While the vision of large tree trunks fully uprooted is dramatic, the scope of damage to the branches and leaves across the woods is equally sobering.
maine woods
Maine tree fall 4
Another fallen tree. The root ball on this evergreen almost reaches ten feet high.
Maine tree fall 3
Most of the large trees that came down in the Oct. 30 storm in the woods across the road were evergreens: pines, firs, and spruces. Here, a good sized oak tree surrendered to the storm.
Maine tree fall 2
More views of the results of the recent wind storm (local gusts were reported as high as 50-60mph). About five days before the storm, we received about five inches of rain over three days. Our summer was one of the driest in many decades, at least, and this storm brought south-east winds instead of the usual nor’easter direction. All of these factors in combination have been suggested to explain the unusual damage from this storm.
Maine tree fall 1
Our survey of the hundred-acre wood (west) found numerous evergreen trees blown down, roots included. The wind storm on Oct. 29-30 swept through our neighborhood and blocked roads and knocked down numerous utility poles and cables.
Maine wind storm report
The wind storm of Oct. 29-30, 2017, that swept through Maine will never be forgotten. In the woods near our house, pine and fir trees as big as ICBMs lay scattered like toothpicks.
Sunset walk along the bog
Walking along the trail just west of the beaver bog in mid-October.
Woodpecker blogging
Among the colorful fall leaves, a hairy woodpecker taps away.
Bittern on the march
This is another image of a “least American bittern.” I am guessing it is the same one I saw on 13-August (see my earlier post). We caught up with him this evening on the no-name pond.
Bird at the pond’s edge
We were surprised to spot this crow-sized bird along the shore of the no-name pond the other day. At the time and after checking my references, I am not sure if this is a heron or a bittern (a least American bittern is a good possibility from field mark descriptions).