08-03-2009, 09:04 AM
Outdoors: Keep an eye out for wildlife
By Bob Gregorski Republican-American
“Look, Papa. There’s a deer and a fawn under the apple trees,” Elizabeth announced excitedly.
Elizabeth is our 12-year-old granddaughter. When the heavy rain woke up her dad at about 6 that morning, he went to the bedroom window and observed six deer munching apples that the strong rain had knocked from the trees.
Earlier in the week, I saw a lone deer, and a doe with her fawn. My wife observed a doe with two fawns, two bucks, a red fox and four baby raccoons. We have daily visits from several cottontail rabbits, a few squirrels and chipmunks.
Occasionally, skunks and possums meander through the yard. We have not seen a bobcat or a coyote for several months. One of my neighbors has had occasional visits from geese, bobcats, coyotes, beavers and river otters.
All three of my daughter’s families enjoy the presence of a variety of hawks on their property; some nesting and some raptors just visiting (feeding and resting).
If food or nesting habitat is available, it’s more likely that wildlife will come. We have several apple trees, blueberry and black raspberry bushes, autumn olive, hickory nut trees, concord grape vines, silky dogwood, honeysuckle, lilies, hosta and other garden vegetables as food sources for wild critters. There are a variety of bushes, conifers and hardwood trees and several birdhouses for nesting.
Plant it and they will come. What wildlife is in your yard?
Summer is an opportune time to view wildlife adults and youngsters. Some people have the pleasure of having wild visitors on their property; others do their observations in state parks and forests and nature preserves.
Here are some recent sightings on the White Memorial Foundation property in Litchfield and Morris: Baltimore oriole, osprey, green heron, wood duck, marsh wren, blue-spotted salamander, yellow-throated vireo and scarlet tanager. Visit the White Memorial Conservation Center information kiosk for a complete list of observations.
Recent sightings along the Naugatuck River include blue heron, green heron, osprey, bald eagle, merganser duck, beaver, muskrat, snapping turtle, water snake, kingfisher and turkey vulture.
Trout fishing update: There has been plenty of water and moderate air and water temperatures so far this summer, so August trout fishing should be good. Good reports recently from the West Branch of the Farmington (browns to 20 inches), Farmington River, Naugatuck River, Mill River TMA, Willimantic River TMA, Hammonasett River, Fenton River, Blackberry River and Housatonic River.
Striped bass fishing is more consistent during low light periods. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, outer Bartlett Reef, Millstone Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point and the Norwalk Islands.
Bluefish fishing has improved as more fish invade Long Island Sound, cursing striper anglers. Choppers range in size from two to 12 pounds.
With summer flounder, catching a legal-size fish is a challenge. Fluke spots include the Stonington area, Niantic Bay area, Black Point, White Sands Beach, Connecticut River Long Sand Shoal, off Hammonasset Beach State Park and Falkner Island area.
Tautog can be caught from the rock piles and structures throughout the sound. With the cooler water temperatures, they can still be found in shallow inshore water.
Hickory shad are still hanging out in the Niantic River. Early morning and dusk are the best times.
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By Bob Gregorski Republican-American
“Look, Papa. There’s a deer and a fawn under the apple trees,” Elizabeth announced excitedly.
Elizabeth is our 12-year-old granddaughter. When the heavy rain woke up her dad at about 6 that morning, he went to the bedroom window and observed six deer munching apples that the strong rain had knocked from the trees.
Earlier in the week, I saw a lone deer, and a doe with her fawn. My wife observed a doe with two fawns, two bucks, a red fox and four baby raccoons. We have daily visits from several cottontail rabbits, a few squirrels and chipmunks.
Occasionally, skunks and possums meander through the yard. We have not seen a bobcat or a coyote for several months. One of my neighbors has had occasional visits from geese, bobcats, coyotes, beavers and river otters.
All three of my daughter’s families enjoy the presence of a variety of hawks on their property; some nesting and some raptors just visiting (feeding and resting).
If food or nesting habitat is available, it’s more likely that wildlife will come. We have several apple trees, blueberry and black raspberry bushes, autumn olive, hickory nut trees, concord grape vines, silky dogwood, honeysuckle, lilies, hosta and other garden vegetables as food sources for wild critters. There are a variety of bushes, conifers and hardwood trees and several birdhouses for nesting.
Plant it and they will come. What wildlife is in your yard?
Summer is an opportune time to view wildlife adults and youngsters. Some people have the pleasure of having wild visitors on their property; others do their observations in state parks and forests and nature preserves.
Here are some recent sightings on the White Memorial Foundation property in Litchfield and Morris: Baltimore oriole, osprey, green heron, wood duck, marsh wren, blue-spotted salamander, yellow-throated vireo and scarlet tanager. Visit the White Memorial Conservation Center information kiosk for a complete list of observations.
Recent sightings along the Naugatuck River include blue heron, green heron, osprey, bald eagle, merganser duck, beaver, muskrat, snapping turtle, water snake, kingfisher and turkey vulture.
Trout fishing update: There has been plenty of water and moderate air and water temperatures so far this summer, so August trout fishing should be good. Good reports recently from the West Branch of the Farmington (browns to 20 inches), Farmington River, Naugatuck River, Mill River TMA, Willimantic River TMA, Hammonasett River, Fenton River, Blackberry River and Housatonic River.
Striped bass fishing is more consistent during low light periods. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, outer Bartlett Reef, Millstone Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point and the Norwalk Islands.
Bluefish fishing has improved as more fish invade Long Island Sound, cursing striper anglers. Choppers range in size from two to 12 pounds.
With summer flounder, catching a legal-size fish is a challenge. Fluke spots include the Stonington area, Niantic Bay area, Black Point, White Sands Beach, Connecticut River Long Sand Shoal, off Hammonasset Beach State Park and Falkner Island area.
Tautog can be caught from the rock piles and structures throughout the sound. With the cooler water temperatures, they can still be found in shallow inshore water.
Hickory shad are still hanging out in the Niantic River. Early morning and dusk are the best times.
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