tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24744667525413040342024-02-19T07:51:39.332-08:00Anemone's dayasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-22478733146349693012015-05-18T16:47:00.000-07:002015-05-21T06:09:27.667-07:00May at Ponkapoag pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After this winter I knew gardening season would get really busy. All the snow did go away eventually, and plants emerged more or less intact, and everyone wanted to garden, and I have been working real hard. I'm not complaining. But this Sunday I had time for myself, and I spent it in the woods, on the 2.5 hour hike around Ponkapoag pond in the Blue Hills reservation. It was a real summer's day with temperatures in the high 80's. Following the trails, here's what I saw.</div>
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Tender spring leaves. The hickories have red bud scales opening up like a flower.</div>
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Most of the Jack-in-the-pulpit were still small but there were a few big ones.</div>
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I stopped by the Fisherman's beach for a bit before hitting the real trail. I've gone skating here in the winter, and swimming in the summer. The water is shallow a long way out, and there are lily pads floating and little fish swimming.</div>
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Violets in the wetlands </div>
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Sarsaparilla flowers were attracting many ants</div>
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Shy and timid, star flower still shines</div>
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A tattered mourning cloak butterfly sat sunning on an ash, its wings broken and dull. After overwintering under tree bark, it must be near the end of its life.</div>
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Fresh new Summersweet leaves (Clethra alnifolia) lit by the sun. You can see several inchworms on it, and if you stopped to listen, you could hear the munching of hundreds of thousands of inchworms, eating their way through the canopy, creating a sound like a light summer's rain when the frass fell to the ground. Hopefully, most of them will become food for hungry chicks, but they still have time to cause considerable stress to trees who are forced to put out a second set of leaves, perhaps for many years in a row.</div>
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Out of the woods, the path goes along the shore. I heard a splash and saw this little guy hiding. It's a spotted turtle, not the most common one.</div>
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A closeup</div>
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The air was full of the blackbirds' song. This is their favorite habitat.</div>
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Many of these little damselflies were also flying around. No time to waste in a very short life span. </div>
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I saw a fish about 10 inches long, casually browsing in the warm shallow water. I know nothing about fish so only after asking a friend do I know that this is a largemouth bass. Many other smaller fish were also out and about.</div>
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This little chipmunk was viciously attacked by a pair of catbirds. My suspicion is that it tried to steal eggs for breakfast. </div>
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I followed the path down to the bog, I wanted to see if the fragrant swamp azaleas were blooming yet and I was curious about the carnivorous plants in the clearing.</div>
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So many blueberry flowers. They are best pollinated by bumblebees.</div>
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I heard a song right next to the path and soon spotted the singer. I could not recognize either sound or sight but after consulting an expert I now know it's a Northern waterthrush - a warbler that looks like a thrush.</div>
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I had to leave the bog since the old planks were just floating around all wobbly and loose, and I followed the main path to a wooded upland. I was thrilled to see an area where many old dogwood trees were flowering. </div>
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A large dogwood trunk</div>
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Mapleleaf Viburnum is common in these woods </div>
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And here and there you can still see American chestnut sprouts, reaching up to 15 ft. They rarely get to grow taller than that before the blight kills them. </div>
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An early casualty</div>
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This is also where I heard several ovenbirds, pine warblers and woodpeckers up in the tree tops. I wish I had been climbing with them!</div>
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Wild geraniums filled the forest floor.</div>
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Wood anemone, the one I named my blog for </div>
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Poison ivy fresh leaves and buds. The berries are important food for winter foraging birds like chickadees and titmice. </div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-44123286703432850262015-04-25T20:31:00.000-07:002015-04-25T20:31:20.041-07:00Things you see when you're in a tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A collection of photos from some climbs I've been fortunate to do during the past years. </div>
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December sunsets</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL3hR6hyHt19YwZxW7EHMIIvd1vMU09XHk3BPWnUdzVFPGvg7lUa2MVE6p5bq94uT4QNFHPlzW3piydfmz6d2Wh1PqRgnBjJZ_H2d7dlHfsds6qrHvF9SFnfu7mdwqPaxfR4mRuQvJ7I5/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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First warm day of April sky from a white oak</div>
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It becomes clear that trees generate their own heat</div>
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A dead branch supports just as much life as a live one </div>
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April maple buds</div>
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Winter climbs bring their own rewards </div>
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This wet day it was a lot about willpower</div>
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A sunny summer day my son got to try it out for the first time </div>
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Here we are cleaning out a screech owl box where the squirrels have been adding layers for years.<br />
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Owl view</div>
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Through tree climbing I've been meeting wonderful people from all over the world. This is Women's Tree Climbing Work shop in October 2013.</div>
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My house! I live on the top floor in the blue house. As of this summer, that roof is covered with solar panels.</div>
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A stunning May day in an oak </div>
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I could have stayed here all week, listening to the spring peepers in the marsh below.</div>
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And I was joined by a pair of scarlet tanagers</div>
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Soft Connecticut hills from a tall tulip tree</div>
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My parents in their house, Stockholm, Sweden <br />
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My mom did not want to climb but it was great to show her what I have been doing.</div>
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Large, old, amazing Elm in south of Sweden. Four trunks spread evenly. </div>
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Fantastic lichen cover on this old Elm </div>
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Early fall foliage from a hemlock in the Berkshires, MA</div>
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Marshes and hidden ponds</div>
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And another stunning sunset </div>
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Maples, sugar and red, of giant proportions. </div>
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Another fall day, we decided against this oak since it was home to some raccoons </div>
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We went up this pine instead </div>
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One of few solo climbs for me, in the woods close to home </div>
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A night climb in a friend's oak tree</div>
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At a tree climbing conference in Atlanta GA, I spent part of the day in this white oak. </div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-58303014621975556582015-04-25T17:42:00.000-07:002015-04-25T17:42:25.467-07:00The birds that left and came backIn the morning of March 10th I heard a New Sound that had joined the regular morning calls of chattering sparrows, goldfinches and bluejays. I couldn't figure out what it was even though it was right outside my house. Then I looked out at the feeder, and there it was. "A Grackle!" I yelled to anyone who might be around. He had just arrived to my frozen and snowy backyard.<br />
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The first flock were about four males. Noisy, conspicuous, gorgeous looking.</div>
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This individual had a white spot on his forehead. Later on I also saw another with a white tail feather. <br />
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A display to deter other males - the females hadn't arrived yet.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI6qcnrqWIVzV2eepP4AUgvM-EJ3boX803ZsxuLDZFp7X4L8_YUJlVPxpcy5NuAes13uEt4U_lmyHv7K1xhUW2nUgq-UxHehYU19NUct8Md3k5C6ufp-s0D_lfW5c5T4j3AtewZWnzsnz/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI6qcnrqWIVzV2eepP4AUgvM-EJ3boX803ZsxuLDZFp7X4L8_YUJlVPxpcy5NuAes13uEt4U_lmyHv7K1xhUW2nUgq-UxHehYU19NUct8Md3k5C6ufp-s0D_lfW5c5T4j3AtewZWnzsnz/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" height="560" width="640" /></a> <br />
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And now the grackles are nesting again in the same conifer tree in my yard for the third year in a row. I don't know if it's the same pair or if it's their descendants, but I've learned to expect them now.<br />
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Next to arrive was the redwinged blackbirds. Their loud song is a wonderful spring sound. I felt bad though, since we still had very cold nights and quite a lot of snow left. </div>
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My new camera gave me the opportunity to see a new pattern on the back of the blackbird that I'd never seen before. </div>
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And right then came the male brownheaded cowbirds. For a few days they were hanging out around my porch feeder, eating and bickering in the tree.</div>
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This little guy stumped me at first. In early morning it came, wet, tired and ravenously hungry after a long night flight. Eventually I learned it was a female cowbird. After eating and resting she was on her way, while the males still hang around for a few more days.</div>
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Three kinds of blackbirds in one photo! </div>
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asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-24373510751391901792015-04-09T16:36:00.002-07:002015-04-10T13:36:30.601-07:00The birds that stayed for the winter This winter people in Boston were often on "french toast alert", meaning that whenever there was another snow storm coming in everyone went out to buy milk, bread and eggs. I also made sure I had lots of bird food around! There were days when I had hundreds of visits. Since I got my new Canon camera I've been able to zoom in really close and here are some of the pictures I like the most.<br />
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Many birds, especially the mourning doves, often spent part of their day in the maple by my feeder. On a cold day their feathers <span style="color: #0000ee;">were</span> all fluffy. Often I had up to 30 of them, waiting for me to throw seeds on the floor for them every morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxUUg_jqv2MYjrBPOtE7PeEwMxDaO7Wuin_-IlJoacXebOx3y5xHUxT7O5EXpOMwdjIANH5igNv6RxouYWErqKvgvKhzsTo6ytli1PVD_R10enQPBjNK17itUFQUAXD445bQTGj0GoSrd/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxUUg_jqv2MYjrBPOtE7PeEwMxDaO7Wuin_-IlJoacXebOx3y5xHUxT7O5EXpOMwdjIANH5igNv6RxouYWErqKvgvKhzsTo6ytli1PVD_R10enQPBjNK17itUFQUAXD445bQTGj0GoSrd/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Another regular was this house finch. One day in late March he started singing, and soon after he was joined by a mate. </div>
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I think many people have often wondered what evolutionary benefit a bird can get from being so flamboyantly colored, like the cardinal. Surely any predator can spot him for miles? But in the green shades under the canopy, red is not shining bright but looks more brownish-dull. The birds can move from light to shade and use it to their advantage in mating games. At least that's what David Haskell speculates on in his wonderful book "The forest unseen", which I just finished reading. </div>
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I find the female cardinal almost more beautiful, once I've seen her subtle colors up close. </div>
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A couple of wrens were also regulars - they kept singing through much of the winter! </div>
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I learned that although nuthatches join mixed species foraging flocks during the winter, they remain in pairs and do not seek new mates in spring.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHB2nMP-vaUE0iIopDVebtvVdvqws-YItQjMVvHI-Gg8mz7-A1dpFR3_1wNa5TSLpfQFinTlwR3wh3PFMz3zcx-Apq_xThBKedwjQfioqODGeDQUcgwu3qlXbVUftEcvdKx8oOXMoPW2c/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHB2nMP-vaUE0iIopDVebtvVdvqws-YItQjMVvHI-Gg8mz7-A1dpFR3_1wNa5TSLpfQFinTlwR3wh3PFMz3zcx-Apq_xThBKedwjQfioqODGeDQUcgwu3qlXbVUftEcvdKx8oOXMoPW2c/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
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A junco gets a break from the cold and does some grooming in the sun. </div>
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Downy woodpeckers are some of the most frequent visitors, but the redbellied is not as common. Here they are in the same maple, which must now be one of the most pecked-on trees in the neighborhood! </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7Bu-48Ni4VM7oKyhmVC-7ti9kK_KWnnbZ1FGhnOCO7-Gu02f3R_EpgVKf4U6Xy5EnrbjwNDPTIrHG4bXtWfXa2SA8E_-qoZd-ZoYppix8zdu6wKOjxJqhPVkahPb0UygY7B7WXUVq87/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7Bu-48Ni4VM7oKyhmVC-7ti9kK_KWnnbZ1FGhnOCO7-Gu02f3R_EpgVKf4U6Xy5EnrbjwNDPTIrHG4bXtWfXa2SA8E_-qoZd-ZoYppix8zdu6wKOjxJqhPVkahPb0UygY7B7WXUVq87/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
A single tree sparrow was hanging out with the house sparrows this year. <br />
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Every morning and every afternoon at dusk the Whitethroated sparrows showed up. This afternoon sunset lit gold on the branches behind.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3QUyf18Z2g82TKoBAL-yy3sUv4aWCKTETrXe8T1hfBtH5Y4h2sLYx44DfxKv9js9Q5G-FbHQURRJOyJhUb24XKEhUYFokT3Ab7g7d3qzOHRrc7vkb7gmbLSVnmRwPvocsFcul0kvBpAG/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3QUyf18Z2g82TKoBAL-yy3sUv4aWCKTETrXe8T1hfBtH5Y4h2sLYx44DfxKv9js9Q5G-FbHQURRJOyJhUb24XKEhUYFokT3Ab7g7d3qzOHRrc7vkb7gmbLSVnmRwPvocsFcul0kvBpAG/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a></div>
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There were always chattering and bickering goldfinches around. </div>
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Another type of visitors soon showed up as well. I think this was a sharp shinned hawk, but it is not easy to tell. The tail is long and slender with a sharp end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqUzt0Q3VN9Bsq9GwrYFRj0Nd_PUgO9b2oTsiQR-RFwdaLoMpyMvY6vC8NQFs9ZzVmELmOY8-Lj-hJQNI6GAq8IKxE4eJtgyISPpInDvikyVNJ7u2AxVzXxyllsWTd2vmxa2Ch8962BEk/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqUzt0Q3VN9Bsq9GwrYFRj0Nd_PUgO9b2oTsiQR-RFwdaLoMpyMvY6vC8NQFs9ZzVmELmOY8-Lj-hJQNI6GAq8IKxE4eJtgyISPpInDvikyVNJ7u2AxVzXxyllsWTd2vmxa2Ch8962BEk/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a> </div>
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This on the other hand I think is the Cooper's hawk, that came almost every day for a few weeks. It was big so I assumed it was a female. I never saw her hunt so maybe she just came to sit and watch. It was easy to tell when she arrived because all the song birds went dead quiet, and the mourning doves all took off with a loud whistle of wings.</div>
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Details of feathers</div>
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Quite fierce...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi2KQKDgzP5mb83xx3lbEAIttRl2bDgduYmh2bOGvnPRmJ5PURZtXAFvz0k6QDuKpJaNJnh6ukWyXY52NieyazJ311z-ZVUdz4PW56GLTbTc45PMBPEyhJy7xjQZM04PnACAt_tDRVmjm/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi2KQKDgzP5mb83xx3lbEAIttRl2bDgduYmh2bOGvnPRmJ5PURZtXAFvz0k6QDuKpJaNJnh6ukWyXY52NieyazJ311z-ZVUdz4PW56GLTbTc45PMBPEyhJy7xjQZM04PnACAt_tDRVmjm/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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On another day this juvenile Cooper's came by like a storm wind. Not yet red eyes and with a different pattern on the chest, it was still very impressive and very capable of stirring up the feeder community.</div>
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One of the snowy days this redtailed hawk stopped by, periodically shaking the snow off much like a dog would do. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSloDmgMTz-IbXmRIQl7_89ec_oUw2uzp-6WqpzAH3WDEnqp3AbMWfAcV3TdP1hKRUlOSMPfG2HMbxXTSDk9uU84O9nKf9_Fk7FphCeQR-YnLcfcC_svKpJXMY8_I9WElbytboaolpAA5/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSloDmgMTz-IbXmRIQl7_89ec_oUw2uzp-6WqpzAH3WDEnqp3AbMWfAcV3TdP1hKRUlOSMPfG2HMbxXTSDk9uU84O9nKf9_Fk7FphCeQR-YnLcfcC_svKpJXMY8_I9WElbytboaolpAA5/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
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During a trip to Vermont on February break I stopped by a garden when I saw a flock of birds in a fruit tree. Bohemian waxwings! What a treat. </div>
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Before the woods were covered in 4 feet of snow I managed to get out to a few of my treasured places.
At Ponkapoag pond reservation in the Blue Hills I saw a hermit thrush
that had not yet migrated this December day, I wonder if he stayed for
the rest of the winter. His song is one of my most favorite spring sounds.</div>
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An American tree sparrow posed at Millenium park down by Saw mill brook. </div>
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That's also where I saw this raven, through the car window on the way out! </div>
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My friend in Carlisle had a slightly different set of feeder visitors than my inner-city station. Bluebirds are just too blue to be real...</div>
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Bluebird and Hairy woodpecker </div>
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Pine siskins and goldfinches go well together. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1v9Z-uii1DZ0YBx_750qGuoO4DFIseZlLqFEKwc2WozT4cstUeY6qvNR5JaVFbzxJweAvjGTOr9gSYPWJhUTkkaGupm5xps8KrFxSKWErmqwCD6IJGPUqy20wRAgcPmjIbuC-vTjrKFj/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </div>
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The siskin's bill seems longer and more pointed, to reach deep into pine cones.</div>
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Goldfinches with a patchwork of tan and yellow feathers. It's snowing, but hormones are bringing out competitive behaviors along with the new molt.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-84132884409061376712015-04-06T16:04:00.002-07:002015-04-11T16:26:13.138-07:00Heron rookery and Estabrook Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been absent from my blog. I didn't have a good camera for a long time and I was posting more and more on Facebook. But Facebook postings go by so fast, they disappear in the stream. Eventually I felt that I wanted to make posts again that lasted longer and that I could go back to and look at. Writing a narrative is challenging but I feel some of the pictures deserve more than a caption. I also bought a new camera, Canon SX60, which I absolutely love. Its zoom is so powerful that you might believe I'm standing next to the heron's nest poking it with my my lens, but I'm far away enough not to disturb anything. I'm looking forward to post more this year.</div>
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My naturalist and tree climbing partner recently moved to the old, beautiful and affluent city of Carlisle north of Boston. Here the houses are big and gracious, sometimes old, sometimes new but made in typical New England style, and their lots are big and wooded. There are plenty of wetlands preventing further development - not that the Carlisle inhabitants would want any more anyway!</div>
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In addition there's a lot of conservation land to explore. Right outside Concord center is a big wetland in between two cemeteries. We have been there before to look at the Great Blue Heron rookery with over 20 nests, and once we also saw a great horned owl.</div>
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This day we didn't see any trace of the owl, but a new song called to us: Rusty blackbirds. They're rare enough to get excited about in this area, although this wetland is just a stop on their migration north. </div>
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We then moved along the path until we reached the best spot for watching the herons' nests. Already about 8 herons were coming in and out of nests, one even appeared to sit on eggs.</div>
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Here a heron comes in for landing, neck, wings and legs all stretched out. </div>
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In breeding plumage</div>
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The next day we decided to explore Estabrook woods, a fairly large conservation area bordering Concord and Carlisle. Much of the land is privately owned. We entered from the Carlisle entrance, and at first we were quite disgusted by the amount of dog poop everywhere. Apparently dog owners park and open the car doors and just let their pups run out without supervision, and the dogs go all over the path before the owners have caught up to them. As expected, the farther away from the entrance the better it got and we got a good walk.<br />
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It didn't get interesting until we left the beaten path, though. A bluejay met its fate somewhere under a pine tree. There were dozens of feathers spread out in all directions but no carcass, so we cannot be sure who killed it. I picked some of the beautiful feathers and already felt it was worth stepping into dog excrement.<br />
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Then we reached a pond. Along the shore were some low, gentle lands where many birds were active. Chickadees and the other foragers were busy, and we saw and heard the Eastern phoebe, just about returned to Massachusetts.</div>
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The pond is called Mink pond and it felt like a peaceful treasure. Here are wood duck boxes in need of some renewed attention. I imagined a slow canoe ride over the water trying to steady those boxes up a bit, but I'm not sure if canoes are allowed.</div>
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A muskrat!</div>
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And an enormous beaver lodge at the other side of the pond.</div>
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Wood ducks, ring necked ducks and goldeneyes were in the pond, and a belted Kingfisher flew by, calling. A pair of herons sat on the other shore. I continued imagining being there on a warm sunny day when the turtles would surely sit on those logs in the water and dragonflies would be darting around. </div>
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The beaver lodge up closer - no recent activity but the beavers surely have lived here for many generations.</div>
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The dam was old and strong enough to walk on and had significantly altered the landscape, as beavers will do.</div>
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A first for me - and the first of the season in this area. The osprey were perching here for a long time until it took off to chase away a red shouldered hawk squawking in the woods. Again, although it looks like I'm close enough to touch it, I'm on the other side of the shore.<br />
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Looking good among swelling maple buds.</div>
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A bit further along the path, a beautiful chatter in the treetops appeared and a flock of redpolls settled down in a tall black birch, which carries their favorite winter food.</div>
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They were high up against the sun, about 12 of them. We stayed for a long time.</div>
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I was already ecstatic after the kingfisher, osprey, phoebes and the redpolls, and to then get to see this owl right above our heads was almost more than I could handle in one day. In a tall pine right next to the path, its gentle face and sleepylooking eyes followed us when we finally had to move on. <br />
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Here is a link to Estabrook Woods, should you ever be in the area and interested in a great hike.</div>
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<a href="http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XTM007-016">http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XTM007-016</a></div>
<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-11194686512555775182013-06-06T07:13:00.000-07:002013-06-06T07:32:21.508-07:00Mt Mineral weekend retreat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I left town in a rented car, since my own was still under repair. The nicely air conditioned Honda drove me West toward Shutesbury, MA, on the foothills of the Berkshires, West of the Qaubbin reservoir, to an old resort turned retreat called Temenos. Centered around some mineral springs there was once a hotel, twice burned down and forgotten, before some Buddhist minded people bought the land and turned it into a wooded retreat with just a few cabins for rent. <br />
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I wondered among the cliffs and the woods, listening to the bird chorus, relaxing in the warm shade. The sun would have been hot, since this weekend reached temperatures in the 90's, but under the trees it was perfect.</div>
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I have never seen so many Ladyslipper orchids before - eventually I stopped taking a picture of every one, but not until I had found a least 20. </div>
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I know very little about geology and the rocks that form the base for our lands, but I could see it was different from what I see in Eastern MA around Boston. Obviously the ice age have left traces here, with boulders, cracks and ledges.</div>
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This photo is taken through the screened porch - my neighbors and resident Phoebes, tending their nest under my roof.</div>
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I also saw a long list of birds, some new to me. Pileated woodpecker, blue headed vireo, ovenbird, pine warbler. In the never ending chorus I could hear Eastern woodpeewee, scarlet tanagers, winter wrens, robins, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, and red eyed vireo.At night I heard the spring peepers gathering by the pond.<br />
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Along a brook, little puddles with mineral rich water. I pumped my drinking water from the well, and the water was slightly reddish from the iron and manganese. I felt a sensation of fullness only after drinking that water. </div>
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Neither have I ever seen so many Mountain laurels. I see a lot of it in the gardens I tend to, but there is no comparison to a wood filled of wild ones, about to burst. Next year I will schedule my visit to the second week of June, so that I can walk in among the flowers.<br />
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They have beautiful, twisting branches. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs0pXwCiJSCrNVVF5drxzSMIAM3Fh29ZXf0vNUu0Tz_aPPGypTINvvLDQpnRwV5cMe9Kq6gTxOP9f9V6blPIgV9_Wwaq7HuB1fUNpzJBRROZ51UeCYREgdbQ1lF-6nSWsmSRbuFvua9S4/s1600/P1070303.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs0pXwCiJSCrNVVF5drxzSMIAM3Fh29ZXf0vNUu0Tz_aPPGypTINvvLDQpnRwV5cMe9Kq6gTxOP9f9V6blPIgV9_Wwaq7HuB1fUNpzJBRROZ51UeCYREgdbQ1lF-6nSWsmSRbuFvua9S4/s640/P1070303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mountain Laurel is an understory shrub, growing under the tree canopy, fighting for a chance in the sun. It is an evergreen, taking advantage of the sun during the winter when trees lose their leaves. Other understory plants like Moosewood or striped Maple below, have enormous leaves.<br />
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Hobblebush (Viburnum Lantanoides) is doing the same thing, growing big leaves as sun catchers. I missed the flowers of this one, it must have been a treat as well.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85E4JZ2ekKV4qGYnXB0TPqpTEM4ysGyV2rVi_0CgCYE0nm2iYcSj0p5MosQRj3Uy0Goh1Ki74QPx5eCQ1H77Zm2W8hxDzhHK1XDRm4_fLI9GfvR_PYD5uBlBWZykQ9o4BYARzEj72kHq6/s1600/P1070272.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85E4JZ2ekKV4qGYnXB0TPqpTEM4ysGyV2rVi_0CgCYE0nm2iYcSj0p5MosQRj3Uy0Goh1Ki74QPx5eCQ1H77Zm2W8hxDzhHK1XDRm4_fLI9GfvR_PYD5uBlBWZykQ9o4BYARzEj72kHq6/s640/P1070272.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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I never saw any, but I was told that along this cliff ledge with dripping water, you could often see porcupines.</div>
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I think I must be part plant - I can so clearly feel the energy coming down from the sky and into the green, green, green...</div>
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Virginia creeper vine was covering some of the rocks. I found it interesting that I did not see any poison Ivy at all in these woods. In Boston, it would inhabit the same kind of woods.</div>
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A few Trilliums, flowers gone </div>
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Star made out of root</div>
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Young American toad. It was no bigger than my thumb nail. </div>
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Bear claw marks! We were told not to compost and be careful not to leave food scraps around. </div>
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The after-dinner hike lead up to the mountain top and the view of the lake below.</div>
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It was there and then that I first heard the song of the hermit thrush. It sang for a good 20 minutes and I followed it deeper and deeper into the woods, mesmerized by its sunset song, until I got a glimpse of it before it flew off and the mosquitos really started to eat me alive. <br />
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The next morning all I wanted to do was to find the hermit thrush again, and I did hear it briefly around nine, but then it went quiet.</div>
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The retreat had its own little pond, but the water was so bitterly cold that not even 94 degrees could convince me to go into the water completely.</div>
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Another lovely wildflower is the Indian Cucumber root. </div>
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Back up on the mountaintop again, a better view of the lake, and the great beaver lodge.</div>
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Oak leaf gall, like an apple made of rice paper</div>
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Below the mountain, a creek of cold fresh water leading to the lake. Gray tree frogs were heard but not seen.</div>
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Under the root system of the fallen trees, a bird built a nest, maybe the winter wren.</div>
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And on the forest floor, little lovely star flower shines.</div>
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I hope to post some of the sound recordings I made of the hermit thrush for my next post.</div>
asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-86430567578770161802013-03-29T18:27:00.000-07:002013-03-30T06:40:03.706-07:00Muskrats, beaver, herons and deer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Northwest of Boston lies a large wildlife refuge area called Great Meadows, including Concord and Assabet rivers and large wetland areas along both of them. Many birders carrying binoculars were there, and we did see many different birds. I'm no expert on water fowl, but I think we saw ringbilled ducks, goldeneye ducks, bufflehead ducks, mallards, geese, and a grebe. A heron and a turkey vulture also flew by. The blackbirds were singing and swallows were flying low over the water.</div>
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This couple seemed to be looking for a proper nesting site.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWMwpS8N5sHXR1dgdAeJqHlGWndcYTSKbmSU-Diueu78Kg6O5ZJftxNT9ndcwJBZ6brgsd5rKTzjWU1p-Y6XxUKmGFTFi9xQcHyG29AZgdN4epJA2YRxKiE_vpxLGpiCxqYHzrmR1yXOg/s1600/P1060833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWMwpS8N5sHXR1dgdAeJqHlGWndcYTSKbmSU-Diueu78Kg6O5ZJftxNT9ndcwJBZ6brgsd5rKTzjWU1p-Y6XxUKmGFTFi9xQcHyG29AZgdN4epJA2YRxKiE_vpxLGpiCxqYHzrmR1yXOg/s400/P1060833.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dogwoods among the cat tails were redder than ever. The boys had lots of fun dismantling cat tails in the wind and made passersby happy with their playing, and all our clothes full of fluff. </div>
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The sun kept struggling to come out, and we saw dramatic changes in the sky - faraway rain, heavy clouds, rays of sun.</div>
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The calm Concord river. The sign told us to watch out for river otters. </div>
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This goldfinch greeted us from a maple - almost all molted by now!</div>
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This female mallard blends in so well with the ground. She is not yet nesting, but she will hopefully find a safe place soon.</div>
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Behind and to the left of her are lotus seed pods. Obviously someone introduced them to this area, I don't know if they stay put or tend to be more invasive. We took some of the dried out pods home to decorate. </div>
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We also saw muskrats! They were quite funny, like this one trying to climb on top of the bottom one, give him a rub and then splash back into the water. We saw others pursuing mates and a few just taking it easy and washing their faces very much like a cat does it.</div>
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On the way we passed a large rather messy wetland with obvious beaver impact, and in the middle we saw heron nests. We drove in to the cemetery right by and walked down to the water. From there we could count about 10 inhabited nests, and 13 herons, a few sharing a nest. My camera was not cooperating very well, but it was still an amazing sight. We might try to go back, on a sunny morning in about two weeks, and try to get a better look. </div>
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On the way out: ripples in the water, and a beaver swam by, but dived before I could take a picture.</div>
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We stopped briefly by Assabet river. The sun was coming out, it was close to 7 and it was a gorgeous night. Just a few days ago, my friend saw another beaver swimming by, and doing the characteristic tail splash before diving underwater. </div>
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And before we finally had to hit the road home again, we saw six deer on a field. I will soon visit this great place again. asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-87701681993917206132013-03-27T18:09:00.000-07:002013-03-27T18:09:48.360-07:00Millenium Park<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiv0rd38zn4CRQrJQ4fVhW4HpbltjqsqnIYCAO-hycAs3G8UtDZWDGFDBU0DIMU9ULmCTr7lv90gbSxTZYVhTOB1sMYk9YCC7Ymm-Tq1SHPdtQYHIp14ahoRB9i5Wp1aTPQmQiXfDFTQk/s1600/P1060747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiv0rd38zn4CRQrJQ4fVhW4HpbltjqsqnIYCAO-hycAs3G8UtDZWDGFDBU0DIMU9ULmCTr7lv90gbSxTZYVhTOB1sMYk9YCC7Ymm-Tq1SHPdtQYHIp14ahoRB9i5Wp1aTPQmQiXfDFTQk/s640/P1060747.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div>
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Silvery pussy willow buds</div>
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On Saturday morning I held my first own Nature Walk - in the Franklin Park wilderness, so close to where I live and go so often. After posting in this blog and on Facebook, a few people have asked to come with me some time and to see what I see. So I thought I would invite the ones that have asked, and keep an open mind to what would come up. After writing the invitation I decided to sleep on it before making it public, but my cat decided to publish it, by sitting on my computer keyboard, and she also decided that I should invite everyone I know and not only a few select ones. In the end three adults and a two year old showed up, which was just perfect.<br />
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It was <span style="color: #0000ee;">sunn<span style="color: #0000ee;">y</span>,</span> cold and windy, and still lots of snow. We talked about Beech leaves and how they often stay on the trees through winter, some papery white, some with more of this golden hue.</div>
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The little brook was lively as usual. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD-s-NPg_De8LS3upYoLDLyk8v-KFqrU5YQTVA3a5Yzv0EoVTYaxK_xz5K4qr5opvQFPa68zaWxTq_wrS9Pl5vUFOlbmwBv0e-9uQRcLhoY6IkPMF-HNLMFh82bwf61ZQGqaG5XIWVR9W/s1600/P1060733.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD-s-NPg_De8LS3upYoLDLyk8v-KFqrU5YQTVA3a5Yzv0EoVTYaxK_xz5K4qr5opvQFPa68zaWxTq_wrS9Pl5vUFOlbmwBv0e-9uQRcLhoY6IkPMF-HNLMFh82bwf61ZQGqaG5XIWVR9W/s640/P1060733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We saw swelling maple buds, mighty oaks, poison ivy vines, and the little marsh by the golf course where you can find great spring migrating warblers and others, very soon.<br />
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On Sunday I headed out on late afternoon, to Millenium park. I was hoping to see the beavers in action, and was drawn to the water and swamplands. It was so beautiful and the sun was shining, and it didn't matter that I did not see the beavers.<br />
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I did see this large cottonwood tree, their favorite food tree of all. This one must have gotten big enough before the beavers moved in, but they have feasted on many many of the young trees.<br />
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Blooming alder grew by the river</div>
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Everywhere was the sound of the blackbirds, singing, signaling, sounding. I have never seen or heard so many.</div>
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I believe these are red maple buds.</div>
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Red osier dogwood stems against a backdrop of phragmite stems. </div>
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A couple of views of the marsh. Since the beavers moved in, Saw mill brook has expanded and formed this amazing wetland. <br />
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And they were still busy.</div>
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Then I saw that the beavers were not the only busy ones. Someone, and I assume this is the work of park rangers, have taken the time to saw off the stumps left by the beavers. I do not understand why anyone takes the time to do this - and still leave the stumps and the tooth marked wood chips on the ground.<br />
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If they want to stay busy with the saw, why not take out this mess of Bittersweet?</div>
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Skunk cabbage, arranged like a bouquet in the water. I've heard another name for them - Swamp candles, which I like. </div>
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Reflections in the calm water.</div>
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Red dogwoods, phragmites, trees in the setting sun.</div>
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I wanted to continue through the woods on this path, but time was running out and I had to start walking back.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkvewDBd5vEKhEXy65Ed9-db-Yg6CfevnXxqaX5spB4KdRZW6VYSHdU_kx-qC9bc6rOXFYGeVK8CvWLkFEWDlUQdqdXX6_us7B5igWI-0fYCJ9_RqyA8Ed77RTqu-iBLr6_jxKeS_wwyH/s1600/P1060811.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkvewDBd5vEKhEXy65Ed9-db-Yg6CfevnXxqaX5spB4KdRZW6VYSHdU_kx-qC9bc6rOXFYGeVK8CvWLkFEWDlUQdqdXX6_us7B5igWI-0fYCJ9_RqyA8Ed77RTqu-iBLr6_jxKeS_wwyH/s640/P1060811.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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By my car this mockingbird sat quietly and enjoyed the evening.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-102513455506425552013-03-04T06:55:00.000-08:002013-03-04T06:55:30.212-08:00Ponkapoag bog and Franklin parkYesterday was such a great day. In fact, I have a hard time coming up with a name for this blogpost because it feels the day was so rich and full of adventure. It begun with this view outside my window: a redwinged blackbird, returning to my backyard as they always do in March. It is about two weeks earlier than last year, but aside from what this means in terms of global warming and climate change, it was still a happy awakening.<br />
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The little boys spent the night on a sleepover and I had the whole day to myself, and although the house could definitively have used some TLC, of course I couldn't wait to get outside. After some thinking I decided to go back to Ponkapoag pond bog. I was hoping to see animals and birds, woods and adventures and open skies. </div>
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It started already in the parking lot. The spine and some bones from a deer. Every bit of tissue had been carefully gnawed off, probably by a number of creatures, each taking their turn. Somehow it was satisfying to see how nothing was left except the bare bones. No waste in nature - the matter that was once a deer is now transformed into other beings and life forms.<br />
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Then I marched through the woods down to the bog boardwalk area. <br />
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The heavy planks were sometimes submerged in water, sometimes completely covered with icy snow. For a moment I wondered if this was perhaps not such a good idea, but I carefully went on and it got slightly better after the first red maple swamp area.</div>
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In the woody part of the bog grows mainly red maples and Atlantic white cedar trees. Highbush blueberry, swamp azalea and leatherleaf are also common. </div>
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It seemed that the bog was more colorful than the regular woods.</div>
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Trunks of white cedar. At the sound of a gentle chirp I turned my head and saw a brown creeper just four feet from my head at eye level. I also heard the calls of mourning doves.</div>
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Although dead deer is interesting in its own way, I'm glad to see traces of living ones as well.</div>
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Cedar twig </div>
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Colorful fungus</div>
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Highbush blueberry have twigs both red and green.</div>
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Last time I visited the bog was in June. I remembered this clearing where the skies opened up and how happy that made me feel. It was the same yesterday. </div>
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The Atlantic white cedars often have Witches brooms on them, curious deformations of branches. <br />
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The sphagnum moss were still a vivid mix of red and green.</div>
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Finally I reached the end of the boardwalk and could take in Ponkapoag pond. </div>
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Sweetgale, maleberry and leatherleaf grew at the shore. </div>
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It was while pondering the ID of this twig that I accidentally stepped outside of the snow covered planks and fell into the water with my right leg, up above my knee. </div>
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While drying up a bit I could enjoy the sky getting clear and the sun coming out. Somehow the sky is bluer here.</div>
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The sundried old planks soon sucked up a lot of water!</div>
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After I was back home and with dry socks on, I still wanted more outdoor time. A few days ago I witnessed three redtailed hawks soaring, clearly some territorial game going on, involving a mating couple and a hopeful intruder. Eventually the third one went its own way and the couple took off toward Shattuck hospital. I thought it would be nice to see them again and maybe even see where they are nesting. It took me through the park and back home again until I saw the same threesome game. Redtailed hawks soars on winds for minutes without a single wing flap.</div>
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In the park the little fresh water brook has already expanded and is covering a weedy lawn area.</div>
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I'm not happy to share this: dying hemlocks - only the very top is still alive. This is how it looks in Boston woods these days. I guess in a few years all of the Eastern hemlocks will be completely gone because of the Hemlock Woolly adelgid pest, an invasive little insect from Asia. It sucks the life out of majestic old trees and young ones alike in as little as 5 years, and only wealthy property owners and botanic parks seem to be able to pick up the tab for the treatment.</div>
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I also noted that the great horned owl seems to be at home in its pine grove, by judging from the fresh bone-fur mixes of pellets under the trees.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-15289789544919501612013-02-27T15:21:00.000-08:002013-02-27T15:21:45.044-08:00Winter magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter has had us in its grip lately. Between shoveling and driving on precarious roads, and staying dry when all the mush rains away, we've been just chugging along. But this early Monday morning I knew it was only a matter of time before the magic of Sunday night's snow fall would melt away, and after school bus drop off I stayed just enough in Franklin park to take these pictures. By midday all the snow on branches and twigs were gone. </div>
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The little busy brook, stemming from a fresh water spring hidden in the golf course. Add to the sound of running water all the cardinals singing, and it was such a lively and glad morning.</div>
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Looking in the shade direction, all was blue.</div>
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Facing the sun however, the most beautiful light shone. </div>
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The color of tree trunks are suddenly standing out in this sea of white.</div>
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Buds of silver maple are swelling every day.</div>
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I saw some snowdrops in a garden today, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for spring just yet. </div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-78677758478303006932012-12-16T13:55:00.000-08:002012-12-17T18:12:25.842-08:00Owls, owls, owls. Finally.<div style="text-align: center;">
This blob, my friends, is a Screech owl, perching on a tree above my head about 6.15 am today, in central Jamaica Plain.</div>
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He or she was lured in by a speaker playing screech owl trills repeatedly, which is known to make the owls respond with their own voices, and sometimes to fly in to take a look.<br />
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This year I participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count for the first time, and with four other devoted birders (two of them devoted enough to get up at 4 am for the Owl count) we were responsible for our part of town, Jamaica Plain. There were few counters this year, and there were also considerably less birds to count since the day was cold and gray and sort of just waiting for the rain and snow to start, the kind of weather that makes the birds go quiet and just hide in thickets. Jamaica Plain has many large green and wooded areas, so the experts made some decisions based on their experience where it would make most sense to go. <br />
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I on the other hand was tremendously excited, although a tiny bit worried that my bad luck in spotting owls would have a negative effect on the whole project. I've followed experienced birders around to places where I was supposedly guaranteed to spot one. A great horned owl once landed in a tree I had climbed down from 5 minutes earlier, and lately Boston has been invaded by Barred owls in downtown public parks and subway station entrances. But I never saw one.<br />
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But I shouldn't have worried! Today's Screech owl count was 8, which is a very respectable number. The two first I didn't see, but they both were attracted to the sound from our speaker and vocalized through the dark. The third and fourth ones I eventually got to see - they started tussling with each other up a tree and tumbled down to the ground. Number five we heard from a close distance. Number 6 and 7 were great because they were in my own neighborhood at the end of my street, and I feel confident that I now will be able to hear them and maybe once or twice try to call them in. You don't want to do it too often, it can stress them.<br />
Number eight we had to wait for - we almost gave up when I first heard the soft sound. Then it came flying in and sat over our heads, as if to say Hello, and perhaps Good Day - it was getting bright and its night was about to end.<br />
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Other than that, the Owl count was nothing impressive, the Great Horned ones did not respond to calls and the Barred Owl in Arnold Arboretum that has been around for weeks did not show up for the party either. After owls, my team went back to Franklin park and after that we headed to Forest Hills Cemetery.<br />
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Other than Canada Geese which we counted about 1700 of at the Franklin park golf course, the numbers were low, but I had a great time nevertheless. I got a really nice view of the cute Golden crowned kinglet, and four different redtailed hawks were great to see. The woods were sparsely populated with the regular winter foragers like chickadees, Downy woodpeckers, titmice, goldfinches, blue jays, robins and so forth. Red- and white breasted nuthatches, white throated sparrows and song sparrows. And a great Blue Heron stretched his wings by Scarboro Pond.<br />
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Lots of long lists to compile.</div>
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Now back home, after a hot shower and tea, I will enjoy thinking of that little owl turning its head as if to say Good night to us - gentle, curious, really really cute. <br />
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-82262342721605115302012-12-03T05:55:00.000-08:002012-12-03T08:39:01.933-08:00Woods in sunset, moonlight<div style="text-align: center;">
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A day in the woods. The noise from I-95 was never quite gone but we were far enough away from roads and trails to experience real peace. We heard woodpeckers, winter wrens, chickadees, red nuthatches. We heard a deer exhale loudly. When dark fell, we saw hundreds and hundreds of winter moths, and in the light from our flash lights, we caught several deer's eyes around us.<br />
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I wish I had taken a picture of the giant pine tree that we ended up climbing, or the enormous red oak that we were considering as well. Rarely trees in the wild get to such dimensions.<br />
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The hike went through rolling terrain on not very wellknown paths. Musclewood, Hornbeam tree, was everywhere as well as birches and oaks.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriPpIPq8cbS7PH1oHs7ro5HCORx2BdGOm9oIuF9VI1odfop0XYbgArLcFL-N9IUQq5gSwPeoNkO2ZC1_0JUNc1tU4WwdGhPhXCdcanz80pSTg_pJouXfwV4sXUFeUtq3eOpX4XdNVxs-J/s1600/P1060209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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High bush blueberries were old and tall.</div>
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Sun was already low at three pm. I was pleased, hoping for a sunset climb.</div>
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And I was not disappointed!</div>
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My usual tree climbing face: the widest grin possible.</div>
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This enormous tree had a view in every direction. Looking East, Boston skyscrapers in a gentle glow.</div>
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Last of the oaks still in foliage</div>
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The sunset almost had a tropical feel.</div>
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Following every change in scenery</div>
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Finally the conclusion in pink.</div>
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After that dark quickly came. We were prepared for descent with our headlamps in place. To keep our senses in tune with nature, we only turned on the lights
when we hooked and unhooked our carabiners.</div>
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Safely on the ground, we were guided by the shining moon.</div>
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In the glow of our headlamps the woods looked different. Here is a young cherry trunk. </div>
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Yellow birch. In the background the lights from the highway.</div>
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And the strangest of all, the musclewood again.</div>
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And I just had to include this at the end: the prettiest guy, my very own resident house finch in the reddest of red.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriPpIPq8cbS7PH1oHs7ro5HCORx2BdGOm9oIuF9VI1odfop0XYbgArLcFL-N9IUQq5gSwPeoNkO2ZC1_0JUNc1tU4WwdGhPhXCdcanz80pSTg_pJouXfwV4sXUFeUtq3eOpX4XdNVxs-J/s1600/P1060209.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriPpIPq8cbS7PH1oHs7ro5HCORx2BdGOm9oIuF9VI1odfop0XYbgArLcFL-N9IUQq5gSwPeoNkO2ZC1_0JUNc1tU4WwdGhPhXCdcanz80pSTg_pJouXfwV4sXUFeUtq3eOpX4XdNVxs-J/s640/P1060209.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span id="goog_287895031"></span><span id="goog_287895032"></span>asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-86967276326450990492012-12-01T18:57:00.000-08:002012-12-01T18:58:23.580-08:00Those elusive owls againThere's been so many sightings of barred owls in Boston recently, one was photographed at the entrance to Park Street station on the Red Line in downtown, so you'd think you would get a glimpse of one fairly easy. But despite the best efforts, no owls were spotted today.<br />
That doesn't mean that the day was wasted though. It was still lovely, with soft snow falling gently and a mellow gray light.<br />
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Saw Mill Brook runs through West Roxbury and ends in Charles River. Along its shores are several parks like the Millenium park and Cutler park. Today we headed to Millenium, where a barred owl had been reported recently. Millenium park is a good spot for bird watching and is also full of joggers and dog walkers. Along the brook we followed a narrow path where a nice mix of plants are established. The snow fell in delicate crystals and laid still on branches and remaining leaves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5VTbYmAc6Wz0NU9GCkxhAigoVcw3g_juZFJAUOoajZnQdDYW4-xEysZeIBD9dw91Rg0CbkO9D9Tth0W_PSrQwmnUPu2EEWhTK7gtimJeW38-WE5aaNGi1KKEC7ac34SZE3WwC9DYIVvD/s1600/P1060350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5VTbYmAc6Wz0NU9GCkxhAigoVcw3g_juZFJAUOoajZnQdDYW4-xEysZeIBD9dw91Rg0CbkO9D9Tth0W_PSrQwmnUPu2EEWhTK7gtimJeW38-WE5aaNGi1KKEC7ac34SZE3WwC9DYIVvD/s640/P1060350.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div>
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Phragmites in the water, willows and alders on the shore. On the slope milkweeds were still holding on to their seeds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGlTz5lRDNkIPr-tokLAd5rrK-orOHqBYZlIs8kcIgWEfPNwsENIn8Y6Wpq9zIJ1GOAV_8GFy6r1OYxQLh2Ox0VfzxDau8IP4vZnfR83LqC756ijvjU1mOArge8jVvEcjV1QYVP1Q7CQ5/s1600/P1060327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGlTz5lRDNkIPr-tokLAd5rrK-orOHqBYZlIs8kcIgWEfPNwsENIn8Y6Wpq9zIJ1GOAV_8GFy6r1OYxQLh2Ox0VfzxDau8IP4vZnfR83LqC756ijvjU1mOArge8jVvEcjV1QYVP1Q7CQ5/s640/P1060327.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div>
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Sweetfern leaves were dried but retained both color and fragrance.</div>
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Soft goldenrod </div>
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Queen Anne's lace and a lonely bird watcher.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7vMNl28euiE0HGAzMr9UsmRVlDHvrJ8LLX3jN5VsR4yK1ACwvuy4LzM-sBSYLopu28MNLtwkfTBpLtQsxB3jUvgce0iY_rqCCUF871GNAVgLX8bWCMFNY4rOeijBz1mAPFWcOTXCQck_/s1600/P1060354.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7vMNl28euiE0HGAzMr9UsmRVlDHvrJ8LLX3jN5VsR4yK1ACwvuy4LzM-sBSYLopu28MNLtwkfTBpLtQsxB3jUvgce0iY_rqCCUF871GNAVgLX8bWCMFNY4rOeijBz1mAPFWcOTXCQck_/s640/P1060354.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Saw Mill Brook is exciting for other reasons as well. For the first time in many many years, beavers have taken up residence in Boston again, right here, and the dams stretched all along the brook. Lots of very recent activity, even though the beavers themselves were as elusive as the owls. Here they have been at work on a young Cottonwood tree, which they seemed to prefer above all others.<br />
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Detail of toothwork!</div>
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Their work was really impressive and have quite a strong impact on the environment. We had never heard so many wood peckers, who were attracted to all the dead trees caused by the dams. People might be shocked to see the extent of the activity and even resent the beavers for cutting down trees. But in the longer perspective all in nature has a place and a purpose. Eventually beaver dams fill up again with growing plants, and creates a rich fertile soil for new forest to grow in.</div>
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Here are two pictures that show the main dam.</div>
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Note how different the water levels are!</div>
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Work in progress. </div>
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But the Blue jays were calling further into the woods, and that can often mean that they've spotted an owl, so we left the river and headed into a wooded swampy area. A few blueberry bushes still had leaves. I noticed that the stems were red too.<br />
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The swamp was great habitat for ducks. We spotted a wood duck but it never stayed for a picture. These are mallards and black ducks.</div>
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On this young tree both bittersweet and poison ivy vines were doing their work.</div>
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Snowflakes gathered on the Summersweet seed pods. </div>
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On the way out we heard a beautiful musical chatter and gentle chirps, and a large flock of Redpolls gathered further into the swamp. We spotted a few of them. This year a lot of birds from the Northern parts of the country have wandered south in search of food, and Redpolls and Crossbills that we normally don't see here are now visible. </div>
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So, no owls in the woods today. But at home my feeder is stocked and I enjoy my visitors every day. Here a mourning dove is puffed up to stay warm and blends in nicely with the branches. </div>
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A resident pair of white breasted nuthatches are frequent guests.</div>
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A handsome Junco</div>
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Very skittish, the Redbellied woodpecker rarely stays long enough for me to take a picture. This year, I have only seen a male.</div>
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Right after he left the Downie came back.</div>
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Today's visitor was precious: a Carolina wren.</div>
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Chickadees and downies are always around.</div>
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And down the street in Franklin park, a couple of Carolina wrens were hopping about in a big patch of Japanese knotweed. I noticed a well made nest that would have been very safe and hidden during spring. I wonder who built it? </div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-71914087585464069472012-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:002012-10-24T06:21:13.618-07:00In a tall white pine<br />
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This weekend was quite possibly the peak of Eastern Massachusetts fall foliage and I was very happy to have a chance to be outdoors all day, in a small urban forest close to my home, where we gathered to climb a white pine. We've been there before, and we've spotted both great horned owls and sleeping raccoons in this tree. But today it was ours, for a few golden afternoon hours. <br />
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Witch hazel was blooming along the path, I have never seen so many flowers before. <br />
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Red maple leaves were glowing in the understory glimpses of sunshine.</div>
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When I arrived the others were already setting up and it was a pretty quick job to get up. I was eager to look around from the top and I wasn't disappointed with the view!</div>
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An amazing array of colors wherever I looked. A gentle wind rocking us, it got stronger the higher we got.</div>
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In this picture you can see part of the cambium pipe. It's a hollow pipe we put the ropes through to protect the branches from rope friction.</div>
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I felt very safe and comfortable in the many branches of this pine. During its growth the tree had been damaged many times, and developed new leaders, and so there was almost a seat or a floor to rest on right before the very last few feet.</div>
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Zoom in on flaming hickory leaves.</div>
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Here I am at the top. </div>
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And up there the wind was mighty!</div>
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Back on the ground, the afternoon sun was already low. The beech leaves were decorated with pine needles.</div>
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The tree tops were still alight for a little while.</div>
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<br />Another gorgeous hickory tree.<br />
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A tall double trunk pignut hickory.</div>
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Hiking out of the woods.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-79443509978661523482012-07-28T13:47:00.000-07:002012-07-28T13:47:24.180-07:00Ponkapoag bog<div style="text-align: center;">
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A few days ago I wrote a post about my second visit to Ponkapoag pond - a warm and peaceful summer day with crayfish, dragonflies and the scent of Summersweet. My first visit to the pond occurred earlier this year and was no less magical. Ponkapoag pond has a bog area with a long boardwalk through the swampy area, where you can see many rare and even endangered plants. My son was on a mission to see some carnivorous plants, and we were told that this was the place to go.<br />
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The name Ponkapoag is of course of native American origin, although the pond itself was built in 1940 as a way to control water and flooding. <br />
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On a beautiful June day we took a walk along the old planks, some of them rocking and swaying under our weight. </div>
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The vegetation was dense all around. Red maple, white Atlantic cedar, often with witches brooms disfiguring the old branches.<br />
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This tree carried a berry I mistook for Serviceberry. It didn't taste very well! <br />
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The boardwalk carried us longer and longer into the swamp.</div>
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By the side of the planks we saw highbush blueberries, Sweet pepperbush and swamp azalea, some still in bloom.<br />
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On the swamp azalea I saw many examples of this strange growth, sometimes bell-shaped and hanging from a leaf, sometimes just a bulgy swampy lump.</div>
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Closer to the ground we saw plants like Arrowhead</div>
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and leatherleaf</div>
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Aquatic plants in the water, which was full of vegetation.</div>
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Looking up, the old Atlantic cedar trees.</div>
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Eventually came a clearing and the boardwalk continued under open skies. The landscape was wide open. </div>
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Some condition made the sphagnum moss turn red in patches.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipo1EQ-s7eBctWdBU_gNI2IajEgeDWDewpueRG6y2oedmOCcYVCvUbfk0G_GUuPYGolfsG0v3FabQSRUB50ZjwuSRx65HBhTZ5LRS5dP16CrIpYtEo1SvYFfR8rwdgYOOtGdHK4icZhjHZ/s1600/P1040451.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipo1EQ-s7eBctWdBU_gNI2IajEgeDWDewpueRG6y2oedmOCcYVCvUbfk0G_GUuPYGolfsG0v3FabQSRUB50ZjwuSRx65HBhTZ5LRS5dP16CrIpYtEo1SvYFfR8rwdgYOOtGdHK4icZhjHZ/s640/P1040451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have many mourning doves at my backyard feeder every year and I have seen them as slightly anxious flock birds, waiting for me to throw some feed on the ground for them, flying away at the least provocation. To see it here made me feel it has a wilder side to it, which it won't show us while living in the city.<br />
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The light that day was special. The open sky had a powerful effect on me, of peace and happiness.<br />
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Out in the open the bog hosted many different plants.</div>
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This orchid is called grasspink. Some regular visitors to the bog said they had never seen it before.<br />
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This is also where we saw the sundew - the pretty carnivorous plant my son was eager to see, and above all, feed.</div>
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The sundew came in both red and green - if it was because of the same phenomena that colored some of the moss red, or if they were different species I don't know, but they did match their surroundings perfectly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-LyEjCoTB4nB2povD1a5vRfBjxP0QMP3_VG8qUrO97qAgGbKOcO9CIe9MDFHOK9csnZjJamHBKToGx_D1IwdAHdepTMLW7rCav2CstRKd8tCQim4vj-7J2rTiHCu_-vsdtMKpLNOvODo/s1600/P1040481.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-LyEjCoTB4nB2povD1a5vRfBjxP0QMP3_VG8qUrO97qAgGbKOcO9CIe9MDFHOK9csnZjJamHBKToGx_D1IwdAHdepTMLW7rCav2CstRKd8tCQim4vj-7J2rTiHCu_-vsdtMKpLNOvODo/s640/P1040481.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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We also saw some pitcher plants, attracting insects who then get trapped inside the liquidfilled cups and slowly get dissolved to feed the plant some extra nutrients. </div>
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Some ants living dangerously - or maybe they are very aware of the dangers?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxyoc8wkcADEdvPbsNZ0VR1EHK8zPfWJyaj9mBbfIpAhFUzl9SgtnzmqxvAD7p9-w94Csh-SW8GFdrMCY79rphmLvj4tlcL3Ktla8LWNadZyPbWHVb8hhd5Li2PKC_XX98VRFRWwjP3ju/s1600/P1040503.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxyoc8wkcADEdvPbsNZ0VR1EHK8zPfWJyaj9mBbfIpAhFUzl9SgtnzmqxvAD7p9-w94Csh-SW8GFdrMCY79rphmLvj4tlcL3Ktla8LWNadZyPbWHVb8hhd5Li2PKC_XX98VRFRWwjP3ju/s640/P1040503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The boardwalk ended here at the beautiful pond.</div>
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At this end of the walk there were plants such as alder</div>
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maleberries</div>
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and sweetgale.</div>
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Returning on the path gave us more views.</div>
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Lots of birds were singing during the time we were there.</div>
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An old plank</div>
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Maleberries typical little seedheads</div>
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Red maple seedling, seemingly taking on the red hue from the surroundings.</div>
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Sheep laurel is mountail laurel's bog cousin. It's toxic to live stock but out here it's free to grow.<br />
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Tired, muddy and very happy explorers on the way home. </div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-74192136407544858892012-07-27T19:30:00.001-07:002012-07-27T19:33:08.747-07:00Canoeing on the Charles and other activities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aX5WYOyOZqolL5Rlt9kyvQnEsOrnsshAIUMSEplzpj6hV3kLJMtklbJ8v5GcBlsfzRIyzT2Rx_DUHlsDPMPilpiEDDEwB4j511xninYyFpgWZBR9kfnI0GivIrLivu4PtheyfTmQayVo/s1600/P1050312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <br />
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In a mighty white oak, wider than tall, 10 ropes were set to get the Franklin Park Coalition teen workers off the ground for a day. These teenagers work in the summer to help maintain the park and does a wonderful job clearing Common buckthorn and Japanese knotweed. I was happy to be able to help this day, a way for me to return a little of the favors given to me by my tree climbing instructor Andrew Joslin. He has facilitated this particular climb for years and was happy with this year's outcome. <br />
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During lunch break I took a look at the little wetland nearby. A monarch butterfly was there and I hope it was attracted to the swamp milkweeds.<br />
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Some jewelweed and tansy</div>
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On my back porch three young chickadees have been enjoying the nyjer seeds I left out for the goldfinches. It's been fun to watch and hear them, so curious and fearless. </div>
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Last weekend I got the chance to go canoeing on the Charles river, the big river that runs through Boston and ends up in the Atlantic. By then it's wide and straight and not very clean, but further up river it is nice and pleasant and meandering through a pretty landscape of meadows and woods. Not many pictures were taken, but I had a wonderful time in the sun. <br />
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Buttonbush and cattails</div>
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A little brook on the side caught our curiosity</div>
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A family of geese were ahead of us </div>
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Wild roses by the shore</div>
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Plants in the water - wish I knew more about those.</div>
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Alder</div>
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Skimmer. Of course there were dragonflies and damselflies everywhere, of at least a dozen different kinds. They never sit still for a picture though.</div>
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Blackberries. Over the meadow covered in blackberries cedar waxwings were busy. </div>
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Deer hoof, coming to the water for drinks.</div>
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On the way back to the main river again, the geese passed us indignantly. We had selfishly blocked their way out of the little brook with our canoe.</div>
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We also spotted a Yellow throated warbler in a thicket.</div>
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This one we just had to get a picture of, even if it meant holding him captive for a second! </div>
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Marshmallows and Cardinal flowers growing on the banks. </div>
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At home, a monarch is visiting my backyard Joe Pyeweed. </div>
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And Tiger Swallowtails among others are coming to the Buddleia in my front yard.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-30003872364500578052012-07-27T18:41:00.002-07:002012-09-30T15:50:30.399-07:00Second visit to Ponkapoag pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you live in a big city like Boston it may seem like nature is far away. It might be hard to find good spots to enjoy and trails to hike or wander. But with time, and with good friends, I've learned that there are hidden gems where the city seems far away and we can immerse ourselves in fresh air, deep woods and clean water. </div>
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The Blue Hills reservation holds many such places. One of the true wonders are Ponkapoag pond. Thinking of an adventure good for both grown-ups and boys, we hiked through the woods until we met with a narrow trail down to the lake shore and a tiny beach, mostly frequented by deer drinking water. The vegetation went all the way to the water - red maples, oaks, birches, and Sweet pepperbush and buttonbush and Silky dogwood made the understory layer. </div>
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The sweet pepperbush looked good together with purple loosestrife, not too much of the later fortunately. </div>
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Silky dogwood </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR0p2ZoI975luiKICxafAy21SCeLf1VrOGZzLdjNldFbb5TZPBk66k-aea1n_Yr7IBFkMig2SqUC6PgC8_r0rVJjKq-2JCFc2ogobKUMRQRBRTnVuh-td02T7qj4Fw5BU2E4qIOrj9YMx/s1600/IMG_8853.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR0p2ZoI975luiKICxafAy21SCeLf1VrOGZzLdjNldFbb5TZPBk66k-aea1n_Yr7IBFkMig2SqUC6PgC8_r0rVJjKq-2JCFc2ogobKUMRQRBRTnVuh-td02T7qj4Fw5BU2E4qIOrj9YMx/s640/IMG_8853.JPG" width="640" /></a>Some Steeplebush peeked through. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUsOh3sM16eUGznOB5n5dLrP5-4JdlvnJ9k12CTmKIfmgJ1UwNwccCYQM00yVr_YNFG8G_Ju1zril2nD37hkyG5SoOOkrNAbQOsdUEFtsVXhioE48FGuSXfa-FdVahlte0LKc14Xq_GsD/s1600/P1050460.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUsOh3sM16eUGznOB5n5dLrP5-4JdlvnJ9k12CTmKIfmgJ1UwNwccCYQM00yVr_YNFG8G_Ju1zril2nD37hkyG5SoOOkrNAbQOsdUEFtsVXhioE48FGuSXfa-FdVahlte0LKc14Xq_GsD/s640/P1050460.JPG" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJEDKOBNOErslW2NDzMywghd8d8AEtWBHTCQCo-u0GCdY3laILBuoFUZ_KUF85QfoIHfgiRUp0PyhPC1HNnOFdq4M-6KMUY8rIFtnXr0LPAHi8GvbQ1pSm1-9woIDwKIL7aKXmtJ2sxwN/s1600/P1050444.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJEDKOBNOErslW2NDzMywghd8d8AEtWBHTCQCo-u0GCdY3laILBuoFUZ_KUF85QfoIHfgiRUp0PyhPC1HNnOFdq4M-6KMUY8rIFtnXr0LPAHi8GvbQ1pSm1-9woIDwKIL7aKXmtJ2sxwN/s640/P1050444.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div>
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Since my son developed an interest for nature some of my field guides and nature books have disappeared into his room. I don't recognize this flower which was growing in the water. The bees liked it and the flowers were beautiful. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl4TC2DiDyFYAkeBh11waL8Q2_r1-RzByaFIRfXhtEiOtPmkoOX3Jk5OlbZYi72K5yJ-vOfK6sBlYT_8xb7to1kBBWxboOdID0l_dT-WeVvlAFDJCm6Yws4wcDm7e86xJBChrTQkV9b0r/s1600/P1050445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl4TC2DiDyFYAkeBh11waL8Q2_r1-RzByaFIRfXhtEiOtPmkoOX3Jk5OlbZYi72K5yJ-vOfK6sBlYT_8xb7to1kBBWxboOdID0l_dT-WeVvlAFDJCm6Yws4wcDm7e86xJBChrTQkV9b0r/s640/P1050445.JPG" width="640" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEUO2GbaOT-HyK4uHwB0ppfA4XZpHH3-uZ8xsglb-gM74GnZXC008IotaYPDYF_cu3FZKUWb_zlAHsIoX38RUp6WmtNsVZVLNyd57hj0r7IPYQdMARlX5ilnwpl1mMLvzitzTncuvtS_T/s1600/P1050455.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEUO2GbaOT-HyK4uHwB0ppfA4XZpHH3-uZ8xsglb-gM74GnZXC008IotaYPDYF_cu3FZKUWb_zlAHsIoX38RUp6WmtNsVZVLNyd57hj0r7IPYQdMARlX5ilnwpl1mMLvzitzTncuvtS_T/s640/P1050455.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYgGQWRGplrFN7RAH4M4MNlWdCOmb4mXzVfWfWcfy3CkRIee5HwqSTpTSUsDk7NIwoPsWGMOI0i43qv492sTpUOcOv6OtU6CvYHinWMWZpHshDLj7TMLeCaEPvW0N9fvp81a9S_HJpUa_/s1600/P1050452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYgGQWRGplrFN7RAH4M4MNlWdCOmb4mXzVfWfWcfy3CkRIee5HwqSTpTSUsDk7NIwoPsWGMOI0i43qv492sTpUOcOv6OtU6CvYHinWMWZpHshDLj7TMLeCaEPvW0N9fvp81a9S_HJpUa_/s640/P1050452.JPG" width="640" /> </a><br />
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Buttonbush was easily recognized!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaYInlj8t79UKm5r3yk1TqPpg2KX0ue1ke38p6iWHAEsbTSzIKyt02RCfJzrj3aVXrRx17S2OCYK_59JbY_u8FpV-1BOAKNy8uah15KH1d2CcRxU8wmHaNEruGcFvU68mc6DKIqxO5yKH/s1600/IMG_8858.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaYInlj8t79UKm5r3yk1TqPpg2KX0ue1ke38p6iWHAEsbTSzIKyt02RCfJzrj3aVXrRx17S2OCYK_59JbY_u8FpV-1BOAKNy8uah15KH1d2CcRxU8wmHaNEruGcFvU68mc6DKIqxO5yKH/s640/IMG_8858.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_smDlgBB06damwh-kn3yFiByNscHuXWBC3SC72qIqxJ173Cu6sbB4yPNrsWSVV1p6x5KqD_d-q6m3fosyhWlZYdYPcWWHwrhlbWiRGYhNGCiGKAgLGkJznHBJC-F-hEYfFdVNxhY_mDcf/s1600/P1050457.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_smDlgBB06damwh-kn3yFiByNscHuXWBC3SC72qIqxJ173Cu6sbB4yPNrsWSVV1p6x5KqD_d-q6m3fosyhWlZYdYPcWWHwrhlbWiRGYhNGCiGKAgLGkJznHBJC-F-hEYfFdVNxhY_mDcf/s640/P1050457.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvk8GMW6Oq_tZ5rUFoQUbt3gQt7YRbgpd4yA-CIMRNjY0-BjSM7MrqLZ3wm8P18057EzYIWV3MGrsWCO0HDjA73DZFnuvh1TtYD9Xnl79lrovRMr4_yFEN2IkFUx1OvO1u1SFDkxI1zeN/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvk8GMW6Oq_tZ5rUFoQUbt3gQt7YRbgpd4yA-CIMRNjY0-BjSM7MrqLZ3wm8P18057EzYIWV3MGrsWCO0HDjA73DZFnuvh1TtYD9Xnl79lrovRMr4_yFEN2IkFUx1OvO1u1SFDkxI1zeN/s640/IMG_8877.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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And swamp milkweed too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlq7GfTsOvADrw5qQSr-zJt2i8je6HqNHYukJG36f-UTLiWXe6U-yN9YPlzp0BpZMpKe5vwrFOn1It6it7k5MPsw8hPwAru0QhLOKpnvSi2ibTrta7XY4JxIjNc1t1hGXUoAp5mhX3d_9u/s1600/IMG_8888.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlq7GfTsOvADrw5qQSr-zJt2i8je6HqNHYukJG36f-UTLiWXe6U-yN9YPlzp0BpZMpKe5vwrFOn1It6it7k5MPsw8hPwAru0QhLOKpnvSi2ibTrta7XY4JxIjNc1t1hGXUoAp5mhX3d_9u/s640/IMG_8888.JPG" width="478" /> </a></div>
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Only much later I identified this pretty flower as marsh St Johnswort.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_39OsjFzWML7imAOzom0EfJVbbog78fpKTOFJWdb8p74HcR20fVOdlKp4HOm03Vjr0zyGk-tC1Hg7zkXFXztcBF8_hH-0m5aI_t7fzSsX_rXMAOWVApMwY1qDgc0DPpefThOLAGGSBYau/s1600/IMG_8850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_39OsjFzWML7imAOzom0EfJVbbog78fpKTOFJWdb8p74HcR20fVOdlKp4HOm03Vjr0zyGk-tC1Hg7zkXFXztcBF8_hH-0m5aI_t7fzSsX_rXMAOWVApMwY1qDgc0DPpefThOLAGGSBYau/s640/IMG_8850.JPG" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8ngmlj0m3l4RYAzjLgFlo8P1ikew83xwkTLNNFrR8kciIXu38lBnGXg9x-92EY4Ml1TAX6bIohQjuctmwVR0anYyVUDzQLlQvVJ3Aup0zfzkCNnUwV9yeG2lz0TLuviOzNAkQ90UbO00/s1600/IMG_8880.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8ngmlj0m3l4RYAzjLgFlo8P1ikew83xwkTLNNFrR8kciIXu38lBnGXg9x-92EY4Ml1TAX6bIohQjuctmwVR0anYyVUDzQLlQvVJ3Aup0zfzkCNnUwV9yeG2lz0TLuviOzNAkQ90UbO00/s640/IMG_8880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The water was warm, calm and very shallow, perfect for wading and exploring. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZNOSsvkUGN0ramPzDHrtVtzG4HsIoclqQQLbMyRu-tkYs0r_9xgpJ2Bbwo3H2rKWcLrGVj6BK87tAhNjS7-ZGPWn82yVbu6WtJsjhBr8bbFfg8h8B5zBJLWmWuqZPcRgtIXH-NRKv_uq/s1600/IMG_8855.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZNOSsvkUGN0ramPzDHrtVtzG4HsIoclqQQLbMyRu-tkYs0r_9xgpJ2Bbwo3H2rKWcLrGVj6BK87tAhNjS7-ZGPWn82yVbu6WtJsjhBr8bbFfg8h8B5zBJLWmWuqZPcRgtIXH-NRKv_uq/s640/IMG_8855.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Clothes soon came off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNrGLpLAV5_XcRL_I-uo8iTs1j67nNqkuU1_yQIup3Uzc7er6m9qJqXsixZeqmU1Kfy76MuSb0nWAYfjxLLfnoDxQNwmKJvMSkAV-Ykn0yPVak3039ZhKI700C3PNAzzkb7OzLNxIgLQb/s1600/P1050439.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNrGLpLAV5_XcRL_I-uo8iTs1j67nNqkuU1_yQIup3Uzc7er6m9qJqXsixZeqmU1Kfy76MuSb0nWAYfjxLLfnoDxQNwmKJvMSkAV-Ykn0yPVak3039ZhKI700C3PNAzzkb7OzLNxIgLQb/s640/P1050439.JPG" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MrMXo8AMwIH-OcfzOwX70rYyU12TsdmCJOavNnv8TfeucM5-R_YC2oI_PacIf4S7FVkdQtAhw5dcZlParLSdxgT_ZXkw5DucFUv3mg2mqQjGVPsgqwJUCoBh4_SarjovsbbNce9MWFLD/s1600/P1050441.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MrMXo8AMwIH-OcfzOwX70rYyU12TsdmCJOavNnv8TfeucM5-R_YC2oI_PacIf4S7FVkdQtAhw5dcZlParLSdxgT_ZXkw5DucFUv3mg2mqQjGVPsgqwJUCoBh4_SarjovsbbNce9MWFLD/s640/P1050441.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAKHg8b4io9aMK6LGxS2R8VKail_zmW-oSvSqqI-co3daTzsdMUk5IIGT7GX_Y-hFkbZqdeks5t_SQGpxUos09GPxMLpWxGeRfO4zJSsNhnrh6Xn3ALH3uM7ScdiyJHhno8KiLvW1KC2a/s1600/IMG_8861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAKHg8b4io9aMK6LGxS2R8VKail_zmW-oSvSqqI-co3daTzsdMUk5IIGT7GX_Y-hFkbZqdeks5t_SQGpxUos09GPxMLpWxGeRfO4zJSsNhnrh6Xn3ALH3uM7ScdiyJHhno8KiLvW1KC2a/s640/IMG_8861.JPG" width="640" /> </a><br />
Fresh water mussels </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fANx549IC_as7MdEXartZsuTc_yrAdnjumurlAGFAJBxhRzb6SwWyzOZodf7eJ5hxEY-JRU6uejRHDnzvHADQ1Fc6SfIRYZqfsZKx5BNsie7NYzfXzZcHOVAlR83ktbxaQBwE-RauLkF/s1600/P1050446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fANx549IC_as7MdEXartZsuTc_yrAdnjumurlAGFAJBxhRzb6SwWyzOZodf7eJ5hxEY-JRU6uejRHDnzvHADQ1Fc6SfIRYZqfsZKx5BNsie7NYzfXzZcHOVAlR83ktbxaQBwE-RauLkF/s640/P1050446.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Large dragonfly nymph in a jar</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpRvdmDrSg4lWbeWCb30TLwUNmBE9tWuBWl9fV_zjSCOkdNWmt9QzrZwjCry4b4x8mFad9CzWkUdcriky0z2lZxm2NdARyB8iWPXm1v7OkZRzUr73Ui2e8FKfNVcTd7Ecte7eq4ZLtmju/s1600/IMG_8859.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpRvdmDrSg4lWbeWCb30TLwUNmBE9tWuBWl9fV_zjSCOkdNWmt9QzrZwjCry4b4x8mFad9CzWkUdcriky0z2lZxm2NdARyB8iWPXm1v7OkZRzUr73Ui2e8FKfNVcTd7Ecte7eq4ZLtmju/s640/IMG_8859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Small crayfish, hiding under rocks. We saw some shedded shells as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl0enQnLe478-BJvicvkVfJyCjVWGaxPbbQEUukFdDZmZXriEKCC9N6xtVqXhe5bOZuBrJkXWy574dqL9bxLrPzfuW2wQz46uWRVTdt3aRtUkUvuAZXxVguZg0ZCjxl6jfNqUrmaZr4qU/s1600/IMG_8866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl0enQnLe478-BJvicvkVfJyCjVWGaxPbbQEUukFdDZmZXriEKCC9N6xtVqXhe5bOZuBrJkXWy574dqL9bxLrPzfuW2wQz46uWRVTdt3aRtUkUvuAZXxVguZg0ZCjxl6jfNqUrmaZr4qU/s640/IMG_8866.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Second crayfish, caught in plastic water bottle</div>
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For the smaller one, playing with water and cans and bottles is enough.</div>
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We saw a great fish called Pumpkinseed sunfish, native to these waters. There were two males swimming around protecting their nests in the shallow waters. The end of their fins were shining in aquamarine blue. We also saw other smaller fish, at least one of them were a baby largemouth bass.</div>
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There were hundreds of dragonflies around but they're not easy to catch on picture. Here's a blue dasher that sat down for a moment. Too bad the face is blurry!</div>
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A sunbathing damselfly </div>
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In the woods, we enjoyed the last of the highbush blueberries together with huckleberries. </div>
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There were lots of maple leaf viburnums which I always liked a lot. </div>
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I also learned of ground peanuts, but couldn't find any big enough to taste.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-49917126574902772752012-06-12T18:39:00.000-07:002012-06-12T19:02:20.374-07:00Life in May and June<div style="text-align: center;">
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Columbine in the garden</div>
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Grackle babies in nest outside my house </div>
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Memorial Day swim at Walden pond </div>
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In my own backyard woods, also known as Franklin park in Boston, False Solomon's seal. </div>
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Spicebush berries </div>
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In the community garden, milkweed buds are growing by the minute, little earwig hiding </div>
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Raindrop in lupine leaf</div>
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Alpine strawberries - all the way from my father's garden. Someone took a little nibble.</div>
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Sunshine days and rain. </div>
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Ebony jewelwing on American chestnut in Blue Hills reservation</div>
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Moss </div>
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Indian pipe flowers, translucent, delicate.</div>
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Last, a view from a beech. Less than five minutes walk from my house there are trees to climb. </div>
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This climb was special since it was my first solo climb. Perfect concentration - remember all the different steps, knots, the order of things. It worked. Up in the canopy, the beauty and life of green - as if I was feeding on sunshine just like the leaves I'm surrounded by.<br />
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-88238796675318881902012-05-16T18:03:00.000-07:002012-05-16T18:21:50.581-07:00Cutler parkQuite frankly - I feel completely overwhelmed by all that is going on in my life right now. Luckily gardening helps, and so does nature walks on rainy days. The need to be outside is stronger than ever, and I went to Cutler park, a few miles from where I live, where the Charles river meanders through marshes and I once climbed a white oak with some friends. During my walk the rain stopped. The birds were singing manically, and I wish I knew their names. <br />
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Flower with delicate leaves in a whorl of five</div>
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My cathedral </div>
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Sarsaparilla </div>
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Starflower meadow </div>
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On the way out to the marsh, Joe Pyeweed. </div>
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Riverview</div>
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In the dogwood shrubs in the marsh, one of the most tremendous singers, that little olive green thing in the middle of the picture.</div>
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Steeplebush</div>
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54Zf8Jjqcud1TMZhf_JNlA4PHVCOqQAzq1yZ4dyp4kj8Kc0DWAvnDEL2Lyw-Bp2OEE7mEm5cNYcE781unfLQ3jp6CEgeeLZeadn7E5xvYr9sx24yZV_YlmTnzrujTU8_itEWTtxZfrVF2/s640/P1040201.JPG" width="640" /><br />
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Buttonbush </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fo7hpOSLJhAymqiOMqBrBuqF4nm_rOaV2_CU91Q99zAom1ARoqoxSPvdPbtEyyNf8thO9lbVhAOQZkattrjVWUCZNr-2NlocXVBeA0-4FSkoLGtx9uud6k-AnyU5a6E3oElzdjJZ9OUU/s1600/P1040199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fo7hpOSLJhAymqiOMqBrBuqF4nm_rOaV2_CU91Q99zAom1ARoqoxSPvdPbtEyyNf8thO9lbVhAOQZkattrjVWUCZNr-2NlocXVBeA0-4FSkoLGtx9uud6k-AnyU5a6E3oElzdjJZ9OUU/s640/P1040199.JPG" width="480" /> </a><br />
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and swamp milkweeds. </div>
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On my way back I met these columns of different shapes and color</div>
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Unfurling fern </div>
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Cherry blossom - as pretty as anything in Washington or Tokyo.</div>
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Fern-urn </div>
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Highbush blueberry flowers </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfzophToeCSEgHFpePhZ-4zmRwuSAniCChyphenhyphenLac5Jr6yH0gktZeghm_Q50VOQfd5BPodgC0O5iVyWjM5FHQD8U1HvbRfm1uvAlhtyAeF5bhv26WaaM_ESMiO-V2tfoslkra6nIjmGoGuKu/s1600/P1040183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfzophToeCSEgHFpePhZ-4zmRwuSAniCChyphenhyphenLac5Jr6yH0gktZeghm_Q50VOQfd5BPodgC0O5iVyWjM5FHQD8U1HvbRfm1uvAlhtyAeF5bhv26WaaM_ESMiO-V2tfoslkra6nIjmGoGuKu/s640/P1040183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyone knows this plant?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Or this one, with sharp teeth and little spikes at the stem? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGWcqj_Vp9oxO27OH1RDvceeRAUDvoopru2c346iNpGu9PQSzt46XVf_bSQ5hfhfWn08jkrWI7EmvnZRCfYu6CjPYq_BmJNRT5IVRUDVtNUVR4H4uc8GHturdUpkdk1lma7yf1FatTfYB/s1600/P1040206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGWcqj_Vp9oxO27OH1RDvceeRAUDvoopru2c346iNpGu9PQSzt46XVf_bSQ5hfhfWn08jkrWI7EmvnZRCfYu6CjPYq_BmJNRT5IVRUDVtNUVR4H4uc8GHturdUpkdk1lma7yf1FatTfYB/s640/P1040206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
New fresh greenbriar, ready to attack. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-0QHNbJApjoybiid7gKnUoNa3BL4bUHyEoCFIDx9fYx0r8z2TDFfuP-vw3P-6gwI24KQok8LhhssXRbaR3KpHSt4OILV-IPi6Nd7wVXcI3MyvyWublHXNQqU_cTeGTCXFit8T3WuDOh7/s1600/P1040227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-0QHNbJApjoybiid7gKnUoNa3BL4bUHyEoCFIDx9fYx0r8z2TDFfuP-vw3P-6gwI24KQok8LhhssXRbaR3KpHSt4OILV-IPi6Nd7wVXcI3MyvyWublHXNQqU_cTeGTCXFit8T3WuDOh7/s640/P1040227.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-15925594326473404632012-05-14T17:37:00.001-07:002012-05-15T04:05:15.423-07:00Details<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8rffVy_S4SMaHNTsimpGO72Gg-VlsqW-B3Nvp0weajkWxKWf0omuML1-Oe-S52OHFT8QeCU0LIPGljHPEt7UOxrfeEFzOMIZ1txRaDDpGid1Q6sLheG4WcQ4ZBczTg669dQbd1xPN-43/s1600/P1040078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8rffVy_S4SMaHNTsimpGO72Gg-VlsqW-B3Nvp0weajkWxKWf0omuML1-Oe-S52OHFT8QeCU0LIPGljHPEt7UOxrfeEFzOMIZ1txRaDDpGid1Q6sLheG4WcQ4ZBczTg669dQbd1xPN-43/s640/P1040078.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My blue house</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My street </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoStdIxDkFZV7dBQ2KXruWuW7lMdECpfVFLfuMoCcHBnaPxqvDB_4esb2IoH63v7cnZgBzPCon9kSj5jreMvb1hj5c30g6ANbqBdxi9wxYb-zFl0irNxmjl4AmJ2WTBQoybSD-9IM9CY_/s1600/P1040104.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoStdIxDkFZV7dBQ2KXruWuW7lMdECpfVFLfuMoCcHBnaPxqvDB_4esb2IoH63v7cnZgBzPCon9kSj5jreMvb1hj5c30g6ANbqBdxi9wxYb-zFl0irNxmjl4AmJ2WTBQoybSD-9IM9CY_/s400/P1040104.JPG" width="400" /></a><i> </i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OVWbd5NnKFQVB9OU4R3HAEEwgBaA7Dd5-cdThITRh9LOmXIThyphenhyphenvXqIw89I7LJdIleIiDhCNie4XjfuzTpIRGWul-wTCc-mwWic6ReQYBtkzcK_U7jci3WtiRvYYJAkuyAy2XenoVyJPd/s1600/P1040081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OVWbd5NnKFQVB9OU4R3HAEEwgBaA7Dd5-cdThITRh9LOmXIThyphenhyphenvXqIw89I7LJdIleIiDhCNie4XjfuzTpIRGWul-wTCc-mwWic6ReQYBtkzcK_U7jci3WtiRvYYJAkuyAy2XenoVyJPd/s400/P1040081.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Last Tulips</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOtQUvFjo4YdnMtlH9kpwiR2PfJwGiZjw9FJvDGiL2cwpwoE3E_rM7QWNSlZZqmuGak-9C4-XivqyOdCy7rBhLMDJPCcnODnQLivDQoWBga7QUVFK_f5g2mqvk3zAVO8xJsndlc35kgZw/s1600/P1040082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOtQUvFjo4YdnMtlH9kpwiR2PfJwGiZjw9FJvDGiL2cwpwoE3E_rM7QWNSlZZqmuGak-9C4-XivqyOdCy7rBhLMDJPCcnODnQLivDQoWBga7QUVFK_f5g2mqvk3zAVO8xJsndlc35kgZw/s640/P1040082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Columbines, waiting for the hummingbirds</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRQyTomdnpU2tHIvwfznIMB3EYjZzS_7HydqIakyWbKGKI067staWs_rUX8WJWZyTDfYrSZfOU7X0koFjNNKU3oxBVsXDJ3Q6O7xDR-KIwgXhUn0Yz8Ckk1LyiMGpKjxTovYz28bCAOb9/s1600/P1040093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRQyTomdnpU2tHIvwfznIMB3EYjZzS_7HydqIakyWbKGKI067staWs_rUX8WJWZyTDfYrSZfOU7X0koFjNNKU3oxBVsXDJ3Q6O7xDR-KIwgXhUn0Yz8Ckk1LyiMGpKjxTovYz28bCAOb9/s640/P1040093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rhubarb flower</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Early rainy morning beauty</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeBHX1L5GH4URmWDykBDngGlieeJPhCBiFGfz2unnxxXBvB2Uzfby_PkrOZjW4YnDWEKWIhzhZzA6WbEdjDbLW3wv1rRxdBYlsRUKPxUPbFh0u3rsYjZ6Lg08tztFXfvf7UT_ARdIJ1Xz/s1600/P1040095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeBHX1L5GH4URmWDykBDngGlieeJPhCBiFGfz2unnxxXBvB2Uzfby_PkrOZjW4YnDWEKWIhzhZzA6WbEdjDbLW3wv1rRxdBYlsRUKPxUPbFh0u3rsYjZ6Lg08tztFXfvf7UT_ARdIJ1Xz/s640/P1040095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraS_rusO0pNiI6SdrBlZEFc5P6rR2beFpDb5EbCrvPf8bTqIMpg2mbMjyR_oaMR1ss6ihyphenhyphenl91OeVs5yMXIo_gyVVIQ6El-dWzMUZmLSG4u8si7TRCjnyT4XQ61HK3Wj4LXYX0lcqICwJw/s1600/P1040096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraS_rusO0pNiI6SdrBlZEFc5P6rR2beFpDb5EbCrvPf8bTqIMpg2mbMjyR_oaMR1ss6ihyphenhyphenl91OeVs5yMXIo_gyVVIQ6El-dWzMUZmLSG4u8si7TRCjnyT4XQ61HK3Wj4LXYX0lcqICwJw/s640/P1040096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Meadow with sedges, dandelions, buttercups</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIizHYHoV1bbwfrG2faw_TL8REirmlJwYTwUQb-SK6ybazT8bLfH3ULuD0AQgP81vscKVWVLUXLZF9ptqq7vivdj0gD3HCE2AQOFrasRSeWx0M7sYt1J62sDg4lVe4c44o3L1fk0hqTPgi/s1600/P1040100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIizHYHoV1bbwfrG2faw_TL8REirmlJwYTwUQb-SK6ybazT8bLfH3ULuD0AQgP81vscKVWVLUXLZF9ptqq7vivdj0gD3HCE2AQOFrasRSeWx0M7sYt1J62sDg4lVe4c44o3L1fk0hqTPgi/s640/P1040100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Redstemmed Dogwood shrub flower </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMolRpdWTnprTGFWFY9XApd4Q8dostBClmGyR91Het-yBGfBKZUu3ZkJmzrKhTMYr1aGyLawambhnHEHUK9lF0He9y5LIWZsl3YASZW25DOiN1Mxicjq8geD81EJKPLwibggkHu9u1osc5/s1600/P1040105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMolRpdWTnprTGFWFY9XApd4Q8dostBClmGyR91Het-yBGfBKZUu3ZkJmzrKhTMYr1aGyLawambhnHEHUK9lF0He9y5LIWZsl3YASZW25DOiN1Mxicjq8geD81EJKPLwibggkHu9u1osc5/s640/P1040105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Chives</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qN2eG1eAIktr9lvzYnFnhlfrGVkH3c8eN0T2ts3D0eoqewazlk-qsc8c7dNPOGwUr2LJs_ml35YGvQ8bWovNQMItS_iwynO5RYZlZdRU8Yd3SDO_yw_kCoH8_SogPrS6tGh7Fd1cCuna/s1600/P1040106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qN2eG1eAIktr9lvzYnFnhlfrGVkH3c8eN0T2ts3D0eoqewazlk-qsc8c7dNPOGwUr2LJs_ml35YGvQ8bWovNQMItS_iwynO5RYZlZdRU8Yd3SDO_yw_kCoH8_SogPrS6tGh7Fd1cCuna/s640/P1040106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Strawberries</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc03wCZMHve_30_oO4-Kcs3ntAw0LCVtf6hzxuVGgf7FfsQhDhchNbBbW4kl-WzNoqgS7MOyvQD9pI73VsBJuD4VVQ7bMHanRIEtlmZbfENBI4YPeMuDRNy36ZNlTpk7Mem4pLRy0fxoP-/s1600/P1040107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc03wCZMHve_30_oO4-Kcs3ntAw0LCVtf6hzxuVGgf7FfsQhDhchNbBbW4kl-WzNoqgS7MOyvQD9pI73VsBJuD4VVQ7bMHanRIEtlmZbfENBI4YPeMuDRNy36ZNlTpk7Mem4pLRy0fxoP-/s640/P1040107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNrAb2ut_RfLuRYR6s6s6ymtm0lBHQWkXVb17yqP-nRxL1nn42ckkyg8jUvfL7B-wVEA0xw-TGfpzizt8FDsNSTkuFu6ShcNhPam2r6cDOcEMhrVkchcfPIP-0dvqweevOksR5V9wbzZf/s1600/P1040108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNrAb2ut_RfLuRYR6s6s6ymtm0lBHQWkXVb17yqP-nRxL1nn42ckkyg8jUvfL7B-wVEA0xw-TGfpzizt8FDsNSTkuFu6ShcNhPam2r6cDOcEMhrVkchcfPIP-0dvqweevOksR5V9wbzZf/s640/P1040108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Blue cornflower </i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Arugula flower</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhq7c5Gu1ExoIjfd-L78PqLpbMjYGAATBcZEWYodzSjQnhnfskUZwfc-NUYGdekK8n4CCB6yVQknRnj5Tx21e8i0Nl7gr3wu_-3MUCwCprasPN2eTXezvgPwHJPeLhq1UjqaQOdyj7Rb2/s1600/P1040110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhq7c5Gu1ExoIjfd-L78PqLpbMjYGAATBcZEWYodzSjQnhnfskUZwfc-NUYGdekK8n4CCB6yVQknRnj5Tx21e8i0Nl7gr3wu_-3MUCwCprasPN2eTXezvgPwHJPeLhq1UjqaQOdyj7Rb2/s640/P1040110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Onion flower</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXKgdZAOnX1tgXRiJtxtsqNw_TlJUGe1ALkX_K_ePd4TctY2s5miyi2eGJ9SP2JCUnAMDTKX3tK22TtS-b3sahSUT46-RnJ_47umekl9ElNueNtLOtwczFrFzmlR2zguOlbfIWiDF92pt/s1600/P1040111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXKgdZAOnX1tgXRiJtxtsqNw_TlJUGe1ALkX_K_ePd4TctY2s5miyi2eGJ9SP2JCUnAMDTKX3tK22TtS-b3sahSUT46-RnJ_47umekl9ElNueNtLOtwczFrFzmlR2zguOlbfIWiDF92pt/s640/P1040111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sweet pea </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDeyW97agiUnZxNVkqIOH1pr6Zj5AV1K-JKysevLyC1dCa2BOvfM9DhhB3snPJtyJRyxZuM8Bt2Ew-HnY2Ro2g5xYJbKId3cSUAbdhdSM-BgCb4DpEBmBFMnnvskfA9yx3f3WTybC7J2/s1600/P1040112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDeyW97agiUnZxNVkqIOH1pr6Zj5AV1K-JKysevLyC1dCa2BOvfM9DhhB3snPJtyJRyxZuM8Bt2Ew-HnY2Ro2g5xYJbKId3cSUAbdhdSM-BgCb4DpEBmBFMnnvskfA9yx3f3WTybC7J2/s640/P1040112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Water on leaves</i></div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-53050505713355789732012-05-11T15:39:00.000-07:002015-04-09T16:50:17.569-07:00Elusive owls and hepaticas This winter people in Boston were often on "french toast alert", meaning that whenever there was another snow storm coming in everyone went out to buy milk, bread and eggs. I also made sure I had lots of bird food around! There were days when I had hundreds of visits. Since I got my new Canon camera I've been able to zoom in really close and here are some of the pictures I like the most.<br />
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Many birds, especially the mourning doves, often spent part of their day in the maple by my feeder. On a cold day their feathers <span style="color: #0000ee;">were</span> all fluffy. Often I had up to 30 of them, waiting for me to throw seeds on the floor for them every morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxUUg_jqv2MYjrBPOtE7PeEwMxDaO7Wuin_-IlJoacXebOx3y5xHUxT7O5EXpOMwdjIANH5igNv6RxouYWErqKvgvKhzsTo6ytli1PVD_R10enQPBjNK17itUFQUAXD445bQTGj0GoSrd/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxUUg_jqv2MYjrBPOtE7PeEwMxDaO7Wuin_-IlJoacXebOx3y5xHUxT7O5EXpOMwdjIANH5igNv6RxouYWErqKvgvKhzsTo6ytli1PVD_R10enQPBjNK17itUFQUAXD445bQTGj0GoSrd/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Another regular was this house finch. One day in late March he started singing, and soon after he was joined by a mate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2vgc-Z-HlgzDQat_n9yjtblCwuufgY7_O3I-FYUq2c7CaVnJ_ubczRLDBJ7TeCHqzYKhnhI8WCA6cbdR7pws0oDXljyQYkRk5pIDtLzMmGEAJVRgHCVCVFSNco5h9X4BdnnfQ4uOq1VH/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2vgc-Z-HlgzDQat_n9yjtblCwuufgY7_O3I-FYUq2c7CaVnJ_ubczRLDBJ7TeCHqzYKhnhI8WCA6cbdR7pws0oDXljyQYkRk5pIDtLzMmGEAJVRgHCVCVFSNco5h9X4BdnnfQ4uOq1VH/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I think many people have often wondered what evolutionary benefit a bird can get from being so flamboyantly colored, like the cardinal. Surely any predator can spot him for miles? But in the green shades under the canopy, red is not shining bright but looks more brownish-dull. The birds can move from light to shade and use it to their advantage in mating games. At least that's what David Haskell speculates on in his wonderful book "The forest unseen", which I just finished reading. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtSYFxMjxxbytqEMLwEpoaw4FJ379BWMcxDCtDDAXei_VyqaKNj4RW2J5AINjp1O3IcW_sW0wRvwvAtIvMcxSTmnuByR-5Vqc2pIkMehMGJaajT1xzS4h6s2MHhFI0pDv3wDbYA7mkU5D/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtSYFxMjxxbytqEMLwEpoaw4FJ379BWMcxDCtDDAXei_VyqaKNj4RW2J5AINjp1O3IcW_sW0wRvwvAtIvMcxSTmnuByR-5Vqc2pIkMehMGJaajT1xzS4h6s2MHhFI0pDv3wDbYA7mkU5D/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I find the female cardinal almost more beautiful, once I've seen her subtle colors up close. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7okQrt8_K7RqkU4-0RZfUuZAD6DgT6oaf28kz9R3hQqXzf5XGR59rL3DD-zAeZhZLm9ePtVQ-N7bBFC3XE-47kX-x0xB5d8PdX1F7f_6bJZvlvp0hmrT11J8e_bcI1gqAhcNuTLB2_KqB/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7okQrt8_K7RqkU4-0RZfUuZAD6DgT6oaf28kz9R3hQqXzf5XGR59rL3DD-zAeZhZLm9ePtVQ-N7bBFC3XE-47kX-x0xB5d8PdX1F7f_6bJZvlvp0hmrT11J8e_bcI1gqAhcNuTLB2_KqB/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a> <br />
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A couple of wrens were also regulars - they kept singing through much of the winter! </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeorPd-p89SPkVmdJ-ZlSK29Zl10kz4Lp8PgR7NqIfoidnrsAWQ4rCqA-OkPUYYoM8RfSNAI7gnUtV83AC0BsXEuYHCbRHOZEy5gCt23C2_vWLobQE6YhK5RaYI31BBPTYCbadpCDr4i1/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeorPd-p89SPkVmdJ-ZlSK29Zl10kz4Lp8PgR7NqIfoidnrsAWQ4rCqA-OkPUYYoM8RfSNAI7gnUtV83AC0BsXEuYHCbRHOZEy5gCt23C2_vWLobQE6YhK5RaYI31BBPTYCbadpCDr4i1/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
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I learned that although nuthatches join mixed species foraging flocks during the winter, they remain in pairs and do not seek new mates in spring.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHB2nMP-vaUE0iIopDVebtvVdvqws-YItQjMVvHI-Gg8mz7-A1dpFR3_1wNa5TSLpfQFinTlwR3wh3PFMz3zcx-Apq_xThBKedwjQfioqODGeDQUcgwu3qlXbVUftEcvdKx8oOXMoPW2c/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHB2nMP-vaUE0iIopDVebtvVdvqws-YItQjMVvHI-Gg8mz7-A1dpFR3_1wNa5TSLpfQFinTlwR3wh3PFMz3zcx-Apq_xThBKedwjQfioqODGeDQUcgwu3qlXbVUftEcvdKx8oOXMoPW2c/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
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A junco gets a break from the cold and does some grooming in the sun. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMICuD0dNfk-vMPmDDi-x8-7JtT8LPx2cG6LFl9AOznUqeo1sBfASYN91OISrmw-RppLcnqXD3WcBH8pR7bFkfQMACHg17pcdku1r4Gi-hka49Jm7IvO7NSLHRVGM9v20QLYWrvTG8nfty/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMICuD0dNfk-vMPmDDi-x8-7JtT8LPx2cG6LFl9AOznUqeo1sBfASYN91OISrmw-RppLcnqXD3WcBH8pR7bFkfQMACHg17pcdku1r4Gi-hka49Jm7IvO7NSLHRVGM9v20QLYWrvTG8nfty/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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Downy woodpeckers are some of the most frequent visitors, but the redbellied is not as common. Here they are in the same maple, which must now be one of the most pecked-on trees in the neighborhood! </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7Bu-48Ni4VM7oKyhmVC-7ti9kK_KWnnbZ1FGhnOCO7-Gu02f3R_EpgVKf4U6Xy5EnrbjwNDPTIrHG4bXtWfXa2SA8E_-qoZd-ZoYppix8zdu6wKOjxJqhPVkahPb0UygY7B7WXUVq87/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7Bu-48Ni4VM7oKyhmVC-7ti9kK_KWnnbZ1FGhnOCO7-Gu02f3R_EpgVKf4U6Xy5EnrbjwNDPTIrHG4bXtWfXa2SA8E_-qoZd-ZoYppix8zdu6wKOjxJqhPVkahPb0UygY7B7WXUVq87/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
A single tree sparrow was hanging out with the house sparrows this year. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk81rV9RhA7GWgmoIflXymqa5DcVhRL0xshUhouTgq9W4Ig5PJzO9LEUvbq90S5RIN9uehg9FV87amVUwKioyae0ODNBgbttGHLb9Xvrnk8Xu3LDQneXsh9DAumYsI2-e_odO2WotV2hNN/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk81rV9RhA7GWgmoIflXymqa5DcVhRL0xshUhouTgq9W4Ig5PJzO9LEUvbq90S5RIN9uehg9FV87amVUwKioyae0ODNBgbttGHLb9Xvrnk8Xu3LDQneXsh9DAumYsI2-e_odO2WotV2hNN/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every morning and every afternoon at dusk the Whitethroated sparrows showed up. This afternoon sunset lit gold on the branches behind.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3QUyf18Z2g82TKoBAL-yy3sUv4aWCKTETrXe8T1hfBtH5Y4h2sLYx44DfxKv9js9Q5G-FbHQURRJOyJhUb24XKEhUYFokT3Ab7g7d3qzOHRrc7vkb7gmbLSVnmRwPvocsFcul0kvBpAG/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3QUyf18Z2g82TKoBAL-yy3sUv4aWCKTETrXe8T1hfBtH5Y4h2sLYx44DfxKv9js9Q5G-FbHQURRJOyJhUb24XKEhUYFokT3Ab7g7d3qzOHRrc7vkb7gmbLSVnmRwPvocsFcul0kvBpAG/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a></div>
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There were always chattering and bickering goldfinches around. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcREIG6IYspkumWDBtfAPuK-0gX_-_z7GT4lTnIUEbAWqGG_yQSnAjIPIUiH2en5DymXiBmIkxXuZBh9qKHQWbXqO3lRAJsc4BBAvYYF91sWh4gTd09ImBlmFKUZzKIvt4RwZv4tSLBad/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcREIG6IYspkumWDBtfAPuK-0gX_-_z7GT4lTnIUEbAWqGG_yQSnAjIPIUiH2en5DymXiBmIkxXuZBh9qKHQWbXqO3lRAJsc4BBAvYYF91sWh4gTd09ImBlmFKUZzKIvt4RwZv4tSLBad/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another type of visitors soon showed up as well. I think this was a sharp shinned hawk, but it is not easy to tell. The tail is long and slender with a sharp end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqUzt0Q3VN9Bsq9GwrYFRj0Nd_PUgO9b2oTsiQR-RFwdaLoMpyMvY6vC8NQFs9ZzVmELmOY8-Lj-hJQNI6GAq8IKxE4eJtgyISPpInDvikyVNJ7u2AxVzXxyllsWTd2vmxa2Ch8962BEk/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqUzt0Q3VN9Bsq9GwrYFRj0Nd_PUgO9b2oTsiQR-RFwdaLoMpyMvY6vC8NQFs9ZzVmELmOY8-Lj-hJQNI6GAq8IKxE4eJtgyISPpInDvikyVNJ7u2AxVzXxyllsWTd2vmxa2Ch8962BEk/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a> </div>
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This on the other hand I think is the Cooper's hawk, that came almost every day for a few weeks. It was big so I assumed it was a female. I never saw her hunt so maybe she just came to sit and watch. It was easy to tell when she arrived because all the song birds went dead quiet, and the mourning doves all took of with a loud whistle of wings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl38bHDQG5oneyJfZphheCh3XPjmFL_G3zioZqpg9VN8QBiXUq7l-XGTIiGVPFiirwZO1DX6DEMZYJ0CsgYwlq2GFyjwBP2TIEyGwD67qFJF93erRZJD7Dr1EkhhXTt5mLxrPIkV4DoKuF/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl38bHDQG5oneyJfZphheCh3XPjmFL_G3zioZqpg9VN8QBiXUq7l-XGTIiGVPFiirwZO1DX6DEMZYJ0CsgYwlq2GFyjwBP2TIEyGwD67qFJF93erRZJD7Dr1EkhhXTt5mLxrPIkV4DoKuF/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl38bHDQG5oneyJfZphheCh3XPjmFL_G3zioZqpg9VN8QBiXUq7l-XGTIiGVPFiirwZO1DX6DEMZYJ0CsgYwlq2GFyjwBP2TIEyGwD67qFJF93erRZJD7Dr1EkhhXTt5mLxrPIkV4DoKuF/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Details of feathers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTxOHXDxXTYiOAu3HSchCfNVesK3xhrUbhQff9QuaoA_f0JoI9rBGiS5sPBq4RCxkt11LYzfitfs9ONs8rijIeI-O7TO4EqKwQ6muC8wvfAKXmAub472RdCYhyuKutoL_Zs-8jELJ7XSg/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTxOHXDxXTYiOAu3HSchCfNVesK3xhrUbhQff9QuaoA_f0JoI9rBGiS5sPBq4RCxkt11LYzfitfs9ONs8rijIeI-O7TO4EqKwQ6muC8wvfAKXmAub472RdCYhyuKutoL_Zs-8jELJ7XSg/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quite fierce...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi2KQKDgzP5mb83xx3lbEAIttRl2bDgduYmh2bOGvnPRmJ5PURZtXAFvz0k6QDuKpJaNJnh6ukWyXY52NieyazJ311z-ZVUdz4PW56GLTbTc45PMBPEyhJy7xjQZM04PnACAt_tDRVmjm/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi2KQKDgzP5mb83xx3lbEAIttRl2bDgduYmh2bOGvnPRmJ5PURZtXAFvz0k6QDuKpJaNJnh6ukWyXY52NieyazJ311z-ZVUdz4PW56GLTbTc45PMBPEyhJy7xjQZM04PnACAt_tDRVmjm/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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On another day this juvenile Cooper's came by like a storm wind. Not yet red eyes and with a different pattern on the chest, it was still very impressive and very capable of stirring up the feeder community.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi56wpv8EPVCzxxK-0NSZS7pTsmKfQzkaib76McSPmSX4_Hq9Nt0kPHBdoKmwtXUmECD5nCn-NYKsOG7GqZaHjZtwMPt0vVdr1VUFgYL0GVfRpOiYukfdsl_SktD0aJqoAv1i3zQhniP9/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi56wpv8EPVCzxxK-0NSZS7pTsmKfQzkaib76McSPmSX4_Hq9Nt0kPHBdoKmwtXUmECD5nCn-NYKsOG7GqZaHjZtwMPt0vVdr1VUFgYL0GVfRpOiYukfdsl_SktD0aJqoAv1i3zQhniP9/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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One of the snowy days this redtailed hawk stopped by, periodically shaking the snow off much like a dog would do. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSloDmgMTz-IbXmRIQl7_89ec_oUw2uzp-6WqpzAH3WDEnqp3AbMWfAcV3TdP1hKRUlOSMPfG2HMbxXTSDk9uU84O9nKf9_Fk7FphCeQR-YnLcfcC_svKpJXMY8_I9WElbytboaolpAA5/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSloDmgMTz-IbXmRIQl7_89ec_oUw2uzp-6WqpzAH3WDEnqp3AbMWfAcV3TdP1hKRUlOSMPfG2HMbxXTSDk9uU84O9nKf9_Fk7FphCeQR-YnLcfcC_svKpJXMY8_I9WElbytboaolpAA5/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a><br />
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During a trip to Vermont on February break I stopped by a garden when I saw a flock of birds in a fruit tree. Bohemian waxwings! What a treat. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6KDsUHL9VUp6FUpuBXCvk2fwwsE1Ex1fDVwb6LW6jAxNgNDZ0-VMf14KwoWoA382Ja39wQYicTiTson4lN7LxkMO2gp3xyecFPcGSIF-0uvmjKaQhZdUTcdIR7wY_a4UiYY8YvpMRh4x/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6KDsUHL9VUp6FUpuBXCvk2fwwsE1Ex1fDVwb6LW6jAxNgNDZ0-VMf14KwoWoA382Ja39wQYicTiTson4lN7LxkMO2gp3xyecFPcGSIF-0uvmjKaQhZdUTcdIR7wY_a4UiYY8YvpMRh4x/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Before the woods were covered in 4 feet of snow I managed to get out to a few of my treasured places.
At Ponkapoag pond reservation in the Blue Hills I saw a hermit thrush
that had not yet migrated this December day, I wonder if he stayed for
the rest of the winter. His song is one of my most favorite spring sounds.</div>
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An American tree sparrow posed at Millenium park down by Saw mill brook. </div>
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That's also where I saw this raven, through the car window on the way out! </div>
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My friend in Carlisle had a slightly different set of feeder visitors than my inner-city station. Bluebirds are just too blue to be real...</div>
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Bluebird and Hairy woodpecker </div>
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Pine siskins and goldfinches go well together. </div>
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The siskin's bill seems longer and more pointed, to reach deep into pine cones.</div>
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Goldfinches with a patchwork of tan and yellow feathers. It's snowing, but hormones are bringing out competitive behaviors along with the new molt.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-68122396796256004022012-05-07T18:07:00.000-07:002012-05-08T05:21:59.594-07:00Black oakSo fortunate I was to do another climb so soon, this time in a different area of Boston. To some people any forest might look the same, but I usually get a different impression of every place I visit. Subtle differences in the flora and the landscape make every forest unique. <br />
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Here we had great diversity in the small area surrounding our tree for the day, everything from hemlocks to chestnuts to birches and oaks. We had hickories and maples, lowbush blueberries and trailing dewberry and cranesbill, and in the air we could hear warblers and bluejays.<br />
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Although this oriole greeted me from the maple outside my window this morning!</div>
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Black birch always have interesting trunk and root forms.</div>
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In the woods we found flowering mayflowers.</div>
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Just by reaching my arm out there was pine, oak, hickory and beech.</div>
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Trailing dewberry</div>
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Velvety baby oakleaves </div>
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Lots and lots of blueberry flowers</div>
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Eventually the sun came out and made the fresh green glow. </div>
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Beetle mating. They took their time. This is on the trunk of the oak we climbed - there were dozens of them, and we thought it might be firefly beetles. </div>
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I was feeling somewhat weak from a strep throat infection so I did some sitting around while the others were kind enough to set up the ropes. But eventually it was time to get up, and all my weakness faded away.</div>
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This was an old rugged black oak with the most amazing moss- and lichen coverage. We were most cautious where to put our feet as to not hurt the lichens. <br />
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Next tree over was a great old hemlock, of the kind that are very rare now. The top quarter was still alive, but the lower parts were dead, from the wooly hemlock adelgid pest. Truly one of the saddest things going on now in the Eastern woods.</div>
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The red bud scales from hickory trees were a nice contrast from all the green.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0QD64mQeeiivsbdGAH3C1hMLAqzrmBRpYGS657qjkOn1CcYJOFbjzbvmMMWmu1Aho-frBEREaLODSZMMhlD8pw8_epcGHLuUC2Apgc4f8GNMPgtmf13CxtpN6vWbYRO3hXE80k19XU0U/s1600/P1030947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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Many limbs were dead but there was plenty left to lean on. </div>
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There was no wind and the air was so refreshing. </div>
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My black-oak flower pictures didn't turn out so well. There were only a few flowers on the tree.<br />
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I had to leave early to head back home and with heavy heart I descended from this restful place. But on the ground there were little geraniums and butterflies. <br />
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Also, fabulously fragrant and pretty but very invasive Autumn olive,
with intoxicating smell. I guess if you pruned it hard after flowering
so it never set seeds, it could perhaps be planted in a garden. </div>
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But THE most fantastic thing happened after I left, unfortunately. A great horned owl landed in the oak I had just descended from and where my friend Paul was still sitting, and her mate was soon found comfortable in a pine nearby. My friend managed to get a picture of the male, but the female left everyone awestruck and nobody had their camera ready. Just my bad luck - I SO want to see an owl!</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT8QyW9iLns8lpWcv8cblAJ8dcJKHZmjogFjWRUdX3yNP6X4nUbwjnOkuK_oyhKb7Q2BNqzKAKZCeVrqHo2gN5uesAvEH9sANCBNA2Z2k3gAadah_YVQFQpNB6vB9cGTHVXsaBg7pb9A1/s1600/7004504144_afdaac6248_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT8QyW9iLns8lpWcv8cblAJ8dcJKHZmjogFjWRUdX3yNP6X4nUbwjnOkuK_oyhKb7Q2BNqzKAKZCeVrqHo2gN5uesAvEH9sANCBNA2Z2k3gAadah_YVQFQpNB6vB9cGTHVXsaBg7pb9A1/s640/7004504144_afdaac6248_b.jpg" width="640" /> </a><br />
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But I will return, I know where to look now. </div>asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-25479028629179446202012-05-01T07:04:00.000-07:002012-05-02T03:47:26.116-07:00Woods in tender spring green<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifthNg5_bi4Zf2QISGehAZexOcUkd9bC0RQMXnnb9PTAGN4_-GmuFILzlUo6XjWtYu6B5RoOfOFiwiASF0wklSNyg01BQWA8KO_DhEsxQf4BKIzpO94bu23DMMJL6QR4O8EByOZNsajgA4/s1600/P1030784.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifthNg5_bi4Zf2QISGehAZexOcUkd9bC0RQMXnnb9PTAGN4_-GmuFILzlUo6XjWtYu6B5RoOfOFiwiASF0wklSNyg01BQWA8KO_DhEsxQf4BKIzpO94bu23DMMJL6QR4O8EByOZNsajgA4/s400/P1030784.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPN5Q7UAbxuUqJ8zze4gqQHTWH0aZMz_WhLvVmGuDlLf4dqB5bXfx_nL8Jgj5hq8qIOVOaj8UqkTrwiloMJr-64-FCdJegDuyj-4gaZ0aBn3oYucyyIpdaT0fsc5737ZEStiTwdJMpx1V/s1600/P1030783.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<i>A beautiful day in the Eastern woods. </i></div>
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<i>Flowers still on the ground. Birds on shore and in air. Butterflies among the treetops. Gentle wind. Old massive maples, young strong ashes. </i></div>
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Bellwort</div>
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Canada Mayflower on mossy rock</div>
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Sneaking up on Blue heron in the marsh</div>
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Flaky lichen - smooth rock tripe.</div>
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A wood's anemone - the one I named my blog after, the Vitsippa of Swedish woods covering the forest floor before the trees are leafing out.</div>
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Yellow birch </div>
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Skunk cabbage and Spicebush by the brook</div>
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And a little violet I am hoping that Jackie Woodswalker in Saratoga can help me ID :)</div>
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Dwarf ginseng</div>
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We also performed some guerilla forestry of our own - pulling out barberry seedlings and sawing off this Burning bush, both nasty invasives that this fairly intact wood does not need. I should add that we were on private land, with permission. Although tempting, sawing off plants on public land whether invasive or not, is not recommended!</div>
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Then it was time to set the ropes. Today I got a chance to try a slingshot, which comes in handy when the lowest branch is 75 ft up.</div>
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A long ascent straight up </div>
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The little brook that entertained us the whole day</div>
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Scraggly, lichen-covered red maples and oaks around </div>
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One of the massive red maples nearby - most people have never seen them so big and so old. </div>
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Another slender white ash</div>
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Up among ash flowers and new tender leaves</div>
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Sea of green</div>
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Snuggling up like a koala along the trunk. The wind came swooshing in and we had to hold on.</div>
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Blue Hills reservation with soft mountains in the background.</div>
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Seeing this sea of green made photo synthesis almost tangible. Leaves eat sunshine. It felt like they were growing by every minute.</div>
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Just a little bit more to climb. For every foot we ascended, the view changed. For every hour that went by, the sun angle was different. </div>
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Was it now that we heard the pileated woodpecker a couple of times? We waited for it to fly by but it chose another way. We also saw a mighty red-shouldered hawk with great banded tail soaring over us. </div>
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Afternoon light </div>
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Ash bark. We saw the bark in three different stages. The mature bark is a beautiful cross pattern, the medium aged bark is just beginning to peel, and the new branches are smooth with vertical lines. </div>
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More south, the Emerald ash borer, an invasive species, is devastating
ashes like this without any hope for a cure or treatment, but it hasn't
come here yet. <br />
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Two very happy climbers with cameras!</div>
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Reluctantly we eventually had to descend. On the ground the afternoon sun was setting.</div>
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Mapleleaf viburnum</div>
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A rock, I thought. But it is just a moss-mound.</div>
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Beech </div>
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A day to always remember.</div>
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<br />asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-643637713772890972012-03-30T16:50:00.001-07:002012-04-05T17:53:49.708-07:00Birds big and small<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtubVFDup_FC9r1QAGTaN1ZMEjKecDika0iWMvuXrg42ITMtaXL2aO6KSU-1d20CRedF86MVF3NYhPyMA3nvQ9ZkaBrpiT6qUQh90_tjez-S3xSSbBbXW5BC8I6qhu9LsXj1C6_WYCS5AL/s1600/P1030423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtubVFDup_FC9r1QAGTaN1ZMEjKecDika0iWMvuXrg42ITMtaXL2aO6KSU-1d20CRedF86MVF3NYhPyMA3nvQ9ZkaBrpiT6qUQh90_tjez-S3xSSbBbXW5BC8I6qhu9LsXj1C6_WYCS5AL/s400/P1030423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My tree climbing and bird watching friend Andrew told me that a Great Horned Owl had been spotted in Franklin park. Yesterday I took the boys out to see if we could find it. We certainly found lots of traces, little furballs and feathers and bones, and the Bluejays were screaming which they do when they locate owls. But we didn't see any, so today we returned in the company of Andrew. On the way we spotted many things worth seeing. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> A romantic couple in the little Stony Brook creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HLZgqeS0iRZCYaBs89itREe7DWwyv5ECRdIkYTR0s-dzjjdnOzEh5HQIVGaR8cvXUYD_b_4wQ_i9kDG9Hmi5yoA5g1j8UKiu0jE60hfFCHVlQXhIr9zLTE9XNsEbxWH4ke3tHmgttzNK/s1600/P1030415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HLZgqeS0iRZCYaBs89itREe7DWwyv5ECRdIkYTR0s-dzjjdnOzEh5HQIVGaR8cvXUYD_b_4wQ_i9kDG9Hmi5yoA5g1j8UKiu0jE60hfFCHVlQXhIr9zLTE9XNsEbxWH4ke3tHmgttzNK/s400/P1030415.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Limegreen Spicebush flowers, shining by the waterside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFEY9g1KyG9bg9VwSzrzDnbSwPXTIjo-XgsFGCeFGV2Y5fJgR78zyeXWftMJ07dRqPTGRkipdjBadYXxrZDW4muhoWs73-iM4Gz7FR_ZiNNnqH3jMpijyZ4qQ-GImLWEd9s-Jkyz8D_Uh/s1600/P1030418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFEY9g1KyG9bg9VwSzrzDnbSwPXTIjo-XgsFGCeFGV2Y5fJgR78zyeXWftMJ07dRqPTGRkipdjBadYXxrZDW4muhoWs73-iM4Gz7FR_ZiNNnqH3jMpijyZ4qQ-GImLWEd9s-Jkyz8D_Uh/s400/P1030418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> Red maple flowers fell in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvyh34fLvdW5ZGy-LydIv5MNENtC4aEwnPmVTphlupyygVHnNGQSOc5_Zbzopf0a0G3-9mD7_4ECEohkKT5S38e6l5TODeMLPHk0p6wKqsHkXjdyXC38Z-h5VjwzQVnqbLy5lRPND0Sup/s1600/P1030422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvyh34fLvdW5ZGy-LydIv5MNENtC4aEwnPmVTphlupyygVHnNGQSOc5_Zbzopf0a0G3-9mD7_4ECEohkKT5S38e6l5TODeMLPHk0p6wKqsHkXjdyXC38Z-h5VjwzQVnqbLy5lRPND0Sup/s640/P1030422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The cowbirds returned to the maple outside my house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBblavAxt8ztWKta1UCnJ3YPXTXTvrOKXyQv3LpfGU7EWT1sNt85O0Adi4QbQUjhyphenhyphen52nwRpFhcIrTPt_5gDPlUbaqTqLRVD-aOOCiI51kSE-A9qlJsLlFx19sY6qCFtwlf22ZZUOetcWwB/s1600/P1030398.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBblavAxt8ztWKta1UCnJ3YPXTXTvrOKXyQv3LpfGU7EWT1sNt85O0Adi4QbQUjhyphenhyphen52nwRpFhcIrTPt_5gDPlUbaqTqLRVD-aOOCiI51kSE-A9qlJsLlFx19sY6qCFtwlf22ZZUOetcWwB/s640/P1030398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boys in a fort - work in progress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RSFYhBTr3R8fcnefD2cGZyogY7xTOsfPFZw_Swq-7O1DopuTRwKG7cZxbR78vaBa_QNyrv7vsRmOoy14hoePqU7omN_oUcaBqroDMRzgcm9GF3L4BFR4RYcU1wrQ6J8PtH3KUWcJAzWQ/s1600/P1030425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RSFYhBTr3R8fcnefD2cGZyogY7xTOsfPFZw_Swq-7O1DopuTRwKG7cZxbR78vaBa_QNyrv7vsRmOoy14hoePqU7omN_oUcaBqroDMRzgcm9GF3L4BFR4RYcU1wrQ6J8PtH3KUWcJAzWQ/s640/P1030425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Looks promising.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uj3M_ssnO8G0ZngT0LMrWAaJQa5HNGk1AYDA5fKIb-kWI_TdvdRgExTYW5m42ku_XP20CdtO_iP4WfaiLVGYslZWZLHQSmjuvqvEVJNq3B1zfSrjIvfubZ9lyYy8gzK4s55xWeMfD0ly/s1600/P1030427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uj3M_ssnO8G0ZngT0LMrWAaJQa5HNGk1AYDA5fKIb-kWI_TdvdRgExTYW5m42ku_XP20CdtO_iP4WfaiLVGYslZWZLHQSmjuvqvEVJNq3B1zfSrjIvfubZ9lyYy8gzK4s55xWeMfD0ly/s640/P1030427.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Being in the woods with a real bird expert is a lot of fun.We spotted flickers, redbellied woodpeckers and both hawks and turkey vultures. By a little wetland we saw some welcome migrants - chipping sparrows, lots of Redwinged blackbirds, a relaxed song sparrow drying up in the sun after a bath. When we went through the woods and ended up at the pond it got even more interesting. I've never before seen Pine warblers or Phoebes or Palm warblers, but today they were there, although not within camera distance. These little migrants overwinter in the South of the US, and their song is always a great sign of spring. While me and Andrew were watching up the tree tops with our binoculars, Milo went down to the pond and checked out the geese.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Time was short so we moved on toward the pine grove where the owls were rumored to roost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJsSAnr7I8uWNw5WCqm7ByQPdhyphenhyphenOT1CpQxxPwfbuoKEntBrZibjYmG_7njJCP2De4sIuvnqjIYzTchsqPR0vlzprcA2vkVVTYoKHHEpjqHgUVivVA6sp1N7JSieHw_PgnwINDjWhWT4I/s1600/P1030439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJsSAnr7I8uWNw5WCqm7ByQPdhyphenhyphenOT1CpQxxPwfbuoKEntBrZibjYmG_7njJCP2De4sIuvnqjIYzTchsqPR0vlzprcA2vkVVTYoKHHEpjqHgUVivVA6sp1N7JSieHw_PgnwINDjWhWT4I/s640/P1030439.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found the same traces as yesterday -pellets of little bones, feathers and fur, and some spotting on tree trunks, but if the owls were there, they were hiding very well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSqszgU2HimPPXfL_mCArKemCoZu_TqcW5AkiOv-GsGN396M8rRmKChLdXilGVOgBkKcPW-oezSXEIcbR-BydGwsikvFjhLcCWbZLSizfzRUiHgIO3M7vEAzscGzwNRULGh6j73Gwbjog/s1600/P1030435.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSqszgU2HimPPXfL_mCArKemCoZu_TqcW5AkiOv-GsGN396M8rRmKChLdXilGVOgBkKcPW-oezSXEIcbR-BydGwsikvFjhLcCWbZLSizfzRUiHgIO3M7vEAzscGzwNRULGh6j73Gwbjog/s640/P1030435.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJaScH0_fo28EOg7vg5k0rXjmr1GMBp73THu50bn8NezSPb900f3qLKZrGZHUoMqLvSEL8vdamhMUtndPsJnrKq3e9sduHW-4yozGGh9TBz0JA51YeOYT2B3YEk5O8cuQUJPzFXyPploH/s1600/jaw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJaScH0_fo28EOg7vg5k0rXjmr1GMBp73THu50bn8NezSPb900f3qLKZrGZHUoMqLvSEL8vdamhMUtndPsJnrKq3e9sduHW-4yozGGh9TBz0JA51YeOYT2B3YEk5O8cuQUJPzFXyPploH/s640/jaw.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="hasCaption">Practicing owl-hooting</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqAdA6lie9nktKF20v3nT880_DuTmvouyhDVdgyufBivfFfz41eSlNpjdzf9h8RCcV1FC67znIk20OOTgFW58K5_nxSNxDHwNthzNJLsCIw0tqiVs9oGUcR94h5rDtJFPTC8AtS4t5KE6/s1600/hoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqAdA6lie9nktKF20v3nT880_DuTmvouyhDVdgyufBivfFfz41eSlNpjdzf9h8RCcV1FC67znIk20OOTgFW58K5_nxSNxDHwNthzNJLsCIw0tqiVs9oGUcR94h5rDtJFPTC8AtS4t5KE6/s640/hoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="hasCaption"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="hasCaption">We also spotted a few turtles - here's a painted one. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGStLWwhTgCMwAsNFYlyMjfnOwMJdXEtSo4Icq9PRtWUSHdUmuwxq0gn3sXPlpwrE86HQEkVFHPmfzbgfobS10GgTs0Uu1BozDZ7tBq-b_e2VfdAAla0hOTnun9WrKevBZqHfHei__qn5/s1600/P1030440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGStLWwhTgCMwAsNFYlyMjfnOwMJdXEtSo4Icq9PRtWUSHdUmuwxq0gn3sXPlpwrE86HQEkVFHPmfzbgfobS10GgTs0Uu1BozDZ7tBq-b_e2VfdAAla0hOTnun9WrKevBZqHfHei__qn5/s640/P1030440.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Seeing an owl is something I've wanted for a while, so I might very well be back in the pine grove very soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSqszgU2HimPPXfL_mCArKemCoZu_TqcW5AkiOv-GsGN396M8rRmKChLdXilGVOgBkKcPW-oezSXEIcbR-BydGwsikvFjhLcCWbZLSizfzRUiHgIO3M7vEAzscGzwNRULGh6j73Gwbjog/s1600/P1030435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div>asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474466752541304034.post-13051269081153068402012-03-25T13:44:00.000-07:002012-03-25T13:44:24.920-07:00Signs of spring in Franklin park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV0kmrOKfhnr69fUPzUXNIfPFOCfGi7z8-La0BbN-l-HxGeuGDdpc75cYGhwlkTHMcj3vf9rCvMZ7WoJawFCXROaz2FNF4vYeL_KYNPFvD6h9ilfQw8PgqwNRf7fWgCoxxgswdbtkck4/s1600/P1030374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV0kmrOKfhnr69fUPzUXNIfPFOCfGi7z8-La0BbN-l-HxGeuGDdpc75cYGhwlkTHMcj3vf9rCvMZ7WoJawFCXROaz2FNF4vYeL_KYNPFvD6h9ilfQw8PgqwNRf7fWgCoxxgswdbtkck4/s400/P1030374.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In a somewhat less than great mood today, I dropped my son off at a friends house and then walked home via Franklin park. The upper entrance on Forest Hill Rd takes you right into the park, but it also brings you to some of the more neglected and overgrown areas. The invasive plants are fighting each other there, mostly on the ground and understory levels, and for a plant lover like me that can be challenging to watch as well, especially if you are already in a bad mood. But there are still tall oaks, and pines, and beeches and black birches, and few maples here and there.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Bishopsweed or goutweed is fighting the garlic mustard for ground space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7mmMkW3_NanqChaFjvQcdHmImiObvn5iTj5NLN1cGLajw657wUcb2Ry4oVbABj7yXSpvZJbAP8CXyOGI-NNJnqQP-Iuu7D8x3B8tl91L2mopireFS5k2YO39azel1pAFCcqso6qVvBU/s1600/P1030309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7mmMkW3_NanqChaFjvQcdHmImiObvn5iTj5NLN1cGLajw657wUcb2Ry4oVbABj7yXSpvZJbAP8CXyOGI-NNJnqQP-Iuu7D8x3B8tl91L2mopireFS5k2YO39azel1pAFCcqso6qVvBU/s400/P1030309.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7XjQCHTbPB3tbIa0pzaFRBnRWgwnSw4IHhpihScD0fGzGuKB4cxBKQniYkBd67zugyy9v87ehNx5wHmGMGxDoldBvXd06AzDftmvaLmZT6LD8vUX3Z9c-S1wY6O1eCZ-8iQa5nlWeQo/s1600/P1030317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7XjQCHTbPB3tbIa0pzaFRBnRWgwnSw4IHhpihScD0fGzGuKB4cxBKQniYkBd67zugyy9v87ehNx5wHmGMGxDoldBvXd06AzDftmvaLmZT6LD8vUX3Z9c-S1wY6O1eCZ-8iQa5nlWeQo/s400/P1030317.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Japanese knotweed is rearing its ugly head. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ6LhjcK4ICefA64E9Qcizu6jwlSXsSFVCjozs0n6FpOR00uAL5atPhY_uyFgseRONlvnZzDgxuuCK2WYImQ4UxWr_LNUH66KkLR0xIoT45AkL2Zd5zjLr3FbdULERY2xLRg9-NAx3nk/s1600/P1030327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ6LhjcK4ICefA64E9Qcizu6jwlSXsSFVCjozs0n6FpOR00uAL5atPhY_uyFgseRONlvnZzDgxuuCK2WYImQ4UxWr_LNUH66KkLR0xIoT45AkL2Zd5zjLr3FbdULERY2xLRg9-NAx3nk/s640/P1030327.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The only natives right here are Poison ivy and brambles, which aren't exactly the friendliest ones. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTRXcRNUGBRDxovjmFbXn9nMic4Gyn6SFy2qQnh53VUz76UzU7_2g5ZzKkA85TQorb-QeIcNCWHL9jIQQvQL8zmvZ5AUTYLuCVjZoGgiHroAQly3fQhICCPodExkNm7viZHMVIubi0GU/s1600/P1030311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTRXcRNUGBRDxovjmFbXn9nMic4Gyn6SFy2qQnh53VUz76UzU7_2g5ZzKkA85TQorb-QeIcNCWHL9jIQQvQL8zmvZ5AUTYLuCVjZoGgiHroAQly3fQhICCPodExkNm7viZHMVIubi0GU/s640/P1030311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ySmVg0eN22ZGW_lZ63vBVyio2mNTEDLSW1S9B9LDLOVXqhEwW7uLTKiCJFGzeWPCulZ4rVcBk4BI5lEVB-cJzDAY0Vm9LT6vPAocRfPnwFBTS6YgPA58lFaoqDsj-7-IlIQBOmn-uMU/s1600/P1030319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ySmVg0eN22ZGW_lZ63vBVyio2mNTEDLSW1S9B9LDLOVXqhEwW7uLTKiCJFGzeWPCulZ4rVcBk4BI5lEVB-cJzDAY0Vm9LT6vPAocRfPnwFBTS6YgPA58lFaoqDsj-7-IlIQBOmn-uMU/s640/P1030319.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes people plant garden stuff: Daylillies, spring bulbs, vincas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtNfhxyhf5Mrj3qD_YWd2fOuMTQ3SYPkzypOqppfNvy_uflUeOfPEVjodzqOBSCit8xnlKBoloFjzdn56iI1iBSmAA3SpYAHTimr0NYevZhKJFoT-LmCIj5CbaXcWUGbissXPqjLCiH8/s1600/P1030314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtNfhxyhf5Mrj3qD_YWd2fOuMTQ3SYPkzypOqppfNvy_uflUeOfPEVjodzqOBSCit8xnlKBoloFjzdn56iI1iBSmAA3SpYAHTimr0NYevZhKJFoT-LmCIj5CbaXcWUGbissXPqjLCiH8/s400/P1030314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nBGx4Gl8AXKGdbKY6qTxbmX_sE3D77NXW9EoVtyyMSc-KHfYo9oAhOZeYPVdiWGVcbUHruWLkfZNSr9WLyVsHgYXg4k_uuBnv7qy77fFKCZEPRWgeoAwtJDO5XfOHA8HtwCBjLC9ZEk/s1600/P1030315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nBGx4Gl8AXKGdbKY6qTxbmX_sE3D77NXW9EoVtyyMSc-KHfYo9oAhOZeYPVdiWGVcbUHruWLkfZNSr9WLyVsHgYXg4k_uuBnv7qy77fFKCZEPRWgeoAwtJDO5XfOHA8HtwCBjLC9ZEk/s400/P1030315.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK5yP80qs7-fG2erU2q31-yLD123U7AfBuEEk2r_ZPu0TdvaFIUKq2d7sJB8orX5qV6481Sbicgin3K6E_PwWnCWeM-48b_gZu_Lk7N5eub2MmG2uLwG2p3yx29Ml1F6pliyk1U3wQA4/s1600/P1030329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK5yP80qs7-fG2erU2q31-yLD123U7AfBuEEk2r_ZPu0TdvaFIUKq2d7sJB8orX5qV6481Sbicgin3K6E_PwWnCWeM-48b_gZu_Lk7N5eub2MmG2uLwG2p3yx29Ml1F6pliyk1U3wQA4/s400/P1030329.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The forsythia sure brightened things up on this gray day </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G7MAk4yrIkfFbva-k5RgY1vh9Lwo5vBn_oSDfE-j80LV-wsZZaI0VrNQV-Vt5j6vH_2-8UwACVDTJQMLGVo2b2O5rLDFlTGDPG0yKqJRccbV2FfUGf6hQEjYhBPN6EB021bw9nmFj_o/s1600/P1030316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G7MAk4yrIkfFbva-k5RgY1vh9Lwo5vBn_oSDfE-j80LV-wsZZaI0VrNQV-Vt5j6vH_2-8UwACVDTJQMLGVo2b2O5rLDFlTGDPG0yKqJRccbV2FfUGf6hQEjYhBPN6EB021bw9nmFj_o/s640/P1030316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I guess it's positive to see one invasive fight another, Bittersweet here trying to strangle Buckthorn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-NsCgpFq_VWut0Mi1rBbH043p7wsEvjQzxMombWKP48X7U1Ep8HMSGF1js6J1eU5FJ2tqXGMRdhteVikBZc7ba_wYJ2I3uOgHzATtA6DjsCKLzyU8jn-ve0n7waa9Szvp_NZ97YqKQw/s1600/P1030332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-NsCgpFq_VWut0Mi1rBbH043p7wsEvjQzxMombWKP48X7U1Ep8HMSGF1js6J1eU5FJ2tqXGMRdhteVikBZc7ba_wYJ2I3uOgHzATtA6DjsCKLzyU8jn-ve0n7waa9Szvp_NZ97YqKQw/s400/P1030332.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> A damp, low area, could have been a spring vernal pool with frogs creeking right now. Instead, it's a mucky dirty dump area. In a few months the knotweed will grow 10 ft tall here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2RUYnj8mwx2g1kQwkbomAYTvUZQRsUNn26pKOAgZG7nW0ET4eCtJs9lGK3uxiFngw-a_W2tie9Iag5iJSV7C9OpzHw3Ci4gbQqgZI670E0R8jcFrhAUPlnJCx6yaqKaQnrUO58JDoE4/s1600/P1030321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2RUYnj8mwx2g1kQwkbomAYTvUZQRsUNn26pKOAgZG7nW0ET4eCtJs9lGK3uxiFngw-a_W2tie9Iag5iJSV7C9OpzHw3Ci4gbQqgZI670E0R8jcFrhAUPlnJCx6yaqKaQnrUO58JDoE4/s640/P1030321.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although this nest proved that some creatures enjoy the environment right here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3ktjokm9B9dzxmcLcpHDJuosN9xHizCIZB_4dsg3cDGtd3eRI4iG7Oh_snIUCKPGmeCrkIHwrAXcUPCB7yPvJEjMkHkkggZW3bhT2T_uKIYBagVIkmfVZ-kYDf-5b3I66ml16FiVRJI/s1600/P1030322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3ktjokm9B9dzxmcLcpHDJuosN9xHizCIZB_4dsg3cDGtd3eRI4iG7Oh_snIUCKPGmeCrkIHwrAXcUPCB7yPvJEjMkHkkggZW3bhT2T_uKIYBagVIkmfVZ-kYDf-5b3I66ml16FiVRJI/s640/P1030322.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And fuzzy sumac were found farther from the swamp. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DahADXwZTqzCrlGOsyC0UG94bygiQNF3ljuaes8ktnzPvupZPyKgL6Zbr7VBJSEYgyvrwntpgDmzmJROFHSwvazbvFu42RPa4mG5ON2kmMXmPvr_kHg8VpPsEbqJ13vNSZfMKlf6mvI/s1600/P1030333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DahADXwZTqzCrlGOsyC0UG94bygiQNF3ljuaes8ktnzPvupZPyKgL6Zbr7VBJSEYgyvrwntpgDmzmJROFHSwvazbvFu42RPa4mG5ON2kmMXmPvr_kHg8VpPsEbqJ13vNSZfMKlf6mvI/s640/P1030333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Logs covered in green are still some of the most colorful things this time of year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT1d1nDBn48enVLAZCcPqb5WX54hi2eAP6okK4aukjkEQvJMpTpFl8hsx7FSJCA-E9iReFLhstT6suSGgyW5oZl9rqCGkljUYu5-rhaxerBdN4fz7XWhy98DvsQYnzp8ZcDHtO50mskc/s1600/P1030335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT1d1nDBn48enVLAZCcPqb5WX54hi2eAP6okK4aukjkEQvJMpTpFl8hsx7FSJCA-E9iReFLhstT6suSGgyW5oZl9rqCGkljUYu5-rhaxerBdN4fz7XWhy98DvsQYnzp8ZcDHtO50mskc/s640/P1030335.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO7D9OF2DGbeChyj-HAZtKgt1wXmLRX6j8hs7dYMEHD4ZUMPNmJmjRIZfdbtS82PkxS-6i7dXzc3vQyzp-qvUoQJgxIA4p6RWt_5fYHTWAUhXNLGj1t0AoSF0ZEzmacqpWCi58DgXaIw/s1600/P1030337.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO7D9OF2DGbeChyj-HAZtKgt1wXmLRX6j8hs7dYMEHD4ZUMPNmJmjRIZfdbtS82PkxS-6i7dXzc3vQyzp-qvUoQJgxIA4p6RWt_5fYHTWAUhXNLGj1t0AoSF0ZEzmacqpWCi58DgXaIw/s640/P1030337.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And little shinleaf, evergreen wildflower, looks cute as ever. Hope new flowers will form soon! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT4kdGFRN5HTV6yaiTAlKJjwgTvWDo4xnMQGRh1UGnBqOCAxVoD6eofXXKODmzS8QUOgfZdv4e-LTFzVnULaxi0Tep1A-jfoBVAyEnIqJNjOJMsjR3ewWYgjabpBKO5wM-nqJoaf9M4s/s1600/P1030336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT4kdGFRN5HTV6yaiTAlKJjwgTvWDo4xnMQGRh1UGnBqOCAxVoD6eofXXKODmzS8QUOgfZdv4e-LTFzVnULaxi0Tep1A-jfoBVAyEnIqJNjOJMsjR3ewWYgjabpBKO5wM-nqJoaf9M4s/s640/P1030336.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I looked for Canada mayflower and Sarsaparilla, the other wildflowers that I have seen here, but didn't see any signs of them yet.</div><br />
Not a great picture, but this is the hairy woodpecker, one of my friends from winter bird feeding. You can tell that it's a hairy rather than a downy because of the long pointy beak.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1LZwvu06E8c3OsKt-gKcB9dFztJ_oK3C6ROf_PGXuElDM5z9hL6RH5AsFrAo21Hp6Be4rN-s0GRVuVusEl08OLPN7K7ZFAYOAls7JGhg-vnjVokZBPiRgrequCQqIeW99aaN-ih1Lr0/s1600/P1030345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1LZwvu06E8c3OsKt-gKcB9dFztJ_oK3C6ROf_PGXuElDM5z9hL6RH5AsFrAo21Hp6Be4rN-s0GRVuVusEl08OLPN7K7ZFAYOAls7JGhg-vnjVokZBPiRgrequCQqIeW99aaN-ih1Lr0/s640/P1030345.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Roxbury Puddingstone. I will quote Wikipedia here (although wish I had a real, old-fashioned, Book to quote), since I have not read up enough on this:<br />
<b>"Pudding stone</b> or <b>Plum-pudding stone</b>, is a popular name applied to a conglomerate that consists of distinctly rounded pebbles whose colors contrast sharply with the color of the finer-grained, often sandy, matrix or cement surrounding them." This is the most common form of rock you will found around here. When I first arrived in town I thought it was construction debris! Then I thought it might be traces from the Ice age, when rocks got rolled around and smoothed out by the heavy ice layers. But of course, it is much much older than that. At some point in time, rounded rocks of different sizes and mineral origins were encapsuled in a different kind of rock. This particular Puddingstone is common not only in Roxbury or Jamaica Plain, but all over southeast Boston. Or, I should say, <i>under</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvrY2b9Nz8XdZCJnCug7pwmxD3tfsbp1Cw1sL2-LmVc56pXk4XyMzvqkoP3AfCW22YuRAjlvovVsXOfIvLRj4-ODb93fgmMXkE4ARxqA9JR9yGulraRfwRIZvoxgmDfg3aMXqga0SrRs/s1600/P1030359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvrY2b9Nz8XdZCJnCug7pwmxD3tfsbp1Cw1sL2-LmVc56pXk4XyMzvqkoP3AfCW22YuRAjlvovVsXOfIvLRj4-ODb93fgmMXkE4ARxqA9JR9yGulraRfwRIZvoxgmDfg3aMXqga0SrRs/s640/P1030359.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More upland I found blueberry bushes with big buds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k1da7hpPN-zmei1O7DcNnCCxuc_40MeGeDN3xYTOktD8IM2SirZ3LysHLhaAdAnLsKu6r4s-anWGL2YARwPsO2VsOl83w0tASEGEaE_76OP9R9jOEP-DOKDPxjzJZ8f5yJrW2cOxeN0/s1600/P1030361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k1da7hpPN-zmei1O7DcNnCCxuc_40MeGeDN3xYTOktD8IM2SirZ3LysHLhaAdAnLsKu6r4s-anWGL2YARwPsO2VsOl83w0tASEGEaE_76OP9R9jOEP-DOKDPxjzJZ8f5yJrW2cOxeN0/s640/P1030361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I believe the upper and the lower pictures show two varieties of lowbush blueberries.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oDVMpH7LpSwF7Z-lZJWH7Oy9xK64V3D2YAssx8DXhEJqpLMfCyLsT-0UOP2CHJtKVmPqUF4QDfq-Cm6cbrjH_EOcLRgQDy8S3iCkECResxcaMzOok0sAuE29izsx-YaqBCxVt2RrtT0/s1600/P1030363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oDVMpH7LpSwF7Z-lZJWH7Oy9xK64V3D2YAssx8DXhEJqpLMfCyLsT-0UOP2CHJtKVmPqUF4QDfq-Cm6cbrjH_EOcLRgQDy8S3iCkECResxcaMzOok0sAuE29izsx-YaqBCxVt2RrtT0/s640/P1030363.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This is an old Highbush blueberry - you can tell by the "kidney bean gall", a deformed growth caused by an insect, only found on Blueberry.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_AMBV9wRtCBiM-sYuEn2iuO-Gdc2A7zs4MjnRusp4cedSjjX_VlalFup558ZAj3726MIrDA2_GxG59zI8eFgYZ52tn8ryn7x57x9WXVLRjC4M0_kjuuDslmNOCKfrZMn3dzx6WX5a4s/s1600/P1030366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_AMBV9wRtCBiM-sYuEn2iuO-Gdc2A7zs4MjnRusp4cedSjjX_VlalFup558ZAj3726MIrDA2_GxG59zI8eFgYZ52tn8ryn7x57x9WXVLRjC4M0_kjuuDslmNOCKfrZMn3dzx6WX5a4s/s640/P1030366.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally I came to see what I knew would brighten my day: an old flowering dogwood. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_5-66ALEJ7n-zMOjuLv58LlXXJfkU36s8d4FRPb96R8NC5UcNKYV0FB9ZACPUBpw2JhyphenhyphenIzHpTH0NOSDiF1rnBrS2Bea_rSyZb3sgKbltI9BidUt5QlPqC65ZvSVhR-TFh5Xrzn_DM-w/s1600/P1030371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_5-66ALEJ7n-zMOjuLv58LlXXJfkU36s8d4FRPb96R8NC5UcNKYV0FB9ZACPUBpw2JhyphenhyphenIzHpTH0NOSDiF1rnBrS2Bea_rSyZb3sgKbltI9BidUt5QlPqC65ZvSVhR-TFh5Xrzn_DM-w/s640/P1030371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These adorable buds were almost opening up as I was there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQluRSqpNm0xmlYaAC1himoiForyuiCdQp63zy6T2AtxrcleZ-ZNlwM5oXwNaU_d7PHc1O1ifbVUQ_ovUQLgAZW4SpH2Ye70OzZwkpt4fB-hOu7G3mn__NMPx2jA6RjkTfChuVnn9jow/s1600/P1030372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQluRSqpNm0xmlYaAC1himoiForyuiCdQp63zy6T2AtxrcleZ-ZNlwM5oXwNaU_d7PHc1O1ifbVUQ_ovUQLgAZW4SpH2Ye70OzZwkpt4fB-hOu7G3mn__NMPx2jA6RjkTfChuVnn9jow/s640/P1030372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It is completely amazing that this tree is still alive, since it got severely broken during the previous winter and its heavy snow. But many branches are leafing out, and in a week or so the flowers will be open.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcMjiWgmBvVKBrKa_t5aa9g65Ik7c5cH7eKURaNDlpF2P6xkZq8DYk2DtfbAh44WpbFqk6UVIM6sxB827pAg3omCmjXrj7nNQDpg5Tzt-okqMd42tbP2rJuI2Ldg3z6gconILOy42BtQ/s1600/P1030373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcMjiWgmBvVKBrKa_t5aa9g65Ik7c5cH7eKURaNDlpF2P6xkZq8DYk2DtfbAh44WpbFqk6UVIM6sxB827pAg3omCmjXrj7nNQDpg5Tzt-okqMd42tbP2rJuI2Ldg3z6gconILOy42BtQ/s640/P1030373.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't miss it!</div>asitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15518528142407649319noreply@blogger.com1