Not A Good Day For The Frog !

I put on quite a few miles the last few days in hopes of seeing a bear. Not a lot going on with wildlife movement, or at least not that I have seen.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time ! I ran across a photography friend and while we where shouting the breeze this Greater Yellow Leg hit a bonus breakfast capturing this frog.

The GYL with the frog had no intention of sharing with its counter part! It was comical watching them run around.

Jim

Shoreline Can Tell A Story

I took the picture on cover page this morning. The low water level makes for an ideal time of year to hike the shoreline. The easy walking can lead you to secluded coves where often you can sneak up on a flock of ducks.

Continuing down the shoreline the sand and mud revealed a variety of tracks.....
Moose, Bobcat, Bear, Deer, Raccoon and Coyote.

This immature loon was deep inside a cove which I found to be unusual.

A small flock of Greater Yellow Legs kept me entertained for a few minutes.

One could only guess as to the fate of this small deer......
One interesting observation is why are all the bones still in close proximity .With the Quabbin predators you would think the bones would of been scattered,

Jim

Little Chilly This Morning

Watched as the sun make its way over the horizon this morning. The reservoir looked enchanting with the fog rising off of it. I sat for a while hoping to see a bear wandering the shoreline.

Tracks of a sow .

I found this cub track a few feet away from the sow tracks.

Jim.

Bear Sign ......

Its been a wonderful few days hiking the Quabbin Watershed. Warm days earlier this week made for some very enjoyable days afield.
Bear sign has been easy to find. I have located tracks of three different bears.

While hiking a NE Gate a bear stepped in my boot print ( lower left hand corner) only a short period of time after making it. Rather an interesting track showing the overlay of the front foot in the lower right hand side of the photo.

I had found this track earlier in the area. Sure would like to get a photograph of this bear.

This is a first for me at Quabbin. Seeing a deer swimming from one of the islands.

Jim

Attitude ..... Then Some !!

The title picture shows a young Merganser with ONE Big Attitude  !

Clearly you could see this Merganser was having a bad day. The scowl says it all.!

This Blue Heron gave me two quick pushes of the shutter.

Jim

Now Where Did You Come From !

Slipped quietly into a NE Swamp early this morning with much anticipation. Watching dawn set into a new day while in the woods is always enjoyable. Listening to a  Barred Owl as the earlier morning turned to light. Wasn't long before the Wood Ducks where flying.
The Porcupine was an interesting find this morning. I was able to sneak up pretty close remaining undetected as seen in the title page picture.

Look at the expression ! Like , where the heck did you come from....

I'm out of here !!!!

Sitting watching this swamp this morning . Its neat watching in anticipation as dawn sets in and the start of a new day!

Jim

Day Of Finding Things !

Started Friday morning watching a swamp in hopes of seeing a Bull Moose. Perfect time of the year to be doing this with the rut in full swing. After sitting briefly I stood up and walked a few yards , looked down and there lay a moose antler. Nice way to start the morning.
Pic on title page shows antler strapped to my backpack. Thanks Rick F for taking the picture!

Well, the  moose attempt didn't work out so I figured I would wander around for a while and see if maybe a bear or bobcat might present a pic opportunity.

 I could see how this day was going to unfold. I didn't catch up to any animals for a pic. However , I was able to locate where they were. The bear tracks are of a mature Black Bear.

 Wouldn't  you know it ! I just happen to have some Plaster of Paris in my pack.

The track is exaggerated being in mud. It will make for a nice conversation pc .

Jim