April 14, 2008 by OrientSee.

Our survival school instructors tried to teach us the art of hiding. One principle that they emphasized was stillness. If you could remain motionless that would go a very long way to staying hidden. These two Great Blue Herons were very still and I did not see them at all. What gave them away was a Great Egret that was feeding in the water directly in front of them. I noticed two indistinct shapes that did not belong to a phragmites stand. After a moment I recognized that the shapes were two herons with their backs to me. I would never have caught sight of them without the egret. I got a little closer for this photo. Elsewhere, there was a flock of 40-50 Brant feeding off the flats. They are a sort of smaller goose. Two crows were hassling a RedTail Hawk and drove it off. Some gulls tried to mob the two Osprey but gave up after the Osprey settled down to roost on the short poles by the Long Dike. The Osprey have definitely settled in. I’ll leave you with this urban Spring bouquet.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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April 13, 2008 by OrientSee.

Let me count the ways! Today was a great day. The Ospreys are back. All three of them. That’s right three. Last year there was a third adult bird around most of the season besides the parents. It looks like that pattern may be occurring again. There was a Great Egret at Rosie’s Pond. Out by the overlook, besides the Teal and Wigeons, a Harrier was sailing over the marsh. Next incredibly, there were 15 Great Blue Herons out on the flats beyond the boardwalk. It was more than I have ever seen in one place at one time. Time for a big grin of delight. On the way out of the park, two crows up in a tree were trying to chase off a Cooper’s Hawk who could scarcely have cared less. He just kept looking around for his next meal. Finally, the Mute Swan was back in the creek by the school. At this point, I was nearly speechless with the sights of the day. A really great day out in Belle Isle Marsh.

Ciao!
-Jorge

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April 10, 2008 by OrientSee.

Today’s chief joy has been the sun and warmth. For a while I sat beneath the tall snag out in the long thicket and was content. The Redwings were noisy but it was a place of calm and with the sun on my face all was good with my world. Everything was very quiet (not the pheasant though) and not much was stirring. Low tide slows the pace of life in the marsh. Any day now the place will explode as the big migration starts to pass through. Today I saw the first tree swallows of the season. Swallows mean flying bugs and that means food for lots of other species. I expected to see a snake or two with all the sun and warmth but no luck. These two ducks seem to have become used to me. They scarcely moved as I walked past. Usually they’ll take to wing or quickly waddle away as I come near. We’re expecting some cooler rainy weather this weekend and then maybe the warblers!?!?

Ciao!

-Jorge

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April 9, 2008 by OrientSee.

“Rosy-fingered Dawn”
-Homer

Early this morning over Short Beach.  Later there was a large flock of gulls foraging over the marsh grass like a herd of cows while the Redtail Hawk watched from his perch high up on the tall snag. There were Wigeons, Teal,  Black  Ducks and Mallards in the Overlook pan. In the Boardwalk pan, a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron both in full breeding plumage were busy fishing and apparently finding lots of food.  Later I rode out on my bike to Deer Island and found plenty of Eider to watch.  A busy day full of ducks, egrets and herons.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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April 8, 2008 by OrientSee.

Opening day at Fenway and at Belle Isle. Today was a grand slam, five Great Blue Herons, one Yellowlegs, one Mute Swan and an immature RedTail Hawk. It started off slow but it was a great morning. Rosie’s Pond and Thicket were quiet. Over by the South Dike, I found four herons lined up almost in military fashion. Their feathers were sleek and slate blue. The Long Thicket was quiet and so was the Overlook pan except for a few ducks. The boardwalk had a Great Blue in full feathery display fishing alongside the Yellowlegs. On the way out of the park, there was a single Mute Swan in the creek patiently eating from the bottom. It allowed me to poke my head out of the reeds close by and get this photo. The swans do visit occasionally especially in this part of the creek. Finally out by the park entrance a juvenile RedTail just sat on a telephone pole watching the parade of traffic. It was not at all perturbed by the passing cars and joggers. Now if the Red Sox will do as well, it will be a nearly perfect day.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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April 7, 2008 by OrientSee.

The day started cold, windy but bright. Low tide meant that not much was going on. The thickets were very quiet and then out at the overlook I got to see a pair of shore birds that were probably yellow legs but the glare made it impossible to be sure. Over at the park it was a different story. Robins, starlings, doves, grackles and song sparrows were all over the place. I glimpsed something moving in these cedar trees and patiently waited. There was a small flock of waxwings feeding off the few remaining berries on the tree. They were very hard to spot in the thick foliage. This one bird peeked out for a while so I caught his portrait.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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April 5, 2008 by OrientSee.

After all the nasty weather of the week, I finally got out to see this, my first Great Egret of the year. It was out past the overlook in the large pan. It looked to be fairly miserable as it is still cold and wet. Other people have reported egrets already but this is my first sighting of the year. It means that along with the loud calls of the pheasant, lots of new birds to see and hear after the relative quiet of the winter.

A strange experience two days ago. Fighter pilots use the term furball to describe a whirling mass of fighters involved in free-for-all air combat. It is very dangerous and something to be avoided. I was walking the dog just before dawn and two robins whirled past me in their own personal furball. They nearly collided with me as they circled back and forth just above the pavement. What was strange was the sound of their wings slapping against the ground. I am surprised that one or the other didn’t dash itself unconscious and it lasted for 30 or 40 seconds. It was an amazing aerial display entirely within two feet of the ground. It was a terrific sight.

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