Bob's Summer Journal: September 24 to 30, 2004

September 24 we spent the night on the land and I was up at six in the morning and though it was quite dark, I headed for the First Pond. I heard coyotes in the far distance. As I came up to the Teepee Pond, a beaver splashed. I continued on to my chair next to the First Pond and sat tight. I soon saw beavers angling toward me. I was splashed twice and each time I saw smaller slashes around the cache as the kits dove for cover. But as usual the alarm didn't take. Beavers stayed in the pond. At one time, two were circling in front of me and another was
over in the Teepee Pond. An adult or a yearling kept an eye on me too. And once again a large beaver swam up right below me and dove into the burrow below me. And once I couldn't determine if it swam out the other side or simply called it a night and made that burrow its den. Finally there was enough light for the camcorder. I tried to avoid videoing the seemingly constant crisscrossing of the pond and focused on activity when there were two beavers or three beavers near each other. However it is the crisscrossing that I find most perplexing. For example why does one kit always come to the bank just to my left, sometimes diving into a burrow and sometimes only pausing and then swimming back toward the main lodge. Perhaps that area below me was an old feeding station where it had grown accustomed to finding
something to nibble, and then it goes over to the cache in front of the main lodge. I frequently saw two kits nibbling close together at the cache, but as far as I could tell, they never interacted, hardly seemed aware of the other's presence. How
different beaver kits are from otter pups who spend the first nine months of their life constantly playing -- an advantage to being raised a predator. A yearling or adult beaver brought a sapling up from the Teepee Pond and two other beavers swam after it, which I thought might lead to some interesting by play, but the working beaver simply continued on diving into the auxiliary lodge, and the two others peel off to look at me. One even splashed. Kits did individually interact with adults, and twice I saw kits take sticks up to the auxiliary lodge imitating adults who preceded them with large branches. Despite frequent alarms at my presence, a kit climbed up on the shore about ten feet to my right, unfortunately concealed by the honeysuckle bushes so I couldn't tell if it was eating grass or had a twig to nibble.
Later I found a tiny twig in a tiny hole in the bank revealing water below. Then I was treated to the beaver's greatest testimony of feeling comfortable. An adult came up on shore at the feeding area to the right of the lodge and began grooming itself.

It quite lost itself in the process with repeated preening of the belly folds and repeated neat scratching with the huge back paw. Then of a sudden, and when I didn't have the camcorder on it, the beaver slipped into the water. I assumed it got a whiff of me, but it did not exhibit any alarm. It dove a couple times around the cache and came up with something to nibble. Beavers seen to have a switch that prompts them to move and go do something else. Indeed often they go and do what a beaver near them had been doing. A kit had been nibbling the cache while the adult was grooming. Although I probably saw the beavers more than I have on other mornings, I got a sense that I was seeing fewer beavers than usual, I think there are three kits, but I've never seen three together. The beaver did its grooming at 8am when the beavers usually retire for the day. And after it went into the lodge, another beaver came out to browse the cache pile. I should mention that the kits especially seemed eager for the leaves.

In the first light of dawn there was a bit of green in the cache, but when I left it was almost all bare twigs. I didn't hear as much humming today -- one brief episode. Also one kit had a few fits of ear twitching and scratching, as it
swam. I had my own fits with the mosquitoes who have come back with a vengeance with the return of warm weather -- a string of days in the 70s and 80 today. Later in the day I came back to see if the beavers took advantage of the poplar log that I tossed in the valley pond. They had and I think it was mostly stripped and near the lodge.

The mosquitoes continued to be daunting even in the light of day, so, fatigued from the morning battle, I didn't walk around much. Some birds made a brief appearance during my morning vigil. A kingfisher flew low and cackling over the pond and I think even made one of the beavers cruising along dive into the pond. And two grouse burst out of the brush behind me, I think, after they woke up and were shocked to find me there.

September 25 at the land this morning we talked to the guy from the lumber yard who brought the boards for the addition to our cabin. We are going to let him hunt deer on our land and I told him not to bother the beavers. He expressed displeasure at hunters who kill other things, saying "a lot of guys are shooting otters in St. Lawrence County because the price for pelts is so high." Of course this is illegal but he said getting a pelt tagged as trapped is easy -- a bit of super glue can cover over the bullet hole. I checked the Deep
Pond while waiting for the delivery and noticed more scats around the muskrat hole.

Nothing else seemed new but I didn't look hard.

I took a tour of the state park ponds around 2:30 pm, going via the meadow behind the golf course, which is finally completely dry. We have not had any rain in a while. I flushed some grouse and a deer up in the woods, then another deer out of the brush. I sat around my usual rocks overlooking the woods skirting the first swamp area. My head was in the shade below a rock and I heard something on the other side and looked up to see a deer peering down at me. I didn't have my camera ready so I could just wonder why such a young thing - fawn coat turning spotless dull brown, could have a few stray gray whiskers. It climbed on up the rocks. Going along the Double Lodge Pond shore I noticed the beaver path went farther up the hill, and it seemed the beavers were looking for ash or elm and
ignoring the many bushes, but the path merged into an old deer path. I checked the otter latrine next to the Big Pond dam, and found not scats there. Grass had been matted down a bit, but I suppose by raccoons. The dam is in good shape, still leaking a bit where the beavers let it. The lodge looks like it has been packed a bit with mud and some large logs are propped up on it.

That, with the well repaired dam and harvesting below the dam bodes well for the winter, but they suddenly left late last fall to go upstream. They also haven't touched the elm and ash they cut off in the woods on the way to the Lost Swamp. However, before I headed up there, I spied one closed gentian.

The Lost Swamp was swarming with geese (I think these are the last days of the September goose hunt.) They moved gingerly away up pond

and I settled down hoping to see otters. I did some rather black ducks, but once one large gaggle of geese settled on the far lodge where I expected to see otters,... Not seeing them and the talk about otter shooting made me rather
glum, added on was no sign of beavers preparing any of the lodges for the winter, and no humming. But as has often happened just when I was about to give up hope, actually ruing that the otters not used the "mossy cove" latrine,

there was fresh scat and quite smelly.

Plus there was a bit of pawing in the ground. After taking photos, I plopped right down because if there were only two otters, they could easily be snoozing on the other sides of the beaver lodges. I waited a half hour for them to appear, in vain. As I walked around the pond toward the dam, I saw three small scats on the north shore slope. I walked up and over the trail to the Second Swamp Pond, passing what looked like a stunted single aster in the shade.

The pond had drained down to pools and the upper part was virtually dry.

Still there was new otter, almost fresh, on a log next to the mud of the drained pond.

The close of one of the scats reveals the head of an insect or a rather small crayfish.

I went back to the Lost Swamp Pond hoping to see activity to match at the rolling area there, but the otters had evidently not been there. Then the game was to get up to the dam with out spooking the many geese, at least 75 of them. I walked about ten steps at a time, and when the debate among the geese picked up, I stood still. One gaggle of eight flew off noisily, perhaps indicating the geese still make some decisions family by family. There was nothing new at the dam, but a bent mullein flower -- and evidence that the beavers are still keeping it repaired. The small Upper Second Swamp Pond is full, the dam puissant. So obviously the beavers are still there, but they didn't do anymore work on the ash they had cut, which means they had only cut one small branch. In the mud along the stream down
to the Second Swamp Pond there was a riot of otter prints.

When I had first come down to this depleted pond, five herons flew up from the pools of remaining water. As I crossed the upper dam, a sixth heron flew off. I didn't any otters as I walked down the south shore of the long pond, or former pond. I was able to see the channels that the otters and beavers I had watched for three years had used.

Several years ago this pond dried out most summers but there were fewer channels then. The beavers have done a bit of work.

As I approached the bank lodge I could smell fresh otter scats.

I soon noticed that the rolling area in the dirt that had been separated from the latrine was now where the otters had been scatting.

It was hard to tell how fresh the scats were. And I smelled scats all around the lodge. I walked down on the old pond bottom and saw scats,

then turned around and saw more scats. So I should have come out on my birthday. I may have missed an otter riot. Evidently the pond became especially interesting once it stopped draining out and all the remaining fish were confined to diminishing pools. I was on my way to the dam then I noticed that there was a trail of otter prints heading up a dry channel pointing to the East Trail Pond.

Assuming I would be back at dawn to watch this pond and could check the dam then, I headed for the East Trail Pond. As I came down the ridge trail to the pond, I saw a fresh scat on a scent mound. There was much scratching along the trail and then as I got down to the pond and saw huge smears of scat on two rocks and more on the grass.

It is hard to picture the two families of two otters doing all of this. Of course, I saw and watched the pond and it remained as placid and confined as it has been all summer. The yellow carpet of burr marigold has dulled. On the way home I checked the New Pond knoll and the latrine by the path and creek. There were no otter scats there, I saw a small buck, six points, on the TI Park trail.

September 26 I was up at 6 am and rode the bike to the park gate; none too soon because the dawn came quickly. I paused to see which way the light wind was blowing. It seemed a bit from the north which made sense because a weak cold front had come through. But my plan was to go to the East Trail Pond first
because that seemed to be where they had been last. And while by approaching the Second Swamp Pond from that way I'd have my back to the wind, I would also have the only adequate viewing platform up on the knoll. At the foot of the East Trail I heard two barred owls. There was a good bit of bird chatter, scattered and topped
by the blue jays' screeching. It was quite light when I got up above the East Trail Pond and I couldn't blame not seeing otters on the fog or shadows. I sat briefly but knew I had to go to the sun drenched Second Swamp Pond in case it was the bright of day which prompted the otters to move on from that little fishery. As I came up over the knoll, I saw in an instant that otters were right before me. Focusing on that I didn't sense how many herons flew off or what else what might be happening. I got my camcorder ready and focused on the two otters... I expected more but as they swam next to the lodge right below me, I saw a familiar mother and pup.

They paused near the lodge where I couldn't see them. Then left. I moved down the knoll in time to see them trotting up the slight ridge toward the East Trail Pond. Before following them, I looked for other critters in the pond. No
otters, but there was a family of raccoons wading deeply into the water the otters had just swum through.

The otters were chirping and it crossed my thought they might have been alarmed at the raccoons. Then the raccoons got in great alarm over me and fled. So I think the otters sensed me. Back at the East Trail Pond, all was quiet. I
waited 15 or 20 minutes for otters to show and they didn't. I went to the Lost Swamp Pond via the Second Swamp Pond dam. The Second Swamp Pond was so low that I could walk gingerly behind the dam avoiding the softer mud by tiptoeing on drying grass.

There was less scat along the dam than I expected. The best fishing is beside the lodge. And the pool behind the dam was rather small. However, I did see some scat and prints all over with otter prints mixed in with the raccoon. The dam is still leaking but I didn't see from exactly where. I still fancy that it would be short work for a beaver to patch the dam. The problem with going to the Lost Swamp at dawn is that the sun rises right over the pond and shines and reflects right into your eyes. The light does highlight wakes and I soon saw one heading
to the northeast corner of the pond and I saw ripples around the dam. I saw the beaver swimming up with my spyglass and crept from tree to tree, for the shade as much as the cover, to get closer to the critter by the dam. Then I saw a beaver at the lodge in the middle of the pond, and it carried material up on top of the lodge. So I think the beavers are staying there. I finally got close enough to the dam to see a beaver diving and patching. Then it swam toward me to the rolling area. I was on rock so could move closer and try to get video of it eating grassy vegetation
on the shore right below me. When it went back into the water I was sure it sensed me, but it swam on back to the lodge

seeming to dive into it, but it surfaced on the other side of it. Then I saw a wake coming quickly down from the far end. As that beaver approached the lodge near the dam, the beaver there swam quickly enough to make a huge wake. Then I saw two critters swimming down, and I checked to make sure they weren't otters. But they were beavers, one big and one small, and then the other beaver, also small, swam toward them and soon two beavers were diving together. And one small beaver swam on to the lodge in the middle of the pond. Then a few minutes later, a small beaver swam out of the lodge toward the dam lodge, and the small beaver there swam out to meet it. Soon they were nose to nose, humming, and diving together. Unlike the kits at the First Pond on the land, these beavers apparently enjoyed playing. Then they broke up each going back toward the lodge they came from. Of course, I kept entertaining suspicions -- what if it was more of a fight and there are two distinct groups of beavers in the pond. And what happened to the big beaver, did it go over the dam? Soon I saw the big beaver swimming up pond again and the small beaver swam away directly into the lodge where there was evidently no
commotion when it swam in. So these old friends are still all here and simply adjusting their hours -- less out in the evening and spending longer mornings in the pond. Of course, I kept scanning for otters, but none appeared. I went back along the
south shore of the Second Swamp Pond and crows were active, one heron flew off, and I saw one raccoon. A clarifying dawn.

September 27 I took a tour of South Bay in the kayak, getting out just before the sun glare became blinding. A half dozen mallards were statuesque lumps on the rock beside Goose Island. Otherwise there were few birds, with one exception. One large gull on the shoal off the headland, two herons at their
usual stations along South Bay, but I should note that a marsh on the TI Park shore of the bay has become a popular place to stalk for fish. However, the redwing blackbirs are back in the marsh, and since the cattails out in the water have turned brown,

it is like spring all over again, though not that cold. While the bird activity seems to be winding down, the insects abound in their perplexing variety: small damselflies, a tiny flealike flying insect, a black flying insect like a gnat, a flying insect a bit larger with golden wings, something that struck me as a small crane fly dipping in the water. Aphids still mass on the lily fronds, but the bees seem to be gone. I was struck by two snails climbing a cat tail stalk.

I saw a few of the same snails on lily pads, but no more climbers. The beaver continues to prepare its lodge for winter. I would like to see this beaver, or perhaps there are two. It seems to be biting less of the willows around the bay and cutting more of the trees on shore behind the lodge. I had fewer
eruptions of water caused by escaping bullheads, but I did see quite a few very small minnows. I paddled past a few painted turtles on logs. Seeing so many critters holding onto the habits of the gentle season is reassuring as the cold approaches.

September 29 I headed off to check the ponds at 4:30 and first went to the Big Pond via the TI Park trail. The wind was brisk from the east with bright sun and cool temperatures, perfect for watching critters, but there was not
much to be seen. I spied a lump far up pond in the spy glass and it turned out to be a female mallard with what appeared to be the last duckling of the season swimming around it. The dam has stopped leaking after so many days without rain. The beavers
still tend the dam but no sign of a cache at the lodge. I had to dodge soem future snow makers that were clouding up.

The geese were gone from the Lost Swamp Pond and at first the only thing to be seen was a duck far up pond, dozing with its beak tucked in its back. Then three male wood ducks flew into the pond and I could see their striking plumage. A smaller female join them, her duller feathers redeemed by her bright eyes. Of course, when I moved they flew off. At the mossy cove latrine there were some large rolls of raccoon scat.

I think there was a bit more otter scats, nothing major or very fresh. As I walked around the end of the pond, I heard some mammalian screeching and since it seemed to come from up in a tree, I suspected porcupines and soon saw that
I was right. Two of them were high up in a tree and both of them were crawling back down the tree, tail first. It looked like a simple operation as the one I could see best made steady progress down the tree and the other seemed to be the aggressor, though I couldn't get a good view of it. Then the first one stopped, and the supposed aggressor continued past easing down the tree backward, down to the ground and over the hill. The one still in the tree gained a perch on a large limb.

All his happened in a huge maple. I didn't see any new otter scats at the north slope latrine, but the trail looked freshly used. I followed it over the ridge and did find two large new scats on a log a bit up from the shore.

These scats were grayish again befitting rooting around in the dirt. I could walk out further on the now dry pond and saw the otter tracks in the mud.

Then it was back to the Lost Swamp where I did find confirmation that otters had been there, three new good sized scats at the old rolling area latrine.

I also saw a swath in the grass right off the shore that had the markings of a muskrat operation.

At least saw muskrat scat, nibbled grass, and even an open milkweed seed pod nearby.

The Upper Second Swamp Pond remain active. After I checked the untouched ash -- save for a visit by a raccoon, and the other downed tree evidently untouched, I turned and saw an elm freshly cut below the dam and a bit further on the
beavers cut down and moved away a ring of small birch, so far leaving the large central birch untouched.

As I headed down the north shore of the Second Swamp Pond, I saw three herons fly off. With the wind now at my back, I didn't expect to happen upon any otters. I walked on the old pond bottom to see the entrances into the otter dens along rocky bank now revealed.

I also saw otter scat up on the grass near these possible dens. There was so much scat around before, that it was difficult to be certain I was seeing new scat, but I am pretty sure there was about three times as much. Just below the lodge, the otters seemed to scat on every little bump in the terrain.

In the dry grass along the main channel

there were more dollops of otter scat,

then I ran into heron poop. It crossed my mind that with the otters and raccoons eating the same thing the scats could be about the same, but the few raccoon scats I saw were black and well formed and the otter scats were gray and loose. I think otters are far more successful raiding these small pools of water. I also saw one new scat on the ridge trail down to the East Trail Pond next to one of the big pines where a bit of a hole was also dug.

So I think the otters, probably the mother and pup, continue to vibrate around the draining pond, though I should check Audubon Pond which otters, over the years, seem to get interested in at this time of year. There were no scats on the New Pond knoll or the creek out to South Bay. As I sat briefly near the East Trail Pond dam, a wee, bold but almost tailless wren danced out on a log right in front of me and I managed to get a photo before he danced away.

September 30 we have been adding on to the cabin at the land, but I took a brief tour of beaver trails off the Teepee Pond. Birches are littered all along the trail to the poplars that the beavers have done a long way to harvest. Today I found some small birches taken,

well before the poplar, but after the beavers passed plenty of birches.

I'm not sure if there were more poplars were taken, certainly the beavers haven't been there every night. There was no beaver activity along the turtle and bunny bogs. The former had water in it. Then down at the lodge I saw some
stripped logs outside both the main

and auxiliary lodges, but no visible cache pile. The other interesting thing is that the beavers keep piling mud on places where it would not seem to make much difference, like the little pool above the First Pond.