Greetings!
"September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours,
but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn."
~ Rowland E. Robinson
What are you seeing out there? We'd love to hear from you! The following posts are from some of our local Harpswell Nature Watchers. All of the contributions below are seen immediately in our Facebook group. Click here to join.
Click here for more information about Harpswell Nature Watchers.
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By sneaking up very carefully, and some good luck, I was able to get some of my best pictures of a Kingfisher on our dock in Ash Point Cove.
(Submitted by Howard Z Marshall. September 30, 2021)
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"Fishing Buddies"
Around noon on Tuesday I spotted three wading birds in the approaching tide: one each Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret. The light was very flat due to heavy overcast, but the opportunity to capture images of all three together made it worth the challenge.
(Submitted by Howard Z Marshall. September 28, 2021)
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Mid-morning last Sunday we watched a Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret fishing in the cove. The light was excellent and the water was smooth and reflective, and I got these pictures.
The Heron was particularly photogenic with its maroon haunches, its neck markings, and its choice to stand where I got nice reflections of it in the water.
I got the action shot of the Egret splashing for a fish, but it was a bit too far away to get really clear pictures of it.
(Submitted by Howard Z Marshall. September 28, 2021)
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While walking Devil's Back trail after the downpour, I found some more amazing fungi. Some actually have begun to look quite water-logged!
(Submitted by Gina Snyder. September 28, 2021)
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An interesting study of ruffed grouse is underway in Vermont. It is well documented that the New England population of these beautiful birds has dropped nearly 70% in recent decades as the result of habitat loss, climate change and increasing numbers of grouse predators, especially raptors. Scientists now believe that grouse are suffering from mosquito-borne cases of West Nile virus. While the virus can cause serious illness in humans, deaths are quite rare. But over 300 species of birds are known to be affected by the virus, and it appears to be killing large numbers of ruffed grouse.
(Submitted by Ed Robinson. Photo from iStock. September 23, 2021)
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A bit hard to see but about halfway down on the left is a Bald Eagle spotted on Long point.
(Submitted by Virginia Scholomiti. September 20, 2021)
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A young Red Tailed Hawk has been a regular visitor this month.
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Tree Apical Meristems and the Fight for Dominance
Once you become aware of this plant characteristic, you will start to notice some interesting tree growth patterns next time you walk in the woods.
In trees, the tips of each branch have areas of cells that are responsible for increasing length. These areas are called apical meristems. In addition, the main, central stem of a tree establishes dominance over the others and grows faster and stronger. However, that dominant branch might be removed if snow or ice cause it to break off or if the tree is felled by strong winds. When that happens, the branches that are left compete to become the new “leader.”
This picture shows a tree that was knocked over probably by strong winds, but since some roots remained intact, the tree didn’t die. You can see how a new shoot established itself as the dominant apical meristem and successfully took over as the main trunk. It re-established the tree’s vertical growth so it could again reach the sunlight. Trees are amazingly adaptable!
(Submitted by Lynn Knight. September 16, 2021)
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While birding on the Otter Brook trails, I saw this little toad and an interesting fungus (yellow staghorn??). Always a great walk there.
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Quahog Bay, Harbor Seal. This seal kept an eye on me and followed me for about a mile while I was rowing just after sunrise.
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Wonderful fungi walk with Harpswell Heritage Land Trust – thanks Alan Seamans and Priscilla! So many mushrooms this year.
"Mushrooms are like an apple of the Fungus Kingdom" and many of them are waiting to re-hydrate with the rain and basically pop up in the forest to fruit and spread their spores! These fungi are so important to forest ecology. Slime mold, jelly mushrooms, polypores, boletes, JARs (just another russula), and an amazing find of blooming green stain fungus! And near the end of the trail at Widgeon Cove, what was likely the deadly 3+-inch diameter Destroying Angel mushroom near an oak.
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Does anyone know the name of this plant? It’s in South Harpswell.
(Submitted by Kate Willeford. September 7, 2021)
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I had not been seeing the kingfishers this summer, but just the last couple of weeks have heard them. Finally saw one landing in a tree along the shore of Orr's Cove and was able to zoom in!
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I’ve daily seen an eagle on this perch, but never two side by side before. This was taken two days ago near Doughty Cove at dusk.
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Crows picking apples.
(Submitted by Barry Coflan. September 5, 2021
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So many of our native woody shrubs are fruiting now, to the delight of our winged and four-legged friends! The elderberries in my yard are just about picked clean by the birds. Berries of high-bush cranberry, Virginia creeper, bayberry and snowberry are all ripening now.
A shrub with exquisite color changes as they ripen (in my opinion) is Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago). Some call it wild raisin, probably because the pulp of the fruit tastes a bit like raisins or dates. When ripe, the berries turn blue-black and can be cooked or made into jelly after removing the seed. This is one of the shrubs that hold onto their berries into the winter providing food for the birds.
(Submitted by Lynn Knight. September 5, 2021)
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A friend asked why the white-tailed deer seem to have vanished from his yard. After seeing several of them all summer, including four small bucks in velvet, he missed having them wandering around in the wildflowers and low shrubs. This vanishing act is common as we approach autumn as wildlife of all kinds either begin to migrate or they move to high value food sources. Right now apple trees are beginning to drop their luscious fruit, popular with all kinds of creatures. If the oak trees at our house are indicative, there are plenty of acorns around, one of the most popular food items when deer, squirrels and turkeys need to pack on fat layers for winter months.
(Submitted by Ed Robinson. September 1, 2021)
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