MORE EXPLORING.......The full moon again drew me out to explore the shoreline. The tides were extremely low late in the afternoon, so there I was climbing on the shoreline looking for what ever was left exposed. I wasn't disappointed. I found 8 live Sanddollars and threw them all back into the water, though some were trying their best to submerge themselves in wet sand. I looked for Moon Snails, and spied something that looked promising. It looked like a round snail shell with a kelp holdfast attached to it. But it was the wrong color......too skin colored! Then I realized the holdfast was attached to a doll's head! I saw the doll's eye peeking at me as I took this picture. From the size of the kelp, you can see it must have been attached for quite some time. You never know......

I followed the shoreline and discovered some beautiful examples of what is called Bread Crumb Sponge. Yes, we do have live sponges growing in these Maine waters! Keep in mind, these are animals! They certaining aren't typical, but are quite common. These patches seemed unusually in tact and sizable. You might confuse an identification, thinking these must be some kind of plant since it is green. However, there is a symbiotic plant growing in the sponge tissue giving it the green color. Whenever I find this sponge, I look for Blood Stars since they like to eat it. I did not find one this time.

As the tides shifted to being low after dark, or too early in the morning, I turned to fresh water habitats for excitement. I had been wanting to hike on the ice at the beginning of the Sprague Pond trail, so that is where I headed. All of our ponds are now frozen with thick enough ice to hold cars, let alone me! I was the only human to trapse the ice in this area so I went out to check the beaver lodge that normally in other seasons is inaccessible except by boat. I walked right up to that housing which I believe to be inhabited, but saw no sign of life. These animals can leave the lodge and swim under the ice for some distance so I checked the shoreline for activity. Finding none, I spotted a few tracks that may have been made by a trapper. Which reminds me, I want to contact one of these guys and see if they will let me go along to see how and what animals they are trapping these days.

My interest in exploring iced over ponds led me to hike Center Pond this week. I waited until the weekend vehicles were off the ice, but used their tracks to make my way across the snow covered surface. I looked along the edges for beaver activity to no avail. I did have a "bingo" experience during one trek along the shoreline trail. I saw my first Snow Fleas in Maine! I used to find these readily in Connecticut, but here they were very near the shoreline of Center Pond! These are amazing creatures that seem to thrive in a snowy atmosphere. Looking closely.....I wished I had had a magnifying glass...one can see them hop about having a great old time! I may have just overlooked these creatures since they are so tiny. I have lots more to write about, including an Owl encounter and a Subaru commercial being filmed at the campground, so stay tuned.
2/28/08 Ronnie on ice.