Eastman Living Online Magazine

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn

Winter 2015 turned out to be cold and snowy – perfect weather for polar bears and penguins but a bit too chilly for most of us humans! Here’s a look back on the wildlife encounters that your fellow
Eastman Members had this winter.

Late last fall, John Larrabee spied what looked like a gray/red fox on a hunt for food near his deck. Lovely colors!

Amy Hoffman had a lovely grouse visit daily this winter, making itself at home in her yard munching on birdseed.

In January, Rae Tober commented that although this seems to have been a hard winter where all the wildlife has disappeared, it must all be an illusion because, when she looks into her backyard, she can see hoards of animal footprints. In addition to the tracks in her yard, she has seen plenty of squirrels, hardy woodpeckers (both hairy and downy), as well as a few adventuresome nuthatches and chickadees.

George and Stephanie Decker have found that by scattering a dozen or so peanuts on their deck they can create hours of entertainment. The “treats” attract a gathering of hungry squirrels and blue jays, which their two cats love to watch, and the comedy that unfolds with the cats and the squirrels provide George and Stephanie an evening of quality entertainment – much better than watching American Idol!

In November, Judy and Bob McCarthy had a pilliated woodpecker noshing on the dried fruit of their ornamental crab apple tree. Then in December, the McCarthys spotted the resident Fernwood Lane red fox rambling through the woods on several occasions. Perhaps the most exciting wildlife rumored to be on Fernwood this winter is the bobcat (or possibly a lynx) that Elaine Emery has heard in the area around her house – but, so far, no one has actually seen.

Marilyn Mullen wrote in to share an encounter with a bobcat this winter. On Nov. 25, she saw her cat suddenly dash across her family room to the top of the couch and begin hissing at something outside. When she went to look out the door,
a bobcat took off from under the deck and ran across the backyard. The Mullens have continued to see bobcat tracks in their yard from time to time this winter but haven’t seen the bobcat again.

Al and Joyce Wakefield were having lunch on Feb. 1 when they were joined by a beautiful doe, also looking for lunch. She spent about 30 minutes munching on the rhododendrons and evergreens.

On Feb. 5, Norah Peterson watched as a beautiful barred owl rested outside her kitchen window, taking a break from hunting the critters under the deck.

Jamie Walsh also had a barred owl visit this winter, landing just outside his window long enough for him to snap a few beautiful photos.

 

On a very cold morning in February, Charlie Adams came upon the body of a bird on his walkway at his home on Allens’ Drive. After examining it, he realized it was a small owl, possibly a screech owl. It wasn’t obvious to Charlie what had happened to the owl, so he contacted the NH Fish & Game office to report this unusual find. If you have questions or concerns about an encounter with wildlife here in Eastman or elsewhere, they are a great resource. You can contact them by e-mail at info@wildlife.nh.gov or by phone at 603-271-3421.

RuthAnn Eastman wrote in to say that in mid-February there were fantastic fisher tracks crossing the golf course between Wedgewood and Greensward.

Amy Hoffman spotted a porcupine trail in the snow while skiing Craig’s Corridor on Feb. 22.

Judy McCarthy of Fernwood Lane wrote in to share that the late winter snow has brought the birds to their feeders. She wrote that the goldfinch and red polls are coming in large flocks, jostling for perches but, for the most part, taking turns and spending a long time eating. They permit an occasional chickadee to munch along with them, but once the tufted titmouse arrives, alone or with a partner, all of the other birds quickly fly off. A bully? Some sort of hierarchical order? The local woodpeckers hang out on the suet cage, taking a break several times a day to allow those acrobatic squirrels to get their fill. And they do, hanging upside down, their bushy tails rakishly curled around the top of the cage. Such activity!!

Like Judy and the many others who have commented to me this winter that the feeder birds have brought such joy to their lives, I have really enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels at our backyard feeders this winter. On those very cold days when it seemed like everything, even time, had frozen still, it was a welcome sight to see and hear the birds chirping away in-between mouthfuls.

Now that much of the snow is melting and we can actually see bare ground, keep your eyes peeled for signs of the abundant wildlife and lush plant life that grace our community. Send your sightings to whatsoutthere@eastmannh.org.

Filed under: Column.