Lots Of Activity Today

Even though Quabbin opened today for the 2017 fishing season with boats everywhere, bird activity was abundant.  A distant loon yodeling this morning made for a perfect start of the day. It flew by a good distance from me ( cover pic cropped and lightened ) you can see that is does not have any bands.
Wish I could be around when the resident loon returns and finds a stranger in the neighborhood !

 A very distant immature eagle made an attempt for breakfast.

A Palm Warbler watches over a swamp looking for a mate.

I have put out all of my trail cameras.  Many things learned from last year. Can't wait to see what happens this year ! The biggest change will be the frequency with checking them. Last year was weekly. My plan is to leave them out at least 4 weeks before checking . Stay tuned !

Jim

Trail Cameras Working

A bit windy this morning. I find windy days to be the least productive seeing wildlife. That being said, it was nice to see this small bear on my TC. This springs late snow and cold seemed to hold the bears in their dens later. Last year my first TC bear was March 8th this year March 28th.

Above is one of the cameras I set out this morning.  The anticipation from week to week wondering what the camera may have captured is neat !! Last years TC results were good, hoping to improve this year.

Off to a good start !!

Jim

Reservoir Was Active This Morning

While sitting just inside the wood-line on the reservoir this morning , an adult eagle landed in a white pine about seventy yards away not seeing me. It didn't provide a decent pic hidden behind branches.
I also sat at the shore of a small swamp for about fifteen minutes. Lots of activity.......

Still a little bit of ice. I did see....
immature eagle, hooded mergansers, belted kingfisher, red-wing black birds .

Also saw many tracks in the soft snow......
coyote, bobcat, turkey, raccoon, turkey, squirrel and deer

Certainly was a  nice morning to be out. With seasonable temperatures next week, activity in the woods next weekend should be good
Jim

Spring Is Sure To Come

The ice is just about gone on the reservoir coves , along with the back woods swamps.

The plan this morning was to set out two trail cameras ( TC on tree in top center of pic) and do some bushwhacking hoping to find a fresh bear track in the snow. Did get the two cameras out,but unfortunately no bear tracks.
The squeal of wood ducks and the sound of red wing black birds is a sure sign spring is just around the corner.
I also hiked into the cameras that are set out deepest in the Quabbin Woods. Was I surprised when I got home and viewed the SD card. The guy was bushwhacking with a camera around his neck. My guess would be that he probably was also looking for sheds.

Jim

Rabbit Runs Meets Water

I sat in the reeds at ice / waters edge this morning hoping to see a coyote working the eastern shoreline or possibly a soaring eagle. There is still a lot of ice with open pockets of water. Many small flocks of Common Mergansers seen this morning.
Next weeks warming temps and the sun being higher should free the reservoir of ice.
Spring in Monday ( YAHOO !!!! )  Won't be long before the sounds of birds fill the air!
Sitting on the shoreline feeling the warm sun sure will be welcomed.

Jim

Even a mosquito would sound good now !!!

& More Picture Today. Great Gray Owl

There has been a GGO in Hudson, NH that has been extremely patient with the crowds of people showing up daily to watch it.
A rare visitor this far south. This raptor's home is in the Forests of Canada.  A friend convinced me to tag along with him the other day. I was sure glad I did. To see the Great Gray with  your own eyes is certainly an experience you will not forget..

Jim

COLD !!!

It didn’t take much to convince me that is was to “Freaking Cold” to head out hiking this morning.

The temperature was 5 degrees and very windy, so I decided to put a few pics together to summarize my presentation last week at the Quabbin Visitor Center.