Twins!

It was a busy holiday weekend, so I was up early to see what was new at Great Meadows. There were plenty of the usual subjects. This Common Yellow-throat was along the path from the parking lot.



The juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds were busily flying around the Dike Trail. This one proudly displays the dragonfly fly it caught.


Being the first person of the day, I had to run the goose gauntlet. I've noticed that Canada Geese often stand on one leg. Looking closely at this photo, I think I may have found the reason why. Even they don't like stepping on the stuff!


On the back side of the Upper Impoundment we could hear the Virginia Rail calling. In a little while it appeared on the path. It was quickly followed by two chicks (the twins). These chicks have grown significantly in the last 1 1/2 weeks. They quickly disappeared into the woods by the river. The chicks couldn't be seen, but the adult continued to forage in the muddy area near the trail.







I was attracted to this cluster of Daisy Fleabane. The ladybud is just the cherry on the top of that sundae.



As the sun rose in the sky, the temperature started to soar. As I headed back to the car, I noticed a mink by the side of the Dike Trail. Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place compared to the sun. I tried to race by and turn to take a photo. Having "too much" lens, I unfortunately clipped off its tail.



At Great Meadows squirrels are not among the most popular photography subjects. However, I couldn't resist photographing this squirrel eating unripened Blueberries.

Test Drive

After years of complaining about missed shots because the subject was too far away, or my equipment was too slow, I finally acquired a new (to me), fast 500mm telephoto lens. I was up at the crack of dawn and drove to Great Meadows to give the new lens a test drive.

I had not ventured far from the parking lot before I saw my first photo opportunity. A Common Yellowthroat was posing on a bush in the marsh, with the first rays of sunlight.



A bit further into the refuge, there was a Redwinged Blackbird, calling and sitting on the top of a reed. (I know I have a lot of these photos, but the light was sweet and to test the new lens I needed something known to compare it to.)



My morning commute quickly came to a crawl as I encountered the geese. Since I was the first visitor of the day, they were a bit reluctant to make way. Making plenty of noise while walking they reluctantly started to make room to let me pass. Still making me "run the gauntlet" of hissing geese and goose droppings.



It was photographic opportunities like this Marsh Wren that motivated me to upgrade my equipment. While the Cat Tail Reeds are making this shot more challenging, this little bird did his best to cooperate. He would periodically fly back to the same perch to sing. He's gotten pretty habituated to humans, often flying within inches of my body as he flew to and fro.



With the hot weather the dragonflies are starting to become much more active. It was strange taking a macro type photograph from 15 feet away...but that is this lense's minimum focusing distance.



Continuing on around the impoundment I learned why I see so few photographers with long lenses here...they are heavy and the weight makes your shoulder sore. I did see this bit of feathers caught on a snag. It was a reminder of the hard realities of life at the refuge. I wonder was truly happened.



Back along the Timber Trail I encountered this Downy Woodpecker wandering from tree to tree.



At the corner of the old railroad bed and the road to the maintenance barn, I encountered a cluster of small birds in the trees. There quickly flitted from branch to branch. They generally moved faster than I could find them and focus with my new lens. With time I got better and was able to get off a few "good" shots. Here's a Tufted Titmouse with a very busy background. Something Black and White caught my eye. As I turned to take yet another chickadee photo, I was pleasantly surprised to find that what I had seen was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.





It was only after I returned home that I realized that I've reach the calendar mid-point in this year long project. This makes my fifty-fifth visit to Great Meadows. On one hand it seems like this project just started, on the other I feel like I've been doing it forever. It will be exciting to see what the second half of the year has in store.

A Quiet Morning

The sun had been up for 45 minutes when I arrived at Great meadows this morning. It was quiet. The water was calm. There was no wind. So after a couple quick squirts of bug spray, I wandered to see what I could photograph.

The Great Blue Heron was by the bridge. Uncharacteristically he wasn't in the water. When I stepped on the bridge the water started churning as large carp scrambled in each direction. A little further up the dike it seemed like 30 geese were congregating. Some were starting their morning hygiene rituals. I liked in this silhouette how the tips of the feathers are separated as it flapped after dunking several times.






The Cat Tail Reeds are getting quite tall, so it's tough to see out into the impoundments except where there are openings, or benches to stand upon. Today, my eye seemed to be attracted to small little details and the way the morning light shone upon objects.


I liked the reflection off the back and the contrast with the cat tail.


The light makes all the feather detail visible...this made up for the lousy location.


I first noticed how the dew on the grape leaves beaded on the tips of the leaves. The pattern leads you around to the fly.


I was hoping this was a Double Tooth Prominent because of the leaf...but I was wrong.


My guide to Massachusetts Dragon and Damselflies is on order. This is a Damselfly.


The bees were busy pollinating the Milk Weed


Daisy Fleabane


I love the detail on the cap


A caught this chipmunk dashing into his den...then waited for him to poke his head out


An adolescent gosling, looking more like an adult than a chick.



Some other highlights of my walk that eluded photographic capture included more sightings of the Virginia Rail, the Belted Kingfisher was hanging out on the snag in the river near the river refuge entrance, there was also another rail that I couldn't see well enough to identify in the reeds near the river entrance.