Not Quabbin Related , However Quite A Treat For Halloween !

Some generous folks gave me the opportunity to participate in the South Central MA Saw-whet Owl banding project.

The process was quite interesting listening to three experts explain specifics about the raptor and the detail around how the owl is captured , and the data collected .

Its amazing just how small the Saw-Whet is/! My hand in the photo above gives a good perspective.

Jim

Beavers Made Interesting Morning

Saturday morning I spent a couple of hours watching over a SE beaver swamp. The heavy rain this week certainly filled this pond to capacity. It didn't take long before the beavers where aware of my presence. Sitting very still with a  light wind in my favor  brought several beavers in very close!

Certainly kept me entertained for the morning

Thought I would get an opportunity with this flock of male wood ducks landing. I moved and they picked right up on it.

This Redtail Hawk made a quick fly over before disappearing over the tree line.

This morning I sat at another swamp. Beavers were busy collecting vegetation as was a Sharp-shinned Hawk trying to avoid the Blue Jays. I stopped at a WMA on the ride home and was treated with seeing two Bluebirds.
Jim

Still a Few Color Pockets

The title page picture was taken from Quabbin Tower. Mt Monadnock can be seen in the distance, I would think that the tower will be closed for winter fairly soon.

A early start Saturday had me waiting in anticipation of a clear sunrise at New Salem Lookout. No luck! The sun disappeared into the clouds as soos as it broke the horizon.
Camera was starving for light, I was able to get this doe & skipper cleaning,

Just about done!

What are you looking at?

Jim

soapstone Before Sunrise

The picture above was the reward for hiking very early to beat the sun rising over Soapstone Hill.
The dense fog and the sun made for a beautiful start to the morning.

The only wildlife seen was the Brown Clipper above

Jim

Unusual Rock

With the lousy weather forecast for today, I decided to take yesterday off and put some miles on  hiking while enjoying the fall colors . The picture of the swamp above made for a nice view  while I waited in hopes of a moose  wandering through. The only wildlife activity was a King Fisher and a female Wood Duck..
Sitting in anticipation this rock caught my attention.

One could conclude that this be might a headstone marker?

I didn't see any markings on the stone. " Google" didn't give up any information.

The shoreline had areas with color.The  small spot on the left in the water , just out from the point with the reddish orange tree is a boat. Probably one of the last  for the season. Today is the last day for the 2014 Quabbin fishing season  and a lousy weather at that.

Not much wildlife activity so I attempted to get a pic of this Double-crested Cormorant flying by.

The smell of grapes was still in the air. Pretty much all the low hanging fruit has been picked or eaten.

 Jim

Bonus Weekend Camping The Fed

Friday morning stated off at dawn with five Coopers Hawks flying around me with Blue Jays in pursuit. Before the weekend was over I did see a total of eight.

Sitting around the campfire each evening we had an added treat with the calls of Barred Owls along with loons in the distant reservoir .

 Hiking along the reservoir, summer temps had many logs occupied with painted turtles .

Jim

Pretty Quiet

I spent yesterday morning watching a SE swamp hoping to see a moose. The rut has started. Did see a number of tracks, but no activity.

Plenty of Concord Grapes ripe. Bears have also found them.

An immature Common Yellow Throat and the Eastern Wood-pewee kept me busy with my camera

Jim