Not A Lot Going On This Morning

Dispite the dismal morning I did get some hiking in today. I headed out to my favorite eastside gate. The rain let up giving way to a moderate drizzle. Wildlife pic opportunities in these conditions is typically good for me. Bear sign continues to be consistant. Didn't take long before coming upon a pile of bear puke.

Over the next mile or so bear scat was consistent. Probability on my part was high in anticipation of getting a glimpse of a bear this morning. Not to be today !
Oh well it gives me something to look forward to next week

Jim

Plane Wreck

Very quiet , other than the typical birds and small  mammals there were  no photo opportunities ,so I hiked to the plane wreck. Been a while since my last visit. DCR has cleaned up the tree's that were on the cart road.

On the hike back I found where a number of turtle eggs had been dug up.

Jim

Quabbin - South Carolina & Chiggers

Congaree NP large Bald Cypress Tree

Our Charleston SC trip finished with a trip to  Caw Caw swamp in Ravenel ,S.C. It's approximately a 650 acre wildlife sanctuary which includes rice fields and hardwoods. This area is used by many local and migrating birds. Our several mile walk revealed. one alligator . several blue herons. .
many ibis,and a few barred owls calling .

An alligator alongthe rice fields

 

Many information signs In Caw Caw swamp

 

A rat snake along the Congaree trail

Quabbin this weekend.I hiked nearly fifteen miles  in pursuit of a  moose. I found many tracks unfortunately no moose. I did break the 900 mile marker this weekend.

 

Chiggers

While in SC I got into chiggers . The most NASTY  bites I have ever gotten!

 

Jim

 

 

 

Congaree National Park South Carolina

I had a chance to visit Congaree in the spring. It was while on a business trip and only had a few hours to see what I could. Yesterday we spent the afternoon hiking this floodplain forest. The Bald Cypress trees along with the Loblolly Pines are truly amazing. We hiked the Oakridge Trail which took us 6.6 miles through the flood plain.
Pileated Woodpeckers could be heard squawking or hammering throughout the afternoon. Several barred owls where calling " Who Cooks For You". The trail lead to a overlook at Weston Lake. Stopping to rest for a few minutes five yellow-bellied slider turtles were seen.
During the hike we did see a number of wild hogs and one rat snake occupying the trail.
The hike was certainly eventful and I would recommend if you are in South Carolina. I will add pics when back in Massachusetts.

Jim

Mt Greylock Western Massachusetts

I took a detour today, missed work & Quabbin. Mt Greylock has been on my agenda for a while.The day started real early so that the arrival time would be at first light.
Driving up Rockwell Road slow I did see a handsome six point  buck with a doe, Much to early for any pictures.

The view for the summit was nice.

Jim

Worked Hard At It !

No Luck ! Yesterday I hiked out to Graves Landing in pursuit of seeing a moose. Rut is getting closer and the males should be more active a good part of the day. I did  see two white trucks with a signs on the door , National Observatory ..... Couldn't make out the rest of the name. I'm thinking that they were a team of folks probably going to watch and count raptors migrating.

Started my hike early on Saturday. Got pretty close to this doe.

This morning I headed out to Gate 37. It was a beautiful morning with a light fog over the reservoir.
I enjoyed breakfast watching the east branch of Fever Brook flow into Quabbin. Not many boats this morning. On the hike back to the truck I did see two does .

Jim

Very Quiet Today !

This mornings hike would take me to a east side swamp right at dawn. I stood  well after the morning  had set in, with hopes of seeing a moose. The stillness and quite was unusual. Other than a few distant jays ,

a chickadee and half dozen sparrows the hike was uneventful. I  also watched for any migrating birds.

A short distance from my truck I did meet a number of folks with binoculars and several spotting scopes in pursuit of watching for raptors starting the migration south.

When I arrived home there perched a sharp shinned hawk over seeing the bird feeders in perfect light.
Unfortunately it had no patience with getting it's picture taken.

Jim