I've been busy at the computer much of today, but also checked on the osprey family in Maine from time to time.  They seem to be doing fine, but lately the mother osprey seems to be rearranging the nest - I think perhaps it's to make high enough sides so that when the three chicks get a little more active, they won't be in danger of falling out.  She's been moving rather large sticks and pieces of bark around, sometimes dragging them over the little ones.  I keep wanting to reach over and help her.  She's been busy feeding the young ones today - almost every time I checked in, which was quite often, she was either calling her mate to bring food or he had already brought a fish and she was carefully doling it out.  Usually the male has brought what appears to be a half-eaten fish, or at least one without a head; today he brought a whole one, still very much alive, and it flipped very near the chicks and mother had trouble retrieving it because she was using her beak instead of her claws in order not to hurt the chicks.  Whenever either parent is near the little ones, their claws are doubled over like fists so they won't do harm.  It is fascinating to watch them, and I'm afraid I wasted some time today when I should have been working at more important stuff.

I was asked yesterday about our loon families, but I haven't heard from anyone whether there are two sets nesting or only one; or whether there are any chicks yet.  It's about time for them to have hatched, I think.

We were very fortunate that there wasn't a bad mud season this spring, and now the roads are being graded, so except for the dust, getting around on Cabot's back roads is no problem.  We got this picture on Monday when we were on Brickett's Crossing Road.  The Cabot/Walden line is just before the turn for Harrington Hill Road, and a little past the tree farm.  Everything is lush and green this time of year, and perfect for driving on back roads like this one.