forestgnome
04-01-2009, 06:56 AM
Went for a quick hike after work up to some ledges seen over Puddin Pond, North Conway, which I beleive are on Middle Mtn. I parked on the North-South Rd. and skirted the southern edge of Puddin Pond and quickly found the real goal of my hike...bare ground!!!! I found a nice bare ridge that has tons of deer droppings which led right up to the ledges.
A roughed grouse hen high in a hemlock...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709078a.jpg
Further up the ridge the hemlocks and firs give way to beech and oaks. Microspikes work great on steep bare hardwood slopes, where leaves are almost as slippery as snow.
A young Barred Owl swooped onto a nearby branch as I was soaking up the sun and quietly listening to ravens...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709096a.jpg
Some vultures were circling an area just below the ledges to the north. I decided to see if I could find what it was on the way down...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709034a.jpg
nice views from these ledges, including Mt. Chocorua, the Moats and the Presidentials...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709038a.jpg
Two ravens were flying around together making some awesome noises. Flirting/mating? I also saw a piliated woodpecker fly by below the ledges through the hardwoods. It was cool to see one from above.
This raven was harassing(?) a hawk for about ten minutes. He kept flying up to the hawk and bumping him. The raven was making a gurgling noise and the hawk was lightly screeching. Brave or foolish?
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709103a.jpg
This was all great entertainment as I took a nice nap in the spring sun.
The pretty one-day-old Moon setting over Mt. Chocorua just after sunset...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709126a.jpg
happy trails :)
A roughed grouse hen high in a hemlock...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709078a.jpg
Further up the ridge the hemlocks and firs give way to beech and oaks. Microspikes work great on steep bare hardwood slopes, where leaves are almost as slippery as snow.
A young Barred Owl swooped onto a nearby branch as I was soaking up the sun and quietly listening to ravens...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709096a.jpg
Some vultures were circling an area just below the ledges to the north. I decided to see if I could find what it was on the way down...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709034a.jpg
nice views from these ledges, including Mt. Chocorua, the Moats and the Presidentials...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709038a.jpg
Two ravens were flying around together making some awesome noises. Flirting/mating? I also saw a piliated woodpecker fly by below the ledges through the hardwoods. It was cool to see one from above.
This raven was harassing(?) a hawk for about ten minutes. He kept flying up to the hawk and bumping him. The raven was making a gurgling noise and the hawk was lightly screeching. Brave or foolish?
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709103a.jpg
This was all great entertainment as I took a nice nap in the spring sun.
The pretty one-day-old Moon setting over Mt. Chocorua just after sunset...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/forestgnome/32709126a.jpg
happy trails :)