Three Firsts in One Day

It was foggy and dismal passing the yellow gate this morning at dawn. I couldn’t imagine three first time events happening this morning, especially after the exciting day yesterday with seeing a moose and many beds.  Hiking this morning was quiet with the soft snow and temperatures in the low forties. The hike towards the west branch of Fever Brook revealed moose, deer, bobcat, porcupine, raccoon and bears tracks. Yes ,bear tracks, a small single bear waked the shoreline heading north along the reservoir. This is my first account of seeing bear tracks in the snow in the middle of winter.

I decided to hike the shoreline back to the truck.  Rounding the first cove I picked up a vertical white object in a birch tree about seventy five yards down the shoreline. Looking through my zoom lens I could see it was a snowy owl.

NOW, could I stalk close enough for a reasonable picture? As I closed the gap, you could see blood stains on the owls face. Excitement on my part would be an understatement!  

On the return hike back, I noticed something that appeared odd sitting vertical on a branch off in the distance trees. Slowing down to check it out, showed this barred owl watching me from a distance. 

This is the first time I have had the opportunity take two pictures of owls in one morning.

 Jim

Snow Sure Can Tell a Story

Beautiful sunrise this morning

This morning I headed out to a west side gate to do some bushwhacking, with hopes of finding an antler shed. I wasn’t twenty minutes into the hike when I looked up and there stood a moose about seventy yards out looking at me. Only carrying my point and shoot today,

 I decided I would trial this moose for a while and see where it takes me. Was I surprised when a topped a small ridge and there were seven moose beds in close proximity to each other, and another three beds a short distance away.

 One of the distant beds had specks of blood visible outside of the depression made by the snow from  the moose’s warm body. Long shot but I thought maybe a bull might have had some blood loss with dropping an antler. Tracks were plentiful but looking carefully I was able to stay on this particular track following it backwards. It took me about a quarter mile to an area that was very thick with saplings. Plowing through this thick area for a while sure had me focused thinking I might find an antler hanging from a sapling branch. No luck today. I marked the location on my GPS. With that much sign in a relatively confined area, it’s sure to have an antler or two to be found.

Looking at each bed you could clearly see where a cow and calf had been laying. If would guess that three or four moose are using this as a wintering feeding & bedding area. If moose dung was worth money I would hit it big this morning!

Tracks of deer, coyote & moose where plentiful. 

I did see where a porcupine has been making a regular visit.

Jim

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