Yes, it is the middle of April but it is New Hampshire. The cherry blossoms are not blooming yet. Some signs indicate that spring is really coming but it is not time to think we are “frost free”. The next three nights will be at or below freezing so you shouldn’t have any plants out that can’t survive a frost. At the end of this post is a video of what is happening on Stamp Act Island.
Below is a picture of the Heath, taken from where the new trail gets to the swampy area and is looking south toward Pleasant Valley Rd.
The cold, sort of dreary, weather that has been around has not been conducive to boating and there was an inch of snow that fell followed by winds. NH was lucky as Maine had tens of thousands without power and because the winds kept blowing, it was difficult to get the power restored.
Some of the migrating birds are coming back. This is a palm warbler that is one of the earliest to arrive. It isn’t a great picture but it is a handsome bird with a yellow breast and a red/brown cap.
Below is a picture of Chocorura and also the red channel buoy at the west end of the channel between Brummitt Island and Point of Pines. You will notice that the black buoy is not there. Realize that early in the season, the buoys have not all been put back in place. They get moved by the ice or destroyed by a snowmobile so be careful if you are out in a motor boat.
Below is a video of a walk on Stamp Act. It starts in a beech forest that is about 100 yards from the North Beach. It is a hand held camera so it is a bit bumpy. Sorry. The rest of the video is looking at the wet areas on the island. The video follows a small, seasonal stream that leaves the old Heron Swamp and flows east to the Great East Bay. The stream flows into a large swampy area that is behind the sand beach, the black gum swamp. At this time of year, the little stream is really flowing and the swampy areas are much deeper than normal. If you have been on one of the guided walks on Stamp Act, you leave the north beach and go across a little wet area in a few steps. At present, you would wade in about 2 feet of water. The last view in the video shows the swamp and the lake in the background. The video was taken by a member of the Stamp Act Island Committee and was part of normal care-taking of the island. This is before birds are actively nesting so that was not an issue.
Fantastic video. I’m so glad that you post all of these updates. Tom. No reply necessary.
This is so peaceful. Thanks for sharing the beauty of Stamp Act Island with us Peter.