Eastman Living Online Magazine

By Aaron Jenkyn

Judy and Bob McCarthy wrote in during the first week of spring to say that they had robins hopping in their yard, flocks of brightly hued goldfinch flitting from tree to tree, and a solitary purple finch sitting stoically on their ornamental cherry tree. At the West Cove inlets, Judy saw a pair of mergansers and two pairs of mallards. Judy also commented that the pussy willows were particularly handsome this spring, and that in her yard were several brave clumps of snow drops that she greeted each morning with gratitude.

In April Terry and Dottie Boyle discovered four fox kits living under the deck of their house located just off the 2nd green. This is the second year the Boyles have had fox kits living under their deck.

On the afternoon of April 27, Elaine Lascher took an early spring walk at John’s Glen and had several exciting wildlife encounters. Elaine wrote “While walking along the pond on Loop #2, I surprised a large snapping turtle, which was sunning himself on the bank. He slithered into the water, flushing out a pair of ducks that flew up and away, quacking in dismay. At Loop #4, I came across a common porcupine foraging for food at the edge of the trail. We looked at each other, and I gave this normally nocturnal critter a wide berth as I continued on my way. Returning to my car I passed the pond at Loop #1 and was excited to see a beautiful rust colored brown thrasher, a member of the mockingbird family, taking advantage of the foliage covering at the shoreline. I often see wildlife at John’s Glen and like to walk, ski, or snowshoe there year around. Today was no exception!”

Here on Hummingbird Hill we have a pair of red foxes that play in the yard each afternoon. I suspect they are scavenging for snacks the kids have dropped, but they have to compete with the squirrels and chipmunks that monitor the snacking scene much more closely from their perch in our maple tree. Luckily the bears we had last fall haven’t come back, but I did see a set of bear tracks on Sunnyside Drive while running one morning in early May, and I have heard from many people that they have seen signs of bears at their feeders and on their lawns (a good reminder to take in your feeders if you haven’t already). The peepers and wood ducks came back in mid April, and we have enjoyed listening to their spring chorus each evening. And, finally, we have seen such wonderful birds this spring: a great blue heron and great egret at the West Cove inlet as well as several varieties of warblers, huge flocks of gold and purple finches, and a bald eagle that flew over our car near the main entrance.

Filed under: What's Out There.