Spring Day on Aziscohos

One of the nice things about having mountains in your backyard is that you can go hike anytime you get the itching for it. So a trip out to Wilsons Mills and up Aziscohos Mt. Elevational differences in Maine's western mountains is wild. At Rangeley, (elevation 1518') it's at least 2 weeks behind Farmington (elevation 480'). Wilsons Mills (at the trailhead for the trail is 1730') and the Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium) is in bloom, trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is out and the trilliums are bloomed. In Rangeley we only have trilliums in bloom. Aspens are out in both locales.

Black flies are hideous out to Wilsons Mills, just getting underway in Rangeley.

On top, a stiff breeze kept the blackflies at bay, while it made for some good acrobatics for s couple of mourning cloaks, the commas kept lower. While sitting watching the view,(Mt Washington was very clearly visible and remarkably I believe Katahdin was also spotted. A perfect day.

A trio of bald eagles soared overhead and then in habitat that I didn't expect it, a tiger beetle showed up.No sand, just spruce-fir trees and bare rock, scrub, lichens and moss. He was pretty, green head,thorax and abdomen, and bronzy elytra. Maculations were just dots, 4 I believe.

Maine Butterfly Survey

On Saturday I attended the Maine Butterfly Survey's workshop at Colby College in Waterville,Maine. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, along with UMF and Colby College, and a few other agencies support and run this annual survey to establish what species of butterflies and where they are located in the state. Up until now we really don't know what we have and this project is helping to fill in the gaps.
Today, I spent some time to go over some maps and plan my survey spots. I have 7 stops, and a couple of other places I'll check when I can get to them. One I will be hitting is Bigelow Mt, which I will be able to do when I do the Mountain Birdwatch this June. I hope to make another trip there later in the summer. I also have the summit of Saddleback Mt , (just outside of Rangeley), on my list.
It should be very interesting, can't wait to get started.

Snow

Front finally moved through last night. Temps dropped down to 36f (2 C) and snow was on the mountains from 2500 ft and higher.

Name the Bird.

This should be interesting. Three photos of three birds. Name them. And one hint, two are the same.

Dung Beetles on NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103775784

Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle

C. longilabris

Taken from the same spot as the outhouse. So far this year this one will make 4 species of Cicindela from one spot. This place is crazy with them. And solitary bees. I also was found by my first blackfly of the season. Don't listen to their "season". They stay until freeze up.

Porcupine & the Outhouse

A few years ago, the local boy scouts got a little more interest and the place they use as their campground needed some "improvements". I could editorialize a bit and say how the interest won't last, and the idea of Boy Scout improving a campground isn't really the best, but it willcause someone angst, so I'll stop.A new outhouse was built, which the local red squirrels and deer mice found useful. They shredded the toilet paper left over winter. A year or so later, the porcupines found it and due to the sodium content of the plywood, porcupines like to gnaw it. As you can see they are good at what they do.

Last summer, I was riding my bike and stopped by, it's a great place for birds, tiger beetles and critter tracks. It's located along a river and in the middle of a spruce-fir forest, with a closed bog. Anyway, I heard a noise, walking around I came to the outhouse and a porcupine blissfully munching. I was able to walk to within 10 feet of him. The camera was back in my jeep. The area outside the door is littered with quills and scat.