Had Enough?

With the two to three times a week snow storms ranging from feet of light fluffy snow to several inches of frozen rain / sleet / wet snow mix the question that New Englanders are asking each other is, "Have you had enough winter yet?".

Personally, I'm rolling with the punches. When it's nice I've gone in search of the visiting Snowy Owls. When it snows, I stay in and clean up the backlog of photos from the summer waiting to be processed. (You can't underestimate what an afternoon spent with photos of Piping Plovers, Loons, or Tree Swallows in beautiful sunlight will do to improve your disposition.)

Unfortunately, that means that I have been ignoring Great Meadows. While it can be interesting in the winter, I must admit visiting is a bit more work in the winter, than it is on a warm summer's morning.

At first glance you might think that the refuge is closed for the season, since many of the sights are buried in snow.





But the morning after the overnight snow has a certain beauty while the trees are still frosted with snow. (Just don't be standing under neath one as the snow starts to melt.)






Great Meadows version of moguls in support of our winter olympians


With so much snow it's packed everywhere

But as you start to walk around you will see evidence of wildlife everywhere.

The stealthy tracks of the coyote. (Do you notice they rarely walk in a straight line?)


Like old time Yankees, the woodpeckers aren't bothered by a little snow and cold

You'll find lots of "feeder birds" - Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatches and your occasional Goldfinches in their drag brown winter wear. But occassionally you'll run into something special like this Golden-crowned Kinglet that will bring a smile to your wind-chapped lips. It's bright yellow/orange cap brings a bit of color to the otherwise desaturated winter landscape.




So we persist and carry-on. We know that February is almost over. Winter may have a few more punches. While they may hurt, the pain won't last. Soon the migratory birds will be returning. While they are enjoying their warm environs and contemplate the long journey to their summer homes, you have to know that the snowbirds are wondering if this is what they are returning to.

Note: You can always click on any of the images to see this post's album of large size images.

November means Waterfowl

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post. Sorry for the long gap. First there was the government shutdown, then a long trip to visit our daughter in Atlanta, sandwich around that all those typical autumn activities, combined with the daily activities of life and Poof before you know it a month has gone.

For photographers November is not a kind month. The beautiful flowers and greenery of summer, have morphed into the radiant colors of autumn, but now those leaves lie at our feet dull and brown. One of my friends calls this sticks & twigs season.

At Great Meadows all is not lost. The impoundments are flooded. The cat tails are dying back and dropping over, letting us see areas that have been hidden much of the summer. Many birds have migrated giving the waterfowl an opportunity to entertain us.

Each morning we are entertained by the Canada Geese who depart to forage, but return later in the morning to cruise the impoundments. The mornings are cold & brisk, with both the people and birds trying to stay warm. I enjoy watching the geese fly. Given their large size they don't look air worthy, but once aloft do demonstrate a certain gracefulness. When they return landing crosses that gracefulness with the abruptness of an uncontrolled crash.

Another star species of the month are the ducks. The mallards dominate. If we lived anywhere else where they weren't so plentiful we would wax poetically about how beautiful they are. Instead they take a back seat behind the Wood Ducks, Teals and other less common visitors who have stopped by.

A female Northern Shoveler was swimming in circles in the Upper Impoundment, near the river side. It was feeding. Its oldly shped beak is well suited to the task. You must admit it looks a little like a bird designed by a committee.

At this time of year even the swans are welcomed back. Though it with mixed emotions that we greet the darker juveniles.

In Case of Shutdown - Read Blog

While the houses of Congress pass continuing resolution bills back and forth like a Miller beer commercial; "Less Filling", "Tastes Great" and the president sits back and watches, it seems apparent that we may have to endure a government shutdown. Last time one was threatened, Fish & Wildlife said the refuge would be closed and access would be prohibited. So if a shutdown comes to pass you may have to depend on this blog post to help you over Great Meadows withdrawal.

During the last couple weeks, I've been able to drop by the refuge a couple of times. The weather has just been too nice to stay home and post photos, so here they all are.

The season has definitely changed from summer to autumn. The evidence of that is abundant. For example if you've been observant you would have noticed - Warblers migrating through

Most of the Egrets moved on early in the month, but one held on a bit longer.

Some things look normal.

Some were just interesting. Like this Sandpiper. Most often they are found foraging in muddy areas of the refuge. They too have moved on, but this one stuck around a bit longer and could be seen wandering along the floating leaves of the lotus plants. Though the sandpiper weights less than 1/10th lbs. it's fun to see its weight causing the leaves to bend and buckle like a child playing on an inflatable raft in a swimming pool.

When I think of fall at Great Meadows, I think of ducks. This year there have been an abundance of wood ducks. They are quite skittish, even when a far distance away. But the short glimpses you get of them are impressive, especially the males. The last photo is the most adult Wood Ducks I've captured in a single photograph.

Throughout the refuge, the colors of autumn are bursting forth. They are hard to miss. They provide refreshing new backgrounds for even the most common of scenes. They also beautiful in their own right.

Hopefully, our government will soon take a lesson from some of the wildlife at the refuge and learn how to get along with each other (or at least find some space where they aren't fighting with each other). Until then, hope the blog tides you over.