Cluster flies,oaks and hawthorns.

I see it's been a while since my last post. Too much going on, not enough time outside. We've had a few days of snow, and after each storm it melts over the next few days. he leaves are long gone, and as usual November keeps us guessing about what the winter will be like.

One of the reasons I haven't been out is taking care of my mother. Waves of dementia and the trials of Parkinson's makes getting out hard, and when I do get out the only thing I can do is just walk. I can also use the excuse of there's not much going on outside that gets my attention.

A while ago,I was out before sunrise walking with one of my cats and in the early morning gloom I saw a large-ish bird fly by. You don't normally see birds flying at that time of the morn, so I really started paying attention. Rupert was hanging back about 20 feet, and as I turned  I saw the bird circling and kind of swooping towards him. I turned my flashlight on and then I could see a barred owl.  Now Rupert is bigger than the owl, but the barred has longer talons, and I didn't want to take any chances.

The coyotes have been quite vocal this fall. They don't sound like your garden variety, Hollywood coyotes. They sound like demons. Having them let loose only feet from the house will waken you faster than being shot up with adrenaline. I keep wanting to record them, but it's not easy. And they keep tearing apart my compost pile. Rotten fruit seems to get their interest. Just what we need, buzzed coyotes.

We are having our yearly infestation of cluster flies. It can put the Amityville Horror to shame. Cluster flies are parasitic to earthworms and originally come from Europe. In the fall they like to seek out warm places to overwinter and houses work out very well. Too well.

Rangeley is just outside of the range of oaks in Maine. There are plenty of them down at Small's Falls, about a dozen miles away, but past there, nothing. But we do have some that had been planted in town, and if you look carefully enough, you may find an errant sapling. So I would say 1500' above sea level at 45 degrees north is  too much for them. But I know someone will make me a liar, but that's biology for ya. I only mention oaks because their leaves are still hanging,in other words they are on my radar.

But the hawthorn, well that is a surprise. I haven't seen any in the area and walking by the field last apring, I saw this plant,well,shrub that looked out of place. It's only a foot high, you wouldn't even notice it with all of the grass around it.  I may contact Arthur Haines and see what he thinks.

That's about all I can come up with for now. Snow and rain is in the forecast for here this week,maybe I will get out and post some photos soon.