Clams, Hairy Woodpeckers, and.... Puffins??

Well one week into the New Year and it already seems like three!  The week peaked with the first meeting of the Survey Advisory Group.  It has come time to begin developing a new community survey for the town's comprehensive plan.  For those locals that may be reading, keep your eyes out for a survey in the early spring. 

I had the opportunity yesterday to attend a clamming workshop.  Maine's State Planning Office invited planners, CEOs, and LPIs from along the coast.  Poor water quality, mainly from human waste, and invasive species like that of the green crab, have proven to be detrimental to the clam population.  While the state will likely never surpass the sale of lobsters with that of clams, but they can still become a valuable asset to some of the coastal communities.  The workshop gave participants the resources and tools necessary to begin examining local flats and rehabilitate those that have been closed.


The island, along with the rest of the northeast, has seen a very mild winter thus far.  On the first day of 2012 I found myself at Fox Rocks where I came across the sounds of a busy woodpecker.  This came just moments after thinking to myself that I never notice birds or wildlife while I am walking deep in the woods (mostly bc I walk a little too fast at times).  I snapped a few pics of this lil fella, which I believe may be a Hairy Woodpecker.  I am no birder, so correct me if I am wrong.



Today, I returned to the Fox Rocks/Perry Creek Preserve.  This time I wandered to the north side of the preserve.  After looping back onto the southern portion of the trail I startled some birds on the water.  Camera in hand I saw the birds quickly flew outside of my zoom range.  I didn't think this was any thing that would ruffle my feathers, but I may have seen my first Puffin.  The bird was white and black and relatively large, orange feet.  I couldn't notice the shape and color of the beak as it was further into the cove than my camera could identify.  I was able to snap a few pics from one of the rocky ledges in the preserve, but even after zooming in it is hard to identify.  A friend hiking with me said he thought it was a puffin as well, but confessed he did not know his birds.  Can anyone confirm whether Puffins can even be found in Perry's Creek?

 
'til next time