No Sunset?

I was in the mood for a dramatic sunset. There were some clouds forming on the western horizon, so I headed to Great Meadows late Wednesday afternoon hoping that they would arrive to help form the canvas for a dramatic sunset. Unfortunately, they decided to spend the afternoon in the Berkshires, resulting in a boring sunset.

Though it's summer time and the living is easy, there is always something new at Great Meadows. With the dropping water levels in the Upper Impoundment, shore birds have started to arrive to feed in the mud. This Killdeer was near the first gap in the reeds on the Cross Dike Trail.


The water level in the lower impoundment is dropping due to evaporation. The channels are much more clearly defined.


Most evenings you may see fishermen near the boat launch, but this is the first time I've encountered a fly fisherman.


The setting sun quickly casts long shadows that make photography more challenging. However in this case a gap in the trees cast a spotlight on the Great Blue Heron with the tower and lotus in the background.


This red dragonfly is attracted to this red plant where from the right angle it blends into the background.


This duck made a surprise landing near where I was standing on the observation deck. Thankfully, my camera had appropriate settings. This is one of my better panning shots. I need to get this down before fall to capture the migrating ducks and geese. Often I pan too fast, sometimes too slow.


With all the lotus you might thing that I Photoshopped out the background of this next photo. However, careful positioning the blossom against a patch of inky black water complemented by setting sunlight resulted in a photo that has a fine art feel. It quickly became one of my favorites of this month.

A Break From The Heat

The heat wave has broken. So Monday morning, I got up early to see how the refuge had responded to the heat wave. Overall it was a typical warm summer's morning, with a dense cloud cover.

Because it was a Monday there was extra executive jet activity into Hanscom. Whenever you are at Great Meadows you will probably hear an airplane every 10 to 15 minutes. This morning the planes looked pretty as they flew towards the rising sun with the sun reflecting off their metallic skin.







Out in the upper impooundment the American Lotus are blooming like crazy. However the lower water level is starting to affect the fish that are caught inside. Near the water control gate you could see several carp rapidly approaching the end of their life. There was a funny disturbance in the water. After watching it for a while, I realized that these were catfish schooling.










Insects of all types were busily working away. Here are a few that caught my attention.







Out on the Dike Trail, the Swamp Rose Mallow is starting to bloom. These flowers have some of the largest blooms seen along the dike this year.



Among the avian residents it seems like the American Goldfinches are becoming much more active. They seem to be especially attracted to the Evening Primrose.






Many of the other birds seemed to be a bit quieter, maybe recovering from the heat wave like us. Of course there were a few that were cooperative and had there photo taken.


Yellow Warbler


Duck with Canada Geese escort


Eastern Phoebe

Not How I Planned It

I hoped to beat the thunderstorm to Great Meadows, but I lost. Since it was pouring when I reached Bedford center, we went for breakfast instead. With the cloudy skies after breakfast, we continued on to the refuge. From the tower you could see that the lotus plants have exploded into bloom in the impoundments.



The drained upper impoundment is starting to attract some different birds. Several Great Egrets were hiding among the lotus. While we were talking with Alan, three Green Herons flew in and landed in one of the maples near the tower. Of course, I had the wrong lens ... back to the car for the 500mm. When I returned they dropped into the brush.

All wasn't for naught as this Song Sparrow serenaded us for a few minutes. The Green Herons popped up again and headed to the channel. Two hid in the reeds, while the third wandered in the least photographic area it could find. They day continued like this; some interesting opportunity, followed by something that messed it up.






Back on the Cross Dike Trail there were plenty of the usual suspects like ducks and geese. There were also some more recent arrivals like this juvenile Viginia Rail and these American Goldfinches.


Canada Goose Landing


With the temps in the 80s this duck's bill couldn't be cold


Juvenile Virginia Rail - my how they've grown in 3 weeks


Goldfinch




Female Red-winded Blackbird on Lotus


The Great Egrets and several Great Blue Herons flew to the upper impoundment ditch in the that feeds the water control gate. I seemed to always have the exposure set for an egret when shooting a heron and vice versa. I hope the next time I visit that they'll be closer to the gate. Even with the 500mm they were a quite far away. Some how, one Great Blue Heron snuck up the canal to go fishing. I did manage to catch him as he caught lunch.


Great Egret


A Great Meadows classic view of lotus and the tower...need to take it again when people are on the tower



Great Blue Heron with Lunch