October 23

October 23, 2008 by OrientSee.

As walked down to Rosie’s Pond, these ducks were colorfully framed by the autumn leaves. High tide had just passed and nearly a dozen Black Ducks were feeding in the high Spartina grass.

I walked over to Palermo St. and scanned the flats. There was a group of eight or ten Great Egrets huddled together on the Winthrop side of the creek. Suddenly something passed my field of vision. It was an adult coyote. I was very surprised to see it since it was mid-morning and not dusk or dawn. It never got closer than about 300 yards and it seemed aware of me. Strangely it did not simply take off. It tolerated my distant presence but kept checking on my movements. I had to Photoshop the image to get this.

On to the Overlook where I found this Downy Woodpecker up in a Sumac munching on something. Again I saw the coyote but never really close up.

As I walked over the flats to the Boardwalk, I found this trap set in a shallow pool. It was cylindrical about 20 inches long and 10 inches in diameter and tethered to a stake ten feet away. I can’t think what this is for. Muskrats are too big and who would want to trap rats. Any ideas?

The Boardwalk and the park were quiet although I kept wondering if all the dog people would be so casual if they knew about the coyote 400 - 500 yards away and hungry. I walked over to the Bennington St. bridge and looked down. Something swam right underneath me and at first I thought muskrat but then it popped up. It was a Cormorant. It turned and saw me. It fled. Cormorants often look like they are walking on water as they take off. It can take a lot of “steps” before it finally gets airborne which is what this picture shows.

Today was just awesome with coyotes and walking cormorants and clear cool skies.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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