Framingham Nature Blog - Range Pond, Maine

The Loon Family

On the first night there we realized that the lake was well populated with loons from the Haunting and Awesome loon wails. In order to get good pictures with my phones camera, I needed to kayak within a couple feet from the loon and her chicks. I approached them in 2 seperate attempts to get close. The second time, i got too close and the mom let her chicks fall into the water and spreaded her wings. I almost bumped into her, and i was panicking, trying to quickly paddle backwards, away from them. The mother loon wailed/howled at me so loudly i could barely hear a random woman on shore holding up a finger and shouting "Too Close!!!". well duh.

The Bass, leaches, and Water Stick Insect

While at the lake, I accumulated a collection on small aquatic animals, which i kept in the two "pet carriers" i brought. I found and caught painted turtles, a musk turtle, a water stick insect, 3 bass fry (two of which ended up in the 29 Gallon, and a leach, some mystery snails, and freshwater mussels. My brother and cousins caught a few Pumpkinseed Sunfish while there, one of which we killed for bait (unsuccessful).

Water Stick Insect

Young Largemouth Bass

Leach That I Found On My Foot

The Water Snake

A Northern Water Snake lived on the peninsula that our dock was located. We repeatedly saw it coiled up, basking, and it would shoot into the bushes at any sudden movement by us. My cousins, brother and aunt were terrified of it, to the point where they were scared to go in the water. Water snakes only go in the water to cool off, or hunt small animals like fish, frogs, and insects. got one close up picture. Cool Pattern.