The following photos are a few selected to possibly go in the calendar I talk about below. These photos were all taken in Camden, Maine.

I used 2 different Cameras for these photos. One is my trusty old Canon SX30 IS, and the other is a waterproof Fujifilm XP.  The little compact Fujifilm also takes Panoramic shots, so often we take it along even if we are not on a wet adventure.

I have been playing around with a new editing program and each of these photos has an unedited file just in case.

A panorama taken from the top of Mt. Battie.  Rumor has it Mt. Battie got it's name from the wife of the first couple to settle in Camden, Elizabeth Hassan, who was married to James Richards.  This was in the 1700s.

Camden, Maine from the top of Mt. Battie.

Turkeys make their way off the road on Washington St. or Rt. 105 in Camden, Maine

I took this photo when out in my kayak.  The leaves on the trees had just begun to really show their fall colors.
This is Megunticook River in Camden, Maine

This turkey vulture was stalking a loon and some Canada geese. They are not attractive birds
but they fly like angels. Once in flight, all you see is a majestic bird riding the wind.

Icy Camden Harbor Maine.  The schooners are all covered up for the winter.

The Camden Public Library, Maine with Mt. Battie in the background.
Some low clouds make their way across the top of the mountain.

Every year after Thanksgiving, the town of Camden puts this lighted star on top of Mt. Battie.  It is secured to the castle and the lights run on a generator. You can see it for miles away!

Looking out towards Camden, Maine from the top of Mt. Battie.

Mt. Megunticook at sunrise from the auto road that goes up Mt. Battie from the State Park side.

Rowena and I trying to make it down the mountain by sundown.

What appears to be a female Cardinal partakes of a berry from a tree next door.

This red-tailed Hawk ignores the annoying crows that are harassing him.  He was perched near the
Amphitheater on Sea St. in Camden, Maine 

A beautiful view from the Lincolnville trail that comes up near Maidens Cliff in Camden.
This would be the Fernald's Neck area.

Took my kayak under the bridge on Megunticook River to see the stream on the other side.

A Waxwing checks out the view from next door.

I do not know this bird, but I saw it carrying grass up into the
tree as if he or she was making a nest. I have seen both birds and think they live here still.

A Rainbow formed at the end of a sporadic rain shower in front of the mountains on
Mountain St. or Rt. 52 in Camden, Maine.

2015, Megunticook River loons nested successfully and brought forth TWO baby chicks this year! Unfortunately this summer was so dry that the river dropped way down, and it appears the loons got out of town earlier than normal.  We all hope that all four are doing fine and perhaps we might see them next year.

Christmas is near and it has been two years since my last post...

Last year I did a calendar of some of my photos to give to family for Christmas. I have been going through a bunch and will share a few here on this blog.

The following are photos taken in Bangor, Maine.  Some I just like, and some I chose as possibly one of the photos on the calendar.

Bangor-Brewer Bridge in Bangor, Maine looking towards Brewer

This bald eagle was in a tree behind the Merrill Bank on Main Street in Bangor, Maine

These two are snow storm shots taken near Stephen Kings house on
West Broadway, my favorite road to walk my dog.

Rowena in the Bangor City Forest, Maine

The Mall District, Bangor, Maine

A view of the old water company buildings from the railroad bridge in Bangor, Maine

The Bangor City Forest, another place I love to walk my dog.

Mayflowers in the forest.  Bangor, Maine

Bangor Municipal Golf Course, open for sledding and walks in the winter.

The Bangor City Forest, a meadow of Bobolinks and wild flowers
now grow where a landfill once sat. And my girl running up the hill.

Clear blue skies and rain clouds over 3 blossoming apple trees on Kittridge Rd. Bangor, Maine

The old Market square in Downtown Bangor, Maine in springtime.

A bridge across the Kenduskeag Stream on Central St. in Downtown  Bangor, Maine 

A Turkey Hen makes her way up East Trail in the Bangor City Forest.

One of the saddest moments in Bangor for me was when they ripped out the lupine field  at the
end of old Kittridge Rd. and put in a tire place.  This was one of those lupine I loved so  much.

Giant Ichneumon Wasps

These female wasps, though intimidating to see, do not sting.  In these photos, the females are inserting eggs into a certain kind of fungus that the larvae will eat all winter, before emerging next year to repeat this cycle.  Obviously if this is happening on a standing tree, it doesn't bode well as it means the tree is rotting inside.  These females in this photo have less than 27 days left of their short little lives.

 

 

 

A Great Year for Water Arum

Last year was so hot and dry, the City Forest was the driest I have ever seen it!  There was no water for the Water Arum to grow!  This year we have so far had a good amount of rain, so the pools are filled.  The tangled roots of the Water Arum is easily seen under water at most of these pools, streams, and other areas of the bog where there is water.  It is nice to see them return!