New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

The drought is broken by two days of rain.

Thursday 09/13/2007

At last two days of rain has arrived to quench the thirst of Mother Nature. The ground has been like a sponge to drink it all is as the rivers and streams have hardly increased locally. My rain gauge measured 3.2 inches of rain, yet the Suncook River out my window has not hardly raised.

What a difference this is compared to the 3.8 inches of rain I measured during the Great Patriots Day Flood. Of course back in April the ground was still frozen and we had had nearly a foot of heavy wet snow the week before. When I checked my rain gauge I sure was expecting a bit of response from the river. That has not been the case.

Despite the rather warm temperatures the shortening days are showing on the red maples. In my hour plus long hike yesterday the dirt road was littered with bright orange and red leaves that continued to fall in the rather brisk wind. Within another few days the swamp maples will be at full color no doubt.

In my rounds yesterday I could see that some of the farmers have started chopping their corn silage. Another sure sign of fall. Although usually by now I can spot flocks of ducks milling about over the Suncook River just at dusk. I haven't seen any yet. Usually by now they are flocking and milling about in preparation for migration. Still no frost here yet so every where I hike the grass hoppers and crickets are hopping in waves at my travels. I enjoy hiking through a field of tall grass to see the life parting before me making way for my foot steps. The earth remains full of life as long as it is frost free. From crows to young foxes and coyotes the young animals born this spring have a feast of a lifetime spread before them. Little do they know that Mother Nature will soon deal them a whole different challenge of survival with the first hard frost.