Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report – January 21, 2020

Brought to you with the support of VLT and MCHT – Thanks to both organizations!

Another in the series of blips

 

old tail ducks

 

 

Highlights – Snowy Owl, otter trails, ferry ride, red and white-winged crossbills. Everything really

 

 

 

Contact us – with all the observable nature stuff going on around Vinalhaven it feels good to have a safe place where you can unload and share your sightings with other humans. Send your photos, sightings and whatnots to vinalhavensightings@gmail.com . The place to be really, and to share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSA – Hey – be careful on the trails these days! Ice is a common occurrence – “ice happens!” – be aware and take things slow! Grippy, spikey boot bottoms can be helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

snowy owl and excavator
photo by Kerry Hardy

 

 

 

 

Sightings – VLT Steward Kerry Hardy was kind enough to send in this photo he took of a Snowy Owl while checking boundaries at VLT’s Watershed Preserve. The preserve borders Louds Quarry, which is not open to the public and Kerry was able to take this photo of the Snowy in its classic habitat – near an excavator! With all the forested habitat around the quarry, its classic the snowy picked where it did to perch. Quarry is more like the tundra than the spruce forest! Thanks for sharing Kerry!

 

 

river otter takes to the road
photo by Banner Moffat

 

 

 

 

Otter trails and tracks – Banner Moffat sent in these photos of a River Otter trail and a set of tracks he came across up Crockett Cove way. Great detail on the set of tracks, and the belly slides the otter made are clearly seen even with the tire tracks cutting through the scene. I’m guessing the otter was on the road! Very cool – winter is a great time to learn about the river otters in your neck of the woods!

 

nice set of otter tracks
photo by Banner Moffat



 
 
 



Ferry ride – 1/14/20 – 8:45 from Rockland – nice ride with lots to see. Old tail ducks stuck out today, lots in flight and lots to see. Otter prints and activity easily seen from the ferry, right outside the classic under stump den on Lairey’s island.

Lairey's Island, always worth checking for otter sign from the ferry

 

otter tracks coming out of the water (bottom center)
 visiting a latrine (top left)
and heading to the local den (right)

 

 

river otter tracks in the middle of this phoo

 

 

more old tails

 

 

 

Seal Bay – spent a couple of days working on Seal Bay. Lots of Red Crossbills (broken record, I know!) and Common Goldeneye to be found.  Pileated Woodpeckers were around and loud and their sign – holes in trees – was a common sight.

 

 

raccoon print in Seal Bay marsh mud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pileated holes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

six spotted fishing spider on the ice in St George

Off island – a couple of shots of stuff on the ice in the marsh in St George.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

new lodge and recently open waters

 

 

 

 

Beaver activity above the ice in January – I have not observed that on Vinalhaven or in St George other winters. This particular den appears to have been worked on after the (1/16) snow, but before the deep freeze the next day (1/17). I took this photo of (1/18). This is a new den for the marsh. Fun.  

 

 

 

cool new den!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s some recents of Leif – sledding and belly sliding – this kid knows how to have fun!