February 8/Nature Notes

Early February 2012

It doesn't look or feel like February. Mallards are still finding plenty of water in which to swim and splash as you can see in the largest square, the photo taken last Saturday.  And moving clockwise. one duck was circling, planning to land in the creek with the already swimming ducks.

Nothing sprouting here yet, which is perfectly normal. So all plants here are sporting dried seed pods and wrinkled berries. The ducks aren't worried about the unusually warm weather, but I am because I think we may have trouble with insect infestations this summer, something that often happens after a mild winter.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.

Gilford Ice Fishers/Watery Wednesday

 Gilford: arriving by bicycle

Last Saturday the ice on Cook's Bay was about 23 centimetres (9 inches) thick so fishers from miles around arrived there in droves.  This year fishers parked their cars on terra firma as the ice was not  really safe enough for cars or trucks.  To reach their ice houses, fishers rode across the ice on bikes, all-terrain vehicles... or walked.

 Pulling a sledge

Some of you dear readers have wondered who'd be "crazy" enough to fish in the cold. The easy answer is: lots of people, mostly men but some women and kids too. Many of the fishers are not Canadians but Americans who've traveled north for the pleasure.

 Canine helper

And even a few dogs enjoyed a day out on the ice.

 On all-terrain vehicle and on foot

The huts were a fair distance from the shore so for some it was a chore to get all their gear to their fishing spots, although this guy didn't seem to mind.

 Even kids haul gear!

And these boys were quite excited to be fishing with dad.

What are they fishing for?

A pailful of perch

In this shallow water, they were catching perch.

Many thanks to Rob of Gilford Yellow Huts, Inc. (gilfordyellowhuts.com) who answered many questions my husband and I had about fishing here.

I am linking to Watery Wednesday where you can find many more watery photos.