Red Fox Scream or Contact Call

MaineNatureDiary · 210314 Fox Call

 Red Fox Scream or contact call...It is mating season and this was most probably a vixen letting all the males in the area know that she is ready to breed. She was right behind our fence until Toby barked at her. And, by the time that Drew got the recorder outside, she was some distance off. But, it is still so eerie to hear as it sounds like a woman screaming.

Snow Totals for the 2000-2021 seasons

Our Snow Total the 2020-2021 season was a whopping 45" . Crazy light year and no snow after February 23rd. 

By the way, here are the snow totals for the last 21 years in Bowdoin:

2020-2021 =  45"

2019-2020 =  63"

2018-2019 =  77"

2017-2018 = 103.5"

2016-2017 =   95" 

2015-2016 =   51"

2014-2015 = 103″

2013-2014 =   72″

2012-2013 =   83″

2011-2012 =   61″

2010-2011 =   99″

2009-2010 =   57″

2008-2009 =   87″

2007-2008 =  127″

2006-2007 =   74″

2005-2006 =  No data? - Best guess around 30" from Kdoggy blog.

2004-2005 =  Roughly 100" of snow. (Kdoggy blog post said over 8 feet.)

2003-2004 =   30″

2002-2003 =   No data for some reason

2001-2002 =   42″

2000-2001 = 100″

Spinning Ice Disk/Carousel on Caesar Pond

Some guys came to Caesar Pond to create their second ice disk (also called an ice carousel.) Apparently, they made one last year but we didn't know they were out there. This was cool. It was about 60 feet in diameter. The chainsawing began yesterday after the guys put a stake in the the ice and ran rope out from it in all directions to make a circle. Then, they had to use axes to chop out the channel. By the way, the ice is about 10" thick. The channel widened as the disk turned and would eventually get about a foot wide.

Today: To get it to spin, they first tried using a boat engine, but that didn't work, so they hooked up a heavy tracked ATV to do the initial pulling of disk. They had to remove chunks of ice from the water circle to allow the disk to turn. Cool! Drew got to ride the disk which stayed moving once it got it's initial motion. I wish we'd thought to bring over the selfie-stick because at least then we would have had something of an overhead view. We'll try to remember to do that next year if we happen to find out when they are doing it again.

Feb. 22, 2021, Addendum:

Drew went over to the pond on Monday morning to photograph what was left of the ice ring. Surprise, surprise, it was lined with pine boughs!

Sure enough, the channel around the ring really got wide!  Wowzer! 

But, we have to say how impressed we were with the fact that the guys were so responsible as to line it with pine boughs so that nobody would fall through.

Snowshoeing on Caesar Pond again!

Wowee! Since I was so successful getting onto the pond yesterday, we decided to go out again today. The temperature was about 10 degrees higher, at a feel-like temp. of about 24F. We traversed 1.2 miles of the pond and had a marvelous time.

We stuck to the western shore due to all the ice fisherfolk who seemed to enjoy the eastern portion of the pond.

As we walked close to shore, we noticed some thin ice over a hole. It could be a place where an animal goes in and out of the water from, or it could be where someone walked and went through.

The ice is about 10 inches thick. Being a pond, the water is only between 9-12 feet deep so it freezes nicely all over for winter activities. We saw two neighbors cross country skiing and of course several ice fishing tents set up.

I took a self-portrait of myself through Toby's doggles! Yay! See all the scratches on his doggles? Those are from branches that would have poked his eyes out had he not had eye protection (he is blind.)

We checked out my favorite beaver lodge on the western shore. It seems to be active, which is good as it has not fallen into disrepair. We usually see beaver traps around it, but trapping hasn't occurred yet. We always have a plethora of beavers inhabiting the pond. Do you see the smoke on the eastern shore? That is where the fisherfolk have a warming fire on the ice near their tent.

Then, we walked to the northern boggy portion of the pond. This is where I prefer to spend most of my time during the summer as birds nest here, there are cranberries to pick, snapping turtles to commune with, and lots of flowering plants. It is where I can truly be alone with nature.

First Snowshoe on Caesar Pond this season

 Well, we finally got to snowshoe out on Caesar Pond. But first, due to my knee problems, we started in the front yard where I followed in Drew's footprints as he broke a small trail for me to practice on. Since I was successful, we went over to the pond. The reason for the snowshoes was that there was an icy crust on top of the snow, that collapsed underfoot, so snowshoes evened out the walking for me as my knee hyperextends backward very easily.

There was only about 5 or 6 inches of snow on the ice surface, and it was relatively smooth in front of where we have our dock in the summertime. To say that I was ecstatic is an understatement. I was over the moon with excitement to finally have enough knee stability to be out on my shoes. It has been two years since I have been on the ice in wintertime. And, ice soothes my soul.

The sky was partly cloudy and we were hoping for some nice colors and patterns. A plane flew overhead leaving a bright, white contrail in contrast to the wispy clouds. Stunning.

Speaking of contrails and clouds...that contrail seemed to cleave the sky in half!

As the sun set even further, there was a brief moment where the clouds were a vibrant pink color before fading as the light waned. I felt so satisfied and happy.

My new heated vest and mittens

 

The vest has three temperature settings with a button that lets me click between hot (red), medium (deep blue), warm (white). My mittens also have three temperature settings with a click button on top. The battery in the vest is in a tiny pocket on my left side. The battery in each mitten is in a tiny pocket on the underside of the mitten.

My hands and back have been very cold this winter. We have had so many frigid afternoons that were bitterly cold with windchill in the single digits, that we both finally broke down and bought heated vests. And, we got me some heated mittens as well. I am both stylin' and toasty warm at the same time! And, because my classroom dips down to 64F on school days, I have even been wearing my vest as I teach. Ha! I am the envy of my team teachers as they shiver and wear their layers to stay warm. I wear a sweatshirt over the vest, and then my jacket over all when I go outside.

Vest information: My vest is a Iurek brand, Men's ZD936 vest with heated pockets, heated back and heated collar. I got the regular cut because I am rather short and chunky of stature. The vest fits snuggly. If you are slim, go for the women's cut, but measure carefully. They also have a hooded option ZD938.

Drew got the Akaso Men's Nomad Battery Heated Vest with heated collar, with a detachable hood. He is very slim and this fits snuggly to size. He does not have heated pockets, and the heating elements in front are a bit higher than the pockets.

Mitten Information: Savior Heat Heated Glove/Mittens 7.4V. They do run small, so also measure your hand carefully. I surprisingly took a Large size where I generally have a small/medium hand.

Smelt Fishing Camps on the Cathance River

 

I have been extremely antsy of late as we just don't travel anywhere during COVID. So, Drew mollified my angst and took me to Bowdoinham so that I could check out Jim's Camps for Winter Smelt Fishing. First, we crossed the bridge over the Cathance River. (And, yes Toby got lots of laughs as people drove by seeing him in his jammies!)

Then, we crossed the road so that I could walk down the ramp toward the river to photograph the camps. Two of them had smoke coming out the flue pipes and people were inside actively fishing. Drew pointed out the wood hauler which was so old and interesting.

We don't know how old the wood hauler is, but it looks like it is right out of the early 1900's.

What always interests me is the fact that the ice near the shore is thick and stable enough to support so many fishing shacks. The river has a pretty good current at all times, and just out from the shacks the river stays open due this current.

Merlin visits our backyard (May 2008) (formerly misidentified)

 

I learned about another bird in our neck of the woods. I photographed, and mis-identified this bird back in 2008. I thought it was an immature Cooper's Hawk, but I learned today that it is a Merlin! Merlins are small raptors in the falcon family of birds. One identifying feature is long pointed wings when they fly. 

Here is a close-up view. There are so many physical characteristics to note when trying to identify birds, and since I am incredibly bad at I.D., I am glad to have birding acquaintances that teach me. One of my birding experts said this about the Merlin, "Note the dark eyes and slight 'mustache' - this is a Merlin!" (The mustache is below his eye.) 

Also, if you look at his beak, he must have just finished lunch when I snapped this photo! There is a bit of blood on it. These birds are very fast fliers who snatch birds and insects from the air. They are found in wide-open spaces and open woods. Our back woods had recently been logged when I saw this bird, so it is a perfect habitat for this species.

Sharp-shinned Hawk visits the bird feeding area

I have never seen a Sharp-shinned hawk before. But, today I got lucky. As I glanced out the kitchen window this morning, an adult was sitting quietly on a branch of the maple tree that holds the bird feeder. I have so much trouble identifying birds as different species often have similar characteristics. Here is what a more experience bird watcher said about this bird,

"Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk on this one. Although the first pic makes it look like it has a darker cap, this bird shows a small head, large eyes, tiny bill, and tail feathers all the same length—perfect for a Sharpie."

He flew to another branch and I was able to photograph his chest, so you can see all the pretty feathering. But, I learned that the birds of the Genus Accipiter are short-winged, long tailed birds that look so much alike that they are difficult to distinguish from one another. When perched, look at the "color and pattern of the head, nape (neck), and underparts and leg thickness." In flight, observe "shape, wingbeats, and overall color and pattern of underparts." For Sharp-shinned Hawks versus Cooper's Hawks (which I originally though this one was), the tail is different. The Sharp-shinned Hawks have shorter, square tails while the Cooper's Hawks have longer rounded tails. Cooper's Hawks also have bigger heads with longer beaks. Sooo much to learn! And, that is what makes birds so fun to see!

For quotes: Sibley, David A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

Sunset on Caesar Pond

Gotta love Caesar Pond sunsets, especially in wintertime. 

The clouds and reflections are stunning...