January 2016 on the Trail Cameras

 Coyotes have been howling in the woods this month. They are  the size of our neighbor's black Lab, "Ace," who I was happy to have walking in the woods with me today.

They have been "stalking" the deer for several days now.  Coyotes go after the smaller varmints; Could these be "coy-wolves" instead?

January: The Wolf Moon

The Setting of the Wolf Moon.
. West-Northwest at 7:30 am.
The morning sky,  pink.
Haze from a  wood stove drifts across the frozen Lake.

In January snow gathers deep in the woods and the howling of wolves can be heard echoing in the cold still air. 

Hanging Out

A 2 mile hike in the woods today.
Snow flurries.  Tracks to study: Coyote, Fox, Raccoon, Rabbit.
A giant hemlock fell across the Long Trail.  

The Day the Lake Iced Over

Wednesday, January 6th, 2016: The Lake is finally iced over.

The Trail Camera 2016

The sun was shining so even though the woods were a sheet of ice, I pulled on "ice walkers," grabbed a ski pole and hiked out to check a couple a trail cameras.  Good news!
The Blind in One Eye Doe evaded  hunters for another year! She was  very clever about hiding this years fawn,  deep in the woods.  Her 2013 fawn is the mother of the two young bucks in the bottom photo.  Wildlife Population as  revealed by the Cameras at the start of 2016:  1 old doe; 2 young does, 5 "yearlings, " two of which are male, one  young  buck;  Raccoon,  Gray Fox, several squirrels, BobCat,  and ONE large OWL. Also we have a pair of mature eagles and two "immature" eagles fishing in the Lake from time to time.

Grandmother

Grandsons: This pair of twins born June 2015  appear to be males, as there are "buttons" on their foreheads (visible elsewhere in the video that this clip was taken from.)  They "scrap" with one another a lot. 

Another Bent Tree

This Bent Tree is 1/2 mile east of the Long Trail, on a knoll between two swamps, and "pointing" west to The Lake.
To see more, follow the link on the top rights. 

The Curious Yearling

Solstice Eagle

 The Mature Eagle on The Leaning Birch, through the window. Only had time for one shot before she caught movement and was away in a flash.

Eagle and Mink

The Eagle today, but I wasn't quick enough to photograph the small black mink which scurried along the water's edge.  The rocks are glazed with ice. Once the Lake freezes the Eagles will not be seen again until Spring.

Immature Eagle

Actually a pair of immature eagle's in training...

Sunset

Touch Down. Whoops. Dropped it. 

Mid December

Twins

Deer Hunting Season: One of the trail cameras  reveals a single doe and her twins, followed around by a young 4 point buck.  Today the Eagle dive-bombed several ducks on The Lake.

New blog

I have created another Blog which will be confined to the early Native American features

we find:

HERE

On My Trail Camera

I hadn't checked the Trail camera for a couple of weeks due person and family concerns:
Lots to look at. Click on the You Tube link for a video.

YOUTUBE VIDEO : WATCH A 6 MINUTE VIDEO

Post Halloween

Someone placed three large unblemished pumpkins in The Woods. A bright spot in the darkening day

Overlooking The Spring

This was spotted on todays hike; we were having to climb over rocks the size of trucks in an almost inaccessible area located above "The Main Spring."  This three to four  foot shaped standing stone is wedged between a two huge boulders.    This is  well off the usual hiking trails or logging tails; it's at the top  of a Glacial Dump of gigantic proportions. 

Rock Pile, Directional Rock or Bear Effigy Stone?

Looks like a Bear Effigy to us. Close up signs of flaking on the "face," and under one of the eyes.
I pulled the woodland debris away from the base to see how many rocks were piled about; just two!
Love the paws!  

The Northern Perched Rock Location

Standing Stones with white quartz in center. There is at least one foot of woodland debris surrounding them. 

Today I  explored the area around the Northern Perched Rock, passing on the way this pair of short upright stones, with  a large white rock in the middle.  

  A Handsome  head and shoulder portrait...about12  inches tall!

And On the west facing corner:  More pecking. A Fish?

Who was this artist? Was he the same fellow who put a sliver of rock in  the "mouth" of the Razor Back Turtle for a tongue?
The one who pecked out the "eye" on the Bird Effigy?
The one who created the bear effigy near the spring?
Were they all of the same generation, or created over many seasons and years?

Bent Tree Trail

Going where it leads....

 On an old path,  on a hill,  overlooking The Lake,

An Old Bent Tree,  points west. To the west, The Perched Rock.

Was the  Perched Rock a Sunset Watching Spot? The Perched Rock faces  the setting sun.   About 40 feet back from the Perched Rock, a large circular Rock Pile.  Near the center of the pile, a short standing stone. 

" Winter solstice was of particular interest to many pre-technological cultures. Because the Sun rose and set at a very southern/low point, people were concerned that it might continue its southward journey, hence leaving the Earth in darkness. Ceremonies were held to encourage the Sun to resume its journey northward, or to celebrate the change to longer days."


The earliest Sunset at our Latitude occurs about 10 days prior to the time it sets on the Winter Solstice. On our modern calendar, at our latitude of 42• that date is December 8 & 9, 2015.

An early "sun watcher" wouldn't have a time piece, smart phone or calendar.  This shift wouldn't be obvious, so simpler methods were devised."  Therefore, we might expect that every evening following the Full Beaver Moon, Sun Watcher will  be found sitting in the same well-marked spot. (Full Beaver Moon this year is Nov 25, 2015.

Now, if this Perched Rock and adjacent Rock Pile (A Prayer Rock Pile?) are a Sunset Watching Spot, the setting sun should be directly in line with the Perched Rock and one of the viewing spots at the Pile of Stones. There are several stones arranged in the larger pile; one is a square standing stone.

If the sun is going to change it's direction,  as far as The Sunset Watcher at this particular site is concerned, it will  stop traveling further south when everything is in alignment , about 15 days after the Full Beaver Moon.   "Let the Winter Solstice Ceremonies Begin!"

   Read here for an explanation.


So that's my theory.  I've made a plan. Beginning twelve  days after  the Full Beaver Moon, I will sit   on The Stone, and point my camera  at the Perched Rock, (33• south of due west on a compass), and photograph the moment the sun "sets" on the line of hills far to the west. (Lots of trees in the way, but if there are no clouds, it will work. )

 Just saying. (Or, maybe, just trying to listen. )

Time and Date: Here

Tuesday Morning

Front Row Seat: 

Moose: The Front End

Finally! A Front view of a moose on my trail camera instead of the rear end...
Not such a good capture...but better than nothing!  These are clips from a video....