I've got 30 words for you...

2011-11-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

In this picture, you can see me being about as happy as I can possibly be! The gentleman at my side is Dr. Heinz Meng of New Paltz, New York. He is a world renowned raptor biologist and also the person who first exposed me to the sport of falconry, forever changing the course of my life. I'll always feel that I owe so much to this man. I have a very short list of "heroes," and in my book, Heinz is right up there with my grandfather and John Muir. I got to share lunch with him last weekend at the annual field meet of the New York State Falconry Association, in Cobleskill. Although I've spoken with him over the phone, I hadn't seen him in person for twenty years, and it really made my day. And if that weren't enough, he took me over to the car and presented me with a cardboard box full of old falconry publications and correspondence from the late 1950's and early 1960's, that will now reside in my library. Thank you so much Heinz!

2011-11-11T10:33:00.002-05:00

Here's the pumpkin that Emily carved this year. She did a great job with it, and unlike me, she was excited to make our house look inviting to the neighborhood kids. Unfortunately, she only got to hand out candy to two children, as they were the only ones that came to the door. Maybe the rest of the kids in the area were afraid that the "bird man" would give them a frozen quail or a live pigeon in their little treat bags. There's a very unequal ratio of tricks to treats on Halloween around here.

2011-11-11T10:26:00.002-05:00

I carved a pumpkin for my girl. She was very happy with it. And that's about as far as my interest in Halloween goes. Anything to do with decorating, or dressing up, or welcoming small children into the house, goes onto my long list of "Things I Don't Give a Flip About." Apparently, even Halloween brings the curmudgeon out of me. It's not just Christmas that annoys me.

2011-11-11T10:19:00.002-05:00

I had to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to update my address, and get a new driver's license, so I brought along a magazine and assumed that I would have to sit there waiting for 45 minutes before getting to talk to a DMV employee, which seems to be par for the course with them. I walked through the buzzing door, grabbed a numbered ticket, and stepped into the waiting area to find that I was literally the ONLY person there, besides the four employees that were staring at me, wondering which of them I would choose to pester. I couldn't believe it!! Still don't....

2011-11-11T09:51:00.002-05:00

Here's a 'possum profile for you to admire! Enjoy. This little creep used to live in my barn. One night, after nearly stepping on him accidentally, and then telling Emily about what he looked like and how much he probably weighs, it was decided that he needed to go live elsewhere. Meaning, she said, "Get it the hell out of here!!" He has been successfully evicted.

2011-11-11T09:46:00.002-05:00

Here's a peek at my new pigeon loft. Through the yellow door is a central room to hold feed and equipment. On either side of that room is a six by eight foot loft. The left side holds my old Janssen-line racing homers. The right side holds their progeny, which are trained for homing and will be used for dog training and hawk-trapping.

2011-11-11T09:35:00.002-05:00

This year, I decided to trap and train a peregrine falcon. I've never had a whole lot of interest in large falcons. I've trained lots of captive-bred ones, and generally speaking, I'm more interested in watching goshawks, redtails, and merlins fly down their prey. However, the opportunity to fly passage peregrines after over 40 years of them being restricted from falconry use is a huge privilege and I wanted to discover for myself, how well a female could do with hunting the large ducks of Maine's coastal estuaries. So here's "Mistress." I hope she does as well hunting as she has been doing during her early training.

2011-11-11T09:28:00.002-05:00

At ten monoths of age, Frannie has been a fun addition to the fall bird hunting team. Sadie has always had a reputation for being an incredible "woodcock vacuum," but little Frannie managed to hold her own during our October hunts, and on several occassions, actually pointed birds before old Sadie girl managed to find them. What she lacks in natural ability, she's starting to make up for with enthusiasm. One of the birds in this photo was shot over a strong point by Frannie. Good dog!

2011-11-11T09:16:00.002-05:00

My favorite time of year has just about come to an end. As usual, the highlight of the autumn season (for me) is going out to my hawk-trapping blind and catching lots of migrating raptors. There's almost nothing I'd rather do than stare into a blue sky on a cool fall day, with a stiff breeze pushing down from the northwest.

2011-11-11T08:56:00.002-05:00

I neglected to write about an incredible experience that I had this fall; One afternoon, I decided to grab a few maki rolls as a "snack." I've got a real love for spicy foods, so I asked the sushi chef for an extra big lump of wasabi. He gave me a golfball-sized portion of it. I've never had access to that much wasabi in one sitting, and was thrilled at the prospect of overdoing it. (I don't always practice moderation) Well, long story short, I experienced the usual head-rush, teary-eyes, sweaty forehead, and runny nose that I'm used to, but I also had the somewhat terrifying sensation of my heart pounding out of my chest and beating really strangely! I actually sat there wondering if it was possible to instigate a heart attack with hot foods. It freaked me out enough to ask a friend (who is a nurse) about it afterwards. He told me that I had experienced a spell of situational tachycardia, and that I hadn't really endangered my life, but if I was disgustingly obese or had a really weak heart, it could have become a seriously dangerous meal. Can you imagine?! Death by wasabi! I wonder if it has ever happened?

2011-09-10T13:14:00.002-04:00

Frannie is growing up and her house training and basic obedience has been coming along nicely despite her abundant energy and undying desire for anything naughty. For a few weeks now, we've been working on her field training with planted birds. She's showing a good nose, but it may be tough to convince her that she needs to hold point during and after the flush!

2011-06-12T09:11:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again. Baby raptors are cracking their way out of eggs all over the northeast! This is the view from a red-shouldered hawk nest about 70 feet up a huge old oak tree.

2011-06-12T08:55:00.002-04:00

Buff Orpington, Sicilian Buttercup, and Buff-laced Polish. The chickens have been really enjoying their new back yard this spring, and must be doing well with their foraging, as they've nearly stopped eating their grain, but continued to lay about an egg a day.

2011-06-12T08:39:00.002-04:00

I snapped this photo in my neighbor's yard, and all I can think when I look at it is, "Benjamin Franklin." Ever since I heard that he wanted the turkey to be our national symbol, I've thought there was some real merit in that suggestion. Even though I'm an avid raptorphile, I'm just not a fan of bald eagles, and have no real interest in them.

2011-04-26T09:03:00.002-04:00

Frannie's favorite part of each day is our excursion to the "blueberry plains" which are just up the road from our new house. I feel really lucky to have access to this area, as it's a great place for training hawks and falcons, and a really fun and safe place to let a young dog enjoy playing and growing up. This picture really captures the joy that this dog exudes.

2011-04-26T08:54:00.002-04:00

This new puppy spends an inordinate amount of time each day being incredibly rude to Sadie, but as usual, the old pointer maintains her signature "zen" approach to life and tolerates an amazing amount of abuse. Thank goodness for Sadie. So far, I think she has trained Frannie more than I have. She's been great at leading the little pup through the routines of each day.

2011-04-26T08:48:00.002-04:00

Having been such a fan of pointers and setters for so many years, I didn't really want to get a Vizsla, but after building our new kitchen and putting in counter-tops made of old reclaimed southern yellow pine, I decided that I should pick a breed that went well with the colors of the kitchen. She's a pretty close match. Obviously, I'm joking, but over the years, I've heard of folks choosing a dog breed for reasons more trivial than this.

2011-04-26T08:42:00.002-04:00

Warning: An eight week old puppy is extremely cute!

2011-04-26T08:31:00.002-04:00

Aside from getting engaged, the other big news of the last few months is that I'm training a new bird dog! This little Vizsla pup has been doing a great job, and seems to be very clever. We named her "Frannie" after the late raptor biologist Francis Hamerstrom, who was an incredible woman. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that little Frannie-pup impresses me as much as the original Mrs. Hamerstrom did.

2011-04-26T08:22:00.002-04:00

It's really amazing how quickly this winter raced by. Spring is here, and it's time to go full steam ahead with getting the ice cream shop opened up for another season. Because of the house renovation, I wasn't able to travel this winter, or do much writing, and I made almost no time to paint or build fly-rods. All I can do is hope that I find myself with more free time next winter to get back to some of these things.

2011-04-13T10:58:00.002-04:00

One of the best days of this past winter was getting out with Nate and his family for some ice fishing. Randy and I drove over to meet up with the whole clan out on the ice. Nate was out there with all four of his boys, one of his brothers, and both of his parents. We had a rip-roaring good time playing on the ice and getting film footage of the boys manning the lines of the traps. We also had a great view of an adult bald eagle swooping in to snatch up a fish that we had left out on top of the ice.

2011-04-13T10:19:00.002-04:00

Randy and I managed to get out and do a bit of hunting together this winter, which usually resulted in us sitting around in the snow and talking quietly with one another until we decided that it was too cold to stay out any longer and it was time for a bottle o' suds! We have an old fox hat that I made several years ago, which is in need of retirement, so when we called in this foxy lady, we decided that she'd become the new hat for the Auchtermachty Lodge.

2011-04-13T09:55:00.002-04:00

Just want to give a congratulatory "shout out" to my big sister Lesley, who has finally completed her dissertation, and is mere moments away from escaping the clutches of higher education. Somehow, in her 35 years of life, she has managed to squeeze in approximately 47 years worth of college credits, and will henceforth be referred to as "Dr. Beaner" or "Profesora Leslita." Congratulations Lesley. I am truly proud of you, and I love you.

2011-04-13T09:36:00.002-04:00

Found these crazy little ice monsters while hunting rabbits and ducks in Nantucket this winter. Two hawking buddies and I went out to spend some time with long-time friend Mark, (a.k.a. "The Bird-Man of Nantucket") and in trade for cooking him good meals at the end of each day, he guided us around the island and directed us to good hunting areas. It was a great trip. One that I hope to repeat. These icy phalluses were the result of a burst water pipe that ran to the outdoor shower behind a seasonal cottage. It was spraying a fine mist over 20 feet from the cottage.

2011-04-13T09:21:00.002-04:00

The biggest bit of news from the past few months is that while our house was a total mess, and still clearly a busy jobsite, I took it upon myself one evening to cook up one of Emily's favorite meals while she was busy painting. We sat down to eat(on milk crates) and I pulled out a bottle of champagne and a ring, and did my best to talk her into marrying me. She decided that she still liked me well enough to take the leap, and said "yes." So one day, when this project is behind us, we'll plan a simple wedding and "get hitched." We're both very happy about it.

2011-04-13T09:13:00.002-04:00

Well, it seems I've been absent from this blog for quite some time, and my most valid excuse (aside from suffering some of the winter doldrums) is that Emily and I have been completely engrossed in the renovation of our new home, and all of the tasks and trials that have come with that project. It's been a long haul, but the project is just about finished. If you'd like to hear about it all in detail, and see loads of photos of the house, inside and out, have a peek at Emily's blog about it; www.64highstreet.blogspot.com

2011-01-16T08:18:00.002-05:00

After duck hunting a few days ago, I was headed home along Goochs Beach, and the sky was a spectacle to behold. I was one of only a handful of people down there, and it was obvious that I wasn't the only one enjoying the view!

2011-01-16T08:10:00.002-05:00

If you can tell me what's going in here, you win a prize. I have no clue. I spotted this dude in the parking lot of our local shopping center, harnessing up his goat and heading for the doors.

2011-01-16T08:06:00.001-05:00

Immature redtailed hawk with hen pheasant in frost covered grass.

2011-01-16T07:49:00.002-05:00

I've been seeing LOTS of Barred Owls in southern Maine in the last couple of months. Initially I was thinking that it must be because of snow cover north of here making it difficult for them to hunt, and driving them further south in search of their preferred foods (mice, moles, voles, shrews, etc.) but there really hasn't been a whole lot of snow this winter. I'm now wondering if there are just lots of Strix varia in Maine, and I happen to be seeing them because I've been out with my goshawk so much. Either way, they're cool birds to see, and awfully endearing with their big black eyes.

2011-01-16T06:57:00.002-05:00

Typically, this time of year is all about falconry for me. January and February are the two months when the sport really comes into itself each year, and despite the fact that Emily and I are renovating our house and staying involved with that, I've still been able to get out and do some hawking for at least a portion of every day. If it weren't for my falconry lifestyle demanding that I get outside and enjoy the winter months in Maine, I don't think I could live here. I don't know how passionless people do it. The winters are just too much of a drag. Thank goodness for falconry.

2010-12-26T17:37:00.002-05:00

I spotted this wild car cruising through town the other day with a replica (I hope) human skull on the back dash, and wondered if it was being driven by someone who had a firm and comfortable grasp of their own identity, or if the driver in fact had no clue as to how they wanted to to express their individuality, aside from being aggressively alternative. Either way, I thought the car was great.

2010-11-27T08:21:00.002-05:00

I had a really interesting realization the other day while I was at a convenience store. I always see gas stations as grim, dark, dismal places where you can witness some of the worst things about our society. I don't mean the obvious purpose of the place, which is our dependence upon foreign oil. That's another subject entirely. I'm referring to the fact that at almost any time you visit one of these places, you can witness someone indulging in their addictions to junk food, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, or gambling. All over the country, there are men and women spending money at "convenience stores" that they should really just keep in their pockets. I've always focused on the worst of these places, so in that frame of mind I went into our local Mobil station recently and witnessed a guy who was hanging around the registers chatting with the two clerks who were working. He seemed to have been there for quite a while, and didn't look like he had any intention of leaving anytime soon. I immediately judged him, thinking, "What a loser. This dude's entire social life revolves around the candid relationship that he's developed with a couple of gas station clerks. He's probably in here every day, just standing around talking about nothing." But as I walked out and was getting back into my car, I realized that I had been too quick to judge and really had no right to think so poorly of the gentleman inside. What business of mine is it to judge this man for spending time in there? When I'm alone, I prefer to spend time reading old falconry books with a glass of Scotch or a "Rusty Nail" in hand. I consider it an intellectual endeavor, time well spent. Others might see my sitting there with antiquated books and hard liquor and think, "How sad. That's how this guy chooses to spend his time." And maybe they're right. After all, we are a social mammal, and it's in our nature to want to interact with other humans. So maybe the guy standing in the convenience store, scratching a lottery ticket and making jokes with the employees has actually chosen to spend his free time in a more natural and understandable way than I have. Maybe I should learn to be a bit less judgemental. Food for thought.

2010-11-23T18:01:00.002-05:00

The highlight of this fall was having the opportunity to go to northern Maine with a close friend, and spend a week hunting moose and grouse. On opening morning, I shot this trophy bull. We were lucky enough to see 8 moose during the first legal hour of the season, and I chose the largest male. It was a truly iconic "Maine" experience and an epic hunt that I'll never forget. On the hoof, this moose weighed about a thousand pounds and had an antler spread of over 50 inches. We now have over 400 pounds of meat in the freezer, which is a really good feeling. For a long time now, I've been a proponent of boycotting the beef industry. The success of this hunt allows me to continue doing so, while eating good quality free-range, organic red meat. We will continue to show this animal a lot of reverence for quite some time. Thank you Mr. Moose.

2010-11-23T17:53:00.002-05:00

Poor old Sadie dog got all excited when I started organizing my gear for moose hunting. While I was waiting for Randy to come pick me up so that we could head up to Jackman, I moved my stuff outside. Sadie spotted me heading down the stairs with gun cases in hand, and assumed that she would be a part of the trip. How do you tell a seasoned hunting dog that she's not allowed to come on a hunting trip?

2010-11-23T17:26:00.002-05:00

I neglected to mention it on this blog, but Mack, the English Setter, now lives in Oklahoma with a friend of mine. It's not apparent in this photo, but Mack has an excessive amount of energy, and is the kind of hunting dog that was bred with about two extra pistons in his engine. Consequently, he's not particularly well-suited for hunting woodcock in northern New England. A fellow falconer decided to take him out to the mid-west and set him loose as a working dog in more open country and apparently, he's doing really well out there and running several miles each day. So this household is left with one, geriatric English Pointer. It seems I'm in need of a new hunting dog.

2010-11-23T17:13:00.002-05:00

Okay, I think I can finally write about this. Around about late summer, I was talking with one of my closest friends about the fact that Emily had never been out on a lobstering boat, but wanted to. His uncle and mother both have recreational lobstering licenses, and he suggested that we join them some morning to go out and haul some traps. It sounded great to me, so off we went. Well, there were six of us on the boat that morning, and three of us got sea-sick. There was no vomiting involved, but I was so ill that I could barely function for several hours after getting off the boat! Luckily, I pulled myself together in time for a lobster dinner that night.

2010-11-23T17:04:00.002-05:00

Emily and I had to make a quick trip up to Lovell Maine recently and somewhat accidentally ended up hiking up the backside of a ski mountain. It's a bit of a long story, but we enjoyed the opportunity to spend a fine New England autumn day together. You simply can't beat the weather in northern New England at this time of year.

2010-11-23T16:54:00.002-05:00

Here are the little longwings. A pair of merlin falcons. "Her Majesty" and "Sgt. Pepper" are being trained to fly as a team, in a cast, to catch birds smaller than themselves. They're doing a great job, and have already caught some wild birds. The female is doing particularly well, and gets her exercise each morning when I fly her to the lure, and then rests during the day, waiting to be flown at wild birds in the afternoon. I've always loved merlins, and I'm so happy to be working with them again.

2010-11-23T16:48:00.002-05:00

Finnegan is back in action. Here he is in his adult plumage, ready for his second hunting season. He's already catching ducks again, and seems to remember all of the lessons that he learned while we were together last year. He has really been an exemplary goshawk, and a joy to be around. Of course he has his moments,... he's a goshawk, but generally speaking he's a good citizen and a great hunter.

2010-11-23T16:34:00.002-05:00

I'm chiming in to report that the chickens have finally started laying eggs. Actually, as far as I can determine, only one of them is actually laying so far. I caught our Sicilian Buttercup "in the act" last week, so I'm assuming that all of the small cream colored eggs we've gotten so far are from her, (about 10 in the last 2 weeks). The other ladies better start paying some rent soon, or eviction notices will be issued.

2010-10-22T21:49:00.002-04:00

Whenever I go to Fort Williams Park, I can't keep myself from "storming the castle." The oldest lighthouse in Maine is Portland Head Light (actually in Cape Elizabeth, not Portland) and just up the hill from the lighthouse you find the remains of Goddard Mansion where Colonel John Goddard lived with his family during the mid to late 1800's. I wonder if he, or any of his family members, saw the rock climbing potential that his home held.

2010-10-22T21:16:00.002-04:00

Despite a hectic summer work schedule, I did manage to find a little time to sneak away from Wells with Emily. Our most enjoyable diversion was a visit to Vinalhaven island, off the coast of Maine. We were lucky enough to stay in a quaint little cottage on a quiet cove with the parents of a close friend. Vinalhaven is such a nice island. I'd love to spend an entire summer up there and really soak it up.

2010-10-22T21:06:00.002-04:00

Summer slithered away on me and I've just realized that this blog has been sorely neglected. Time for an update.....

2010-07-16T16:51:00.002-04:00

"True happiness will never be found through status or possessions. True happiness will only be found through relationships and experiences. No one knows this better than the hunter."

A nest full of baby merlin falcons to feast your eyes upon!

2010-07-01T09:38:00.001-04:00

Could someone please explain this to me? Pig?! What?! This is the packaging of a lamp that I bought recently.

2010-07-01T09:29:00.002-04:00

The excitement for the past month or so (aside from getting the ice cream shop opened for the season) has been getting and raising chickens! I just finished building a coop for egg-laying hens and although it was a small project, it was truly a community effort. I'm so lucky to have people around me that I can call upon for assistance with things like this. Lumber and hardware was provided by my close friend Nate. Pete and Theron were there to offer a hand (and sage advice) during the actual construction. Windows and roofing materials were donated. I was able to borrow a trailer to get the finished coop from where I built it over to my place. My cousin Allison helped me and Emily put it up onto a small block foundation. Basically, the whole thing came together with a lot of kindness and generosity. Thank you everyone!

2010-07-01T09:26:00.001-04:00

Cracking away at the process of roofing the coop.

2010-07-01T09:23:00.001-04:00

One of two old windows, framed up and ready to install.

2010-07-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Cutting out a small accent window that will serve as ventilation and added aesthetic appeal.

2010-07-01T09:17:00.001-04:00

Nearly finished, and awaiting transport over to my place. I wonder how the chickens are going to like living right next door to a goshawk?

2010-07-01T09:10:00.002-04:00

The finished coop. I'm pretty proud of this little creation. For someone with very little carpentry talent, I think the finished product came out really nicely. Hopefully, it will house many generations of laying hens over the years. Emily chose the colors and did the painting and I finished it off with a sliding door to allow access to the wired run off the back, as well as nest boxes, and roosting perches inside.

2010-05-22T12:49:00.002-04:00

I'm about to post a recipe, which I've never done here before. Some of the folks who read this blog may not know that I LOVE to cook! If I were to compile a list of my top five favorite ways to spend time, "cooking good food" would make an appearance.

My family in California served this up a few years ago, and we all raved about it. More recently, I decided to share it with Emily and she proclaimed that it was, hands down the best food she's ever eaten. Stick to the following instructions and you will not be sorry.

Ingredients; 1lb diced fresh tomatoes, 2 thinly sliced serrano chiles, 1/2 cup of thinly sliced green onions 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 2 1/2 Tbsp of brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, 4 tsp minced ginger, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 tsp each of mustard seed, pepper, & ground cumin, 1/2 tsp tumeric, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 avocados cut into chunks

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, chilis, and green onions. In a saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil and add sugar and salt, then stir and remove from heat. In another pan, heat olive oil and add ginger, garlic, and dry spices. Toast well, then stir in the vinegar mix and pour over the tomato mixture in the large bowl. Let cool, then cover and chill for at least an hour (up to 4). An hour before serving, stir in avocados and bring to room temp.

Now, in a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1/4 cup of lime juice, 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro, 1 Tbsp of ground cumin, and a 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Toss in 4 chicken breasts (or equivalent) and turn occassionally for 45 minutes. Prepare grill to high heat. Grill chicken, turning often for 15 minutes or so. Plate up the chicken and ladle the avocado salsa mix over top of it. Serve with whatever side dish you deem appropriate and pour yourself and your guest(s) a glass of wine - I would suggest a Vinho Verde from Portugal. Enjoy!! This really is a killer dish. Please treat yourself and your loved ones to it, and then leave a comment here telling me how it went, if you are so inclined.

2010-05-22T12:45:00.001-04:00

Turkey feathers in the sunlight, up close.

2010-05-18T10:04:00.002-04:00

I had an amazing experience yesterday morning. One of my friends had been watching this trophy turkey on his property and had the bird and his habits pretty well figured out. He was kind enough to invite me to join him on the hunt, so we got into the woods before daybreak, and about an hour later, emerged with a 21-pound Tom! He did all of the calling, and I pulled the trigger. Read: he did the hard work and I got to reap the benefits!

2010-05-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

I've been checking in on a lot of nesting raptors during the last couple of weeks. It's a great time of year, with several species establishing territories and putting the final touches to their nests for the year, and others already tending to their newly hatched chicks. Judging from the feathers at their "plucking post," the goshawks that built the nest in this photo have been dining on everything from flickers to crows!

2010-05-18T09:50:00.002-04:00

Here in Maine, the annual run of shad is just about over. It started early this year with some beautiful, brightly colored fish coming into our tidal rivers from the ocean. I really love catching some of these fish each spring.

Thinking about their historical significance to New Englanders adds a certain poignancy to the act of catching them.

2010-05-06T22:22:00.003-04:00

Emily and I just returned from a trip to Puerto Rico. We had a great time together and saw some beautiful places on the island, but we both agreed that we didn't have any desire to return to PR anytime soon. Driving around the island is a nightmare and it's a miracle that we didn't have an accident with our rental car. There is trash everywhere. There are dead dogs (strays) in the road all over the place. Decent food is annoyingly difficult to find. The police seem to have simply thrown up their hands and said "To hell with it. Let everyone do whatever they please." In short, it's a crazy place to visit. I wouldn't necessarily discourage people from going but I would have some very specific advice about how and where to spend your time while there. Or I would offer suggestions for alternate travel destinations.

2010-05-06T22:08:00.002-04:00

Fly-fishing on the flats of Culebra was without a doubt, the highlight of the entire vacation. Tourists to Puerto Rico often rave about the experience of visiting the rainforest, and I'll admit that it was nice but in the rainforest we are observers only. Outsiders. Walking a trail through a national park and looking at plants and animals from a distance with a horde of other hoopleheads simply can't compare to the experience of slowly walking a saltwater flat stalking tropical fish species with fishing tackle in hand. Fishing the flats is a chance to become an active participant in an unfamiliar environment, and in my opinion that fact makes it a far superior experience. I LOVED it! And I loved Culebra. I found it much more interesting and beautiful and inviting than the main island of Puerto Rico. After a day of fishing the flats, Emily and I hitch-hiked back to town so that we could catch the ferry back to Fajardo and we were picked up by an exemplary young woman named Quetcy. She was born and raised on Culebra and although she has traveled to other shores and has learned to love places like France, she swore that nothing could compare to her home island of Culebra and that she would never want to live anywhere else. She said that although it would take many days to see all of the island, you only needed to visit for an hour to fall in love with it. I have to agree with her.

2010-05-06T22:02:00.002-04:00

Emily was such a good sport, as always. She helped me paddle out to the bonefish flats and was happy to have me leave her in a shallow section before taking off on foot in search of fish. She had her book, some water, and a bottle of sunblock and was happy to entertain herself for hours while I stalked pods of bonefish.

2010-05-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

While fly-fishing, I saw so much wildlife that I was visually overwhelmed. It was like experiencing sensory overload. I've never taken any drugs, but being on a saltwater flat is what I would imagine a good acid trip to be like. There were bonefish, permit, jacks, grunts, barracudas, baitfish, coral, turtlegrass, different species of urchins and sea-stars, and on and on and on.

2010-05-06T21:51:00.002-04:00

"Fresh Hot Fries" in a vending machine?! Define "fresh." I'm having trouble with the concept.

2010-05-06T21:43:00.002-04:00

Don't worry, I didn't jump. And I also didn't drink any of the water. Emily read in a guide book that some of the water sources in the Puerto Rican rainforest carry fungal spores that can be seriously detrimental to your liver function. My whiskey consumption already has the corner on that market, so there's no room for spores.

2010-05-06T21:38:00.001-04:00

This seems to be a theme with me. Just on this blog, I've got pictures of a New Zealand vineyard through a window, the Grand Canyon through a window, and now a rainforest as seen through windows.

2010-05-06T21:26:00.002-04:00

La Mina falls in El Yunque rainforest.

2010-05-06T21:24:00.001-04:00

This little guy introduced himself as "Percy McHorowitz" and then posed for a picture before giong about his business.

2010-05-06T21:21:00.001-04:00

These little beauties were less than a square centimeter in size and covered a huge portion of a dead tree in the rainforest.

2010-05-06T21:11:00.003-04:00

I'm convinced that very few tourists ever see this particular Puerto Rican waterfall. Mainly because it's at the top of a 30 mile dead-end road that requires several sharp switchbacks on a narrow road that gains over 3,000 feet of elevation near its end. I wish that I could claim that we went up the road on purpose, but it was simply one more example of being lost due to faulty maps and nonexistent or inadequate road signs. I would estimate that we got lost about 4 times a day, and I would consider myself a very competent map reader with a great sense of direction. But it was worth the drive. I went racing up the rock at full speed, like an overly excited child turned loose at an unfamiliar playground.

2010-05-06T21:01:00.002-04:00

Soak it up... the stuff that nightmares are made of. I snagged this ugly bugly from under a porch roof. He was not happy with me handling him.

2010-05-06T20:58:00.001-04:00

The old fire station in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

2010-05-06T20:51:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite things about Puerto Rico is that almost anywhere you go, you can look around for a moment and see something that makes you wonder, "What the hell goes on around here?!" This dude is a pretty mundane example as he sells his catch of crabs (in the cage at his feet) while hanging out on a corner having a few brews. We saw cars cruising town with speakers on the roof that were literally the size of dumpsters! We saw cars flying down the highway towing unmanned vehicles with no more than a fifteen foot length of rope. A car towing a child on a scooter with a rope from the bumper to the handlebars. A bloated horse that had clearly been dead for several days lying twenty feet from people that were having a picnic. The list goes on and on...

2010-05-06T20:44:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty sure this guy's name is "Sir Jeremy Puffington." He and I spent the afternoon daydreaming about fish.

2010-05-06T20:41:00.002-04:00

Gotta love a decent sunset in the islands.

2010-05-06T20:28:00.003-04:00

Getting a good shot of a pelican in flight proved to be far more difficult than I would have imagined. I thought it might be nice to do a watercolor painting of one of these birds, and decided I should take some pictures of them while I had the opportunity, but most of the pictures I took were of miserable quality. Trying to shoot anything in flight makes me feel like I should be spending more money than I want to. Either on a much better camera, or an Italian made double-barreled shotgun.

2010-05-06T20:21:00.002-04:00

Going to a tropical place with a partner who is a self-described sun worshipper means entertaining myself in various ways while waiting for her to crisp her beautiful skin into the likeness of a boiled Maine lobster, (which she coincidentally also enjoys!) So why not bust open a few coconuts?

2010-05-06T20:14:00.000-04:00

"Jenny taught me how to climb and I showed her how to dangle" -Forrest Gump

2010-05-06T20:11:00.001-04:00

A whole fish (pescado entero) for lunch! In this case, red snapper with an excessive amount of diced garlic and butter, but oh so good! I love snapper!

2010-05-06T20:08:00.001-04:00

The view from Cabo Rojo lighthouse, looking back toward the beach and the salt flats.

2010-05-06T20:04:00.001-04:00

The lighthouse at Cabo Rojo on the southwestern tip of Puerto Rico. Driving out to this lighthouse made me outrageously grateful that I wasn't in my own car. The dirt road was in such disrepair that I was afraid I might break an axle on our rental car.

2010-05-06T19:59:00.002-04:00

I've got well over 400 birds on my "Life List" (as birdwatchers call it) and was only able to add a few during my time in Puerto Rico, but this one was my favorite. Emily actually spotted it, came and found me, and then led me over to this palm tree to have a look at it. It's a Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus). If you're thinking that it looks like an oriole, you're right. Troupials are a "New World Oriole."

2010-05-06T19:53:00.003-04:00

The famous "Domes" beach on the west coast of Puerto Rico. So named because of the former nuclear plant seen in this photo. It was never activated, just built and then left behind. The locals should really paint it to look like a huge beach ball.

2010-05-06T19:41:00.002-04:00

There were so many baitfish and needlefish in the shallow waters, that I couldn't pull myself away from this perch. With polarized glasses on, and from this angle, I had a front row seat to the dance between predator and prey that was being choreographed around the clock. It was better than any aquarium could ever hope to be.

2010-05-06T19:31:00.002-04:00

Some of the graffiti in Puerto Rico was fantastic! Living in coastal Maine means that I don't get to see a lot of street art unless I travel, so I always love being in places where I can appreciate some of it. In addition to all of the usual tags and throw-ups that we're all used to seeing sprayed around urban areas, there were some interesting large-scale bombs that were beautifully creative. I've got a few of them below...

2010-05-06T19:27:00.000-04:00

Proximal Purple Peace.

2010-05-06T19:24:00.001-04:00

Lady of Atlantis.

2010-05-06T19:20:00.001-04:00

Watching television makes you ugly.

2010-05-06T19:13:00.002-04:00

This was the view looking southeast along the shore from our deck while staying in the Rincon area. It rained briefly during many of the days that we were there, and I loved it! Rain in the tropics is so different from a nasty cold rain in New England during November.

2010-05-06T19:10:00.001-04:00

This is where I tie up my boat when I'm not in Puerto Rico.

2010-05-06T19:01:00.002-04:00

While in Puerto Rico, we stayed at the LemonTree Oceanfront Cottages, just south of Rincon. Of all the places that we visited while down there, LemonTree is the one that I would most strongly suggest to anyone visiting the area. It had a really quiet and peaceful vibe, with fantastic views and a great Innkeeper. Lying in bed with waves washing up directly below our private deck and feeling a breeze come off the water after an evening rainstorm was heaven.

2010-05-06T18:47:00.002-04:00

Here's one of the last photos of the redtail that I flew during this past season. I'm cutting the anklets off of her in this photo while she eats her last meal with me. I released her at the very same place where I had trapped her in October, and she was still in fantastic plumage and had taken more game while out in the field with me than any other trained hawk that I know of in the region. Enough to put several meals on my dinner table in addition to entirely feeding herself and my goshawk. At the time that this picture was taken, her weight was significantly higher than it was on the day that I trapped her, and she had several additional months of hunting and learning behind her. I have no doubt that she will successfully claim a territory for herself and become a valuable member of the breeding population. Maybe one day, I'll trap and train one of her offspring.

2010-05-06T18:36:00.002-04:00

It seems like it has been far too long since I posted a photo of my dogs. This is an every evening thing around here, which is fine by me because there's not much out there that I'd rather look at than a tired hunting dog asleep on an authentic Persian rug. In the fall, I feel like I'm rich in dogs and that my sporting life is just what I want it to be, but for the rest of the year, I wonder why I have two of them.

2010-04-17T11:02:00.002-04:00

I've been on 96 airline flights over the years (yeah, I've been counting) and my most recent flight out to the west coast was the most interesting. While waiting at the gate, I scoped out my fellow passengers (as I usally do) and immediately noticed a woman who fully encapsulated my stereotypical image of the crazy, older, Long Island Jewish grandmother. I made a mental note to sit somewhere other than next to her. However, as fate would have it, Emily and I ended up 2 rows in front of her and spent the rest of the flight giggling at her commentary with (or rather, AT) her husband. Rude and loud are two good descriptors. The real entertainment came when we hit a patch of turbulence (which passengers had been warned about ahead of time, by the pilot). At high volume, this woman screams out, "OH GOD NO!!!!!!! PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!" With this, she had simultaneously awoken and terrified half of the passengers on the flight. Some folks may have even soiled their pantaloons. I, on the other hand, sat calmly... basking in the glory of having picked her out of the crowd right from the get-go. Some people have "gay-dar." I've got the ability to sniff out the crazy woman in every room. I was so proud of myself, that I couldn't help gloating to Emily. The real highlight of this particular flight though, came when a stewardess invited a 10 year old girl to sing the National Anthem. She did such a great job, that some folks actually got all misty-eyed. It was great.

2010-04-17T10:55:00.002-04:00

Emily and I had a fantastic trip to California together. We packed a lot into each day and couldn't have had better weather. We came home with lots of great memories and some good photos. As anticipated, I was more focused on enjoying my time with her than I was on diligently recording tasting notes, but we tasted more than 100 wines while there and I returned with some good notes and a broader understanding of California wines.

2010-04-17T10:52:00.000-04:00

Daydreaming about owning my own winery and making killer reds and blends...

2010-04-17T10:45:00.002-04:00

Jack London is on my list of heros and idols. Right up there with John Muir and my mother's father, so having dinner at the Wolf House Saloon, just down the hill from London's property in northern California was a real treat. I snagged this from their website; "Time travel through Glen Ellen’s historic past and the life of Jack London while taking in the saloon’s fascinating display of photographs and memorabilia."

2010-04-17T10:41:00.002-04:00

Standing in a vineyard right at "bud-break" feels more like spring than anything else I know. Besides maybe preparing a meal of freshly caught brook trout and steamed fiddleheads.

2010-04-17T10:38:00.001-04:00

I wish I'd been able to snag one of these and bring it home as one of my checked bags on the flight. Next time...

2010-04-17T10:28:00.002-04:00

If you ever find yourself in Sonoma Wine Country, please do yourself a favor and visit this winery for a tasting. Sipping Pinot Noir and chatting with winemaker Eric Luse made the entire trip worthwhile. I'm certainly willing to admit that I'm the kind of person who would rather meet a winemaker than a Hollywood actor, but I think that even "normal" folks would enjoy a tasting at this humble, small-scale winery. I'd far rather have dinner with Jed Steele than Brad Pitt, so meeting Eric Luse (to me) was like sharing a drink with Sean Penn.

2010-04-17T10:18:00.002-04:00

While in Sonoma county, we stayed at a really great little place called the Glen Ellen Inn. Our cottage was really comfortable, and we enjoyed having breakfast on our little patio overlooking the creek. I'm looking forward to going back to the Sonoma and Napa areas of CA., and spending more time hiking and exploring. While there, I had a great flashback of my 21st birthday; my mom and I staying up late to talk about life and split a bottle of Glen Ellen Merlot

2010-04-17T10:15:00.002-04:00

Spotted in Santa Cruz! For a moment, I thought I was in Humboldt county. Where else can you cruise around with a big ol' cannabis plant in your truck?!