Dear Katie,

We had such a great variety of nature observations in October, it was almost impossible to choose just a few for the email! Below is just a small selection of what was shared in the group. Want to see the rest? Click here to join the Facebook Group.

What are you seeing out there? We'd love to hear from you! Click here for more information about Harpswell Nature Watchers.

The water was very clear at the high tide over the weekend. The tunicates on the moorings and docks were pretty visible! Most of them (according to maine.gov) are probably invasive. The growth has changed and is a lot more visible this year. The 'sea lettuce' was around last year too but not as much.

(Submitted by Gina Snyder. October 21, 2024)

Here are some birch tree backyard pals for your viewing pleasure. Some local species and others who are migrating. There are merely seconds given to focus the camera on those wiggly warblers!

Clockwise from top left: Palm Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

(Submitted by Kim Van Zorge. October 13, 2024)

A spectacular show of the northern lights!

(Submitted by Molly Scott. October 10, 2024)

I saw such a remarkable number of woolly bears crossing the road today while riding my bike that I had to look them up on Wikipedia. I found this fascinating information:

"The banded woolly bear larva emerges from the egg in the fall and overwinters in its caterpillar form, by allowing most of its mass to freeze solid. First its heart stops beating, then its gut freezes, then its blood, followed by the rest of the body. It survives being frozen by producing a cryoprotectant in its tissues. This freezing occurs outside of body cells, but not within. In the spring, it thaws."

(Submitted by Lisa Burke. October 9, 2024)

A garden visitor!

Internet sleuthing suggests this might be a European Mantis, an invasive species in New England.

(Submitted by Liz Incze. October 5, 2024)