Bear?

I thought at first this scat was fresh. It is not, but it is definitely new this spring. And it is quite close to the house.

Kayak Trip on Saranac River

Today I paddled from the boat launch on Second Pond down the Saranac River to the lower locks and then went down Cold Brook on the way back. Unfortunately, there was a spruce tree down across the brook just 10 minutes downstream that completely blocked the way.

Partridgeberry (Mitechella repens) in the Rubiaceae

The "berry" will actually contain the fruits of both flowers in the pair.

They're Baaack

We seem to be on the regular route of mama and her twins. I just have to be up at 6:30 AM to see them.

Kayak Trip on Follensby Clear

Took a kayak trip with Cindy B today. We did a relaxed explore of Follensby Clear Pond and then went down the creeks into Fish Creek Bay. There were a fair number of motor boats going to and from Upper Saranac.

Feathered Friends

Raquette Pond

I took a solo kayak trip today, trying out my new mechanism for carrying the boat inside the car. It worked fine. I put in at Setting Pole Dam and went down the west side of Raquette Pond - a round trip of about 7 miles. I didn't see a lot of wildlife but a fisherman I met near the spot where I turned around told me he had seen a black bear and cub in that area last week. There is lots of shallow water, as marked on the map, with lots of interesting plant life. There are huge white water lilies just starting to bloom and abundant pickerelweed.

Brrrrrrr....

It may be June, but it was 40 degrees here in the North Country this morning. Since we have LOTS of wood to burn, I built a fire in our wonderful wood stove to take the chill off.

In the wildlife department, I watched a very patient doe and her rambunctious twins wander (or bounce in the case of the fawns) through the woods early this morning .

An Abundance of Squirrels

We have lots of red squirrels -- or more likely, one that races around at great speed and masquerades as several.

There just has to be a way to get at the bird seed at the top of this pole.

I saw a new creature when I looked out to see what the red squirrel was making a fuss about. A huge black squirrel had wondered into its territory, also eyeing the birdseed.

How do they do it?

How does this tiny bird find a feeder in the middle of the woods?

Moocher

This fellow has a burrow right under our bird feeder, guaranteeing we'll never have an errant sunflower plant.

Wildlife

Saw the following while kayaking on the flow today:

• Great blue heron - flew right by the kayak
• Red-winged blackbird
• Kingfisher
• Black duck
• Tree swallow
• Barn swallow
• Deer on the shore

Rock Hugger

Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis montana)

Foxglove (Digitalis)

I planted a "shady garden mixture" last year and now I have foxgloves. Yeah! How can a plant so pretty be so poisonous? I guess that is what has kept the deer away.

Back to Camp

Back to our camp in the woods for the summer.