Christmas Bird Count

It was o'dark thirty when I woke up Monday morning. I was starting to question the wisdom of agreeing to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count group counting the East Concord area which includes Great Meadows. Thankfully, it wasn't brutally cold, as I arrived at the refuge at 5:30AM. The sun would not be arising for another 2 hours, but everyone was there to see which owls we could count. With a bit of patience, a Screech Owl was heard near the neighborhood, and a Great Horned Owl in the distance.

At last light was starting to spread over the refuge as we started to venture out into the refuge. We hadn't made it to the kiosk before David spied this mature bald eagle high in the trees at the near end of the Cross Dike trail. When it has visited in the past it has always perched towards the far end of the Upper Impoundment. While we were able to get good looks with binoculars and scopes, it was a bit far for the lens I brought. It eventually moved on (after doing a fly by scaring the coots) and we proceeded.



As we made our way onto the dike there were the usual Canada Geese, Coots, and Sparrows along the way. I was clearly the novice among this group of birders, but it was interesting to watch and listen as they learned from each other. In the early morning light, I took this group photo.


(l-r) Allison, David, Bryan, Scott, Julia, Claudio


"Heavy" coming in for a landing, Expect wake turbulence


Approaching front, about to pass thru


While we were stopped next to one of the trees on the Cross Dike, this Downy flew in to count the Christmas Counters.



At the far end of the Cross Dike trail, the group split and my group covered the Lower Impoundment, Timber Trail, and the Railroad Bed up to the treatment plant. Along the Timber Trail Connector (my new name for the ad hoc trail used by the neighbors to connects the Timber Trail to the Rail Trail) we discovered a new tree down across the path.


I found the pattern of fungi interesting


Proof that man may try to impact things, but slowly and surely nature will have its way in the end


The day was more about birding than photography, so you'll have to be content with these few grab shots. The good news was that when we arrived home from Rochester, my repaired D300 was sitting on the steps. The bad news was that the repair reset all the settings in the camera, so much time during and after the walk was spent getting it set up to function the way I need it, to take the photos you enjoy.

Auld Lang Syne

Between now and New Year's Eve other commitments will prevent me from visiting the refuge. That made today my final visit to Great Meadows as part of my year-long photography project. (Before you get despondent, read to the end).

Sometimes, it seemed like today would never come; other times it seems like I started this project just yesterday. With the weather cold and grey I wasn't expecting too much from the day, but the refuge had a couple wrap up presents ready.

Starting out everything was either under ice, or covered with frost.






As I approached the Poison Ivy bench, I noticed something unusual on top of a muskrat lodge. At first I thought it might be a Red Tailed Hawk, but it quickly flew revealing the tell tale white stripe of a Northern Harrier. It did a couple of air show flight passes for the photographer before landing again on the lodge.








Wandering further along side the Upper Impoundment, I spied a group of male Wood Ducks swimming in the river. In a rare reversal of roles, I actually saw them, before they saw me and was able to click off a couple quick shots. Further down the river near the lower impoundment a group of Goldeneyes were swimming downstream.






Of course there were still the inevitable Canada Geese. Some of the geese from the refuge take off, just to land a short distance away in the adjoining river. In spots ice is forming along the edge of the river.


Taking his morning constitutional


A conga line


Of course there were a couple feeding flocks of our favorite bird feeder birds. The second photo in my first blog post was a Chickadee, so it's only appropriate that one is the next to last photo for the year.






People have been asking me if I will still be coming to Great Meadows and blogging about my visits, now that my project deadline has arrived. This was my 116th visit. That's slightly over a visit every 3 days. At times, it seemed more like a job, than a hobby; but every worth while endeavor requires its price.

The goal of this project was to help me become a better photographer. As I review the posts from the year, that growth is evident. However, I want to continue to grow which means I need to use these newly honed skills on a variety of different subjects and environments, which will take some time.

What surprised me about this project was how many other things I got out of it that weren't goals. I've learned so much about nature, birding, seeing, and listening. But most of all was the camaraderie and friendships that have grown out of a common love of nature and the special place that is Great Meadows.

So, yes, I plan to continue to photograph at Great Meadows and blog about it...just not with the same intensity or frequency; more like weekly than every couple of days. I hope you will continue to stop by and enjoy the posts.

That leads us to the last photo of the year. It's dedicated to all those of you came along side me this year and supported me; both in person and through the blog. Thank you. We'll continue our journey and our conversation in 2012; after all the Christmas bird count is Jan 2!

A Feeder Day

With the year drawing to a close, I ventured to Great Meadows again, to see what was there.  With a weather forecast of a high of 50, I envisioned a banner day of photography.  Perhaps, I would see the Virginia Rail reported by David Swain.  Maybe something new or interesting would appear at the refuge.

Initially there was a little excitement.  A harrier in the distance was cruising up the side Upper Impoundment but continued on his path towards, Concord center and Sudbury.   There was something large and different near the trees by the waste water treatment plant...but it turned out to be a bit of tree broken off in last nights thunderstorm, oddly light by the rising sun.

But that was it for excitement.  The warm weather had melted all the ice.  The coots and geese were well dispersed across the impoundments.  I didn't see the Bluebirds and House Finches that had been recently visiting.  Even most of the ducks were either elsewhere, or in hiding.

So in the end, it was a nice walk on a windy, but unseasonably warm day.  Most of the birds that I did photograph, I could have photographed at the bird feeder at home, or at a local park.  Even those that I did photograph often were posed in less than ideal perches and poses.

That's what's interesting about Great Meadows.  Some days are unusual and interesting, others just pedestrian.  You never know which it will be, until you are ready to leave.  Enjoy the photos.