December Can Be Tough For Pictures

The doe on the title page presented a brief opportunity last week during the rain.

I have hiked both mornings this weekend with no picture opportunities. Several Loons were still on the reservoir and  two Otters kept me entertained but were distant.

I took this mornings dismal weather as an opportunity to set out two game cameras. I have been seeing consistent Bobcat sign ( tracks & scat) . It will be interesting to see if I can capture a picture!

 

Jim

Very Quiet Weekend

Hiked two NE Gates this weekend with little wildlife activity. I did see and hear a single loon both days. This morning just after passing the yellow gate I jumped what sounded like a moose,. breaking of large branches as it distanced itself from me.
I would of thought with such a mild weekend the animal activity would of been high.

Guess Not !

Jim

Eventful Early Morning

The coyote above  was prowling the shoreline early dawn this morning. Things were going well as it approached where I was sitting , then it crossed my scent and STOPPED like it hit a wall! It looked my way intensely then turned and ran.

On a distant shoreline I watched two mature and two immature eagles . Three are on the bottom left and the fourth is flying in the top right of the picture. Surely the immature Eagles are the off spring of the two adults in the picture.

Also tried my hand with a few BIF pic as these Mergansers took to the air.

I also found a number of bobcat tracks in my hike this morning.  I will pack some Plaster of Paris tomorrow.

Jim

Light Rain - Early Dawn

I figured I would head out early hoping to get a few hours in before the rain !

No such luck. When I arrived at Quabbin the skies stayed dark and light rain started. I was able to squeak out a few picture before the rain picked. The doe above presented a brief opportunity as she moved through the hardwoods.

This was my first picture. It was barely light and I had to make a few camera setting changes.

This young doe also presented a quick pic opportunity. Notice the thick coat.

 

Jim

How Appropriate ! Turkey's On Thanksgiving

What an interesting morning at Quabbin today. As I was watching a distant shoreline a flock of turkey's were working the shoreline. As the flock reached the point with nowhere to go but fly, what appeared to be a second flock merged and an all our pushing and shoving match took place.
Things calmed down after a few minutes and then two Tom's started strutting their stuff. I have only seen this behavior in the spring during mating season.
The strutting stance went on for about ten minutes. How neat though to see this on Thanksgiving Day!
Also, have you ever wondered if a turkey would wade ( me neither  lol) But they do !

On my hike back to the truck I was able to get this pic of a juvenile Black Bellied Plover.

Yes , and finally a bear still out in the area leaving its calling card for me to find.

Jim

Last Ditch Efforts To Get A Bear Picture

I did a lot of wandering this morning in effort to get a picture of a bear before they den. The morning started with a beautiful sunrise as I followed the brook in the picture above. The sun touching the background made for a nice touch.

I found this bear scat in my travels. Looks like the bear found a few apples to eat this late in the fall. Most bears stay out an about until they cant forage enough food ( calories) to keep them warm.
I can tell you the pickins' are becoming scarce in the area I was hiking this morning.
Well. it's nice to know that  the bear has not hibernated yet.My days are numbered !
Jim

Stay On Track

Beautiful morning to be out and about. I didn't see much more than a Seagull and a Loon in the distant water. However I did see where the animals had been. I followed the bear tracks shown above for a mile or so along the shoreline.

I did find what appeared to be a very small Bobcat track

Before calling it a day I found this pile of Salmon eggs. This is the time of the year Salmon spawn. There was little evidence as to what led to the eggs just laying on the shoreline. My guess is that a raptor plucked the fish from the shallow water and may have landed on the shoreline where the Salmon released the eggs. There was no sign of any mammal tracks in close proximity of the eggs.

Jim

Nice Dawn, Then Windy , Slow For Wildlife Viewing

What a beautiful view for the start of the day. Unfortunately a short time after this sunrise the wind picked up . Windy days are a challenge for seeing wildlife. That being said, it was sure nice hiking staying comfortable with no bugs!
I did see one Barred Owl and two Partridge.

The only critter seen was a Chipmunk,

Jim

 

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

Loons

Amazing only a few months ago Loons were extremely territorial. Today one mature and four immature Loons gathered together while another mature Loon with one immature loon where in close proximity.

 Many birds seen today. Cormorants , Eagle, Coopers Hawks and seven Loons

Hiked most of the morning in hopes of finding a Bull Moose. No luck today !

Jim

Named This Moose Snarly !

The title page picture above was one of the last pictures taken for the morning. Both moose appear to be young . The Bull Moose has one ugly set of antlers ! Hence I named him Snarly.

Sneaking into the back side of a NE swamp offered pics of this young cow feeding. No fooling her. She has me pegged!

This young bull was making a lot of noise wading and feeding. He frequently turned looking for his sweetheart.

A few more step and Snarly turned around and headed back towards the cow.

It made for a pretty eventful morning!

Jim

Weather ... HOT & HUMID !!

I spent the week watching several Quabbin swamps with very little wildlife activity. Temperatures in the low nineties and high humidity where certainly a challenge.
The Belted Kingfisher on the title page entertained me every morning.

This Bull Frog seemed more the okay with the warm weather and appears to be happy watching me.

Eastern King Birds where pretty much the only bird activity.

Several Painted Turtles on alert as I approached very slowly to capture this picture.

Evenings where a treat fishing the reservoir and listening to the Loons.

Most nights would end with my wife and I sitting around the campfire listening to a Barred Owl in the distant woods.

About as good a vacation one could ask for !

Jim

Camping In The Quabbin Area

My wife and I have been camping for the week, spending full days enjoying Quabbin. The extreme heat and humidity has kept us to a minimum with activity.
I have been sitting  watching a swamp with my camera each morning with absolutely no  mammal activity. Only two weeks ago watching this same swamp I was able to photograph a Doe & Fawn , Moose and a Great Horned Owl.
Not doubt the extreme heat has minimized all animal activity.
The picture below is the swamp I have been watching .

The reservoir has receded , which allows for  shore walking. It was  a perfect time to see if I could locate a decent coyote track in the mud and make a cast

These casts were just taken and lightly brushed off. The cast on the right is the coyote and the cast on the left appears to be a very small bobcat track.

Camp is now complete. All the comforts of home! The solar shower was hung up after the water heated in the sun.

Jim.

Watch Where Your Walking !

The Great  Egret is my first at Quabbin. I did catch glimpse of one several years back but this one although distant, provided a nice color contrast. I stumbled upon this while waiting for several bobcat track casts to dry.

I located these bobcat tracks while hiking on Friday. This is my first attempt at casting a track. I am  very pleased with the results. Should make for a good conversation piece

Also found a pretty seasoned skull and a painted turtle shell.

The smell of wild grapes was in the air!

Jim