September 9 to 15, 2003

September 9 This was my morning to see otters, since I saw fresh scat last night at the East Trail and two loads of almost fresh scat at the Lost Swamp Pond. I got up a bit early and got to the East Trail Pond a little after 8 am. I soon saw ripples coming from the right, but as has often been the case here, they were made by a beaver making its leisurely way over to the grasses at the west end of the pond. Shortly after, I saw another beaver swimming behind the lodge and heading for the shallows in the north end of the pond. After that I was left with
studying the dives of the kingfisher who no longer cackles after he dives. I went down to the latrine by the dam and there was no fresh scat. I decided to do a figure eight: go to Audubon Pond which I haven't checked in a while, then along South Bay, then up past Otter Hole Pond to the Lost Swamp, then across the upper Second Swamp Pond and back to the East Trail Pond. I checked the rolling area the pups had used a month ago. If the family was back they might return to old haunts, but there was no scat from there to the shore. The pond is losing water and there is now an apron of mud that might show an otter invasion -- none seen. The East Trail Pond beavers who look so lackadaisical as they swim through the pond continue to forge trails through the tall grasses.

One at the end of the pond led to some trimming on an ironwood cut in half a while ago when another tree fell on it.

Further up the hill they had taken down a birch and had begun stripping it.

Then I paused to admire the work of the Thicket Pond beavers. The canal to the end of that pond remains deep and muddy. They also cleared off all but one sapling from a clump of maples. Will they let that one remain?

As I walked along the pond, I heard a rush of water, probably from a startled beaver. I stopped but heard and saw nothing more. Then I played peek-a-boo with a doe.

There was nothing happening at Audubon Pond. It too is shallow and the entrances to the bank lodge did not looked used. I heard a brief hum from the lodge in the pond. No evidence of this beaver or beavers taking any trees. This pond is surrounded by shagbark hickories which the colony at Beaver Point Pond learned to take. For now, the squirrels are enjoying the nuts,

even bombing me as I walk under the trees. There was no fresh otter scat around the pond, and none at the South Bay latrine. I went up to the check the trail over the New Pond knoll. At the crest overlooking South Bay I saw three fresh squirts -- but perhaps not any fresher than the much larger spread of scat I found at the East Trail Pond latrine last night. Two were in the sun, framed by a pale rock, as if trying to tell me something.

I had avoided checking this knoll to avoiding scarying the ducks and heron that are always there. I sent them all flying again and resolved not to be so disrespectful until I saw the otters again. Scat here implies that the otters might be vibrating from South Bay back to the ponds. However, there has never been any sign of them going through Otter Hole Pond, the royal road to the East Trail Pond. With a sinking feeling that the otters had escaped me again, I headed for the Lost Swamp Pond, angling up so I came in with a full view of the pond. I sat at the point, in the crotch of the pond, as it were, and admired a considerable flock of geese. They briefly debated whether to fly off and decided to meander away.

Four mallards flew in and felt safe enough with the wind in their beaks and my face to swim away from me too. The rest of the news is what wasn't at the pond -- no otters and no ospreys. I walked around and there were no fresh scats. When I crossed the upper Second Swamp Pond dam I found some excitement, a large brown leech -- probably four inches long,

waving in the muddy water, feeding, no doubt, and probably celebrating surviving and ravages of the raccoons who had stamped the mud, muddies the waters, and even combed the grasses. Returning to the East Trail Pond, I enjoyed the adventures of the kingfisher again. But I saw and heard other things -- a red eyed vireo singing in the woods, turtle head flowers in the finally dry vernal pool off the Second Swamp Pond,

flickers back in the East Trail Pond. I saw deer here and there and forgot to report that last night I saw a large doe with her coat shading gray. Lesson learned: best put otters out of my mind, let them come to me.

September 10 Yesterday evening I kayaked over to South Bay to see what the chilly nights and precipitate drop in the water level, 6 inches at least, might have down to the bryozoa. On my way I chased several schools of leaping minnows, catching the rays of the setting sun. The bryozoa flourish. It's as if each time I come I am trying to calculate a new throw of the dice. Before most were on the south side of the cove, next time on the north, now most are in the middle. I look where I think I've seen them before and none are there. A few attached to
branches still connected to the shore dried out as the water dropped, but there are not as many corpses, as it were, that I would expect given the amount I had seen there before. In the shallow still water bathed in sunlight I saw several large snails with, I suppose, the day's trail two or three feet long behind them. I also saw the trail of a large worm and the worm itself, except that when I brought a net full of mud up, I found no worm.

This morning we went over in the boat and while Leslie went off in the kayak to see the bryozoa and snails, I docked at the rock I usually use when the water gets low, and went to check for otter scats. I didn't have to go far because
there were two on the rock.

Not far away was a raccoon scat, laced with berries.

There were also more beaver nibbled willow sticks in the water off the rock. There were no otters up at Audubon Pond, but there were fresh scats

on the path over the pipe through the causeway.

I went over to the bench behind the beavers' bank lodge and at first thought there were no scats. Then I looked into the mud next to the water and I saw an otter print,

then looked down at my feet and saw a small otter scat.

There was no muddy water around the lodge and the only possible sign of beaver activity was a damp knob of grass near the scent mound made a few days ago.

I continued walking around the pond and saw no more signs of otters, nor of beavers. The trail over to big embankment looks a little used, but no scats on it. The pond below the embankment has quite grown over with grasses, perhaps
another sign of the lack of muskrats. Then I set off for the East Trail Pond. I saw a ripple when I got up on the rock, but from a beaver, who swam slowly toward the dam and then dove into the old bank lodge there. No fresh otter scats, but just below the latrine in the mud by the pond was an old friend -- a burr marigold plant.

I went over the ridge and then down to Otter Hole Pond, which was quiet save for an osprey. These birds are not quite as noisy and active as they were. Flight training for the fledges must be done. On the ridge I noticed the
partridgeberry vine that had been stretching along the ground recently now has red berries.

I waded through the pilewort in Beaver Point Pond, and saw one propagating seed upwards.

I finally found a burr marigold in the still moist ditch of an old beaver channel. Perhaps this "pond" has been dry too long to sport its usual dazzling array of burr marigolds. I flushed a bunch of ducks off the New Pond, coming the other way this time. I walked around and checked for scats but found nothing new. Leslie showed me the bodacious seeds of the birdfoot trefoil

September 11 I took the boat over to South Bay a little after 3 pm on a hot still day -- in the 80s and humid. There were no new otter scats at the dock rock. As I went up to check Audubon Pond, I heard a strange sounding bird and soon saw a red bellied woodpecker. It flew off before I could get any video or photo. It had been eating the grapes on a vine on a small tree under the power line. All was quiet up at Audubon Pond, briefly, and then a whining kid came down the trail. As best I could determine there were no new otter scats, nor fresh beaver work. Several goldfinches were working the thistles on the causeway, too quickly for me to get a photo. I headed for Meander Pond, pausing to appreciate a grazing deer, and for a few minutes it seemed to appreciate me, then it ran off. There was no sign of any activity at Meander Pond, and there was enough water in it for a beaver to survive. I sat next to Thicket Pond to see if I could once again hear or see the beavers. I heard some water mover, then saw some ripples under the thickets, and then I heard some boss humming coming from the lodge, giving a rather extended
beaver sentence somewhat like hummmmmmHUMhummmmmmm, and more. I moved slowly up pond, and evidently a beaver didn't swim up there. But, at the end of the pond, I saw two major pathways into the pond. At the end of one two maples logs were actually piled up.

The paths were so wide that I suspect the coming and going here is a family affair. This is a pleasure to observe, but I had to move on -- looking for otters. First I stumbled onto a yellow caterpillar, "definite-marked tussock
moth."

a species that I've seen before but who can resist taking another photo of such a beauty? Then I saw a black and white caterpillar, banded tussock moth, on a leafless stick right next to what appeared to be part of the same type of
critter, looking as if a bird had just eaten the rest of it.

or more likely bit the end off one caterpillar. The East Trail Pond was quiet save for what actually looked like a fish flipping in the water. There was no fresh scat, but I noticed a scat on a log just up from the pond that I don't think was there before. I sat for 10 minutes appreciating the completely still pond, and then a kingfisher made two dives. I headed for the Lost Swamp Pond via the Second Swamp Pond lodge where there was still no evidence of beaver activity around the lodge. This pond is completely exposed to the sun and getting rather low.

I didn't see any fresh beaver work along the shore save for a large cedar tree that had been gnawed.

Is this a sign of desperation? At the upper pond, just a pool or puddles now, there were raccoon tracks all over and I tried to discern some otter prints.

but I think the claws might be a bit too wide and spread out, so it was probably an energetic raccoon's print. And all was still and quiet up at the Lost Swamp Pond, save for two ducks that flew off. I sat for awhile beginning to settle into a gloom that became deeper when I saw that there were no fresh otter scats at the north slope latrine. A tracker has to be an optimist, and I tried to consider theories of why I was not seeing the otters at all and piles of scat only sporadically. The best I could think of was that territory that for years had been
controlled by one male was now up for grabs with no group of otters able to stay put. Then I went up the hill along the old trail to the Second Swamp Pond and I saw a new scat, not fresh, but a day or two old.

The smear was uncharacteristic but with a close look I saw another small scat next to it, both large and small definitely from otters. This did not mean I was hot on the trail of an otter, but it did show otters had been on the move and would one day move into my view. I didn't find any scat further along the trail to the Second Swamp Pond, but there were trails down to that portion of the pond and trails through the pond

I once again walked down to Otter Hole Pond, and dutifully checked the old latrine next to the dam. Today, there were scats, like the others, a day or two old and, like the scats I saw four days ago, all over a log and the slope
suggesting that a large group of otters was in this pond.

Not seeing an otter sign around this pond most of the summer was frustrating because it seemed like otters going to and from South Bay to the East Trail and Lost Swamp ponds had to pay some attention to Otter Hole Pond. The warmth of the past few days seems to have revivified the duck weed

as once again the pond is becoming framed with delicate bright green. I checked the knoll above the New Pond for scats, but found nothing fresh there. I still have not found a large array there like I have now found at the three larger ponds, which means there is some hope for my old theory that a family with pups avoids the river and stays in the ponds well into November. It seemed to me there was more water leaking out from the bottom of the New Pond dam, but the water line on the trees didn't reveal a great drop. The last few times I've walked along the South Bay, I've smelled the stench of death at a certain point. I went down to the shore to investigate and think the smell is coming from one of the many holes into the turf around a large willow tree. The scats around the tree were all from raccoons.

September 13 muggy day starting with hot sun then clouds creeping over. While the sun was out I took Ottoleo and Justin to see the bryozoa in South Bay. They seem to be doing well and we saw a number of big ones. This one nestled in little watermilfoil, among other plants

Once the water level dropped, lilies started popping up all over, matching my old memories of their splendor.

I also had Ottoleo net up one of the large snails that have been moving along the sandy bottom, and, though the shell is quite dulled with algae and slime, it looks like they are the five band variety, probably cepaea nemoralissize="5">.

I took the boys back to Justin's dock, and I docked the boat on the opposite shore and checked Audubon Pond, the East Trail Pond and Otter Hole Pond. There was no sign of otter nor beaver activity in Audubon Pond; some goldfinches, and a kingfisher. On the way to the East Trail Pond I checked the
knoll over to the New Pond and saw some faint, probably fresh otter scats. I also scared a load of ducks out of the pond, but no heron today. I've been seeing quite a few oak apple galls, and the one below was right in the middle of the East Trail

Up on the ridge where I saw chicken of the woods back in July there was a new crop on the trunk of a downed oak.

The remains of the early crop look like ashes at the foot of the tree.

Despite the two week old drought, some sizeable mushrooms still pop out here and there.

The pond was quiet save for a snapping turtle roiling the water below me. I finally got a close up of the season's snow

from the pileworts. There were no new scats, but some grasses had been knocked down along the shore. I saw more of that on the north shore of Otter Hole Pond,

and, a bit up from the water, I saw a small dry otter scat. This is the best pond to watch otters, so seeing evidence that they are enjoying it is gratifying. The grasses near the lodge also looked knocked over.

I also went out before dinner, on foot, to complete my tour. I went across the meadow behind the golf course and an early theme of the hike was things in trees. A grouse shot out from the crown of a small berry tree, and then I saw a porcupine in an oak

It tolerated me at first and even kept its paws folded neatly in front but with a few more of my steps, it was up in alarm and climbing out on the tree. There were no otter scats at the Big Pond dam latrine. Something has been going over the thickly vegetated dam and judging from the mud left behind, I think it is a beaver, but no sign of any beaver in the pond. The pond has a good bit of grasses in it, mostly from the grasses growing, the water level is high for the season and drought. Some patches of grass are famous with flaming orange crowns of the curly dock

All was quiet at the Lost Swamp Pond. I decided to wait for something to happen. First a small flock of doves landed above me

Then as I was sitting contemplating the new bank lodge, a muskrat swam over from the other side and began grazing a few yards in front of me. I had not seen a muskrat during the day in a while so it was good to see one.

I also saw something swimming toward the dam, rather far away -- probably another muskrat. Then when I got up to move on I saw a spread of dry otter scats.

These were in the old latrine I call the mossy cove, now just across from the beavers, who never stirred the whole time I was there.

This is the first evidence of otters scatting in a latrine that is not also on a major otter route, so perhaps it means the otters are making themselves at home in the Lost Swamp Pond. Light was diminishing quickly and while I think there was new scat on the north shore latrine, I couldn't be sure. Of course, I had high hopes when I went down to Otter Hole Pond, no otters getting ready for the night, but there was new and relatively fresh scat. I wouldn't be surprised if the otters are eating more frogs. In places I have to dance to avoid stepping on them. As I walked home we got a little sprinkle. Perhaps we'll luck out and get some rain. I hurried home and jumped into the river to cool off.

September 15 cloudy morning, no break in the mugginess. I went to Otter Hole Pond first, taking the short cut over the ridge from South Bay. Fresh otter scat at the latrine by the dam

inspired me to sit awhile in my old perch over the rock dens. I saw something swim briefly out from the lodge. It looked like a muskrat, but I've seen young otters poke their noses out of dens while the other otters dozed, so I stayed. Then I saw a small muskrat swim over and into the lodge coming from the far shore -- not something you'd expect with otters in the lodge. As I stood to continue on my way, I saw a another muskrat dive with a bit of flourish with its tail. That's an otter trait too, but this was definitely a muskrat's tail. Still, I'm more
confident I'll see otters here and it was nice seeing the muskrats. The lodge looked like a rather nice place to live.

A flock of blue jays foraged noisily around the pond. One near me hopped from the hickory nuts down to the nannyberries. After admiring the changing oak (assisted by beaver girdling)

I angled up to the Lost Swamp Pond so I came down to the point with a full view of the pond. There was a gusting wind which kept me busy looking at ripples, and I could see there was something on the far away lodge -- a duck that flew off. I walked around the pond and found no fresh otter scat. I took photos of the bank beaver lodge. The beavers no longer budge when I walk around so I need a better record of what stripped sticks might be brought over to it.

The lodge seems to be growing still. Crossing the upper Second Swamp Pond was uneventful -- one pool was very muddy, and raccoon tracks were all around. I walked down to the Second Swamp Pond lodge and found no sign of beaver activity there. However, the ash cut along the pond fell over thanks to a little more gnawing by the beavers.

No sign of trimming the tree branches yet. I expect the beavers to start hanging around their old lodge more, since they are running out of water in the pond. We've had very humid weather and brief sprinkles and maybe one shower out of the many low clouds. That has brought mushrooms back out here and there showing that there is still a lot of moisture in the woods, especially in rotting trees, despite the three week drought. The ones below are perhaps Dacrymyces deliquescens

As I sat above the East Trail Pond, I saw a head swimming in the pond, then a dive and then nothing more. My first impression was that it was an otter, and an otter would be more liable to dive and swim off -- but no head reappeared. I crossed below the dam seeking confirmation that an otter might well be in the pond, and two yards below the tree where I often sit, I saw a large fresh otter scat,

as well as another good size one near by,

and two squirts of scat. The rolling area looked well used again.

So I sat down again waiting for an otter to appear. Wind gusts helped keep my hopes up, but no otter appeared. On my way home I checked the knoll over the New Pond and was relieved to find no scats. I don't want these otters
getting lost in the river. I want to see them tomorrow.

September 16 Mark and Bonnie Koslow came from Ohio to see otters, and I actually felt confident as I took them out in the morning. A front moved through during the night with a few brief showers, and in the morning there was less humidity in the gusting wind. I took them directly to Otter Hole Pond. I saw some ripples as I came down to the pond but they didn't develop into an otter. I went down to the latrine, saw no fresh scat, and began giving them a lecture on the old scat there, then I saw large ripples behind the lodge, which did develop into a large
otter.

It swam away from us, diving in and out of the water, without making any noises, and disappeared toward the East Trail Pond. I took them down along the dry shore of Beaver Point Pond, then across the creek below the New Pond dam. There was two large smears of fresh otter scat up on the crest of the knoll
overlooking South Bay,

which I didn't mind seeing because I just saw the otter that might have left them heading up into the ponds. One smear was brownish, the other black:

Just after I bragged on the woods along the East Trail Pond as being a good place for scarlet tanagers, we heard one giving the chick-burr call in the distance. Blue jays were working their way noisily through the tree which might have caused the tanager's distress. I took them to the high rocks overlooking the East Trail Pond, preparing them for a vigil to wait for an otter to appear. But as I came down to the rock, I saw the unmistakable shock wave of a diving otter. We soon saw three otters fishing rapidly through the pond.

I was literally overjoyed -- too happy to really enjoy them with my usual calculating scrutiny. But their rapid progress didn't help either. Then they climbed up on the dam, scatted on top,

but afforded us no lazy contemplation because they were quickly back in the water and fished over toward the east shore of the pond and then disappeared. We moved closer to the dam hoping they would emerge and continue their foraging. Instead, ten minutes after they disappeared, a beaver came out of the bank lodge by the dam and splashed us. In short order two more beavers came out, including the baby I've been seeing here. They all paid some attention to us, but no more splashes. I also noticed that the water near the dam looked muddier than usual.

Their reappearance and seemingly aimless wandering around the pond, revived my theory that beavers out in the day have otters on their mind. But the fury of the otters brief appearance hardly seemed to connect with the beavers
leisurely tour. When they moved off, one back into the bank lodge, another off to the grasses on north shore and the baby, I'm not sure where, we went down to the dam, where I couldn't find new scat but their appeared to be more digging in the
rolling area. Then I took them to Thicket Pond where it seems like the beavers are renewing their foraging on the north shore, but we didn't go over for a closer look. Anyway, otters found, in the nick of time. Of course, I expected to find the family of four or family of two that I had seen before. And time will have to tell if the lone otter in Otter Hole Pond has some connection with the three we saw in the East Trail Pond.