take off.....hoser

Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report

March 15 2022

 

Highlights – Harp Seal, Otter from the ferry (finally!), Razorbill, Red-necked Grebe, molters including Black Guillemots, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown tailed Moth action, Harbor Seals, 

 

Business – contact us – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com – send us your sightings, your photos, your email address, your concerns, your comments. Heck, this is the place to send in your photos of Limited Editions foods! Yes, we are those people. So share, its fun and I’ll be nicer to you. I mean, if that’s even physically possible.

 

brown tailed moth webs
arent any 'prettier' up close.
that is a judgment

Tiit trick – click on the photos to make then jumbo sized. If you dare

 

Brown Tailed Moth – webs, webs, webs. February was ‘Brown-tailed Moth Awareness Month’ or something like that. VLT did a great job getting the word out on BTM information in The Wind and with a live stream demonstration of BTM web removal. With things slightly warmer, the month of March is a great time to put that information into action, if you haven’t done so already.

 

harbor seals are 'easier on the eyes'

Walking the trails around Lane’s I removed over a hundred BTM webs, hoping to keep the trail BTM-free this summer. I’ve included a few shots. The webs are kinda lovely in a way. Way ‘more funner’ to kill than look at.

 

When they are in webs the chances of getting the hairs and associated rash is less – some say even impossible, but I don’t like to push my luck on these kinds of things. Clip, soak, destroy, repeat. Go get ‘em! It’s the most wonderful time of the year. In a way.

 

 

british soldiers
photo by Linnell Mather

 

Sightings – Linnell Mather was kind enough to send in these photos from a recent visit up Calderwood Neck way. British soldier lichens, Woodpecker sign and red-belted conks. The quote from Linnell

 

red-belted conks
photo by Linnell Mather

‘The mosses were so green and vibrant …. add in the dots of red of the British soldiers, and I was one happy hiker.’

 

woodpecker sign
photo by Linnell Mather

Thanks for sharing Linnell!

 

pileated Woodpecker
Photo by Banner Moffatt

Pileated Woodpecker – (3/7) Banner Moffatt sent in this visitor to his place up Crockett Cove way. Banner mentioned he sees them every month or so. The story with Pileated Woodpeckers on island is increased presence and numbers on island when compared to the 2005 woodpecker census. Always fun to see, and fun to hear about others seeing them around the island!

 

Harp Seal circa '05, in Vinalhaven Harbor

More from Banner – (3/1) ‘the inlet where Drinking Place Creek dumps into Crocketts Cove freezes up solid in cold weather and in the middle of the ice, hundreds of feet from any land or unfrozen water was a seal’. What seals like to haul out on ice in winter along the coast of Maine? Harp Seals!

 

harbor seals

I’ve dusted off this blast from the past of a Harp Seal on ice in Vinalhaven Harbor back in 2005. Probably the coolest photo I have ever taken from my own yard.  But come to think of it maybe not.

Not necessarily an ‘every winter’ visitor to the island,  Harp Seals are hard to pick out in the water, but are easy to find on ice, when there is ice! I’ve seen Harp Seals on ice around the island in the harbor, Pleasant River and in the Basin. In years where the ice was ‘lacking’ Harp Seals have hauled out onto island beaches for rest. Anyway – great sightings Banner!

 

red necked grebe

Ferry rides – (3/9) – Ye Olde-tailed Ducks, red-necked Grebe, Black Guillemots, Razorbill, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Eider, Common Loons,

love that razorbill

female ye olde

you are as good as an otter
keep telling yourself that

 

Cool molting Common Loons

 

love the feet

And different looks as the Black Guillemots make their way ‘Back to Black’.

 

 

little preening action

this dude is just about ready to go

 

Mammals from the ferry. Harbor Seals! We love ‘em unless we don’t.

 

thats the look. 
the look of love

And finally after many winters of tracking river otters from the ferry I finally crossed paths with one (in the flesh). The results was just about the worst view of an otter I’ve ever gotten. I’ve included a crappy photo I took. But a bad look at an otter is better than no look for sure.

 

this guillemot sunk slightly before divng

In all honesty (refreshing, right?), I only saw the otter because it swam by a Loon that I was checking out. Another classic moment that proves/is evidence of the nature observation philosophy/law/’thing that happens’ ‘One thing leads to another’. Here’s the official wording.

 

Sure I am watching something (anything) at any particular moment, but as I am watching and appreciating I’m always looking to ‘upgrade’ my views if the opportunity arises.

 

ye olde gang

Just the way we roll. And an otter is an upgrade on a loon. Or at least you see them less? Let’s go with that. Add in the fact that the loon probably isn’t going anywhere. It was a fine choice to go with the otter, I may sound guilty but I feel no guilt.  

 

 

 

Lane’s – 3/9 – while dealing with Brown Tailed Moth webs on the trails I came across a few of these Goldenrod Ball Galls. The galls are made when a small spotted-winged fly (Eurosta solidaginis) lays eggs on goldenrod in May and June. The eggs then hatch and the fly larva burrows into the stem. The goldenrod then grows the gall around the fly larva, which will then overwinter inside the gall. In the spring the larva tunnel out of the gall, only to return inside the chamber to pupate. And then, finally, emerge as an adult the whole thing happens again. Sometimes. In a fly’s ‘perfect world’. I mean, it must happen, but the gall balls I see usually have been tampered with.

 

Such was the case here. The galls I found this time each had been pecked open and the chamber emptied by a bird. I have watched Chickadees work these galls open, but maybe this was the work of Yellow-rumped Warblers as I’m not sure how many chickadees make their way to the sections I found these at.

 

Either way, a tasty (judgment) larva meal for an overwintering bird on Lane’s. Where the treats are limitless…..

 

And we wish more things ate Brown Tailed Moth, we need more Cuckoos!

 

photo by Mike Windsor

Limited Editions.

Thanks Mike ! You da Man!

 

with Nanni

A Leif shot or two?

 

Buying Elden Ring

See you out there!

 

Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report

March 7 2022

 

Thanks to the support of VLT and MCHT – wouldn’t be here typing / you wouldn’t be here reading without their support!

 

And thanks to those who sent in photos and stuff!

 

‘Just looking out the window, minding my own business’ – Mike Mesko

 

 

Highlights – Cooper’s Hawk, Harp Seal, Tracking, Otter stuff, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cardinals, State Beach Report, winter mushrooms, and so much more

 

Business - PSA – just a reminder that it’s a wonderfully beautiful time to visit and experience the island trails. But be prepared! March is a transitional month, and snow and warm and cold and more snow (Sn + Wa + 0 + Sn) results in icy trails (= Ice) which can be unpredictable and if unpredicted a slip can turn into a fall and a fall unpredicted can be less than positive. So wear your spikes! Or at least bring them in your back pack to use (and use), just in case. In a pinch you can put those cramp-ons (worst name ever)  on and enjoy the outdoors. Just do what you can to not get hurt while still getting out there. Getting hurt while doing all you can do to not get hurt is better than getting hurt while not doing much/nothing – if you know what I mean. Meet the ice half way and bring/wear/use tools that give your footwear better teeth, better connectivity, better ‘standing’ when on the trails these days. Nothing wrong with being the first set of prints on a trail … and being safe.

 

Contact us – vinalhavensightings@gmail.com is your ‘sure shot, one stop’ email to share island nature and outdoor photos and experiences with others. No quicker way to becoming a legend than to send in a sighting or two and have others read and nod their heads in approval with what you have to say about what you saw. Run on sentences welcome!

 

Tiit trick – click on the photos to make them big, honor my father in the process.

 

coopers hawk with dove brand food
photo by Mike Mesko

Sightings – Old Harbor - Mike Mesko sent in these incredible photos of a Coopers Hawk mackin’ on a Mourning Dove in his (and Stevie’s) yard.  

 

photo by Mike Mesko

‘just looking out the window, minding my own business’ is the quote from Mike. Death outside the window reflects on a somewhat healthy ecosystem encouraged by a maintained feeding station.

 

The next morning Mike sent more photos of death/leftovers in the yard.

 

photo by Mike Mesko

You know you have a quality feeding station when it attracts predators. What an ecosystem out there.

 Thanks to the Meskos for sharing these photos and the experience! 

raccoon tracks
photo by Acacia Berg

Starboard Rock -   Acacia Berg, newly crowned as VLT’s Programs and Communications Coordinator of VLT, sent in these trail photos of a raccoon that worked its way up Starboard Rock for a portion.

 

Great ‘capture’ of a raccoon waddling trail pattern.

 

raccoon trail
photo by Acacia Berg

Raccoons move the front and hind foot on the same side of their body at the same time as they waddle. This results with an alternating front foot (smaller)/hind foot (larger) pattern as the trail goes.

 

5 harlequins
photo by John Drury

State Beach – (2/12) John Drury sent in this report - 5 harlequin ducks, 9 snow bunting, 5 purple sandpiper, Several red-breasted merganser,’ Common Eiders, Common goldeneye, Horned grebe, Great cormorant, Ye Olde-tale Ducks, Common loons, Great Black-backed & Herring gulls, Crows, Black Guillemots.

 

 

otters
photo by John Drury

Polly Cove/Bathing Pool - John Drury sent in this fantastic photo of otter tracks, trails and slides from the greater Polly Cove/Bathing Pool area.

 

This is an area of historic importance, and for the last few years (at least) signs of hefty use of an Zekes Point Peninsula crossing otter trail the via VLT’s Eleanor Campbell Preserve and the Bathing Pool area have been especially notable. Cuts through the heart of the preserve. Great photo!

 

Classic Sand Cove/Old Harbor Pond otter crossing – quick visit to an historic crossing provides just more evidence that otters are critters of habit and that makes them ‘super easy’.

 

When driving around the island last week I couldn’t help but notice the current otter trail/scene between Sands Cove and Old Harbor Pond. Sign of multiple otters passing through was evident/obvious, but possibly two groups – one with multiple individuals and then an individual otter also using the route/den along Old Harbor Pond shoreline.

 

Nice when the current matches historic, or at least overlays.

 

looking down on an otter den

So that’s 12 years (or this is the 12^th year – using the Gregorian calendar of course) of use for this route, as far as I observed. Undoubtedly started years earlier, whenever otters got established themselves on island.

 

There are different scattered reports from the early 2000s and 1990s (?). Certainly here before the first sightings. The island has a healthy population now, and still sightings are random and somewhat rare.

 

With a life span of 8-12 years, the island river otter population is on its (pick a number between 2-4) generation, let’s say. They are creature of habit, and this trail route (and many others around island, as well as latrines) are now on their 3^rd (+) (?) generation of users, otterly speaking.  

 

Makes things easier, just like snow. And for some reason I find that cool. Which it is.  

 

Singing around island – Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco

 

Who’s acting up around island – Ravens, Woodpeckers.

 

 

Lane’s Island – (2/10) Had a wonderful session with a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers as they fly-catched from the (invasive) Rosa regosa s over Lane’s Island beach.

 

Lane’s Island is the place to look for overwintering Yellow-rumpeds, as they are the only North American Warbler that can digest wax, and thusly can subsist on the heavily-waxed Bayberry fruit found on Lanes. Healthy and hefty bayberry population on lanes.

 

Warm(ish) winter days can inspire insect flights and the yellow-rumpeds are more than capable of supplementing their waxy diet with a binge of high protein insect morsels. What?

 

Anyway, on the 5^th of February, Dad’s birthday, Yellow-rumped Warblers were gorging themselves on whatever insect was on the beach scene.

 

Fly-catching, gleaning off beach and branch, and preening (gotta look good) happens fast on the beaches of Lane’s Island on a warm February afternoon. Probably happening right now, and probably way more comfortable to watch then when I did. Enjoy!

 

And in conclusion, it was fun to watch.

 

Orange Jelly mushrooms – with wet days mixing with warmer ones, it’s been quite the winter for mushrooms species that take advantage of such conditions (bad sentence). One such mushroom/fungal species is Orange Jelly, which is a species that one can count on/expect in most moist conditions/scenerios any time of the year. Their presence in winter is especially gratifying as often a wnintery landscape and weather leads to minimal or less observable nature activity.

 

There was an island visit in February where they (orange jelly) seemed especially numerous. So here is a photo gallery collection of undoubtedly the most important mushroom species of my life taking advantage of warm days on preserves on island.

 

enough of that

Hey – here are a couple of limited editions.

 

Great to spend time with my mom

 

Great to spend time with Leif.

 

Great to spend time with Palmer.

 

And looking forward to bumping into you in the woods!

 

See you out there!