February 5 brought another storm to Harpswell – 12 inches of powder snow with a light wind, a good day to stay home and get started on your income tax return. But the best was to come – an uninterrupted span of seven days with brilliant blue skies! With temperatures remaining below freezing most of… Read more
Norm Talbot photo Thick, soft snow swirled to the ground as I walked quietly along the path. Approaching a post I had passed many times, something seemed out of place. It dawned on me that there was a large white bird squatting on the post, seemingly unaware of my presence. As I came within 25… Read more
Ed Robinson photo When cold winds blow and hard frosts come to Maine, a silent change takes place in the animal kingdom. Many creatures we enjoy watching through the warm months begin to disappear from view. Having built up reserves of body fat in late summer and early autumn, the animals take shelter in places… Read more
My family lived in England many years, long enough to become citizens. As my wife and I sat in the plush office of a very proper attorney to swear allegiance to the Queen, the attorney placed his hand on the Bible. He fixed us with a haughty look and said, “It’s not every day… Read more
When I first saw the creature at a distance, swimming toward me in the ocean, I thought it might be a muskrat. As it came closer, it looked large enough to be a beaver. But when the animal rolled and dove, I knew it was an otter. It was a delight to watch her for… Read more
October 22, 2001 was a big day in the life of Harpswell. On that date, the Federal government transferred ownership of the Navy’s “Defense Fuel Support Point” to our town. With the stroke of a pen, Harpswell was the new owner of nearly 120 acres of ocean front land with 2,630 feet of prime shoreline… Read more
You have probably seen this tall, graceful bird standing motionless along streams and ponds. As evening approaches, you will often see herons cruising with slow wing beats, their long necks folded in a graceful S curve, spindly legs trailing as they make their way to a quiet feeding ground. Waiting patiently or stalking with purpose… Read more
Ancient mariners told wonderful tales about seeing mermaids near distant shores, thanks to long voyages, poor nutrition, sparse female companionship and too much rum. It often turned out that those “mermaids” with lovely dark eyes, long lashes and haunting gazes were harbor seals. Having been surprised many times by a seal popping up while I… Read more
No, this is not a story about oysters recovering from broken hearts. It is, however, a story of a resilient species making a quiet comeback in the cool waters around Harpswell. And if you are like me, the more oysters the better, especially with a nice dry Sancerre or Chablis at hand. Eastern oysters (Crassostrea… Read more
If you spend any time outdoors in Harpswell during the spring and summer months, you are sure to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Nature’s most beautiful birds of prey. Our town has perfect habitat for ospreys, since they invariably nest near fresh or salt water. Look for large piles of sticks perched… Read more