Work Day

My mission for this project is to capture the spirit of Great Meadows. That often focuses on the flora and fuana found there. However, Great Meadows would not be as welcoming a place to observe nature if it weren't for the efforts of volunteers that help with some of the maintenance required.

So Monday morning I joined the work crew of Alan Bragg, Frank Lak, and Rick Spofford down by the maintenance barn. Our objective for the day was to fill in as many of the washed out areas and holes caused by sunken muskrat holes on the Dike Trail as possible

I should have known better than to question whether the grey rainy conditions were going to disrupt their plans. Stephen "Ziggy" Zadroga from US Fish & Wildlife Service was there with the front end loader which greatly assisted our efforts.

Ziggy would fill the back of the pickup with a dirt and gravel mix, which we would then shovel into the holes and low spots. After throwing many shovels full of dirt, you start to think about how hard a muskrat had to work to dig that hole; especially when you realize that the muskrat didn't have a shovel.






Alan delivers a shovelful on target


Frank filling a muskrat hole along the path


Frank (left) and Rick (right) rake the fill level


Sometimes we would have to compact the dirt with our feet. A couple of places closer to the path we could use the "golf cart". The back end of the pickup truck was quite effective with its double wheels and the truck bed full of dirt and gravel.


Manually Compression Method


Automated

While we busy filling in individual holes, Ziggy filled in some of the low areas in the path that were washed away by this spring's flooding. He did have it much easier able to dump bucket loads of dirt and then smooth it down with the bucket. (That's probably why he's smiling.) When he finished, it was smoother than the surface of route 128! Finally the filled in parts of the path were covered with with stone dust to make a packed down surface.


Front End Loader is great for large washout areas


Ziggy happy not to have to shovel


Alan, Frank and Rick all started to volunteer from their interest in bird watching. I wondered to myself, if there are many photographers who volunteer to help maintain the refuges. It was obvious from our conversations that they get personal enjoyment from their giving back. Volunteering also allows you to see a side of the refuge that you don't see every day.

Before my critics start to abuse me for writing in the first person plural, using the royal "we", I must thank Alan for taking this photo to prove that I seen the shovel from both ends. In fact I was told that I had pretty good aim shoveling dirt out of the truck bed. So good that they offered to double my pay and keep me around for the afternoon.




However, I had committed to Amy that I would also mow the lawn today (more accurately - cut the hay). So wanting to live to see the end of this project, I headed home to ensure marital harmony.

Finally, I want to say thanks to Alan, Frank, Rick and Ziggy. Having had to watch my step while wandering around looking for my next photograph, I personally appreciate your time and efforts. Hope to work with you again.

Grey Dawn

After a week's worth of overcast and often rainy skies, I thought that I was overdue to see what was happening at my favorite refuge. Friday morning, I awoke hoping for interesting morning fog.

Arriving at the refuge, instead of morning fog, I found very low ceilings and a grey sky. Today was not a day to be pointing your lens towards the heavens. The water on the impoundments was totally still, reflecting mirror like it's surroundings.

Reviewing my project-to-date images, I realized that I had not recently taken many of the landscape. So I started with my favorite view from the tower and a panorama of the impoundments. From above there still is a lot of brown visible, but from ground level green is predominant. The Cattail Reeds have grown significantly in the past week. With all this water, I wonder how fast they'll grown with a little sun.











It was a quiet day at the refuge. The low ceiling dampening the noises from the neighboring area. Birds were singing. Occasionally, you would hear the splash of a turtle or muskrat as they made their aquatic exit. The quiet would be spoiled by a plane on final for Hanscom. They seemed quite low. I hoped to get a photo of a ghost-like plane, passing the tower, they would never emerge from the clouds.

The sky was like a big soft box, so I started with some portraits of Red Winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens. I have so many photos of them, that I'm starting to get fussy. I really worked hard on trying to get pleasing backgrounds. Marsh Wrens continue to frustrate me. I came close to getting a classic photo of a Marsh Wren holding onto two reeds, except ... it was facing the wrong way. The other Marsh Wren photo because it shows something that you might not notice with the naked eye. Marsh Wrens often close their eyes while they are singing!









You always see robins hopping along the paths foraging. I've been hoping for a more picturesque photo to add to the blog. Finally, I encountered this American Robin posing in a tree.


All the rain started to re-flood areas of the forest between the river and the impoundments. I enjoyed the inky black color of the water, which made an interesting background for these young Canada Geese.






Along the lower impoundments, there were these beautiful Bog Violets, still wet with the morning dew (or last night's rain).




At the exit of the lower impoundment, the carp were pooling like crazy. Occasionally, one would attempt to swim into the lower impoundment. They could get up the sluiceway, only to be frustrated by the 5-6 inch jump required to leap over the rocky cascade to reach their objective.







Returning to the parking lot I encountered this very large, unwary Cottontail Rabbit. I slowly maneuvered close to him, trying to eliminate the parking lot from the shot. Towards the end of my time, a chipmunk appeared. The rabbit watched raptly and then suddenly chased it. It was almost like it was hunting it, rather than just being territorial. I don't know if rabbits are really omnivores, rather than being herbivores. I added this to the many other questions that I have to research from my observations at Great Meadows

Old Dog Learns New Trick

Marsh Wrens are often heard, but less often seen. Soon the reeds will be tall and they will be secreted down in the vegetation. However, for a couple of weeks while they are attracting females, male Marsh Wrens will climb up on last year's remaining cat tail reeds and sing.

Saturday morning I went to Great Meadows with the singular purpose to test out a new capability of my unplanned backup camera upgrade. The D90 also shoots video. I thought the Marsh Wren would make a worthy subject. This Marsh Wren was somewhat cooperative and stood on the top of a clump of reeds for his movie debut.



I hope you noticed the challenges for still photographers. First you have to see the wren. Then you have to find them in a location that isn't blocked by other reeds, grass and the like. Hopefully, the background is acceptable. Finally, you have to compose and take your photo very quickly. Except in this time where they are displaying, you will rarely see them sing like this for more than a few seconds.

However, Saturday they were quite cooperative, so here are some of my favorite shots from the day.












Those shots alone would have made for a successful day, but there was a lot more going on at the refuge. I encountered Jared Green of the Blanding's Turtle team, who had been checking the traps. I hope to link up with them to share more about these turtles. This turtle had a hole in his shell with an infection, so he was going to get a bit of government sponsored health care, before being returned to the wild. One of the identifying aspects of the Blanding's Turtle is their yellow neck.







Bedford Den 11 had the Tiger Cubs out to explore the refuge. Like typical young boys they were loud, full of energy, rough housing, but they also displayed moments of interest in the nature surroundings. Hopefully, a few will become attracted to nature and become the next generation of stewards of our environment. The great thing about Great Meadows is that many of the regular resident animals get desensitized to human behavior because of the many visitors which allows us to observe them much closer than we might otherwise be able to.




It was a fun day photographically. When checking on the Tree Sparrows, I caught one bird doing yoga poses. I think one was the inspiration for the Bentley hood ornament.




I was especially pleased with these Red-winged Blackbird photos because they combined a good photo of the bird demonstrating, but the backgrounds were also pleasing.





Remember you can click on individual photos to see larger versions, or visit the gallery for today's blog.

Well the weather forecast for the week is rainy and grey, so I doubt that I'll be visiting four times this coming week.  However, I do have that new camera and some things I learned at this weekend's bird photography seminar, so I doubt I can sit at home too long.