Wednesday -- March 1, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.7     Water Temperature: 40

It was good to see Warren Brown down here yesterday. he came to pick up some paddles from his locker. I've only met him once before and I'm afraid I didn't afford him the proper respect that a former president deserves. He live in Annapolis now and rarely comes by, another indication how things keep changing down here.

Thursday -- March 2, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.7     Water Temperature: 42

I'm so happy, I caught one of the ground hogs! I noticed yesterday that they had come out of hibernation. I had closed off all the exits from under the porch during the winter so when I saw a new hole dug under the foundation I knew they were active again. My plan this time was not to bait the trap but place it right up against this new hole so that the unsuspecting rodents would have to pass through the trap to leave their haven under my bathroom.

I'd forgotten about my trap until I heard noises outside my window and I excitedly rushed to see what I'd caught. It wasn't a ground hog but a curious squirrel that I'd caught. I released the jittery squirrel and reset the trap. It was only ten minutes later that I heard the trap close again and this time I had my quarry, a very unhappy ground hog. I have to admit, it made me nervous picking up this cage with a wild animal in it and it wasn't easy carrying this squirming beast while I held my thumb tight against the door of the cage. I took the poor creature across the canal and released it at the top of the hill. I hope it doesn't find it's way back to the island. It seems unlikely that a ground hog could swim across the canal and the river to reunite with its partner but I've learned to never underestimate these animals.

My heart strings were pull a little when, as I pulled the ferry back to the island, I saw my recent captive's partner standing on the wall near its burrow looking longingly toward the mainland shore. One down and at least one more to go.

Friday -- March 3, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.7     Water Temperature: 42

After thinking about it a little more I think the ground hog I captured yesterday was a yearling, one of the offspring of last year, and the other hog I saw on the island was its mother. The mother is quite a bit larger and has more defined markings, like a darker tail. This morning the trap had been sprung but was empty which makes me think I'm going to need a bigger trap if I want to catch the mamma bear.

Monday -- March 6, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 42

At 3.5 feet the river is the lowest it's been since november. This bodes well for the upcoming spring-flood season but I wonder how much longer my luck can hold out.

The Spring Beauties are blooming on the south-facing slopes along the trail and the first of the Bluebell blossoms are starting to show.

Tuesday -- March 7, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 42

I bought a bigger trap yesterday and I think I have a good chance of catching the big ground hog.

I'm also having trouble with the ground hog's smaller cousin, the short-tailed mouse. They seem to enjoy making their nests inside the insulation of my dishwasher.

It's not that I don't like these creatures, I'm just very territorial.

Saturday -- March 11, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 50

I caught the ground hog and now it is living happily under the bridge over the canal. I also caught the mouse but things didn't turn out as well for her.

Monday -- March 13, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 59

Thursday -- March 16, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 53

I caught another ground hog!? I think this one was the adult male and I think it was the last ground hog on the island.

Friday -- March 17, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.3     Water Temperature: 53

It was so exciting this morning to see fifty snow geese bobbing in the water near the captain's float. It was around 6:30 when I put the water on for the coffee and stepped outside. I wasn't sure what I was looking at so I quickly stepped back inside and grabbed my gun, I mean my binoculars and my camera. It was like a scene from a fairy tale as I walked towards the river's edge, the glowing white geese floating on the dark river in the dim light of dawn. The birding in general has been excellent lately and the woods are filled with song. Many of our nesting birds are returning like the phoebe, the cormorants and the wood ducks(also known as summer duck or spring ducks.) Many of the wintering birds are also still present. I saw a group of common golden eye,( we found a dead one on the island, an immature female.)some buffleheads and I still catch a glimpse of a common merganser now and then. The grebes are still around, red-necked and pied-billed and now I there are also kingfishers and great blue herons to admire as well.

Monday -- March 20, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.3     Water Temperature: 47

Happy first day of spring. The signs of spring are everywhere except on the thermometer and we had only one family visit the island all weekend.

Saturday -- March 25, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.2     Water Temperature: 46

I'd like to report that all the materials for the new canoe dock are on the island now. It took quite a bit of work but Tryon, the Island captain, and myself managed move all the floatation, 12 foot 2x6's and plywood needed for the new dock.

I put a basket ball hoop down by the tree house so now we can have a little March madness, Sycamore style. The dirt court is hard to dribble on but the rim is at the regulation height and is great for shooting around. Speaking of the tree house, there have been some improvements to it as well, including a new ladder.

I've been hearing the late-night calls of the barred owl lately and Kelsey and I got a good look at one the other night as it sat quietly in a tree.

I've been watching the diving ducks as well and it's great to have these wintering ducks still here as they change into their more colorful breeding plumage.

On the subject of diving ducks, I noticed some interesting goose behavior. During this time of year the geese are very busy as they loudly stake out their nesting territory and violently chase away any intruders which are mainly other geese. Well, at least one goose has figured out the evasive maneuver of diving under water like a cormorant. It was funny to watch the dumfounded big goose as it looked for it's adversary under the water only to realize that it had swam undetected into the guarded territory.

Sunday -- March 26, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.2     Water Temperature: 46

I thought I had all of the ground hogs bagged but I just saw another one scurry back into its hole.

More exciting bird news, I saw a flock of fifty tundra swans hanging out near Minnies Island. I also discovered where the cormorants are roosting. There is a large sycamore with a dozen active cormorant nests in it below Minnies. I saw a fox on Minnies and I think it has a den there.

Monday -- March 27, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.2     Water Temperature: 46

I caught another ground hog this morning and I'd like to think that it was the last one on the island, but I've learned that you can't be too hasty about these kinds of conclusions.

Tuesday -- March 28, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.2     Water Temperature: 46