Ocean Preserves

 Today we went to:

Cousins island, Little John Island

Broad Cove Preserve 

Knights Pond Preserve

Lots of Horse Shoe crabs at Broad Cove. A fair amount of life today during all walks.

Mill Brook Preserve

 We went to an Alewife walk and talk today. We went to 55 Perry Court to one of the Mill Brook Preserve entrances. This is worth walking again as it has 6 miles of trails and the one we were on followed a brook.

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute gave us lots of information during the walk and then at a pool. You could  see the Alewife in the Brook for must of the walk. The fish go up the river to Highland lake to spawn. They then return to the ocean and can come back 3-4 years. Most of the winter they are in the ocean near Cape Cod. They can find out lots of information about where the fish was, based on temperature readings that are recorded over time by a part of the fish ear. The fish ear part can be "read" like rings on a tree. They are also using environmental DNA techniques to determine where fish are by water sampling. Alewife provide food for many species including seals, birds, and other fish. To find seals this time of year you can look for Alewife migration.

 

Ocean Walk

 Started at Kettle Cove and walked Crescent Beach. Then a walk along the rocks just North on the coast near Two Lights SP.

Early June

 Pleasant Mountain. Nice waterfalls that usually are not there today.

Westbrook:

Fore River Sanctuary, Westbrook:

Lees Pond Sunset

 

Castle in the Clouds the next day: