LO THE VOLE!
The calendar has said spring has sprung, and we are getting some proof of that pudding. Melting is occurring and that spells doom for some creatures. Here is a Vole that may have been flooded out of its tunnel under the snow. This is the second vole that has been brought to my doorstep, probably by a neighbor's cat. I've left it out hoping to lure a hawk to finish off the remains. Otherwise, I may let nature take its course and save its bones. These animals are active in winter. Their fur coat does a nice job of retaining heat. I think the last time I saw Vole bones were found in an owl pellet! Those birds will eat 2 or 3 a day. Voles are omnivores, eating both plant material and insects, fungi and carrion. They also practice coprophagy, a new word for me. Like rabbits, hares and beavers, these animals re-ingest their feces to absorb more of the nutrients! Voles are important links in the food chain between grasses and carnivores and birds of prey. Bow down to the lowly vole!

Now that the Vole is off my chest, I will get to some signs of spring up here in Maine. I've heard Red Winged Blackbirds, and seen Robins. The male Goldfinches are starting to get more yellow plumage. A Great Blue Heron soared overhead, fighting the recent winds. Those winds have been fierce, but the benefit is a drying affect. Our mud is disappearing, thank goodness. I continue to look and listen for frogs, but they remain silent. The warmth has not penetrated deep into the ground. I tried digging in the garden and hit ice! There is still some ice on most ponds, though not walkable! I have been keeping an eye on a patch of crocuses over at West Point and they finally opened in the warmth of the sun.

On recent walks at the campground, I've had a few interesting observations. I followed a trail from one of the sites behind the dunes and came upon a deer foot! There were several bone shards and a piece of scat as clues to who left it there. A coyote might take a small deer, but the whitish scat looked too small for them to leave as evidence...see the scat to the right in the picture below. Perhaps a fox had grabbed a foot to eat? I looked around for more body parts, to no avail, but shall continue to look.

One sure sign of spring was coming upon two mating Red Squirrels. They were so busy that I was able to take pictures. (Not sure if this is suitable material for including here?). I also saw a crow flying with nesting material in his beak. A Bald Eagle has reclaimed a nest along Route 1 between Bath and Brunswick. My niece witnessed a tom Turkey displaying for a disinterested hen, as seen in her picture below. Turkeys are more numerous in Phippsburg these days.

I shall continue to look for signs of spring, but have a mystery rock for you to identify.......at least its location. I came upon this huge square rock with a small backrest. Do you know where it is located? I would like you to climb up for a picture or two on this giant. Maybe we could serve snacks from this stand-up table! A prize awaits the one who locates this rock!

Easter is on our doorstep and I have some fun pictures to share for that event. We may be heading down to Connecticut for a short while, but I'll let you know when that happens since my writings will be on hold for a while.

3/31/07 Goodbye March! Ronnie