There are mound after mound of these red ants on the sandy soiled hillsides in my area. In fact some of these ants are right in my front yard! Today I walked up Sheep Hill, which is due west of my house. The top of the hill has a lot of disturbed soil, with White Pines thriving. I saw many of these red ant mounds. The camera is alittle shaky because I couldn't stand in one place without the ants crawling on to my boots. I'm thinking a person, or animal could be quickly covered by ants in a matter of seconds if they stood even close to these ant hills. THAT is creepy! I didn't hang around long enough to see if they would bite, but I assume they would.
Ant bites not only hurt but if you have a tendency to be allergic to insect bites, these buggers will make you itch, and may even leave a scar.

It's been a while since I last posted. I've been busy in the woods, cleaning up my trails, cutting wood and brush. Taking wood to the lake(Granite Lake). Checking on the guys who are renovating up there. We'll soon have "indoor plumbing"! For well over 60 years, there has never been any hot water, or shower at the camp. Now we will have an artesian well, hot & cold water that we can actually drink!, a complete septic system, and washer/dryer combo. Next we need a new roof.

I have managed a few good mountain bike rides around my area. This picture of pink pond lilies is just up the road from me. I don't think I've ever seen pink lilies, but the white ones are blooming too. If you get a chance to sniff one, how sweet it is. My peonies are just about to burst forth too, and they smell very fragrant as well.

I've discovered a few bird nests, a Hairy Woodpecker family caught my attention with all the squeaking way up high. The perfectly round entrance hole gave them away. I watched as mom and dad would fly in and out of that hole every few minutes. Next while on a walk with my sister, her husband, and their dog, Ringo, we literally stumbled upon a nest full of babes on the ground. The nest was at first well hidden, and very near a brook's edge. I'm not sure what type of birds they were, but I'm going to guess thrush. I heard a thrush nearby, and that's my only basis for the guess. There were probably five chicks in the nest. They all remained very still and silent, until Ringo swooped in and grabbed the whole nest! I was horrified. I yelled for Al to grab the dog as the chicks toppled out into the brook. I was able to save only one. Al salvaged most of the nest, but the other chicks were either swept down the brook, or killed by Ringo's jaws. I set the lone chick on its nest, but fear the mother will not return. I was so, so, disappointed and sad at this dreadful situation.

Field of Daisies

Daisies, Fleabane, Hawkweed, Wild Strawberries, and more, all flourish in my front yard. When I first notice them coming up in early spring, I mow around them. Then as the days pass, this beautiful wild flower canvas appears. Perfect for someone who doesn't have a green thumb.

Moon rock? or something else?

My mom thinks this rock is actually melted glass. I found it along a trail "up back". The area where I found it, is along my property line. There is usually at least a trickle of water flowing through. Each spring and fall, there is a more continuous stream of water, as in brook cascading down the slope. So I'm guessing this piece of "whatever" was washed down. The rock is very lightweight, and looks porous. As you can see it's not very big, but looks very lunar doesn't it?
Any guesses? I was hoping it was a meteorite, but mom says those rocks are very heavy, and magnetic. This rock is not magnetic.

Bobolink chorus

Every morning when I get up, I can hear the robotic sound of the Bobolinks in the vast pasture across the road. This photo, taken by Brian Small shows you the interesting "top-knot" on the male Bobolink's head. Seriously, the sound he makes is very much like "R2-D2" of the "Star Wars" movies.

I have seen so many neat creatures lately, unfortunately I have either not had the camera with me, or the batteries have gone dead! But I can surely describe all that I have seen. First, the neighbors Guinea Hens continue to bring their wild Turkey friends to my bird feeder. The Guineas seem to guard my back deck as if it belongs to them.

On my way to work last week I had occasion to see a litter of baby Woodchucks! That's right, three of them were next to the road near the Surry/ Walpole line. I turned the truck around and went to take a closer look. The den is under the pavement! The little Woodchucks were scurrying around in the tall grass, occasionally running up into a small enclosed field where a pair of Oxen where standing. The Woodchucks were no bigger than Guinea Pigs, in fact that's exactly what they looked like. As I watched them, a nervous elderly lady made a lap around her house, keeping a watchful eye on ME. I had to chuckle.

Further down the road, I happened to glance to my left as a flash of tawny brown upon lush green caught my eye. I saw a doe, and the smallest fawn standing there in the grass. The fawn looked so fragile, no bigger than my biggest cat! I just gasped, and thanked God for putting me there at the right moment.

What else? Yesterday while kayaking/fishing on Granite Lake, I watched a Bald Eagle soaring over the water. I hadn't ever seen a Bald Eagle there before, though I know they have nested in nearby Hancock in the past. He knew as did I, that the fishing was bad. Despite the lack of good sized lunkers, I did catch a good sunburn! After a while I paddled to shore, and hopped on my mountain bike. I pedalled up and over Twin Hill to Stoddard, via the M-S Greenway trail, then back to the lake via Rte 9. A nice long ride for a hot day. I didn't see any creatures along the way unfortunately.

As I was packing up my boat, and my bike to head back home, I saw a good sized snake slithering along the beach in front of the camp. The snake was at the water's edge, staying in the water as he went. I went closer to check him out. It was not a Garter snake, so I was thrilled to see a snake I don't usually see. He spotted me and darted into deeper water. The snake popped out further down the shoreline. I was able to get close enough to identify him as a Milk Snake. Beautiful with rusty colored diamond patterns on its back. He was probably nearly three feet long.