January Weather Update

The historical monthly average high temperature for January is 30F, while the historical monthly average low temperature is 12F. This month our averages were higher in both regards. The average high temp was 35.6F, while the average low temp was a whopping 20.6F.  So we were 5.6F and 8.6F above normal for the high and low temperatures, respectively. CRAZY!

As far as precipitation goes, the average precipitation should be around 3.46". Luckily, we had a lot of rain along with a few good snowstorms for a total of 8.55" of precipitation in all forms. I wish I could say that this would cure the drought, but we are still way below normal.

Snowy day with piles of snow!

Wowee, what a series of storms. Between Jan. 20 and 23 we had 19.5" of snow! It just keeps piling up! Luckily, my birding bench is strong!

As I was looking at the feeder area, I saw an Evening Grosbeak hanging out on a limb. He did not look amused!

In the mounds of snow below the seed feeder, I saw a series of tunnel openings from which an adorable red squirrel popped out! They keep me chuckling at their antics.

New Year Resolutions/Adventures 2023

 Here we go again! Another new year, and I did accomplish quite a bit from last year's Adventure list. As usual, there are a few resolutions and tons of adventures to consider. I have grouped the adventures by the season to make sure I go at the appropriate times:

Try new photographic techniques: 
a) Use a neutral density filter when taking moving water and cloud photos (longer exposures like a minute long.)
b) Learn and practice stacking photos.
c) Use the Apeman Underwater camera at the beach.
d) Go to Popham Beach and photograph the tide pools, seaweeds on the rocks at Fox Island, Piping Plovers (bring long lens)
e) Play around with the lensball with photos.

Some local Land Trusts and Preserves with lots of trails to explore:

1. Harpswell Heritage Land Trust

2. Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

3. Maine Coast Heritage Trust

4. Kennebec Estuary Land Trust

SPRINGTIME

1. Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center - Rent a canoe for an hour or two to photograph the marsh along the Dunstan River. Opens 9:30am. Glossy Ibis migrates in during April. 

2. Visit Saco Heath Preserve (Nature Conservancy) to do some photography and butterfly watching during late May to early June when the heathland plants bloom AND when the Hessel's Hairstreak Butterfly is feeding off the heath flowers.

3. Monhegan Island - Monhegan Boat Line out of Port Clyde AND Hardy Boat Cruises out of New Harbor. Go in May for the migration of Warblers and other birds. - Cliff Trail or Cathedral Woods Trail.

4. go to Damariscotta Mills to view the Alewives migration at the fish ladder. Peak migration is mid-May from around May 13-May 30. Use Apeman underwater camera.

5. Horseshoe Crabs at Thomas Point Beach (mudflats-mating around May 20-June 30) Peak spawning occurs at the new moon and full moon in late May. Directions: Cooks Corner, Left on Bath Rd., 1st right after Cumberland gas station. Go 1.1 miles and bear right at the T. Follow sign to Thomas Point Beach then follow beach road to the end at the mudflats/marsh)

6. Visit Sunflower Farm Creamery in Cumberland - to see the mama goats and baby goats and Goat Yoga.

SUMMERTIME

1. Photograph Piping Plover chicks on Popham Beach (by July 4th many of the chicks have hatched and they are flightless for 25-30 days). So, go to Popham Beach any time during the month of July to photograph the chicks.

2. Maine Coast Heritage Trust's Woodward Point Preserve is nice and flat with lots of variety in Brunswick. AS WELL AS  Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Trails: such as Potts Point Reserve  (Tidepools) (Rt. 123 for 13.9 miles to the end of Rt. 123. Park on the side of the road) AND Stover's Point Preserve - South Harpswell - Short walk.

3. Orono Bog Boardwalk - One mile boardwalk loop trail through part of the 600 acre bog that is part of the Caribou Bog Complex.

4. River Run Tours around Bath, Arrowsic, Georgetown (through July 28th)

5. Whale Watching - 
a) Odyssey Whale Watching Tour - Portland.  
b) Quoddy Link Marine - Whale Watch out of St. Andrews New Brunswick. - Humpback Whales and Finback Whales in August. Ha! This means that we would have to stay in Campobello for a few nights...Awesome!

6. Casco Bay Lines - Cruises and tours.

7. Seawalker Excursions - 207-671-4448 - Corey Walker's 2.5 hour Casco Bay Excursion after school is out (Gift Certificate.) 295 to Freeport Exit 20 / Left onto Desert Rd. / Desert Rd. to Rt. 1 / Right onto Rt. 1 / Left onto Pine St. (FIRST LEFT off Rt. 1 / Follow Pine St. (turns into Main St.) to South Freeport Harbor. Park on side of street.

AUTUMN

1. Woodbury Sanctuary - Stanton Bird Club -Litchfield/Monmouth. 3 miles of trails.

2. Ovens Mouth Preserve - Edgecomb - Boothbay Region Land Trust - 4 mile walk.

3. Thorne Head Preserve - Bath (at the end of High Street) - Fabulous trail along the Kennebec River and over next to Whiskeag Creek. Tidal estuary, fresh water marsh, vernal pools, etc.

4. Mount Apatite in Auburn - Rock Hounding is allowed down to a depth of 2 feet with hand tools. The Pulsifer Quarry had purple apatite, green tourmaline, beryl, and garnet. The Greenlaw Quarry may have bits of purple lepidolite, garnet, green tourmaline, graphic granite, muscovite mica. Mt. Apatite Map. Note: the mine was mostly for feldspar and the tourmaline and apatite were left. Dig down below the topsoil to find the minerals.

5. Deer Hill Amethyst Locality - Amethyst, beryl, etc. print map. Bring hand trowel, sifting screen. Collect within the blue painted boundary requires a free permit at the trailhead. Owned by the Forest Service.

6. Cathance River Nature Preserve - Topsham - at the Highlands - No Dogs Allowed.

7. Ship Harbor Trail in Acadia National Park

8. Sandy Stream Pond Trail in Baxter State Park. Stay at Mt. Chase Lodge.(re: Pat Maloney) - Also go to Shin Brook Falls (gorgeous waterfall)

WINTER
1. Maine Mineral & Gem Museum - Bethel, Maine

2. Farnsworth Art Museum (closed Mon & Tue) and Rockland breakwater (go at low tide)

3. Stover's Point Preserve - Long-tailed ducks -South Harpswell - Short walk just north of the beach OR Reid State Park (can be close to shore along the rocks.)

4. Giant's Stairs Trail- Harpswell -From Cook's Corner go down Rt. 24 for 14.5 miles (cross the crib stone bridge) Turn LEFT on Washington Ave. Park at the Episcopal Chapel parking lot except for Sundays. Walk to the end of Ocean St.

5. Plum Island in Ipswich, Mass. (around a 2.5 hour drive) - The sand on the far south of the island has a purple coloration to it due to many minerals in the sand. - pink garnet, opaque black ilmenite, magnetite, dark augite, quartz, feldspar, green epidote, and possibly blue Kyanite (or sapphire). Photo from International Sand Collector's Society on Facebook.