This was one of the best weeks of the year both weather- and scenery-wise. It’s unfortunate if you missed it. The fall colors have been spectacular with many brilliant reds and yellows and refraction pictures everywhere you look across the waterways.

I took a trip today down to my sister’s camp on Kelm Pond, north of Warrensburg. (It’s called Kellum Pond on the map.) It was the first time I ever saw this pretty little body of water and the leaves there were super.

Their camp is one of three on the south side of the pond, which was well shaded by big hemlocks. It’s a beautiful camp that was built in the late 1800’s and remodeled a few times since.

I built them a loon platform because the beavers flooded out the loon nest that was there this year. They have never had chicks on the lake so this might do the trick.

One of the ponds in Pack Forest had loon chicks this summer and they are just across the road.

There were lots of leaf peppers out and about both on my way there and back. Cameras were out and clicking at most rest areas or vistas along the highway.

That’s what fall is all about—who can get the most red and yellow in one shot.

One of the prettiest shots for the last few years has been the bay opposite the Seventh Lake Boat launch.

There were super reds on the landscape and refracting off the waters of the bay in the fog this morning as the sun was coming over the treetops. Several people stopped to catch this scene.

I stopped at the Ice Meadows, north of Warrensburg, to find some Butterfly weed seeds.

I had collected some seeds there several years ago and there were still a few plants with seedpods not far from the river.

This plant is in the milkweed family so the deer don’t eat it. Neither of my plants came up this year, so I figured I would get some new seeds.

Some of the pods had already popped open and the seeds had blown away while others were still green.

I got some that were partially open and brought them home. I looked for some plantain plants that used to grow along the trail there, but there was so much white pine reproduction I couldn’t find them.

I also collected a few acorns to stick in the ground around Eight Acre Wood. I’ve got several red oaks growing on the property now.

The leaves are falling. With just a little wind and rain many of the trees will be gray for the winter.

Down at the pond the wind was blowing the maple leaves across the water like little sailboats.

The loons in the Adirondacks are all getting together for an Adirondack Loon Celebration on Sunday, October 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Paul Smith’s College VIC.

Admission is free and events that day include a loon field trip, Loon presentation, Merriloons the Clown, music, food and kids games, loon quilt raffle, silent auction and reception, and a loon calling contest.

Tickets for the loon quilt raffle are available at: adkloon.org.

The NYS Migratory Game Bird Hunting seasons and regulations are out.

All migratory bird hunters must register with New York’s Harvest Information Program (HIP.)

For a HIP number call 1-888-427-5447 or visit NY.HIP.com.

A duck stamp is also required to hunt these birds. These are $15 and can be ordered by calling 1-800-852-4897 or visiting the website www.duckstamp.com. Not all post offices carry them.

The duck season for this area, the Northeast Zone, runs October 5 through13 and October 26 through December 15. Limit per day is six.

The Canada Goose season runs October 26 through November 17 and November 19 through December 15 with a three per day limit.

The Snow Goose Season runs October 1 through April 15 with a limit per day of 25.

Brant season runs October 5 through November 3 with a limit per day of two. Woodcock season runs October 1 through November 14 with a three per day limit.

Get out and enjoy the joys of hunting some of these tasty game birds. If you have a retriever—all the more fun you will have.

Still another week of fall fishing for brooktrout, but that’s another story. See ya.