Snap In The Air This Morning !

I passed the NE Quabbin Gate at dawn with the thermometer registering 12 degrees. No problem with picking up the  pace to get the blood going.
Anticipation was high on such a cold morning to see wildlife. Other than a nice Tom  Turkeynpassing in front of me it was a very quiet morning.

Common winter birds and several squirrels were  seen .

The shallow coves where all iced over. With the cold temperatures coming over the next few days, should pretty much start icing much of the reservoir.
Jim

Awesome Experience !

Hit the trail real early this morning. Available light walking into this situation was poor at best.

'

That's the risk  I take with early starts. I would much rather have a " Noisy Picture "with a wildlife encounter than no picture at all. I was able to keep the " Curiosity " of one bobcat for a couple of minutes.

 The bobcat turned and looked  at me before disappearing

Jim

Plenty Of Water !

This mornings hike took me out to Grave's Landing. Other than  seeing three otters swimming in the distance, the only consistent thing was water  everywhere. All the small streams where flowing pretty good.  My anticipation for seeing a variety of critters was high. Unfortunately not  today.

The reservoir has no ice on it. That is Soapstone Hill in the background


Jim

Been Fairly Quite !

Not much wildlife moving in my view the last couple of days. The red squirrel on the title page felt bad for me and posed for a pic.
Coyote tracks clearly dominated the roads and trails I hiked. The view from Rattlesnake Hill was clear . The reservoir is still open.

Jim

Coyote Friday

The fresh snow made for a beautiful morning hiking. With only 3/4"walking was quiet!. Keeping the light breeze in my face presented three coyote sightings. Two of the coyotes provide me with barely a glimpse and they where gone.
The third coyote was mousing unaware of my presence.

Dressed in winter camo and wind in my favor this young coyote walked straight at me until it reached about 20 yards before stopping .

Above the coyote is mousing while keeping a watchful eye of it/s surroundings.

Staring into the camera lens  as it approached.

It didn't take long before the young coyote figured out this was not a good situation.

One last look before disappearing into the woods
Jim

Test Of Patience

Not with the coldest morning of the season hiking, but with a doe.

She was going to let me walk by. When I spotted her the test started. Wind was light in my face.So she was challenged.

She approaches to about ten yards. I don't dare to blink my eyes.

She checks the air for scent with her tongue.

Cautiously she continues to close the gap. She is at 8 yards and moving closer.

Literally in my face at about 5/6 yards.

The doe is still uncertain as she checks the air again for my scent as she continues closer

This is as close as she gets

One last look at me before wandering off.

Very enjoyable experience. !!
Jim

Light Snow Eventful Day !

What a beautiful morning to be out hiking with a camera. I started out early swinging through QP.
Deer were on the move. I was actually killing a little tine hoping the sun would break through before heading over to a favorite NE Gate.

Enfield Lookout with a dusting of snow.

As did this small pond



 Once arriving at the gate  It didn't take very long before things got hectic..

While I was getting this picture I caught glimpse of a second moose.

I was able to get a few pics before she disappeared.

The call of an immature Loon and a soaring  Red Tail Hawk finished the morning.

Jim

Crisp & Quiet

Not much going on this morning. Deer rut in full swing.  I was hoping to get a pic of a buck on the move....

I did  find this Not sure what it is. A guess would be some type of shroud for a tractor accessory.


Any guesses

Jim

Not Quabbin Related , However Quite A Treat For Halloween !

Some generous folks gave me the opportunity to participate in the South Central MA Saw-whet Owl banding project.

The process was quite interesting listening to three experts explain specifics about the raptor and the detail around how the owl is captured , and the data collected .

Its amazing just how small the Saw-Whet is/! My hand in the photo above gives a good perspective.

Jim

Beavers Made Interesting Morning

Saturday morning I spent a couple of hours watching over a SE beaver swamp. The heavy rain this week certainly filled this pond to capacity. It didn't take long before the beavers where aware of my presence. Sitting very still with a  light wind in my favor  brought several beavers in very close!

Certainly kept me entertained for the morning

Thought I would get an opportunity with this flock of male wood ducks landing. I moved and they picked right up on it.

This Redtail Hawk made a quick fly over before disappearing over the tree line.

This morning I sat at another swamp. Beavers were busy collecting vegetation as was a Sharp-shinned Hawk trying to avoid the Blue Jays. I stopped at a WMA on the ride home and was treated with seeing two Bluebirds.
Jim

Still a Few Color Pockets

The title page picture was taken from Quabbin Tower. Mt Monadnock can be seen in the distance, I would think that the tower will be closed for winter fairly soon.

A early start Saturday had me waiting in anticipation of a clear sunrise at New Salem Lookout. No luck! The sun disappeared into the clouds as soos as it broke the horizon.
Camera was starving for light, I was able to get this doe & skipper cleaning,

Just about done!

What are you looking at?

Jim

soapstone Before Sunrise

The picture above was the reward for hiking very early to beat the sun rising over Soapstone Hill.
The dense fog and the sun made for a beautiful start to the morning.

The only wildlife seen was the Brown Clipper above

Jim

Unusual Rock

With the lousy weather forecast for today, I decided to take yesterday off and put some miles on  hiking while enjoying the fall colors . The picture of the swamp above made for a nice view  while I waited in hopes of a moose  wandering through. The only wildlife activity was a King Fisher and a female Wood Duck..
Sitting in anticipation this rock caught my attention.

One could conclude that this be might a headstone marker?

I didn't see any markings on the stone. " Google" didn't give up any information.

The shoreline had areas with color.The  small spot on the left in the water , just out from the point with the reddish orange tree is a boat. Probably one of the last  for the season. Today is the last day for the 2014 Quabbin fishing season  and a lousy weather at that.

Not much wildlife activity so I attempted to get a pic of this Double-crested Cormorant flying by.

The smell of grapes was still in the air. Pretty much all the low hanging fruit has been picked or eaten.

 Jim

Bonus Weekend Camping The Fed

Friday morning stated off at dawn with five Coopers Hawks flying around me with Blue Jays in pursuit. Before the weekend was over I did see a total of eight.

Sitting around the campfire each evening we had an added treat with the calls of Barred Owls along with loons in the distant reservoir .

 Hiking along the reservoir, summer temps had many logs occupied with painted turtles .

Jim

Pretty Quiet

I spent yesterday morning watching a SE swamp hoping to see a moose. The rut has started. Did see a number of tracks, but no activity.

Plenty of Concord Grapes ripe. Bears have also found them.

An immature Common Yellow Throat and the Eastern Wood-pewee kept me busy with my camera

Jim