Memorable Morning From The Past

Wind this morning kept me in so I decided to spend some time organizing my Quabbin pictures. It didn’t take very long for me to get side tracked with seeing a few bear pictures. It got me to thinking that right about now; sows are giving birth to cubs in New England. In about three weeks or so Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife will be in checking den sites with collared sows for cubs. I wonder how many bears have dens in the boundaries of the Quabbin? In my Quabbin hikes over the last several years I have seen several sow’s with cub(s) that had no collar or blue ear tags, and one last summer that was collared. Also last summer two bicyclists stopped me and showed me pictures of a sow with cub(s) they had just seen. Again, no ear tags or collars.
 Above is a 2012 sow with a second year cub and below the story and thrill with this experience
The wildlife photo opportunities have been endless over the last several years. The most memorial wildlife experience occurred late summer early fall 2012. With the many miles hiked, I have learned  Quabbin and now have several areas I like to spend most of my time. This morning’s Quabbin hike would be about as eventful as it could get. Dawn started with me settling in at my favorite swamp. A number of immature wood ducks caught my attention. Surprisingly I went undetected. With most of my morning arrivals, I am greeted with squeals and the flock taking to the air. After about fifteen minutes you could sense the quite. I looked down the swamp, and on the opposite side two bears were working their way towards me. It was a sow with a two year old cub. The stage could not been set any better. Light wind blowing from east to west with me sitting on the west side of the swamp, cloud cover to minimize the sun and two bears that were in no hurry to leave. Over the next thirty minutes these two bears put on a show. They would run after each other, climb deadfalls, roll and swat each other. They were both enjoying the easy conditions that late summer brings with abundant food and warm weather. The enjoyment of this experience far outweighed any picture I could have taken. Just glad I had the opportunity to go undetected and watch. This has truly been my most memorable wildlife experience.

Dead Of Winter ! There Is Hope.........

All downhill from here. Next weekend starts February. Days are starting to get noticeably longer; sun warms the inside of your car. Hopeful little signs that spring is only a few months away. This morning’s hike took me out to Graves Landing. I sat for a little while looking for coyotes on the ice or maybe an eagle soaring by. Reservoir looked cold and barren. Breeze became consistent after 8:30. No mammals seen. However I did see coyote, fox, and deer tracks. Dana Center had a couple of dozen wintering robins who were very active. Blue jay, chickadees and juncos were busy this morning. Jim

Neat Experience This Morning- To Close for a Picture

This morning my hike would take me to a northeast gate hoping to see a coyote on the ice.  Hiking along with light snow falling, I decided to slip into the woods and stand for a bit. My view was overlooking an area with open hardwoods and a stonewall. No breeze at all ,so my scent was little concern, or so I thought! Not too much time had passed, when I hear the crunching of footsteps breaking the iced over oak leaves behind me. First thing I think of it’s a deer. Before I could give it a second thought, their stood a beautiful coyote not 12 to 15 feet away from me. It was looking directly away from me when it caught my scent. The coyote threw its head back, stood on two legs as it worked it nose to my direction.  When landing back on all four feet we were looking directly at each other. The  sharpness of the yellowish brown  eyes and black whiskers where that of a glance before the coyote ran about 40 yards out before turning and looking back then disappearing over the ridge.

No chance for a picture, but what a morning!

Jim

Break In Winters Grip

I Headed out to Gate 5 this morning. A short hike gets you right to the shoreline. The sunrise along with the temps in the low 40’s made for a nice start to the day. Wind was fairly calm. Standing enjoying the sunrise when out of nowhere comes the sound of chattering. A family of four otters were cruising the shoreline looking for their next meal. They were headed north.

I followed them until this tower caught my attention.

After investigating I continued on to the Gate 8 launch area. My trek back would take me bushwhacking most of the way. I was surprised not to see any eagles or maybe hear a winter loon. The main body of the reservoir was open. Guess I will need to head to the north part of the reservoir next weekend hoping to find a coyote wandering around looking for its next meal. Jim

Special Find By Sister !

I have a sister that that also enjoys Quabbin hiking carrying a camera. Yesterday was her first opportunity of the New Year to hike a Westside gate. With the end of each hike she will send a text and any pics of the day. What a surprise when I opened this one. What a nice way to start off the New Year! I am envious! I almost took a ride up to Plum Island over the holidays in attempt to see a Snowy Owl. It would be incredible if I could do this at Quabbin. Goes to show you, you never know what’s around the next corner. Bobbie, Congratulations! On an awesome picture. Jim

A Little Snap In The Air This Morning !

What a nice morning snowshoeing. Snow totals fell considerably less than what was predicted for the area. None the less it felt good strapping on the snowshoes and hiking. The plan was to hike Soapstone Hill using the lower trail then climb from the gorge. Another snowshoer’ completed this loop sometime yesterday afternoon. This made it easy with following the trail. My conventional long-tail snowshoes made the climb with little issue. Wildlife did move last night seeing a half dozen or so deer tracks two porcupine tracks and my favorite, one bobcat track.

Bobcat followed the snowshoe trial made sometime yesterday afternoon before venturing off into the mountain laurel.

A half mile or so down the trail I could see where the bobcat  cut back into  the snowshoe trail.

Above you can see where a porcupine wandered around a short distance retreating to an out crop of boulders.

The trail back!

Jim

Calm Before The Storm

I did get out this morning for a chilly hike. Not much stirring for wildlife. I did see one pileated woodpecker. I worked my way down to the shoreline in hopes of maybe seeing an eagle, or a coyote crossing the ice. The area around Gate 43 is iced over. More apt to see eagles closer to the water ice line. Well, with the snow coming maybe Saturday will be a snowshoe hike Jim