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Editor's Column
Robin's Thoughts and Rambles Hello! Special thanks and a lot of appreciation go out to Frank Wihbey, the founder of Maine Nature News. Frank renewed the domain for the next three years. Thank you very much! Fred sent this note along with his answer to last week's question: I don't think the
hummingbird was an immature critter, unless the photo was
confusing. Young hummers have white throats (the guys' are
spotted), and this one appeared to have a dark throat or a mature male.
Thanks Fred! I'm going to look more closely at the hummingbirds feeding at the jewelweed around our pasture. I thought they were immature but now I'm not sure. I've been making blackberry jam from berries we've picked along the sides of back woods roads. We'll enjoy it this winter while the snow flies. Over the Labor Day weekend I'll make blackberry ice cream. I'm very happy with the number of reports this week! The wonderful photography adds a lot to this week's edition of MNN. Thank you! It's easy to contribute to Maine Nature News. The format is simple. Day, date, town, map number. The map number comes from DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. If you don't know the map number I'll find it for you. Write your report in your own words, nothing fancy needed. Don't worry about being perfect, just be real. Send your report to me by email. Sincerely, Robin Follette Editor/Publisher  |
Maine Nature NewsAugust 26, 2008
Vol. 13, No. 31
 Tuesday to Thursday, August 18-21 Baxter State Park I spent several days up in the northern part of the park, hiking the trails, watching, looking and relaxing. Nature always serves up something to ponder. The mini toad is just one of several that I came across. The young snowshoe hare I came across up on top of the North Traveler. He was in the middle of an overgrown trail and hopped just ahead of my boots. I stopped, scanned around and saw him about a foot off trail. I got several photos of him. Lots of trees beginning to change and bucketfuls of blueberries. I think we may have to put the blackflies at a 2. KB  Thursday, August 21 Phippsburg Map 6 These Indian Pipes, Monotropa
Uniflora, are commonly thought of as a fungus due to their lack of
chlorophyll and associated green color and because they grow
in deep shade at the base of trees. They are actually a parasitic
flower, dependent upon the roots of trees. They grow at the base of
oaks, as in this picture, pines and also in Black Spruce bogs. There
are many Black Spruce where this picture was taken, as well as
Winterberry and Bunch Berry, all companion plants to the "Ghost
Flower." The blossoms of the flowers face downward until pollinated,
which is what the Bumble Bee in the picture is accomplishing, besides
gathering pollen for himself. Once pollinated, the blossoms turn
upward, then the structure of the plant begins to turn brown and woody.
In this photo, there are pollinated and yet to be pollinated blossoms.
This flower is also known as "Ice Plant," " Corpse Plant,"
"Convulsionroot," "Fitroot," "Dutchman's Pipe," "Eyebright," and "Fairy
Smoke," the latter three creating much more pleasing
visuals than the former four! The juice and roots have been reported to
have folkloric medicinal value against seizures and sore throats.
RRR
August 21, Phippsburg, Totman Cove Map 6   Thursday,
August 21 Phippsburg, Heron Cove Road (Map 6)
This Mountain Ash
was hosting a pair of Cedar Waxwings with a couple of fledglings. The
berries of this tree, which ripen in August, are timed perfectly for
the fledglings and the migration of many berry eating
birds. The berries also attract insects such as the
nectar eaters as they ooze juice when damaged or decomposing. These
insects also are very attractive to birds. Wherever there are Mountain
Ash, or other members of the Sorbus family, there are birds feasting.
Also called The Rowan Tree, the berries have numerous
folkloric medicinal uses. The fiber if its wood is very dense
and so suitable for staffs and often used for dowsing sticks.
The Rowan tree was believed to ward off malevolent beings an spirits.
RRR
Thursday, August 21 Millinocket (Map 43), T2-R9 Wels (Map 51), T3-R10 Wels (Map 50) Arrived in the
Katahdin Region this morning and was greeted with dazzling sunshine and
a sparkiling blue sky. Without a cloud to be seen Maine's Crown Jewel
mile high Katahdin was once again grabbing center stage rising from the
surrounding landscape. After checking in at Baxter's Togue Pond
Gatehouse it was off to Kidney Pond for a hike up Sentinal Mountain. A
easy hike of sorts by Baxter standards. As the August sun warms the
moist forest floor a series of very pleasant smells start to take over
the woodlands. From the rocky summit ledges views of a landscape dotted
with lakes and ponds unfold along with Katahdin. Looking down at Kidney
Pond there is a brown object in the middle of the pond. Further
inspection with the binoculars shows a large moose. It feeds for almost
an hour before leaving.While eating my lunch two Bohemian Waxwings land
in a nearby spruce tree.That evening there is a cow moose in a small
bog along the park tote road and yet another in Elbow Pond. A short
side trip down the Golden Road and there is another cow this time with
a calf walking in a swampy area. SY
 Friday, August 22 Mount Katahdin Twp (Map 51) Day two in Baxter State Park is spent in the Roaring Brook Area. A trip to this part of the park is never complete with a trip to Sandy Stream Pond. No moose in the pond this morning but with no breeze to speak of the glass like surface of the pond was casting back the perfect mirror image of Katahdin. Breathtaking to say the least. After spending over an hour here it was time for the trip up Katahdin. The Chimney Pond and Basin Cut-off Trails would lead to Blueberry Knoll in the heart of Katahdin's North Basin. A very remote spot with 360 degree views. Looking down at the nearby Basin Ponds and a cow moose with her calf are swimming across. Katahdin Lake can be seen in the distance and with the binoculars there is now a moose in Sandy Stream Pond. Off to the left you look right into the South Basin and can hear the voices of folks climbing its trails. With the binoculars you can see tiny dots making their way across the knife edge.Up close the sheer walls of the North Basin are inpressive. That evening back at Sandy Stream Pond there is a yearling bull feeding just off of Big Rock. It leaves just as another yearling bull comes right out at the rock and is just feet away. SY  Sandy Stream Pond  South Basin from
Blueberry Knoll
Saturday, August 23
T2 R10, Abol Bridge (Map 51)Saturday, August 23 T2-R9 Wels
(Map 51), T2-R10 Wels, T3-R11 (Map 50)
Start this morning out with a trip up the Golden Road with the first stop at Compass Pond. The still pond is once again reflecting back the image of Katahdin. Just past Abol Bridge a rather large bull moose is feeding. From here it was up to the Cribworks and then Ripogenus Gorge to check out the rushing waters of the West Branch of the Penobscot. After this was done it was time for one last hike up the Blueberry Ledges Trail. A very nice light hike mostly through a grove of white birchs.These young trees are the result of a forest fire in this area back in 1977. A lot of ripe blueberries along the trail too. Judging by the bear scat along the trail (and there was a lot of it) they are living I think solely of an diet of blueberries. After about 2 miles or so you come to the massive ledges where the crystal clear waters of Katahdin Stream flow down. Pools, chutes, cascades, potholes and small flumes abound in this area. SY   Here are a couple of the many different mushrooms that are here in the woods now. There is a bumper crop this year! Something took a big bite out of the pink one...KJT   Sunday, August 24
Talmadge (Map 35)
We have two does with fawns in the neighborhood. One has a single and the other a set of twins. We hadn't seen the twins until this morning. They are more than half their mother's height and look very healthy. RF  Monday, August 25 Phippsburg, Hermit (Map 6) Reports from the
fishermen, both by boat and by land are that the 'Stripers,' or Striped
Bass are being caught. A recent tournament catch included a 35 1/2 inch
Striper in Totman Cove, between Hermit Island and Westpoint. Though not
a keeper, it took the tournament. 'Keepers' are 20-26 inches and over
40 inches. The Pogies, or Menhaden, a commercial fish, are in and so
the Blue fish are in, too. The Blue Fish, a lively game fish, are known
to follow the Pogies into the harbors and coves. RRR
 Tuesday, August 26 Phippsburg (Map 6) Sphinx
Moths (one of these is a 'Clearwing') are out during the day and at
night sipping on nectar of late summer flowers. Some of them are called
'Hummingbird' Sphinx moths because they are almost as big as a
hummingbird and buzz around in the gardens in a way similar to the
hummingbirds. They also are the moth which is the precursor (although
which came first, 'the chicken, or the egg?') dreaded Tomato Horn Worm,
the caterpillar that can exfoliate tomato plants overnight.
RRR
Tuesday, August 26 Franklin (Map 24) Six or eight mature Eastern wild turkeys and at least as many small poults were in the back of a field in Franklin today. The poults had to be a late hatch as they are less than a foot tall. SNF |
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Q&A
Send
your questions
and answers in for next week's edition!
 Q. Frogs
have been really enjoying all the rain and the pools it leaves behind
for a few days. Does anyone know what kind of frogs these are? They are
small (at least, for now!), about 3 inches long. Robin
RobinsonA. I would guess these are Green Frogs, Rana clamitans. They vary considerably in color, especially when young, from bright green through grey-brown, with or without spots. Many, like the one shown on the left, are green on the lower half (below the water line, often) and grey-brown above. There are many young Greens around ponds right now, and they tend to be rather tame compared to some others, allowing one to approach fairly close before diving. GR A. I believe the frogs in question are green frogs Rana clamitans. They actually come in many colors, but what i can discern from the picture, these are them. FG |
Clubs & OrganizationsClubs and
organizations related to Maine's natural history are welcome to submit
their press releases for consideration in Maine Nature News.
All activities must be free to the public and involve nature in Maine.
MNN is compiled on Tuesdays so please send releases by Monday
evening. email
Stanton
Bird Club Summer Events
Lewiston, ME, The Stanton Bird Club is sponsoring several events in August and September. All events are free and open to the public.
Whitman Spring Road Trail Wednesday August 27 – 8am-11am. Join trip leaders Stan and Joan DeOrsey as we look for early fall migrants along this location in Auburn. The group will meet at the Auburn mall in front of JC Penney, leaving at 8am and ending around 11am. For more information, contact trip leader Stan or Joan DeOrsey at 933-2266. Plum Island Saturday September 6 – 6am-4pm. This coastal sanctuary in Massachusetts is a major stop-over point for numerous species of birds headed south for the winter Join trip leaders Tom and Susan Hayward as we look for migratory birds. The group will meet at the Lewiston Promenade mall in front of Staples, leaving at 6am and returning around 4pm. Participants should bring a lunch. For more information, contact trip leader Tom or Susan Hayward at 782-5238.. Papermill & Ricker Farm Trails Wednesday September 10 – 8am-11am. The Papermill Trail is a newly paved trail in Lisbon. The trail runs approximately ¾ mile. Join trip leaders Stan and Joan DeOrsey as we look for migratory birds as well as other woodland residents. The group will meet at the Lewiston Promenade mall in front of Staples, leaving at 8am and ending around 11am. For more information, contact trip leader Stan or Joan DeOrsey at 933-2266. Pettingill Park Wednesday September 24 – 8am-11am. In this Auburn park the group will be looking for fall migrants and local resident birds. Join trip leaders Stan and Joan DeOrsey as we explore for the residents of Pettingill. The group will meet at the Auburn mall in front of JC Penney, leaving at 8am and ending around 11am. For more information, contact trip leader Stan or Joan DeOrsey at 933-2266. Stanton field trips are free and nonmembers are invited. All experience levels are welcome. The Stanton Bird Club is a conservation organization offering monthly free natural history programs and field trips throughout the state. The organization welcomes new members whose dues help to provide land stewardship at three sanctuaries, owned and managed by the club, in Lewiston and Monmouth. For more information, call 782-5238, visit the Web site at www.stantonbirdclub.org or email questions to StantonPR@yahoo.com . |
| View
via webcam
of Mt. Katahdin, Maine |
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Coast
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| Western
Hemisphere in visible light Courtesy
NOAA
Geostationary
Satellite Server
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Current Northern Hemisphere "auroral oval" as seen from NASA POES satellite
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Preparation
Maine Nature News, a weekly online periodical updated on Tuesdays, covers natural history events, occurrences and observations in Maine. It emphasizes what is happening in the natural world, from the point of view of Nature, and deemphasizes human events and activities about Nature, such as the environmental movement, societies and clubs, since those are well-covered elsewhere. (A few Web links of interest are provided.) It will be successful with your support as a natural history correspondent.
Photographs: ©Robin Follette, ©1996 by Karen A. Wihbey, ©1996-2006 by Frank Wihbey and other contributors.
Weekly Nature reports: Volunteer correspondents throughout the state.