Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

Hello all. Over the past week, I've been getting settled in up in Saco, ME and I'll be sharing a little bit about what life is like at the moment. I'm living literally 100 feet from Ferry Beach and it is an amazing resource. The beach provides splendid views of the surrounding coastline and represents the longest stretch of sandy beach in Maine! When I headed out yesterday morning to look for some wintering water birds, I didn't expect there to be so much mist. The clouds and cold temperatures had decided to bequeath us with a sprinkle of snow and as a result, the surrounding beach and ocean was veiled in translucent mist. The view south towards Camp Ellis and the jetty. With the spitting snow obscuring the camera lens and binoculars alike, I strained to make out the black, gray, and white blobs bobbing in the surf beyond. Fortunately, the light gave way to dozens of waterfowl and other water birds diving for clams and other molluscs in the surf below. Black ( M

"Yeah, but do we need 'em?", the whiny Manchestrian asked. "What chu mean?!", exclaimed Ricky Gervais on another old episode of their XFM podcasts that in recent weeks have been entertaining me as I wait for my seasonal camp work to begin once again. "Jellyfish", continued the Manchestrian, "do we need 'em?" This conversation between Karl Pilkington (the Manchestrain in question and reluctant star of the Idiot Abroad T.V. series), Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais (the co-creators and writers of the original Office ) continued to ferment as they discussed the nigh uselessness of jellyfish to humans and whether there would be a substantial difference to the planet if they were mysteriously spirited away. After calling an unsuspecting scientist and recording the conversation, Pilkington groused to his fellow commentators that apparently there would be a noticeable difference and that they would have to stay. What Pilkington was ge

For the past few days here in Sudbury, we've been experiencing a warming trend that has been welcomed by us snow weary denizens. On Wednesday we even managed to crack 60 degrees Fahrenheit! However, some people might be skeptical that Mother Nature is luring us back into a false sense of security only to hit us with a surprise Nor'easter or other terrible frozen affliction. Despite those possible outcomes, I'm starting to see signs of creatures and Nature herself releasing the world from its snowy blanket. The most obvious signs have been the melting snow. I've never been more excited to seen ground and dead grass, so much so that I scarcely think that I will be again. Other plants have captured my attention as well. Recently I've been reading parts of two books about trees for my new job that will be starting in a few days up in Saco, Maine. Both books emphasize the importance of identification within the context of recognizing those species by appearance and h