Question Ones Sanity !!!!

I did just that this morning. It was DARN COLD! as I hid behind this boulder in anticipation of some action.
It wasn't too long before this got my interest.

 This single otter poked its head through an open hole in the ice . It looked like a periscope checking for danger.

 All clear ,safe to come out.

Oh.wait a minute. I will just lay here and watch the idiot with camera freeze to death.....
Goes to show you, the natural world moves on about its daily activity regardless of the cold.
Jim

Put Some Miles On The West Side

Having four days off has let me put nearly twenty five miles on my ole’ hiking boots bushwhacking and following the Quabbin west side roads. I focused in the areas from Gate 6 thru Gate 11. With the little bit of snow we had last Thursday, added to the enjoyment with finding and identify tracks. Clearly the most seen tracks were those of coyotes, and then deer tracks would come in second. I did see four different sets of bobcat tracks along with many moose tracks. The bonus this morning was a track of a red fox. In my total miles hiked I have only seen one fox. It was early dawn and distant view, not sure if it was a gray or red. I have a lot to learn with track identification, but with each outing I review track & scat field guides in effort to identify my days find. Today I walked in the house with a small bird nest I found on the ground. My wife just looks at me and smiles as to say, now what are you going to do with that. Jim

Beautiful Morning Tracking

I headed back to Gate 8 this morning. The dusting of snow made for  very eventful morning finding tracks. The first tracks were a bonus! I really enjoy finding bobcat tracks. Knowing I hiked this same area yesterday without seeing a cat track added to the excitement. The knife in the picture is 3-1/2" long. I'll remember to put a tape measure in my pack.

The bobcat had walked a considerable distance up the dirt road.
Continuing north on Ward Rd the anticipation of seeing a moose was high. I did cut one single fresh track made after the snow from yesterday afternoon. Continuing on a number of deer crossed the road. All were single tracks. I thought the deer would be traveling in groups this time of year. Maybe the recent thaw eased things.

Coyote tracks were plentiful. I could see where four where traveling together. Notice the toe nail indentations on the top track.

I did see a number these interesting scrapes on maple trees. I do know what made these and why. Would anybody care to comment?
Finally with finishing my hike a grouse flushed. Almost got him on my camera.

Jim

Hiked & Located All Quabbin Gates

This morning was an early start heading out to Gate 8 in Pelham. I was hoping for a glimpse of a moose and I wanted to see if I could find Gate 7 . An earlier attempt to find the gate a few weeks back driving in from Rte202 did not permit access. Private land  with no trespassing signs made for the effort this morning.
The hike  was cloudy with light snow,  which made for a nice walk. Not much moving, I did see several gray squirrels , one red squirrel and several chickadees.
I crossed several different moose tracks while heading up Juckett Hill. I did locate Gate 7 which completes my gate search . Over the last several years searching for the gates just added another purpose to go along with the hiking and photography.
Jim

Short But Interesting Hike

I had a little time to burn this morning, so I headed off to see if I could locate gate 48 using public access. Earlier in the fall I had hiked from gate 50 to 48, exiting Quabbin onto a network of dirt roads. I was not sure if the roads belonged to DCR or private. This morning’s hike validated the roads are private and that Gate 48 is not accessible from a public way. While poking around the area outside of Quabbin I did cut a moose track, numerous deer tracks and one coyote track. I also came upon this structure……. Jim

Quite Start To Winter

This morning I headed out to my favorite east side gate. Pretty mild day for the first day of winter. Deer and coyote tracks were plentiful. I did see two different sets of moose tracks several miles from each other, both were heading east. With such a mild morning my plan was to sit on a ridge side with hopes that some critter would wander through. It wasn't long before a pileated woodpecker landed a short distance away and started his drumming. No opportunity for a picture. On the hike back to the truck I took another stand on the back side of a small swamp. Nothing happening here either. Oh'well! It was a nice peaceful morning hiking. Jim

Couldn't Help Myself!

With the forecast yesterday I decided to take a vacation day putting a few miles on a favorite eastside gate. The morning was a treat, weather started out overcast then clearing by mid morning. Temperatures climbed into the low fifties. The woods were tracked up pretty well. No shortage of coyotes, that's for sure. My hike took me along a snowshoe trail made earlier in the week. I did see one set of bobcat tracks with many deer tracks. Seeing bobcat tracks is always a highlight to my hikes. Jim

I loaded up the snowshoes and headed over to Gate 43 first thing this morning. The four wheel drive sure got a work out! Was I surprised to see only about half the accumulation of snow we received. Barely enough to snowshoe so I left them in the truck. I enjoy hiking after a snow storm looking for tracks and this morning was no disappointment. Only hiked a hundred yards or so and cut a single deer track that crossed the road earlier in the storm. Two drainage pipes revealed porcupine dens. Crossing the spill way I was pleased to see several otter slides that were made prior to my arrival. The reservoir looked quite with the recent cold snap icing over the shallow coves. The hike back to the truck revealed where a cow and calf moose walked in my foot prints for a short distance on the road. The storm made for a quite peaceful hike Jim

Locating Farnsworth Headstone

A little chilly hiking this morning, 9 degrees when I passed the yellow gate. The plan today was to visit Wendell Farnsworth. His lone grave stone sits remotely on a quite ridge in the Quabbin woods. With research this past week, I was able to narrow the headstone location down to a general area. Reaching out to a fellow hiker that surfaced while doing my research, narrowed the search to a relatively small area. Once I located the house foundation, I split the area up into several quadrants and started doing circles. On the outer circle on the second sweep their stood Wendell’s headstone. The several evenings researching and the effort locating the headstone made for a very satisfying hike back to the truck Just one more reason to hike Quabbin ! Jim

I stopped in New Salem on the way hiking this morning; the sunrise was brilliant before the cloud cover moved in. Gate 15 is an easy hike, all downhill. Atherton Brook was babbling as I passed on the way to the reservoir. When I reached the intersection of 15-1, I went left to the shoreline. Then walked the shoreline south reaching the other cart road had I gone right at the 15-1 intersection. It always amazes me the animal tracks you see after a light snow. Coyote, deer, moose were easy finds this morning. The reservoir was calm. Walking the shoreline I did see one kingfisher, one lone goose and rounding one of the coves three canvas backs flew with my interruption. No loons where seen or heard today. This late in the season most loons have headed east and south. This was a short morning hike putting just over five miles on the ole’ hiking boots. The trek back up to the truck kept the blood flowing and was warm! Jim

Black Friday Shopping or Cold Friday Hiking ..........

No decision really…. Just thought is sounded good! Headed over to Gate 35 at first light. My hike today would start at the water to watch the sun rise, then I would hike over to Gate 31 boat launch to pick up the shoreline back to Gate 35. Dawn on the calm water is always a treat. No wildlife on the move this morning. Would be a good morning for a fire in the standing fireplace at Basset Pond. You can begin to feel winters grip settling in. The shoreline hike back did reveal a pile of bear scat. Upon return to my truck I met a fella that has seen several bears in the past week or so in the area. Surely the bears travel range will tighten up with these cold days and minimal food sources. I would think bear sign and sightings are just about done for this year. I did see a red tail hawk perched way off on top of a white pine tree The hike today put 5.5 miles on the ole hiking boots. j
Jim

Bald Faced Hornet

With the fall foliage completing its cycle, the number of beehives or should I say bald faced hornet hives are everywhere. By everywhere I mean in central Massachusetts,  driving through the towns of Rutland, Oakham , Barre , Hardwick & Petersham  nests are easily seen .To quantify the increased hive activity, a late fall hike in Quabbin I counted 24 bald faced  hornet hives over a twelve mile stretch. The hives were built as low as four feet from the ground and were as high as forty feet in a variety of trees. I don’t believe I have ever seen twenty four hives of any type in my lifetime, never mind in one season. That’s what has me so inquisitive. Why are there so many hives in central Massachusetts this year, Was the winter of 2012 mild enough where temperatures  minimized the death toll of the queen bald face hornets. The queens will typically protect themselves from the winter by borrowing into a rotten log or under bark. Is there something more to the increased bald faced hornet activity? My next questions were, how do they build their nests, what is there purpose, do they pollinate like the honey bee?

The bald face hornet uses their saliva mixed with the wood that they chew in fabricating the paper that makes the hive. I have not figured out there purpose.  They do pollinate but it doesn’t appear with the intensity of a honey bee. Bald faced hornets are aggressive and will attack other small insects.

I have always found hives catch most peoples eye and make for an interesting conversation piece. Taking a hive in the late fall has no impact on the inhabitants or the hive. The drones have all died off with the female seeking winter cover elsewhere in hopes of making it to spring where she will start a new hive with a small cone.

Jim

Cold & Windy !

Wind made hiking a challenge this morning. We had more snow in Rutland than the Quabbin region. On my ride to Quabbin I was hoping the snow was consistent in central Massachusetts. Not the case at all. When I reached Long Pond there was barely a dusting. Oh Well! We will just have to make the best of a cold wind day

Sun was just hitting the tree tops and I was on my way. It wasn’t long before catching movement.

Continuing on I was thrilled to find this bobcat track in the trace of snow.

Dressing in layers made for a comfortable hike this morning

Jin

Cold, Windy & Eventful

A bit nippy this morning. Even though the wind was brisk I did find several opportunities to snap a picture. I spotted a doe and yearling feeding in the dawns early light

As I approached the shoreline before the morning sun touched the tree tops. Looking up, this immature eagle was soaring just inside the sun’s rays.

On the hike back to the truck I could hear geese heading my way coming off the reservoir.  Standing very still offered this picture.

Put 8 miles on the ole’ boots this morning. Made for a GREAT way to start a Saturday

Jim

Interesting Day !

I had the opportunity to tag along on a MA Wildlife visit to Prescott Peninsula .  A wonderful opportunity to say the least. The day started out with spotting a mature eight point buck bedded close to the road.
A shoreline visit revealed several pole ends that once supported the   hack-site with the introduction of eagles to Quabbin  Reservoir. A short distance out into the reservoir sits a small island named Loon Island.

A loon could be heard off in the distance before heading out. The ride out took us by Lily Pond.

where I spotted an old hand crafted ladder . I am guessing it may have been used to reach a photography platform  overlooking Lily Pond several decades ago.

Jim

Gate 50 to Gate 48

This mornings hike took me over Goodnough Dike through Gate 50 destine to find the entrance to Gate 48. .

 Several attempts to locate the Gate 48 driving the road didn’t work out.

Crossing Goodnough Dike a mature eagle flew in camera view.

  On the hike to Gate 48  cart road  ( 49-2) had several old foundations that looked interesting.

Several old maples lined the roads edge. I'll bet the foliage last month would have been nice.

 Just over three miles hiking I arrived at the entrance. The cement poles were still in place with no signs or  identifying marks.

 No wildlife to speak of this morning. I did hear three pileated woodpeckers and seen the usual winter birds.

Jim

"Still Morning"

This morning’s hike took me along the NE Shoreline. Overcast to start with the sun shining on the return hike.

 I enjoy walking the shoreline with anticipation of getting a picture of an eagle, listening to the loons and watching for tracks in the mud.

No shortage of coyote and deer tracks on the shoreline. I did locate a set of bobcat tracks that were close to a large outcrop of boulders.

Jim      

Several Milestones Reached Hiking The Quabbin Woods

Interesting day yesterday hiking Quabbin. There were several personal milestones within my reach. I was twenty five miles away from reaching a total of one thousand miles hiked inside the boundaries of Quabbin Reservoir carrying a camera. The second milestone was reaching the most miles hiked in one day.

 Putting twenty-five miles on the ole’ hiking boots yesterday and breaking the one thousand mile marker made for a rewarding day. The day started at Gate 43 with light snow falling. My hike today would take me out Shaft 12 Rd to Fitzpatrick Rd, over Lyman St, down to East St, exiting Gate 50 onto Goodnough Dike. From their I hiked out to Quabbin Park, then up to Enfield Lookout.

Wildlife was scarce with only seeing an eagle and one immature red-tail hawk. Beehives were everywhere. I kept track of the number of hives on my hike back to the truck. In the 12.5 miles there were 24 nests. I don’t think I have seen 24 beehives in my entire life.  

When I reached the truck the first thing  I did was to pull my GPS out of the pack.

Jim

Close No Cigar

The light rain this morning made it perfect for walking through the woods quietly .Moving slowly along an oak ridge I spotted movement about fourty yards away. It was a six point buck moving away from me with his nose on the ground in pursuit of a  doe. I attempted to get a picture through the many trees.

You can see his front leg and neck  on the left hand side of the picture. He was moving along and out of sight no time.
Also , since the leaves have fallen I have seen more bee hives  . Just in my hike this morning I counted three.
Jim

Deer Activity This Morning

With the rut just about in full swing deer should be moving pretty good. That was the case this morning. The problem was, I spotted them just a little too early and  had to  quickly set the camera on ISO 6400 with barely got this picture

A little while after this picture I did spot a small spike horn and several does.
 Before calling it a day I took a second hike at a NW gate  in hopes of maybe catching a few more deer out and about.

No luck!

Jim

 

Jim