Tue 2 Oct The Island cats revel in the cooler weather and are now eager to patrol outside. They particularly have taken to the mulberry tree near the wooden walkway that has tilted over... making the now more horizontal trunk a perfect ramp up into a perfect perch from which to survey the lawn. The raccoon and possum are still frequent visitors despite the fact that the garbage can lid is secured by a 20-pound bag of kitty litter on top. The beaver are now brazenly in evidence on any particular evening... and will make a point to approach and then splash before diving should anyone be sitting on one of the floats, but so far seem to be chewing elsewhere than Sycamore Island.

Sat 6 Oct The Club has received notification from the Park Service that because of the recent situations there will be an increased emphasis on security along our part of the river: "Our park closure is one half hour past sunset." I will have a Ranger check the area at 7:30pm (after dark) on Friday and Saturday evenings and again early the following mornings. "We will maintain zero tolerance with violators."

Club staff has also received detailed instructions on reporting procedures on "any observed incidents occurring in the area." Accordingly, the Club Captain has now directed that the ferry will stop prior to the closing of the Park... and that the time of the last ferry to leave the Island be posted on the ferry sign-in sheet so that any Member or visitor coming on the Island will know in advance.

Mon 8 Oct During a picnic yesterday, Robert Gelb put a hook in the water baited with Irish cheddar from Sutton Place and a 24-inch, 6.5-pound catfish was pulled in. The log records this both as a record to strive for and as a comment on the upscale tastes of our spoiled Island fish.

Fri 12 Oct It is now still dark when the Caretaker's Wife crosses the river to climb the hill to work. The familiar sounds of multitudinous geese can now be heard at this time. But they are just passing through... just unseen sounds of the changing season... for by the time the light has strengthened and the first cup of coffee prepared for a stroll in the early morning light... they have taken flight and are gone.

Tue 16 Oct While watching migrating birds in the distance on their way south one dusk during the weekend it was surprising to be snapped into close focus by a nearby bat. What... did this mean there were still flying insects enough to feed bats this late in the year??? Surely there are no more hatches occurring this time of year!!! Well... a moth did race by shortly afterwards... and then... lo and behold... a lightning bug could be seen as it grew dark. The south winds are keeping the early evening temps up in the comfortable 60s... things still have their late summer greens on... and despite the low river there is still enough soil moisture content to keep the Island foliage unusually lush. Even by mid-August one expects more of a withering and parched look to Island foliage and the Island trails to be greatly widened as the plants shrink back. But not this year... and were the first leaves not on the lawn one could easily imagine a continuance of high summer. Of course... today is probably a last high mark of the ebbing season... and all this will change with tomorrow's chilled north winds.

Tue 23 Oct Jim Drew saw what was possibly an otter this weekend... or at least something that was not a beaver and had a long neck... he thinks too long a neck to have been a muskrat. Each year we have such sightings that cannot be positively confirmed... and while we all hope to be able to note the return of the river otters... so far they are still fables akin to UFOs or leprechauns.

Wed 31 Oct Grounds Supervisor Trip Reid and his successor-to-be next year, Anna Sofaer, met on the Island yesterday to begin the handing off procedure, an example of how next year the Club will again be blessed in the quality of its leaders. So many benefit because of the efforts of so few. There are also only a few who carry the business of the club by attending the monthly meetings. The monthly meeting at the Island on Wednesday, November 14, will be especially important for the future of the Club... and the stewardship of the Island. Please come so that the wishes of the wider Membership will be heard.

Excerpted from the Caretaker's Log at sycamoreisland.org

-- Doc Taliaferro, Sycamore Island Caretaker