Watching Ice Can Have Photo Op's

Watching out over the ice and catching some distant movement ended with the picture above.
Using the wind to my advantage let me settle in about 80 yards from the Eastern Coyote as it walked the ice.

Thank You !

I appreciate all that have visited this site or have attended my presentations.. I hope you enjoy my Quabbin adventures as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.

The Bobcat in the title picture was one of the  top 2016 wildlife experiences . This cat was not aware of my presence for several  minutes... Watching any wildlife's behavior undetected is always thrilling.

I will be putting on another Quabbin wildlife presentation  in early 2017. Stay Tuned !!

Happy Holidays
Jim

Peaceful Hike In The Snow This Morning

The picture above is the Gte 31 boat launch area. The picture was taken the day after  close of the 2016 fishing season. The area looked quite different this morning with the snow.

  I hiked in several miles to check on my trail cameras. I did see a flock of mallards, a king fisher and one barred owl. Coyote tracks were plentiful.

When I reached my trial cameras there was track activity around one camera and nothing around the second camera. Wouldn't you know it ! The camera with the alkaline batteries was STONE DEAD and the tracks were made after the batteries died!
The camera with the lithium batteries still had a full charge but unfortunately there were not tracks in the area.

Jim

Put Out Two Trail Cameras

The bobcat pic above is another from last week I went back this morning in hopes of a repeat from last week. LOL not the case. I really wanted to check out how far away I took the bobcat pic. Using my range finder I was surprised the actual distance was 175 yards, I am very pleased with the picture turnout.

Not a lot going on this morning, I did see a small bear track I'll bet after t he snow tonight and the cold temps next week this little guy finds a den sight real fast.

Now that the hunt is over I put out two trail cameras this morning. With the cold temps next week the predators should be on the move  . I put a set of lithium batteries on one of the cameras . It will be interesting to learn how much longer they last than standard alkaline batteries.

Jim

Stay Aware Of Your Souroundings

The bobcat picture was given to me by a small flock of Mergansers.

I settled in early this morning watching a favorite cove. Wind was A bit nippy but I managed to stay still as the sun broke the horizon. This small flock of Mergansers would of made a nice picture in the in the suns first rays then dropping to the water. Not fifteen minutes went by and the were off. I managed to get one quick pic and then sat motionless.
I wondered why the Mergansers took to flight with only landing in the cove a short time ago.

I started scanning the distant shoreline and picked up on some movement. WOW ! a bobcat...
The bobcat was not aware of my presence as I watched it for about five  minutes .

This was another Quabbin top five wildlife experience.

Jim

Black Friday For Sure !

It was raining and dismal. Thought I would take a ride up to Parker Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island
The picture above was taken near Hellcat. The moderate rain didn't prevent this raptor from hunting. It could care less of my presence as it scanned the wood line for anything that moved.

This doe presented a quick photo before disappearing over the banking.

I did talk to a few other photographers who were hoping to get a pic of a November Snowy Owl.

Jim

Watch the exposed shoreline

The picture above  shows the shoreline with the reservoir at 80% of capacity.
Walking is easy and watching where you walk can reveal  man made and natural things.

This axe head has been exposed with the low water level. One can only guess at how long it has been submerged?  Maybe eighty plus years......

Appreciating the artifact I left it alone and continued on hoping to find something else.

One could only wonder how this turtle passed. Did it fall prey to an eagle.....

Light covering of snow is a sign of the weather coming

A pile of bear scat always catches my attention.  sat for a while this morning hoping a bear would be walking the shoreline.

Other than a few turkeys , geese and mallards it was a quite morning. No loons were seen

Jim

Big Bodied Deer

The buck above was a " Big Bodied Deer" with such a small odd rack. Most likely poor genetics.
This is the largest deer I have seen in the boundaries of the Quabbin Watershed.

No shortage of loons this morning , seeing five on my shoreline hike.

Trail camera had the same raccoon and porcupine as last week. I may need to move them,,,,,,

Jim

Presentation This Week @ Rutland , MA Library

Should be an entertaining evening !

I will share a five week experience  hoping for a unique photo opportunity. Two opportunities presented themselves.
I will also share the most exciting bird encounter to date . Everyone should be given an opportunity like this.

Also look forward to meeting some of my Blog followers.

 Hope to See You Wednesday November 16th 7:00 PM Rutland ,Ma Library

Not much going on with my Quabbin hike this morning. The Red-tail Hawk in the tile picture flew over me  this morning in the first sun rays.

I checked two of my trail cameras this morning Only a fat raccoon and a curious porcupine. Tomorrow my hike will be to pickup my other two cameras. After the Quabbin hunt I will put them back out.

Jim









































































































































































































































where I was hoping for a unique photo . Patience prevailed. 

Right Place Wrong Shoreline

I enjoy hiking the shoreline. The anticipation of what's around the next cove , maybe a soaring eagle and usually hearing the call of a loon. The buck above was walking a distant shoreline and didn't provide much more than an evidence pic.

 The call of a distant loon broke the silence of a very quiet morning. Won't be long before the reservoir becomes very quiet with the last of it's seasonal visitors heading to wintering grounds.

 The peak in the distance ( right side) is Soapstone Hill. I didn't find any treasures hiking the shoreline this day.

 While scouting out a new area to put my trail cameras I found this rock with two skeletons laying on it. The skeletons are small in size. The skull on the right side appears to be a small porcupine. I made this assumption from the front teeth.

Jim

Got To Work For The Few Photo Opportunities

The title picture is an older doe who gave me about a 3 second window at first light before slipping away.

Trail cameras are still active. I was hoping to get a day time bobcat video...........

Quabbin Trail Cameras

Jim

Been Lucky With Trail Cameras

The title page picture  of the bear was on this blog a few months back, I  thought it was a good catch on my trail camera. At least I thought so until the I retrieved my SD cards from my trial cameras this morning. Two of the cameras were slightly moved on the tree, The video below shows why......

Jim

Any Idea Who This Stand Belongs To ?

While hiking , I randomly wander and bushwhack . I came across this ladder  deep within the watershed boundaries hanging in a tree. What an interesting find ! Taking a number of pictures and enlarging you can see evidence of where a platform once was affixed to the branches. The wood looks to be old and aged. My guess  this belonged to MassWildlife and a 16MM camera might of been used on this platform with Jack Swedburg filming Quabbin wildlife???

My trail camera activity slowed down considerably. This mornings check had a glimpse of a coyote a doe feeding and what appears to be a senior cow moose. In the next few weeks I will move the cameras to a different habitat.

Jim

Keep On Hiking !


  Recently I reached  2,100 miles on my ole' hiking boots in the boundaries of
The Quabbin Watershed. The equivalent of hiking from Fort Kent , Me. to Key West , Fl.

In addition to hiking " The Quabbin" with a camera I have set out a few trail cameras in my travels.

Enjoy !

https://youtu.be/x94Cl5mGHWo

Jim

Moose Are Very Active

The Bull Moose above presented a quick picture before slipping into the woods. I took advantage of the nice weather last Thursday hiking in hopes of seeing a bull. The effort paid off !

My trial cameras have been burning the midnight oil with moose activity. Below is a mature cow using her nose to detect scent.

Jim

     

Need To Stay On Your Game !

Hiking back to the truck the two coyotes on the title picture were straddling the cart road when I spotted them They were heading right towards me and closing the gap FAST
No time to adjust the settings on my camera.  An oversight on my part, DARN! A few miles back I had been sitting in an area with ample light.

This was a first. This young porcupine was sound asleep. High above it two adult porcupines watched as I passed.  Porcupines  are usually solitary animals.

Jim

Although Distant

Is was nice to see a Northern Harrier. Shortly before landing in the tree an Adult Bald Eagle was in pursuit.

Again pretty distant the Pileated WP kept me occupied

https://youtu.be/0jhPAryroMg

My trail cameras have been getting some interesting videos

Jim

Came Close !

Power-lines ( although ugly in nature setting) can be very productive with wildlife. This morning at dawns first light I picked up on a moose feeding a few hundred yards away. The only reason I spotted him  because it was feeding in the cart road on the crest of the hill. Now.........
If I could only stalk quietly . I did make it about forty yards away when !
I needed just a another yard or so to get clear of the bushes in front of me. Great experience !
At least I got  a distant pics before the moose made it to the woods.

The doe was a welcomed surprise Looks like she may have rubbed her rump to rid the ticks.

Jim

A Little More Activity Today

I settled in at the shoreline at dawn. The distant immature eagle above was heading my way .........

At first light many Greater Yellow Legs were walking the shoreline in search of food.

These geese were a good distance away. Would of been good had the sun reached the water.

Sitting at a swamp after the sun came up provided this pic of a immature Redtail Hawk

Yesterday I check my trail cameras and one camera took a few seconds of two coyote

pups.

Jim

Extremely Quiet Morning

The Ruffed Grouse above was all that I seen this morning and it was just getting light.
The woods were very quiet !
The 'ole boots had better than five miles on them with little to show.


Well, there is always tomorrow.

Jim

Birds Not Getting Along Today !

The two GBH in the Blog Title picture were pretty rough with each other. I am guessing that they recently fledged.
I watched a distant Coppers Hawk and nd several Crows perform a number of slick aerial maneuvers.

I was hoping this Kingfisher would come close and dive for a fish.

It was very humid this morning ! I wasn't expecting much action.

Regards

Jim

Plenty Of Critters Moving This Morning

Headed out early this morning to beat the heat. Hadn't hiked but a half mile in when the  immature Redtail Hawk  above presented a photo op.

My plan this morning was to retrieve a trail camera that has been set out for three weeks.

Just about to the TC camera location when I caught glimpse of this doe working towards me. She went about her business not detecting my presence . Watching as I continued  slowly down the cart road I did catch glimpse of her fawn.

A family of otters swam by me as I watched two fledged Redtail Hawks fly short distances 

around the swamp.

This Green Heron made one ugly landing onto this white pine branch

Jim

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

Great Time To Be Out & About

I was hoping this doe might have a fawn with her. If she did she sure wasn't going to show me!

This GBH kept a watchful eye on me as we watched dawn set into a small swamp.

This male and female Northern Flicker's put on a Dancing with the Stars show this morning.

On the ride home the one ugly Turkey Vulture posed for a picture.

Jim

Took A Boat Ride This Week

The eagle pictured above made for a good start of  a day on the reservoir.

It was a shaky start to the day with the motor quitting two miles from the boat ramp. I can now add that I can row a boat two miles ........lol

That being said,

This eagle flew by checking on how was doing

Shortly after a loon flew by

Did mange to get a pic of a single eagle chick sitting in a nest.

It certainly was an eventful day all around

Jim

Not Purrfect ! But We'll Take It !

Pretty exciting morning ! I headed out early to one of my favorite locations.
Just about there, I rounded the  corner on the dirt road and caught a glimpse of a bobcat just rounding the corner about fifty yards ahead me. I tried to get an " Evidence Pic" but the cat was out of sight before the camera was ready.
Crap......... I cant let this opportunity just walk away !

I needed to pic up a fast pace and keep quiet while doing this. Not hustling but ten yards, a kitten bobcat busted out of the woods a short distance in front of me and ran across the dirt road.
Good for me she didn't run down the road following her mother......
If I could make the next corner without being detected there might be a chance for a picture.

Wow... there she is

I was able to keep her curiosity for several minutes.

A second after this pic she was GONE!!

Jim

Its that time of year when turtles lay eggs. The female snapping turtle in the pic above was interesting to watch. I had come across her just about the time she reached  the area where she would dig a hole for her eggs. I continued on knowing I would pass this same area on my return trip in about  in an hour or so.
On my return trip she was done and  resting o on a rock that overlooked a brook . I continued on and stopped some distance away to take a last glance. She decided to take the easy way back to the brook.

Also came across this painted turtle laying eggs

First thing this morning this porcupine steeped out of the woods onto the dirt road a short distance from me. What happened next was a surprise

It turned and walked right up to me. The pic above was taken with my iPhone. It looked at me  as to say, where the heck did you come from , turned and went about its day.

A very good morning out !

Jim

The title page picture is a young black bear . Interesting a mature bear wandered in later in the day.

Certainly look like a healthy mature bear.

This is a first. A bobcat scratching a  log.

A distant moose walks by at a distance.

Would of been nice to get one of the above critters on my SLR. It was very warm today keeping most animals to minimum amount of movement.

Jim