Loons, Damsels, and Coyotes..... Pittsburg N.H.

We just returned from four fabulous summer days in Pittsburg, NH. Climate Change is affecting everything so subtly. The Connecticut Lakes Region was very dry and hot for Sept. 1st.  Not to mention, many berries have already gone by. We only saw one moose but the other wildlife was spectacular.

Upon arrival on East Inlet we were greeted by a family of loons. I was amazed how large-bodied the two babies were.

We saw a flock of Canada Jays.

The Great Blue herons were fun as were the Kingfishers. This guy almost collided with the heron after an amazing dive.

We saw two families of otters, one on East Inlet and the other on Scott  Bog.

The birds of prey were also super!
This Northern Harrier circled the Inlet on a regular schedule.

We also saw this Kestrel which appeared to have been tethered at some point.

The loons were very vocal and active . This individual did a number of fly-bys.  We think he's getting ready for migration to the sea.

Even the insects were great!
This Common Green Darner appeared to be suspended by a sky hook.

The Emerald Spread Wings were breeding.

There were many butterflies including Mourning Cloaks, White Admirals, and this Comma.

My biggest surprise was a coyote feeding on grasshoppers around my truck at Big Brook Bog.  A real treat!

National Writers Project/ Symbiotic Husband

This summer has included many adaptations and connections for me. Gretchen has been teaching at PSU for the National Writing Project. I knew my home duties would increase with her going to "the Project". The surprises came with my own connections with people and the environment because of my fringe relationship to the Summer Institute.

Here's an early expedition with friends from the Dominican Republic who attend the Summer Institute.

 Maximo, Hector, Nelsy, and guide

On this first encounter, we found creativity in a car:

    

And  the Browne house where Robert Frost visited.

                                                

We also discovered unusual organisms.  Does anyone know this stinging ant  species ?

    Here's one of the few amphibians to lay its eggs on land.

        

Each year the Plymouth Writing Project connects with a group of educators from Pakistan and hosts writing nights.  It is an amazing event.  The Pakistani educators attend a month long Leadership Institute at PSU.

             

It's interesting to share in so many experiences around education. Then, there is the point when the small group sheds its boundaries and we talk about family, joys and homes, and special places to visit in homelands.  It's the best of Humanity. 

PWP also sponsors writing camps in Plymouth and Laconia. I was asked to do some classes because of my background in science. 

         What great fun!

                                                                                                                      

 I needed some prompts for their writing and found this beautiful Purple Fringed    Orchid in our beaver meadow.                           

                                                

 This pickerel frog: 

                                   

The garter snake was a big hit. The words for describing slugs were fantastic: Sticky ,slimy,rippling, invertebrate.

  We took one more excursion this time with Todd and Jen up to Rattlesnake

                   Then to the lake for Mt. Fuji ice cream creations. A SUPER DAY.

I never expected there could be so many surprises and connections around being a "House-husband".... and it is only the beginning of August.

              

                    

  

                                      

Great paddle down the Pemi

Had a super day on the Pemigewasset yesterday. We put in just below Bristol and took out at the Sanbonton boat launch almost 8 hours later.

  
   We had a super day of viewing the many edges of habitats rich with wildlife.
        
        How many edges here?

This is not a dog.

We also saw some amazing birds.

I will post more info and photos if I have some good stories about what has happened in this photo...... Barry

                          

Baby Loon in June 2010

Life on this edge is very unusual -- it's a floating bog. Here, not only do land and water meet, but this land changes location as it floats about the lake.

I believe this year's loon nest is on the same piece of bog as the previous year, but the small piece of bog floated to a different location. I spent many wonderful hours in June and now July observing the various behaviors of the parenting loons.

Here are a few photos of my adventure. It may look like I am very close to the birds, when in fact I am well away from the nest and birds. I am using a 100- 400 mm Canon lens.

 One of my first visits in early June:

The loons spent many hours taking turns sitting and turning the two eggs.

Then, in the third week of June I received a phone call from a friend.  "It's George and they are off the nest swimming with the hatchling."

When I arrived one proud parent was showing its total beauty.

The chick appeared -- not two hours old and swimming. I was amazed with the total feathering out.

There was a lot of teaching going on.  At one point a foot popped out of the water to keep the baby from capsizing.

The parents turned and tended the second egg for two more days .

At the end of the third week in June, the male ,female and single chick headed off to the main part of the lake. They have not returned to the nest area.

Feeding is constant throughout the day. The parents catch mostly small yellow perch, sunfish, and pickeral.

By the first of July, the chick is looking very fit.

It is amazing to see the different adaptations the chick has already learned. Grooming.... How does it do that?

Then there is the Loonyback ride...

and the cuddle. It is actually being towed along by its head.

Today is the Fourth of July and this little guy is chowing down on pickeral.

The chick is being pushed to swim faster by the parents.  The parents are making him chew up more food.  They catch the fish and shake it around to tenderize it.  They flip the fish to the chick.  He makes a shallow dive and returns with at least a mouthful.

This experience has been full of rewards. Once again, I'm learning more connections between organisms "living on the edges" of habitats.

The additional connections have been making new friends and getting reacquainted with some old friends who share similar interests in the beauty of our environment.  These people watch over the nest and celebrate the loons' return year by year.

May and Incredible Gliding Tree Frogs

Life is so full of wonderment, if we are able to pause and take it in. The first of May found Gretchen and me in one of our favorite places on Earth. We were in Costa Rica on the Osa Peninsula staying at our favorite and most visited lodge (5 times in 11 years) Punta Marenco. Here we returned to be with old and new friends. The atmosphere of the lodge and the beauty of the rainforest and coast make for an ideal habitat for the best things in life. A highlight this trip was caused by an early rainy season. We found Gliding Tree Frogs in Corcovado National Park.

When we returned to NH we brought the weather of the Tropical Rainforest - 90 degrees in May. Things are awry, the wood frogs are calling but no egg masses and there are only spotted salamander eggs in the vernal pools.

Dragon flies are out on the river. This photo showed me a new surprise. Tucked legs equals less drag.

 White footed mice are more numerous -- perhaps an easier winter.

In one week I had three super encounters, thanks to Nature and neighbors.

Just yesterday a visit to some friends for dinner turned into another adventure. This time it was a swarm of honey bees. The trek took us to a part of NH we seldom visit and an Organic Farm run by super humans Bob and Jennifer. The swarm was on a branch of a Liberty Elm they had planted over 20 years ago. Robin braved the height, stings, and sweat to attempt to collect over 3 pounds of bees and hopefully the Queen.

Today I was awakened by the smell of smoke. It was different. It almost smelled like an old fire smoldering. Robert, a fellow science teacher and friend, called to inform me it was from many fires burning north of Montreal. We were able to talk and look at a site showing the fires on Google maps:

 http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/etat_de_la_situation/carte_des_incendies.php

This haze is smoke carried by the North winds.

The Edge of Spring

Here it is the 2nd day of April and things are really  changing fast .  I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up to the sounds of a male cardinal calling and robins singing their hearts out .My morning walk took me to a vernal pool shaded by hemlock and the pool was still 70% covered with ice. The water temperature was 3 degrees C and the air was 14 C.

Red maples have burst their buds and started flowering .

                            

 same tree April 20 08

The spotted salamanders have done their spring migration to the vernal pools .

 

Both the wood frogs

 and peepers started calling yesterday if their body of water had any sun on it.

                 

 There is an alder like mystery  shrub in flower but no catkins. Any ideas ?

              

Hobble-bush vibernum is leafing out after being broused by deer.
            

            

The poplars have fuzzy catkins .
 
 







 Some areas of the woods must have been on the down-wind side of a hill of flowers , the aroma was like a beautiful ... perfume.
                                     I suspect May flowers .... Enjoy the Wonderment !