Little Signs Of Spring !

Headed out early to Gate 43. The plan was to sit at the horseshoe dam in hope that the otters would fish the open water. The plan worked out well,but nobody told the otters. A male and female  Hooded Merganser kept me occupied for a while.

Squirrels both red and gray where out and about. I did see one mature and one immature eagle on my hike. I also saw one Pileated Woodpecker and heard several others. As I crossed over a small beaver pond  there was  a visible hole and a number of chewed branches sitting on the edge of the ice.

The morning was made with seeing a male bluebird.

Jim

Peaceful Morning !

It was a real nice morning to be hiking. I headed over to Gate37. I was surprised when I reached Fever Brook and the snow plow road ended. Didn’t have my snow shoes so I hiked the shoreline. Reservoir is still socked in. I hiked down about a mile and found a boulder to sit on. I could hear a couple of coyotes off in the distance. I sat for a while watching, hoping they worked their way to the shoreline.

 Soapstone Hill is out in the distance.

I did see one Pileated Woodpecker and heard several others.

It amazes how otters locate and use holes in the ice

Coyotes found easier travel on the windblown ice 

Jim

Turned Nasty Fast !

With the dusting of snow last I thought it would be a good morning to look for tracks. The heavy snow last week has slowed things down considerably. Deer are pretty much yarded. Although I did see where several deer had moved through the area since the storm. I was surprised not to see any coyote tracks. This is truly the “Dead of Winter “. After the sun came up this morning, so did the wind. Weatherman said wind chill brought temperature near zero.

 I did see one Pileated, two Red Bellied Woodpeckers, and one other hiker, which is very unusual on a morning like this. Well, it won’t be long till the maple syrup starts running. Weatherman is saying milder temperatures later next week. I sure am ready for spring! Jim

No Coyotes This Morning !

The plan this morning was to hike Gate 30 to the shoreline in hopes of seeing a coyote or eagle. The plowed road made for easy walking. Tracks of deer and coyotes were scattered throughout the walk. I stopped for a while and watched several fields. Local winter birds were active. Other than seeing a squirrel, it was not a busy day for mammals. Guess every weekend can’t be as eventful as last weekend. My wife has been seeing a pair of redtail hawks starting to work (housekeeping) around an established nest site. Eagles should also be starting this activity. You might think I am somewhat optimistic….. Spring is just around the corner! I can see cabin fever must be setting in for many folks. I passed more people hiking today than I have seen in four months Jim

Would I See A Snowy Owl This Morning?

I headed out to an east side gate somewhat  early this morning. I have been looking forward to a long snowshoe trek.  This should be a good morning for it.The sun's first rays touching Soapstone Hill was nice. My plan was to snowshoe from the east branch of Fever Brook to Graves Landing and hopefully put on enough miles to beat my previous  snowshoe milestone of five miles

That is Soapstone Hill on the left.
The snow was perfect with several inches in the wind swept coves to five or six along the shoreline.

The sun was EXTREMLEY bright. Yep ! I forgot my glasses in the truck.

I made it to Graves Landing. Perfect spot to have my morning snack. The hike back was somewhat easier using the same trail. I was pleased when I looked at my GPS.

Yes , I did see one snowy owl gliding along a distant shoreline

Jim

Three Firsts in One Day

It was foggy and dismal passing the yellow gate this morning at dawn. I couldn’t imagine three first time events happening this morning, especially after the exciting day yesterday with seeing a moose and many beds.  Hiking this morning was quiet with the soft snow and temperatures in the low forties. The hike towards the west branch of Fever Brook revealed moose, deer, bobcat, porcupine, raccoon and bears tracks. Yes ,bear tracks, a small single bear waked the shoreline heading north along the reservoir. This is my first account of seeing bear tracks in the snow in the middle of winter.

I decided to hike the shoreline back to the truck.  Rounding the first cove I picked up a vertical white object in a birch tree about seventy five yards down the shoreline. Looking through my zoom lens I could see it was a snowy owl.

NOW, could I stalk close enough for a reasonable picture? As I closed the gap, you could see blood stains on the owls face. Excitement on my part would be an understatement!  

On the return hike back, I noticed something that appeared odd sitting vertical on a branch off in the distance trees. Slowing down to check it out, showed this barred owl watching me from a distance. 

This is the first time I have had the opportunity take two pictures of owls in one morning.

 Jim

Snow Sure Can Tell a Story

Beautiful sunrise this morning

This morning I headed out to a west side gate to do some bushwhacking, with hopes of finding an antler shed. I wasn’t twenty minutes into the hike when I looked up and there stood a moose about seventy yards out looking at me. Only carrying my point and shoot today,

 I decided I would trial this moose for a while and see where it takes me. Was I surprised when a topped a small ridge and there were seven moose beds in close proximity to each other, and another three beds a short distance away.

 One of the distant beds had specks of blood visible outside of the depression made by the snow from  the moose’s warm body. Long shot but I thought maybe a bull might have had some blood loss with dropping an antler. Tracks were plentiful but looking carefully I was able to stay on this particular track following it backwards. It took me about a quarter mile to an area that was very thick with saplings. Plowing through this thick area for a while sure had me focused thinking I might find an antler hanging from a sapling branch. No luck today. I marked the location on my GPS. With that much sign in a relatively confined area, it’s sure to have an antler or two to be found.

Looking at each bed you could clearly see where a cow and calf had been laying. If would guess that three or four moose are using this as a wintering feeding & bedding area. If moose dung was worth money I would hit it big this morning!

Tracks of deer, coyote & moose where plentiful. 

I did see where a porcupine has been making a regular visit.

Jim