A Quiet Visit

I wasn't planning on stopping by Great Meadows today. In fact, I drove into Mt Auburn Cemetery with one of my friends to see if we could photograph the Great Horned Owl. Unfortunately, the owl was not very cooperative in its choice of location, so it was a short day. Frustrated that I was wasting such a sunny day, I stopped by the refuge.

Great Meadows was exceedingly quiet. The impoundments were frozen over except for the flowing water near the bridge. I was amazed that I couldn't see any coots, either at the impoundments or in the river. However, just as I was leaving, I saw one on the backside of the reeds near the bridge.

Looking out over the lower impoundment, I noticed the tops of the trees were much redder from last year's new growth and the early signs of budding.



One animal you are almost always guaranteed to see is the Downy Woodpecker. Today was no different. I decided to include one photo with its nictating membrane (third eyelid) which descends whenever it is pecking wood.







Down by the river I spied an Eastern Screech Owl sunning itself. Unfortunately there were too many branches between the path and the tree to capture a good photograph...but the discovery made the walk worthwhile.

Most of the geese and ducks have relocated down to the river. Even there ice is starting to encroach on their territory.






A pair of black ducks


To amuse myself and to ensure I came back with a couple photographs, I did snap off a couple shots of mushrooms growing on trees.







All in all, it wasn't a spectacular day for photography, but it was a pleasant walk and a positive move towards keeping my New Year's resolution of getting more exercise. Hopefully, this will help tide you over until your next visit.

Tastes Like Chicken

It was a very windy morning as I joined Will and Kathy for the weekly bird census. The wind was gusting up to 50 miles an hour which made for a cold walk and fewer birds.

When we first arrived a Northern Harrier was feasting on the carcasses of two dead coots on the edge of the open water in the lower impoundment. This isn't a good month for coots, we later saw 4 other carcasses floating in the upper impoundment. With the purpose of the day being birding not photography and with the gusty wind, I though it prudent to not bring my 500mm, so you'll have to satisfy yourself with some crops from my zoom lens.








This is the harrier with the stick in the back, affectionately nicknamed "Spike". However, we have since learned that it is a female. Somehow Spike no longer seems appropriate. May I suggest her nickname become "Stiletto". Even she wanted to find shelter from the gusty breezes. We later saw her resting in the cattails on the lee side of the trees.




The gusty winds started last night and there were downed branches along the road and on the impoundments.




Broken windblown trees are nothing new at the refuge. This one is an impressive home for moss & fungi.


This cute red squirrel didn't seem to mind the cold breeze


Hairy Woodpecker


Red-Bellied Woodpecker


I thought this was interesting. It appears that there is either snow/frost or trapped air bubbles on the stones captured under the ice.

Radio Controlled

Frustrated that I had missed Monday's exciting action of Eagles, Peregrines, Harriers and Goshawks I wandered over to Great Meadows,Tuesday morning hoping that maybe one or two of these may make a return visit.

The eagle was perched in the tree at the near end of the Cross Dike Trail. Unfortunately he was on the wrong side of the tree for good photos. He flushed when a walker arrived and flew down the river.



Far across the lower impoundment this harrier was cruising. At first I thought it had a radio antenna attached, but looking at the photographs more closely, I believe it is a stick. These are extreme crops, so you can reach your own conclusion.





While standing on the deck in the freezing cold (where was that sun they were predicting) with fellow observers I took a few shots to entertain myself.


This coot appears to have some cattail reed fluff frozen to his beak. Funny how coots would rather walk 1/2 across an impoundment rather than fly for 10 seconds.


Lotus pod on the ice


The eagle returned and perched in one of the pines near the maintenance barn. Later something on the ice caught his attention before flying away.