December 28, 2008 by OrientSee.

Today was cloudy and very warm for December. It felt much more like March 28. I remembered a story from my father about when Boston Harbor froze over in the early 1930s. I’m not a climatologist but it is obvious to me that something has changed. 54 degrees at the end of December is North Carolina not Boston.

I walked into Rosie’s Thicket and there was a Cooper’s Hawk perched in the trees. I couldn’t get a clear shot but the photo gives you a good idea. This is a bird that hunts in trees and thickets. It doesn’t soar above the flats or cruise close to the ground. It pounces out of tree and around here that usually means one less pigeon.

I  walked out into the margin of the flats and got to see a Great Blue Heron coast in for a landing. It immediately jumped into one of the ditches and started hunting. It was almost impossible to see the top of this 4 foot high bird as it moved along the ditch.

Out beyond the heron a few Mergansers floated along another ditch as the tide flooded in.

The Overlook had a few Mallards paddling in the panne. There was no ice and they were busy bobbing for food. The Boardwalk had more Mallards and farther out on the flats, a small flock of Canada Geese were browsing in the marsh grass. At the top of the mound in the park, there is a wild thorn bush and perched on it surveying his domain was this Mockingbird. It wasn’t bothered at all by my presence. It was especially quiet for a mocker. Not a peep or a trill.

I got an amazing close up in my binoculars of a Tree Sparrow and it was a small piece of eye candy. Of course it flew off before I got my camera up. The Revere creek was full of ducks and geese. Buffleheads were diving everywhere while Canada Geese were walking along the banks in the high grass. Two small flocks of Brant sailed up the middle of the water. Two Mergansers  were feeding while a pair of Black Ducks were quietly feeding in a small pool screened by reeds.

There was scarcely any snow to be found anywhere while just three days ago snow and ice covered everything. I’m beginning to expect a sand storm or a monsoon. Our weather is just too wierd lately.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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December 26, 2008 by OrientSee.

 It’s been a while. One thing or another. I walked into Rosie’s Thicket and the rain had virtually eliminated any trace of the recent snows. There was even enough green that you could forget that January is only next week. The flats weren’t empty. There were ducks paddling up and down the ditches which hadn’t frozen over. A small band of crows were noisily fighting over some food that they found. A few gulls cruised overhead in serene disdain.

As I started up the path to the Overlook, a flag fluttered from one of the trees and it seemed particularly appropriate to the season. Goodwill it proclaimed. Of course it was a plastic bag but it did actually look festive. I had to fight to get it untangled and off the branch that it was snagged on. The coyotes have been active as there was plenty of scat along the paths.

At the Overlook, lots of Canada Geese were swimming in the creek and then they departed in a very long elegant strand. More ducks in the creek and ditches but they were so far out , it was hard to identify them.  All the pannes are frozen solid and that kept the ducks to the main creek and the flowing water. From the Boardwalk, I was able to watch a RedTail Hawk finish its morning breakfast. It was very clear in my new binoculars but the camera lens is not as  powerful. The lumpy object by the water’s edge is the RedTail. The head of a Canada Goose is peering above the grass beyond.

The park was empty except for a single Mockingbird that was roaming from grass clump to grass clump. The park entrance was home to some Chickadees whose flitting about was enjoyable to watch. The creek was nearly frozen as the high tide swept in but it was wonderful to see.

The cold spells, rain and snow have been coming at a dizzying pace these past few weeks. We humans are stressed and out of sorts but the marsh and birds simply move on one day after the other.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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December 8, 2008 by OrientSee.

 We had our first real snow over the weekend but it did not amount to much except for pointedly announcing the start of winter. It was very cold and windy this morning ( 14 F ° and 0 ° wind chill ). As I walked next to the frozen Rosie’s Pond, a RedWing Hawk slid off a tree and then flew off into the distance.  It was then that I noticed the crunch. It was cold and windy but it was the sound of crunch crunch as I walked that was most noticeable. I had forgotten the sound of winter. For some time now everything has been muted by the drifting leaves laying everywhere. Now everything is hard and very crunchy.

The ditches were frozen but glowing in the sunlight.

The path out to the Overlook was empty. One Crow, one Robin and four Chickadees were the only moving life forms. On the flats, I found this strange sight. A duck had walked across the water/ice as it was freezing and left its prints while the freezing water trapped all kinds of seed fluff. It’s not dirt on the lens but fluff frozen to the ice making the flashes.

The park was empty except for the dogs and dog walkers. Actually, I was surprised that any one was out walking. It was very cold and windy. The Revere creek was empty except for two Mallards paddling about. The frozen mud flats and wind driven grass stalks nicely summed up today’s walk. Bright but cold.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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December 4, 2008 by OrientSee.

 Although warm by December norms, the wind was overpowering today. I expected a few gulls who love to soar in high wind but little else.  On walking into Rosie’s Thicket, I immediately saw this Cooper’s Hawk through the branches with his breakfast meal.  The pond was empty except for a few ducks popping in and out of the smaller puddles by the train yard.

There were a few Crows and some starlings along Lawn and Palermo. I did catch a glimpse of what must be the last milkweed fluff of the year.

The path out to the Overlook was deserted except for the noisy wind and one Downy Woodpecker. The Overlook panne had a small flock of Mallard.

The Boardwalk and the park were pretty much empty as well. Leaving the parking lot, I got a lucky shot of a Chickadee in mid wingstroke.  I didn’t see this until I got home to Photoshop.

The Bennington St. bridge had a bigger flock of Mallards and I am always impressed by the intense colors of the males.

Besides the ducks, the bridge sheltered a Great Blue Heron which startled me when it took off practically beneath me.  I didn’t get the camera up fast enough. All I got was its retreat.

Today was fun even with the withering wind. I am eagerly awaiting the first snow which is forecast for this weekend. While there is less activity with snow on the ground, the marsh is completely transformed and the lack of leaves and green can be forgotten.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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