Home About Us Archive Links: MND Bookstore MaineNatureStore MND Family Blog MaineNaturePoetry Sand Collection MyBitOfThePlanet Sweden Adventure Slideshows: Fisher Tracks 2009 Slides 2008 Slides 2007 Slides Audio: 2009 Audio 2008 Audio 2007 Audio Video: Beaver Lodge 2009 Video 2008 Video 2007 Video Tumblr (3.0; @mainenaturediary)http://mainenaturediary.com/<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz54ezK4eD1qz5nfyo6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><b>Spring has almost sprung:</b> Each day, upon arriving home from school, I scoot over to the pond to check on the state of the ice. Yesterday, I spent several minutes kicking at the ice and moving some of it away from the dock. I was hoping that some more of it had melted today, but with the below freezing temps last night, there was a very thin film of ice on the water surface that I had cleared yesterday. Darn! I can’t wait to get the kayak in the water…soon…There is hope though, as you can see in the third photo of the little island with some water showing nearby…very soon…And then, there is the lack of snow. Check out our house with just a few piles of snow left. We usually have several feet of snow at this time of year…My flower stump is ready to be cleaned up in preparation for the daffodils to bloom. We have lots of raking to do as there is so much gravel and sand all over the yard. All will be so pretty in a few weeks…</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/442013072http://mainenaturediary.com/post/442013072Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:11:23 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyxmmcGIcK1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>Black-Legged Tick aka Deer Tick:</b> This species of tick is the carrier of Lyme Disease. Note: This photo is enlarged…in reality the tick is about the size of a sesame seed. This individual happens to be a female (and she was crawling on my sweatshirt today.) Ticks are plentiful this time of year and we are finding them on our clothing after playing in the woods with Kasha. If you find a tick attached to your body, carefully remove it (head and all) and take it to the doctor’s office (if you have symptoms within 24 hours of the tick bite) where a positive identification can be made. The longer the tick is sucking your blood, the more of a chance you will contract Lyme’s disease. See this information from the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lyme-disease/DS00116" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>. I think we might have to revise our play and move to the back yard…not nearly as fun, but much safer.</p> <p><b>Weather:</b> High temperature today was 52F. WOW! No wonder the ticks are out and about!</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/433162163http://mainenaturediary.com/post/433162163Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:03:00 -0500Weather Update: Our high temperature for today was 50.9F. WOW! Springtime here we come!http://mainenaturediary.com/post/430832333http://mainenaturediary.com/post/430832333Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:43:59 -0500Cathance River is iced-out: We went over to Bowdoinham to check on the Cathance River, and there is...http://mainenaturediary.com/post/430108988http://mainenaturediary.com/post/430108988Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:53:33 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyuaq8ZugZ1qz5nfyo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Rough and muddy trail<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyuaq8ZugZ1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> Most of the trail is still snow packed<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyuaq8ZugZ1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> Road is washed out<br/><br/> <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyuaq8ZugZ1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><b>Afternoon Walk:</b> I went on a walk on the snowmobile trail (aka the old county road) to check out the stability of the ground. I’d say that about 90% of the trail is still snow covered and fairly well packed, yet the woods have lost most of their snow due to the high day time temperatures we’ve been having (42F today). The snow is getting soft with large icy crystals making for a snowcone-ish texture. I did a bit of slipping as my foot would sink into the snow and slip back a bit, and there are only a few tiny patches of ice scattered about. On the few patches of clear ground, I sank into mud where water was saturating the soil. There are frost heaves here and there, but not as many as I was expecting, although the trail is plenty rough and a bit jarring in spots. The road is partially washed out past Hix-Small cemetery, although it held bit better having had the larger rock gravel put down as a base since the last big rain event. Lastly, I had to race back down the trail, as the sun was setting, to catch a bit of the evening light before darkness fell across the pond.</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/429382525http://mainenaturediary.com/post/429382525Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:54:00 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykzluWxfJ1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>My Favorite Photo from today…</b></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418875225http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418875225Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:15:30 -0500Snow Total Thus Far: 57” this winter season.http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418809509http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418809509Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:00:00 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo2_400.jpg"/><br/> Duck as you enter the wintry world<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykpqvD1Bo1qz5nfyo9_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><b>‘Tis the last day of February…and we finally have snow!</b> We just received 6 inches of super heavy, wet snow overnight (after spending 45 power-free hours while running the generator periodically). We really appreciate power, and heat, and hot water…AND…we truly appreciate snow! It was gorgeous outside this morning as the snow was covering the trees under a cloudy, calm sky with the temperature hovering at 34F. I have waited for these specific conditions for 7 years, and I spent an hour over at the pond photographing the scenery. Usually, I am on my way to school and do not have the opportunity to photograph the snow as it is stuck to the trees. I had to get outside early, before any wind came up, in order to catch the trees before they shed their snow load. As it was, on my last outing, the trees were dropping lots of snow on me and my camera, which I had to cover with a cloth to keep dry.</p> <p>When looking at the photo of the north end of the pond (picture 3), you can see what looks like fog…not so…that is snow on the branches of large stand of deciduous trees that are not as tall as the conifers in the background. There are so many different levels of trees, and the conifers carry their snow load differently than the deciduous trees. It makes for a gorgeous, breathtaking scene.</p> <p>As for the three tree limb photos…I found these trees particularly eye-catching with their snow load distributed on all the tiny branches. I was continually oohing and ahing as I tried to find just the right location to point my camera skyward. The neighborhood was quiet, the air was still, and it was just me and the trees…..Finally, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds to give a bit of a nacreous coloring to the moisture droplets still in the air. As always, I feel so blessed to have found such a beautiful location to live in. Maine sure is a special state, and there is so much stunning scenery everywhere you look…you just have to get outside and commune with Mama Nature…she never disappoints.</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418448255http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418448255Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:42:00 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykrayjf6G1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>First Daffodil Shoots:</b> I have never seen the daffodils popping up through the soil this early in the year. Drew has even had a tick crawling on him after playing with Kasha in the woods. Ugh…too warm…we need snow…</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418514800http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418514800Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:16:00 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykr5uoZhT1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykr5uoZhT1qz5nfyo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykr5uoZhT1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kykr5uoZhT1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><b>Unsafe Ice:</b> Caesar Pond has become unsafe to walk on with holes through the ice sprinkled hither and yon all over the pond surface. We have been having uncharacteristically warm days with temperatures approaching the mid to upper 40’s. Yikes! I might just be kayaking on on the pond in a few weeks if this keeps up!</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418509075http://mainenaturediary.com/post/418509075Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:13:00 -0500Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Some Summer Day: Ugh…the wind is gusting to 31mph, and it is...http://mainenaturediary.com/post/412201842http://mainenaturediary.com/post/412201842Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:23:57 -0500Weather Update: We are having what seems like a late March weather pattern with a mix of rain and...http://mainenaturediary.com/post/408881342http://mainenaturediary.com/post/408881342Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:55:00 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo1_400.jpg"/><br/> Fisher<br/><br/> <img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Fisher Track (note the five toes)<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> Foot print length in soft snow 5.5"<br/><br/> <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> Foot print width in soft snow 5.5"<br/><br/> <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxut72SM4g1qz5nfyo7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><b>Fisher Tracks: </b>I have seen these tracks near two beaver lodges this winter, and after consulting Bro-in-Law Gary, and my Peterson Field Guide to Animal Tracks, I have decided that these tracks probably belong to a fisher.The fisher is in the Mustelidae family (the weasels) along with minks and skunks (to name a few).</p> <p>Here is a quote from my friend Randy Smith, <i>“Great prints of the fisher.  I have only seen one in the wild.  It was at night and it ran across the road in front of the car.  It had a weird gate.  Sort of loped along.  My brother chased one up a tree once.  Not a good plan.  They are huge and mean.”</i></p> <p>The fisher picture in the slide show is from <a href="http://www.borealforest.org/mammals.htm" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.borealforest.org/mammals.htm" target="_blank">http://www.borealforest.org/mammals.htm</a></a>. I’ve never been fortunate enough to see one in real-life.</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/389667455http://mainenaturediary.com/post/389667455Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:59:00 -0500<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9466285&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF"><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="scale" value="showAll" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9466285&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF" /><embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9466285&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br/><br/><p><b>Beaver lodge and fisher tracks</b>: This video is 4 minutes, 20 sec. long. I’d advise you to click on the start button, then click the pause button soon after to let it pre-load. Then, hit the start button to play the video after it has pre-loaded around 1/3 of the way (grey bar has traveled to the right…this can take around 30 seconds). It’s worth the wait!</p> <p><i>To play the video full-screen, click on little 4-arrow symbol to the left of the word “Vimeo” on the video.<br/></i></p> <p><i>NOTE: if you find the movement of the slide shows above and below this video distracting, you can pause each one by hovering your mouse over the slide shows and clicking on the pause button on each one.</i></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/391117466http://mainenaturediary.com/post/391117466Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:15:00 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/> 1st creek and Drew's bridge<br/><br/> <img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Water flowing under ice<br/><br/> <img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo3_500.jpg"/><br/> Vernal Pool after 2nd hill<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo4_500.jpg"/><br/> Trail toward bog turn-off<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo5_500.jpg"/><br/> Beaver bog with lodge in background<br/><br/> <img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo6_500.jpg"/><br/> Beaver Lodge<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo7_500.jpg"/><br/> Top of lodge<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxu2wtIgGf1qz5nfyo10_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> Edge of bog and beaver dam<br/><br/> <p><b>Woodsy Walk to a Beaver Lodge:</b> I took a walk through the woods to a bog for a visit to an absolutely huge beaver lodge which was about 5 feet tall. Amazing!</p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/388950817http://mainenaturediary.com/post/388950817Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:31:00 -0500Mid-winter Flowers/Black and White: I am trying something new…thinking about creating a black...http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387596013http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387596013Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:34:00 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxsolhBHBP1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>Rose</b></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387609903http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387609903Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:24:53 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxsojx4gVD1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>Tulip</b></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387608659http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387608659Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:23:57 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxsoj2U2Lb1qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>Tulips</b></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387608038http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387608038Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:23:26 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxsohcCXS71qz5nfyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><b>Tiger Iris Petal with rain drops: </b>As for the reflection in the raindrops, it looks like a crow was walking on the road behind me when I shot the photo. Of course, the reflection would be upside down in the water droplet.<b><br/></b></p>http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387606705http://mainenaturediary.com/post/387606705Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:22:00 -0500