"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