Nature Notes - Guest Writer

February 2008

Guest Writer: David Still, Manchester

These pictures were taken from the second floor of PSNH's Energy Park headquarters in the Manchester Millyard in the afternoon of 2/5/08. The eagle was initially about 150'± away from the building in an area that retains exposed rock formations for most of the year, and then flew to a tree about 250'± away on the southeastern side of one of the larger islands in the Merrimack River.

One of the nice aspects of working here at PSNH is that I get a chance to see firsthand how comfortably a facility like this can coexist with
the environment around us. Although this was the first time I have seen an eagle so close, peregrine falcons and hawks are a fairly regular sight and several different animals have been spotted on the islands in the river. It's nice to know that there is room enough for the people and animals even in places as urbanized as downtown Manchester.

October 2007

Guest Writer: Cyndie Wilson, New Boston

Until I retired, I never dreamed that anything as rare as a Blanding's turtle could be hiding out in my front yard. Then I saw them basking with painteds on the same log, looking as much like my dad's war helmet (he was an early WWII draftee, issued a WWI helmet) as I could imagine. Since the first sighting, I've seen them on the driveway and even shared in watching newly hatched BT's with the neighbors. The shape and bright yellow neck are keys in identification.