Pout Ponds Hike

Chipwich

Pout Ponds,  willow-herb beginning to bloom

Lilium Philadelphicum

bOn Sunday, Sam, Mari and I took Chipwich for a hike to Pout Ponds. We were happy to find some late Wood lilies...and to smell the Sweet Pepper.

Wood Lily

Sweet Pepper,  Clethra Alnifolia

The dragonflies were the prime attraction at the Pout Ponds.  Green Darners,  White Tails,  Twelve Spotted Skimmers all flew and darted about too quickly for me to get a photo.   The Bluets and Red skimmers were also there.

Red Skimmer

Red Skimmer



The Biggest  event was hearing a merlin calling and, while hiking through a pine copse,  seeing a merlin and its mate.  There must have been a nest in the pine trees ;  the bird circled around and around without flying away,

Mid-Summer Weekend

On Saturday,  the first blossoms of Sweet Pepper, Clethra alnifolia,  burst open to bathe the isle in their fragrance.  The aroma is even better than privet!  The look of August is wild grapes ripening,  sweet pepper blooming and grasses waving.

We celebrated 2 full moons in July

We headed out early to Coskata Pond on Saturday morning,  at dead low tide.  Shore birds and hermit crabs abounded!

1 of the 4 oystercatchers

Sam and Mari

We saw roseate terns, egrets and cormorants on the boat out.  On the flats,  a dozen whimbrels and more willets,  a piping plover and 4 oystercatchers were feeding.