Baby loon hatchlings could take first swim by July 4th

There has been more extreme weather across the country as 13 to 21 inches of rain hit the Panhandle of Florida and southern Alabama where thunderstorms stalled sucking in moisture from the ocean.

These storms are traveling up the east coast so by the time you read this some of that rain will be in this area.

There are more forest fires out west. The big one in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico and Arizona is still burning out of control.

New lightning strikes caused two large fires in Colorado, both with no control as of today (6/11).

Several homes are endangered as people keep building on those mountainsides so they can get better views.

When traveling through the state of Colorado the last couple of years I noticed an abundance of dead spruce trees that were affected by the spruce bud worm, so folks could have a long summer of fire fighting ahead of them.

In 1988, the year of the big fires in Yellowstone Park, snow fell through late May. It wasn’t long before the snow went away that the fires began.

Those fires lasted until the late September snows put them out.

It’s been a tad damp in this area but no gully washers so far. The Loon nests have stayed above water so far and a few have already hatched.

Most of the birds got on nests early and should have chicks on the water before the Fourth of July weekend.

Of all the birds I saw when I did my first nest check, I only had one pair that wasn’t on a nest.

The floating platform birds would have no problem with a big rainfall but some of the shoreline birds would probably go under.

They will add material to their nests but sometimes it just comes up too fast and the eggs are lost.

I went through the Plains yesterday and followed the bike tracks from the Black Fly Challenge Bike Race that had taken place the day before.

The road was hard and dry this year compared to last year’s muddy racetrack.

A saw tracks of a big Moose that had walked down the middle of the road for over a mile just past Lost Ponds and almost to Helldiver Pond.

I checked the pond just after daylight yesterday and did not see the Moose but I’m sure he will be back soon.

The Pond lilies are just starting to show their leaves on the surface of the pond, which is what he comes there for.

There were hordes of mosquitoes looking for a snack as I walked to the pond, and there were a few birds singing.

One was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher which was not far off the handicapped walkway.

I pulled some garlic mustard near the privy in the parking lot. Seeds that were dumped there in the gravel have grown several plants in the last couple of years.

As I went up to check the Loons at sunrise I noticed some swells on the Cedar River Flow. I was surprised that there were not many blackflies at the put-in.

Normally I have to wear my bug shirt but didn’t this time because there were so few flies.

The Loons were bill dipping not far from where they have nested the last couple of years but there was no nest yet.

I saw bands on both of these birds as they hung not far away from their proposed nesting area.

The Geese had been all over the area as their scat and feathers were everywhere.

The Pied-billed Grebes were calling all along the shoreline as were the Common Snipes.

A couple of fishermen came out from the north shore while I was looking for a nest. A small flock of seven Geese flew off.

It won’t be long and these Geese will be flightless for a few weeks.

The fishermen seemed to be catching something so I went over to see how they were doing.

They had a paddle in the water trying to retrieve something from the bottom.

It seems they had lost a reel off one pole and it was in sight but the bale was open and it was just peeling off line.

I suggested that since they could see it, that they put down a lure and hook the bale. Their first attempt was a charm as they got the reel back on-board.

They had caught only one brooktrout the night before. They said the water was alive with trout during the evening as there was a big hatch of green drake flies that they were gulping down.

If you had your porch lights on this week you might have seen Luna, Polyphemus or Cecropia Moths which have been out in big numbers.

Yesterday morning there was one under our outside light and I found three under one street light on the Limekiln Road.

They had been burned a little but I moved them to the side of the road so they wouldn’t get run over by a car.

The Chipping Sparrows and Juncos check out these areas looking for a morning snack.

When they are done all that is left behind is the wings of the moths.

Baby birds are popping out of nest everywhere, but that’s another story. See ya.