Photo by Andy Molloy
The ducks are emerging from roosts along the Kennebec River.

At dawn Tuesday flock of mallards were dipping in an eddy. One by one, the ducks popped into the air, flew in a circle and descended again among the flock.

The creatures often fly in braces of up to a 50 when rallied. I observed the sord for a few minutes as individual hens shot into the air and, after emitting a few feeding chuckles, dropped back to the river. Odd behavior for birds that tend to congregate and fly with groups.

The light shifted as the sun rose. A large swarm of bugs became apparent as they hatched on the river among the fowl.

Aquatic insects, on or beneath the surface, are a staple of a duck's diet.

Apparently, the Kennebec mallards were attempting to catch flies on the wing.

Well, I moved to Waterville about three weeks ago, and so far the extent of my hiking exploration has centered on the Perkins Arboretum trail system at Colby College. It's nice and close for me, and makes for a really enjoyable walk in the woods.

I went for my third walk there today (Sunday) and brought along my camera this time. Sunday was sunny, warm and there was a slight breeze. Perfect!
Here's a glance at some of the sights during my walk: tracks in the mud (whitetail deer, probably a doe); a woodpecker; a stream; berries; and a mushroom.

Photo by Andy Molloy
Dragonflies have thousands of eyes.

Staff photo by Scott Martin

The rushing water, pounding over the rocks and under the foot bridges of "Hobbit Land" greets you the second you enter the Vaughan Woods.

Photo by Andy Molloy

Eagles are loud teachers.

I watched a pair of mature Bald Eagles dive and rise repeatedly on the Kennebec River in Hallowell last week.

They vocalized upon each dive.

Then I spotted the eagle babe on the beach after he emitted several shrill shrieks when an adult picked off a fish.

The fledgeling Bald Eagle observed their behavior for over an hour from the banks in Chelsea. He attempted a few dives himself, crashing beneath the surface and swimming to shore each time.

The adult eagles chirped with encouragement.

House Sparrows and I flocked to the Augusta Fire Department Wednesday afternoon for the same reason.

Free food.

A bird feeder hangs from the outside of Hartford Station. Bob Moody, a firefighter, hangs out inside. He is the best chef in the department.

While hustling inside for baked haddock, I spotted a House Sparrow perched next to the station.

He appears to be a healthy male speciman with summer colors. Except his beak was exceptionally long.

Photo by Andy Molloy

House Sparrows do have elongated beaks in the summer. But not this long, I suspect.

Photo by Andy Molloy

Herb Wilson, the bird columnist and professor of biology at Colby College, has a lengthy blog entry about the subject of long bills. Read Herb's entry.

I was startled to learn that the condition may be hypergrowth and could be potentially lethal.

Long billed syndrome is being encountered among raptors and, recently, song birds in the northwest. A recent report explaining the disease.

I am curious to know if this critter is afflicted.

Let me know.

I skipped the haddock.

Photo by Andy Molloy

A pair of Purple Finches, left and right, wait for a Goldfinch to finish dipping in a puddle in Hallowell.

The birds bathed together following a thunderstorm.

Such preening helps birds keep their feathers lubricated, remove ticks and fleas and assists them with digestion.

I fished the Dead River at this spot near Stratton last Sunday. I was amazed at how high and cold the water was for late July.

I took a reading with my thermometer. Mid-afternoon water temperature was 67º F -- almost perfect for fly fishing. I caught one small brookie after tying on a caddis fly. Earlier I had many failed strikes with a grasshopper imitation that was probably too big a meal for the little guys who live in this beautiful river.

Erin (my girlfriend) and I fished this same spot two weeks earlier and the river was about a foot shallower and the temperature was 72º F. Not surprisingly we were skunked.

After all the recent rain, I bet the water is even higher and still in the mid-60s. Usually when August arrives, I'm thinking stripers or smallmouths, not brookies. I think I'll head back to the Dead.