Day After the Big Storm

I've always wondered what Great Meadows was like right after a major snow storm.  So today, I got up with the sun, intent on learning what it was like.  My first surprise was arriving  there to find it had not yet been plowed!  As I headed to get some coffee, the US F&WS plow showed up.  In no time, he had the lot open & I had my snow shoes on to explore. 


While I may have been first in the lot, several of the neighbors appeared to have already visited with their cross country skis.  Snowshoeing is a lot harder than it looks.  I was hoping to get down by the boat ramp to get some photos of the trees with snow still on them, but my the time I got down there the wind and sun had whipped most of it off.


The snow had drifted and blown, carving some interesting patterns into the snow.  The cattail reeds were weighted down with snow, though some appeared to be frosted.  There were lots of foot prints in the snow, but not many animals visible.  I missed the Great Blue Heron, but could see where he had stopped by to check the open water, both near the parking lot and the lower impoundment.   Most of the animals were still hunkered down, though there were a fair number of chickadees and sparrows around.

A Cold & Windy Day

Arriving at Great Meadows, it was 25 degrees and windy.  I had bundled up in several layers, but after a few minutes walking towards the impoundments, I realized that if I wanted to stay out for more than a few minutes I needed some additional gear.  A pair of nylon wind pants made the legs feel warmer as well as adding a second pair of gloves.  Of course now that my hands were warm, it was more challenging to operate the camera.

The morning light was beautiful as it light up the reeds a golden color.  As the sun started to rise, it became more enjoyable to be outside.  However, if you got out of the sun but still in the wind, you could feel it cut through you like a knife.

Today, I took time to explore the Timber Trail since it was sheltered in the woods.  At first, all I saw were long frozen footprints from small animals left after the last storm and lots of their scat.  But, after a while, I stumbled upon a small cluster of dead trees, with light shining on them.  A downy woodpecker didn't seem to mind the attention but continued to occupy himself with eating and expand his holes.  

A New Year

With my Dad's illness, passing and helping Mom with the transition, I really haven't spent much time with my camera over the last couple months. The new year, brings new starts. Today, I first went to Town Hall with my wife Amy to watch as she took out nomination papers to run for Town Clerk. Then since I've got a new wide angle lens it was off to Great Meadows to test it out. Walking around the impoundments seemed like a good way to ponder my New Year's resolutions and goals for 2011.

It was a brilliant, sunny but cold day. Much of the Christmas week snow storm has melted. The paths are well trodden and the footprints have all turned to ice. At first it seems like not much is going on, but as you stop, listen and observe you slowly start to see life. You'll hear birds rustling in the reeds. Waiting patiently finally some Chickadees will start to make themselves clear as the feast upon the tender core of cat o nine tails. Geese huddle on the ice to stay warm, but then move on swimming away. A red squirrel forages for food.

Walking to the far end of the lower impoundment, I meet Michael Kolodny another photographer who was watching a Great Blue Heron feed in the outlet stream to the Concord River which was not yet frozen over. Unfortunately, the space between the path and the heron is crowded with branches, so it was tough to get a clear shot.