Maine Nature News

Vol. 2, no. 39, Tuesday, September 30, 1997

Quick jumps: | This week's 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, September 25. Orrington (Map 23) At 7 a.m. a large bull moose was trotting down the middle of Blake Road in South Orrington, right in front of our house. His fuzzy antlers were just starting to grow. He stopped and looked at me and starting coming in our driveway. So I called my dog in quick, and ran to get my camera. When I went out again, he was in the field across the street. Again he looked across at us, came across the street, then trotted down our lawn on the far side of our garage into the neighbors' field behind us, looking for a good place to cross the highway (Route 15).
Our house is about 400 yards from the Penobscot River and a stream that enters the river at Orrington's public boat launch. Our road used to be called Swetts Pond Road, but was renamed Blake Road for the new 911 emergency system. The moose was heading up the hill coming from the river area. That is the old Route 15, which is now a dead end road, wonderfully quiet and attracting more and more wildlife along this river corridor. P.S.

Tuesday, September 30. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam. A swath of photogenic leave color is beginning to excite the ridge across US 1. In past years many travelers have stopped to catch this hillside. Across the lake reds through yellows appear as daubs and lines on a green background if you squint your eyes to blur the scene.
We haven't seen hummingbirds for about 4 weeks. A monarch fluttered around the yard last week. The mallards are more on the move in the air. The regulars continue at the feeders.
Our remaining two loons fish here not as often. The parent still occasionally feeds the offspring. They seem to stick closer together since the death of the other parent a week and a half ago -- we still wait for a report on the cause of death. No great frost damage yet. The lake continues to be low. For the first fall in years, no beaver are working this area. W.D.

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