Shoreline Hike Can Present Photo Opportunities

The GBH was in somewhat of a secluded cove . It saw me first but I had enough time to get the camera up and click a few shots
This mornings hike took me along the shoreline to retrieve a trail camera. It was a lot less humid this morning than it has been.

The reservoir looked magical this morning with light fog during the sun rise

Loon chicks are growing ! I noticed this morning that the adult leaves it alone for longer periods of time. The chick now dives short distances.

Only one small doe was caught on this trail camera. I packed up the camera and hiked to another area to set it up. .

A number of Loons were flying on my return shoreline hike this morning.

Jim

Right Place Right Time !

The Loon above surfaced right in front of me. It was as surprised to see me as I was to see it. A quick inhale of air and the Loon disappeared in several blinks of the eye. Fortunately having my camera in hand presented a quick photo opportunity.

This Otter pup and its siblings was enjoyable to watch as they fished a small cove in a central MA WMA. The first attempt of a picture it was only a few feet from me as it worked the shoreline looking for food. After seeeig me it dived and then popped up a short distance from me giving one quick photo op before sounding the alarm call . With that alarm call the family of Otters disappeard.

Jim

Trail Camera

Pictured above are some  highlights of pictures taken with trail cameras set out in Quabbin. My goal was to see if the camera could capture a picture of a young bear and a big bear. Earlier in the week I hiked and checked one of the cameras and was pleased to see a very young bear ( apprx 11/2 years) passed in front of the trail camera. This bear is pictured above in the top center of the collage.



There are seven mammals in the pictures above. Five should be easy to identify. How about the other two. Can you identify them?



Gray Foxes should call Quabbin there home. I have been reading about there behavior and habitat. My next challenge is to see if a trail camera can snap a picture of this elusive mammal. In my many miles hiked I have yet to even catch  glimpse of one.



Jim

Quabbin Deer

The title picture is a doe feeding in a small field. No doubt she has a fawn hidden close by.

I still have trail cameras set out  and have been checking them every couple of weeks. Deer activity has been picking up.

I have named this guy " Half Rack" Look closely he has only one side with antlers.

 This picture is very concerning. The rump of this doe appears to have been rubbed excessively to rid itself of ticks. Looks similar to what a moose does with rubbing to remove winter ticks..

 This is the same doe in the previous picture. Her face also appears to also have ticks.

You have to wonder what impact ticks are going to have on wildlife .

Jim

Interesting Loon Behavoir

While enjoying the start of a new day at Quabbin I watched this ditant adult Loon swimming along with a single chick on its back.
Some type of threat came about. ! The Loon sarted calling frantically as it lowered itself in the water. It looked like the chick was nesteled under the wing. . The other adult Loon came flying in like a fight jet ( cover pic).
In less than a minute all was back to normal and all three Loons went about there day.
I am guesiing it was probally a Eagle that caused the concern.

" Correction" I had incorrectly  identified the above loon for a Red Throat Loon.

It is a Common Loon. Thanks Dale for bringing this to my attention and identifying properly.

Jim