The Woolly Bear (or Pyrrharctia isabella) is a very familiar caterpillar that is often seen this time of year in our area wandering around. They overwinter under the leaf litter and start feeding again in the spring. The one below was crossing the road in front of my house in Orrington today. If you find one on the road and want to save it from passing cars, beware. Some people are sensitive to the caterpillar's bristley hairs (or setae). 
     You may have heard an old legend about the Woolly Bear predicting the upcoming winter. The legend was that the narrower the orange band is, the colder the winter will be. According to Caterpillars of Eastern North America, the width of the band is quite variable. "At each molt, a portion of the black setae is replaced by orange, and hence the orange band is broadest in the last instar."

Thanks to Ron Logan for sending these beautiful shots.

5 November 2014
"There have been some reports of Snowy Owls in Maine recently, so I thought I should finally get these pictures out from last winter. There are usually a few in the state each winter, though I had never seen one before. When a lot of birds show up where you don't expect them, it's called an irruption. Last year we had the Mother of all Irruptions of Snowy Owls on the east coast. They were often found at major airports, where the terrain resembles their tundra home in the Arctic. 

There were places in Maine where 10 or more were seen at one time. I saw four different birds but never more than one at a time. Unlike other owls, these guys hang out during the day in wide open spaces, making them easier than other owls to find. At 4 pounds and a wingspan of 52" the Snowy is our largest owl. Just so you know... the bird with no face has turned his head around backwards. I've been practicing that trick myself."