Maine Lobster

Spent the weekend at camp having the first lobster of the season, fresh from the waters of Bar Harbor – with steamers as an appetizer after cutting down a few trees to try and get the firewood pile growing again.   We’ve been putting the clam shells in front of the camp – I wonder how many it will take to have a clamshell path out there.  Despite being May 21 there is still quite a chill in the air this year, and we had to have a small woodfire in the stove going to be comfortable through the night.  I got up at 4 to get the fire going again, and from bed I can watch the smoke rising from the chimney in the early morning light, and the glow from the fire reflecting on the walls.  I couldn’t get back to sleep so I made coffee and sat on the porch listening to the woods waking up.  I was excited to hear a partridge (ruffed grouse)  who was evidently feeling good and doing some early morning drumming.  If you’ve never heard a partridge drumming, this is what they sound like;

As evening was encroaching and the wind died down for the night, I also got to hear my favorite bird, the hermit thrush.  There is something comforting about their song to me, I guess it’s because I only seem to hear them when I’m near or in the woods.  Here is what they sounds like;

As we were leaving, a large shadow above me caught my eye, and I instinctively ducked as a pileated woodpecker landed in a tree not three feet from me, at eye level.   I’ve never been that close to one before, they are a remarkable bird, and quite big, especially up close and personal like that…..here is what they look like;

I love that something interesting and special happens ever time I’m in the woods, it makes it unique and special each time I go.