evenly throughout the country. We have two in Maine:
Caribou and Gray (near Portland). Their chief purpose is to pick
up radar reflections "blips" from precipitation -- rain, sleet and snow
-- within a coverage area of about 90 to 160 miles of the station,
depending on topography and other conditions.
A friend pointed out that the Caribou weather radar had just picked up
a flock of migrating birds! Evidently this is not a rarity.
But it helped that we had clear skies, so there were no competing
precipitation blips to hide the bird flocks' reflections. The
radar image updates about every 10 minutes. Despite the statement
below from an NWS "Frequently Asked Questions" page, these blips were
seen during the daylight hours:
"Echoes from migrating birds
regularly appear during nighttime hours
between late February and late
May, and again from August through early
November. Return from insects is
sometimes apparent during July and August."
source: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/remote/radarfaq.htm#everything
The Caribou radar URL is http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/radar.php?rid=cbw&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no
and the Gray/Portland weather radar is http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/radar.php?rid=gyx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no
I don't know if bird blips will be visible at the time you read
this. So I've attached sample radar images from 11 am on Friday
September 16 from the Caribou and Gray/Portland weather stations.
F.W.
Sunday September 17 Orono (Map 23)
I found the tunnel of a Star-Nosed
Mole in my yard for the first time in the 20 years I've lived here. I
attribute that to the wet summer we've had; they burrow in damp soil
and up to now the soil hasn't been this wet in dispersal season. J.K.M
Sunday, September
17 Saco (Map 4)
The lobstermen at Camp Ellis
Pier in Saco throw him a herring now and then to keep him going, but he
is unapproachable. Strangely enough, he has a friend that has a
broken foot... J.B.
Editor's
Column
Notes, announcements and
reflections
Hello!
It's foggy as I write this morning. Frost has hit my garden
twice. Many of the wild fall flowers are going to seed and the
ash trees are almost bare. I need to rake leaves
already. The bluejays are fussing at the bird feeders. The
Canada geese have been gathering in fields but I haven't seen any
flying over yet. That's one of my favorite sights. I'll run
through the woods as soon as I hear them coming, into a clearing,
looking up and hoping to see them. Sometimes I make it in
time. Other times all I get is to hear their voices fading as
they move further away. I never feel like I've crashed through
the woods for nothing. It's always worth being a little winded to
see the geese. Add the scent of a little wood smoke to the air
and ahhhh...it's no wonder this is the favorite time of year for so
many people.
This is the time of year to watch for deer and porcupines under the
wild apple trees along the road. I don't mind sharing my apples
(or are they sharing with me?) but I wish they wouldn't take a single
bite out of so many! I leave those for the animals and gather the
rest for baking.
In a few weeks I'm going to start making a few changes. I'm
thinking about a new software program and subtle changes to the
layout. Is there something you'd like to see? Have any
ideas? Please let me know.
Q&A started thanks to a reader suggestion. I'll be hoping for
feed back during the process. If you don't like something please
don't hesitate to tell me. Maine
Nature News is here for your use and enjoyment. Your
honesty won't hurt my feelings.
Enjoy your week!
Sincerely,
Robin
Follette, Editor
Maine Nature News
email