Tuesday, June 25, 1996
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This week's reports | Reports from the press | Downeast Birdline -- transcript of current telephone message | Black fly report for June 19-June 25 |This week's reports
Saturday, June 22, E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: two drunks traveling too fast to a golf tournament hit and killed a deer that landed in our driveway. The neighbor had been watching this young buck traveling to and fro with another deer since it was born over a year ago. Others say the deer have been numerous this last week on the highways because the flies are agitating them out in the woods. If this folklore has wisdom, they must be referring to deerflies. W.D.
Sunday, June 23, E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: a ringnecked pheasant scratched for food scattered on the ground under our feeders. It was scared away 3 times by our movements in the house, not returning the third time. W.D.
Sunday, June 23. Andover North Surplus (Map 18) Wildflowers now in bloom at lower altitudes included: bunchberry, Canada mayflower (wild lily-of-the-valley), starflower, and white lady's slipper. Startled a pair of ruffed grouse hidden in underbrush. Moose scat frequently encountered all the way up to about 2600 feet, to the edge of the birch-spruce zone. Plenty of water in streams up there due to a rainy month. Why did the moose originally leave the ponds at lower altitudes; and why remain now despite the decline in black flies? What plants do the moose browse on in this zone? F.W.
Monday, June 24. Grafton Township (Map 18) In the middle-altitude slope of Baldpate
Mountain, encountered an Eastern garter snake sunning on leaf litter. Later, surprised a
deer at very close range, but only because he was very near a stream that was roaring with
the recent rain, which masked the sound of our approach. A number of clear deer trails
there in the mixed deciduous/evergreen zone and, higher, in the spruce-fir zone. At the
krummholz zone (scrub spruce-fir, about 3000-3300 feet) rabbit trails were in evidence.
In the alpine vegetation zone (about 3300 to 3800 feet) blueberry, mountain laurel and
rhodora were in blossom. In wet areas, on numerous grass-like plants I noted single pearly
white "flowers" the shape and size of a candle flame, on a slender stalk. I
guessed that these were a sedge, but could not definitely determine the species. A Canada
jay (gray jay) was sighted feeding in the grasses. Wolf spiders were often observed on
sunlit rocks, allowing an approach of 2 to 3 feet before scurrying into the vegetation.
On the West slope of the mountain the vegetation had a cloud-forest appearance--lichen and
moss clinging to everything, including tree bark and bare stone. Saw an Eastern American
toad, roughly in the same altitude zone as I had seen the snake on the Eastern slope. At
about 1500 feet the blue-bead flower (Clintonia) was in full blossom. I was surprised to
see the difference from specimens just 1000 feet higher which were still in the early bud
stage, perhaps a week's difference in development. F.W.
Monday, June 24. Wallagrass Plantation (Map 67) Black fly report: is three the highest number possible--would like to turn in a 6 if possible! S.Z-B.
From the press
_The Weekly (Bangor) Tuesday, June 22, 1996, page 4
"Commentary/Response" [editorial] by Jeff Shula
"Let's move from the Black Bears to the blackflies.
Is this a bad year for these pesky little critters, or what? The cool, wet spring
apparently stoked their demographics something fierce. Those who live in Bangor don't know
what they'r missing until they take a trip to Glenburn or Eddington or Hermon. The flies
have been driving moose out of the woods (and into the paths of automobiles) in places
like Greenville and Jackman. They envelope you moments after you step outdoors, and no
amount of Ben's or Skin So Soft seems to dissuade them."
Downeast Birdline -- transcript of current telephone message
Downeast Birdline -- transcript of current telephone message
Maine black fly report in map form
weekly black fly report archive
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