Outdoor Adventures with Gary Lee - Vol. 366

We went from summer to spring four or five times this week with temperatures near freezing up to and in the seventies a few times. We did get some rain but not any big thunderstorms. They were just over the hill the way it was booming. I those areas they got nearly two inches of rain, and we only got light rain on this side of the hill. Some of our Loon nests did get washed out or went under water in those heavy rain areas as the water came up so fast that the adults couldn’t keep the eggs above water. These were what you might call a gully washer out west and now we are getting them here in the east. I did have two inches of rain in my gauge a couple of times and water was gushing out of the pond drain.

Going to Utica early yesterday morning I dodged some wildlife. First on Limekiln Road a big snapping turtle was crossing the road by the Ole Barn as it must have been headed for a place to lay eggs. Then by the Fifth Lake Canoe Carry a pair of Mallards decided to cross the road male on one side and female on the other and I drove between them. Then in Old Forge one of the local deer decided to walk down the middle of the road and I drove around it. Then down below Okara Lakes another deer was just standing on the shoulder of the road, and it stayed there. I did see a Broad Wing Hawk cruise across the road about one hundred feet in front of me somewhere along the way. I did see a dead Barred Owl on the side of the road just before Okara Lakes that didn’t make it across the road during the nighttime. There is a lot of wildlife out and around and the flies have much of the wildlife on the move so be aware. Just last night as I was watching the Loons on Fifth Lake a small deer was right on the yellow line of the road licking up something it like and did not move as a truck pulled up. It was still in the road when I left as was the truck with its flashers on, they even tooted their horn and the deer never moved.

A week ago, while going over to North Creek I was stopped at the construction site on the outlet of Lake Durant. We got the green light and started across. Near the other end just after crossing the outlet a Woodcock was using the red light to take her three little ones across the road. Woodcock takes a few steps and squats down, get up and walk a few more steps and squat again. Mother and babies which were about three quarters grown with lots of downy feathers. They stopped traffic for a few seconds as they crossed to the other side. No photos as I was fourth in line, but it was neat to watch.

I got a neat photo from Tom Vawter and his wife Thea who are in Hawaii to see the volcanoes erupting. They were up in that area for most of the day and had no activity. They came back to their room and got a message that it was happening. They went back out and got some great photos. When Karen and I went for the first time there was some activity and lava was flowing across some of the roads going toward the ocean but no big activity.

Many of the local Loons are on nests and those who have lost their first nests will probably be renesting in a different spot. Since most of lakes in this area have a pair of or more of Loons nesting on the islands and some along the shoreline. If you see one of these nesting Loons, please stay away as if they get off the nest predators may come in and get the eggs and if they are off for a period of time as you are taking photos the eggs could get cold and not hatch. Some who didn’t lose their nests will have young before the end of the month or right around the fourth of July. If you see these Loons with young give them some space and take photos with a bigger lens not your cell phone close ups.

Off to Alaska with family but that’s another story. See ya.

Photo above: Volcano eruption by Tom Vawter