May 26, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was cooler and the winds brisk. I was surprised to find a Glossy Ibis feeding in the shallow pools at Rosie’s Pond. It was redder than I am used to seeing and it was solo. Ibises usually are very social birds.

A Great Egret plopped down and the Ibis took off. The egret looked like a peer of the realm.

Throughout the thickets and especially along Palermo St., the locusts were in bloom as if a snow storm had blown through. There was a wonderful aroma wafting off these flowers.

More flowers. The blue Irises are still in bloom but the gold irises outshine them now.

Yellow seemed to be a theme along Geoff’s path. First it was a Yellow Warbler.

Then it was a Common Yellowthroat. It has been a slow season at Belle Isle for warblers.

Finally a gorgeous Goldfinch posed in the sun. It wasn’t put off by my camera but hung around till more important business called ( a male finch).

The Overlook was quiet. A few ducks and Yellowlegs but no swans today. A female Redwing preened itself and was generally far less wary than the males usually are.

The Boardwalk was very quiet. The algae mats were strewn with abandon over the grass but there wasn’t much else to see.

The park meadow had lots of flowers on display including these daisies.

It was bright day filled with brilliant birds, flowers and wonderful smells.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 22, 2009 by OrientSee.

It’s been the second day of a short hot spell. I was not expecting to see much today. There were a few Snowy Egrets in Rosie’s Pond but little else. No warblers in the thicket. More Irises were in bloom on Lawn Ave.

It was trash pick up today and it seems that Rudolph is passing on to his reward.

The Osprey are doing well. One was up in the nest at the end of the T yard while the other was posted above the flats. It even screamed a little when I popped up to take a better look.

The Overlook path was full of Redwings but no owls or warblers today. The Overlook panne had some mallards and several Snowy Egrets who took to the air when they saw me.

The biggest surprise were these three swans in the panne. They are enormous and dwarf everything that flies at Belle Isle except for the planes landing at Logan.

The Boardwalk was quiet. A small flock of BlackBellied Plover were resting further out on the flats.

I walked across the park meadow and admired the tiny new pine cones. When I touched the branch, an enormous smoke cloud of pollen flew off. It was amazing to see how much pollen there was.

Out by the park entrance, I got to see my first Cedar Waxwings of the year.

Across Bennington St., is the flood pumping station. It has a pool filled with floating waste and urban discards. It was strange to see this Grackle walking on the raft of debris looking for food. It was walking on water which is strange for a bird that perches on trees most of the time.

I went to check on the Flicker nesting site and caught a glimpse of a plastic race horse named Biscuit. Suffolk Downs does have some strange sights from time to time but this horse was special.

Dripping with sweat, I got back home. I got to see a lot today and talk to a few of the Belle Isle regulars. I really can’t imagine living anyplace else. There’s just always something to see and enjoy.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 17, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Seasons sometimes slide into the next without any fanfare. No showy leaf colors, no snow. Spring is sliding into summer. The apple and cherry blossoms are gone and the lilac blooms are going by. Soon the mulberries will be bursting with juice. The flats have gone green in just a few days. The emergent grass blades had been hidden in the straw bleached stems of last year but now the grass is bursting with growth and the marsh is fully coming to life.

By the marsh’s edge on Palermo St., this magnificent iris was in bloom.

Almost at its feet, a snail was toiling in the wetness.

Across the flats, an Osprey was feeding off the top of some flotsam.

On the street a Flicker was feeding as if it were a pigeon.

Geoff’s path was quiet. I got a fleeting glimpse of Common Yellowthroat while the Redwings were noisily calling everywhere. The Overlook and the Boardwalk pannes were quiet with a few pairs of Mallards feeding. In the park meadow, an Eastern Kingbird was perched on a weed stem.

I had hoped for an Oriole or two but the wind was up and perhaps discouraged the birdlife. Just by the Suffolk Downs T station, I was fortunate to notice a Flicker flashing its gold underparts. I realized that it was entering a nest hole. Here it is peeking out.

It was cool and wet today but the walking was enjoyable. The mosquitoes haven’t shown up yet and so it is pleasant to walk in the thickets. Still there haven’t been many warblers and few shore birds so far.  I keep hoping for more migrants passing through.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 13, 2009 by OrientSee.

The last few days have been strange but enjoyable. I’ve gone out in the middle of the day in glorious weather and enjoyed my leisurely walks but after the Great Horned Owl, there has been little to see. I’ve enjoyed the scented blooms and warming days but the beasts and the birds have not been cooperating. The warblers et al seem to be passing up Belle Isle this year. Today I went out earlier and there were things to see.

Rosie’s was empty and the thicket had a few sparrows and catbirds. The Osprey were about. One was off and on the nest while the other was eating on top of a large piece of driftwood out on the flats. Lawn and Palermo gave me this great view of a Mourning Dove with a beak full of nesting material. A Brown-headed Cowbird was perched on the telephone pole nearby at the same time.

Geoff’s path was full of Redwings and Catbirds but no warblers. At the Overlook, a female Redwing stopped and let me approach very close.

The flats were full of Redwings and swallows swooping near and far.

On the Boardwalk, a very pretty Tree Swallow rested.

Out in the pannes, a Great Egret was feeding and then I noticed another darker large bird and it turned out to be the first Glossy Ibis of the year for me.

The Ibis was alone except for the Great Egret. I thought that a little strange. These are very social birds and I am not used to seeing them alone.

The park meadow is a vast carpet of yellow. At the top of the mound, this reminder of last summer’s glory still stood and still impressive.

The park entrance was overwhelmed by the noise of the resurfacing crew working on the street. I crossed over the bridge to the side of the pumping station and discovered  by the pool, a colony of Barn Swallows roosting in the crevices of the building. Perched on a nearby fence pole, was this decidedly duller Rough-winged Swallow.

Seeing the Glossy Ibis was a treat and a break from the last few days. The construction crews should be moving on soon and perhaps that will make a difference. Even when it has been quiet, the weather has made every walk a treat.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 8, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was full. The Osprey are still sitting on the nest. One is on the nest while the other is nearby standing guard. Rosie’s Pond was surprisingly empty. In he nearby thicket, I watched a Catbird in courtship display.  In the shade, this Savannah Sparrow rested for a while.

Over on Lawn Ave., the first surprise of the day was a Baltimore Oriole in the apple blossoms. They are just so bright and with the blossoms, it was even more magnificent.

Along Geoff’s path, I saw my first deer signs. This is a deer track in the mud. So now Belle Isle definitely has large animal life as well.

Next along the path, I found this bizarre image. In a puddle of water lies an egg partially submerged.  It was about the size of a chicken egg. I haven’t the slightest idea of what it was and where it came from.

I turned from the egg and had my second surprise. Perched nearby, this Great Horned Owl calmly watched everything. Even a loud incessant crow could not disturb his apparent composure. This is my first Great Horned Owl at Belle Isle and it was jumping up and down terrific.

The Overlook and the flats were quiet. From the Boardwalk it was possible to see lots of Brant scattered along the creek bank. A single Great Egret and four of these Snowy Egrets were moving from one panne to another. Most of the water surface was covered by algae blooms.

The park meadow was exploding with yellow as this one wild flower bloomed everywhere.

The meadow made me think about one particular meadow bird and magically it appeared, a Bobolink. That was my third happy surprise of the day.

It was with some relief from all the excitement to reach Bennington St. and start home. Belle Isle had a lot to enjoy today. I was very impressed and even more thankful that I live so close to so much beauty.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 4, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was grey with overcast skies and by the time that I was able to walk, it was low tide. I wasn’t full of expectation as a result. Rosie’s Pond and Thicket were very quiet. I walked over to Palermo St. and my nose came awake. All the fruit trees were in full bloom and the air was filled with so much scent that not even the airport could overpower the smell. The old Belle Isle sign was framed in bloom.

The rest of my walk was very quiet except for one bird along Geoff’s Path. A very bright and beautiful Yellow Warbler popped up in a bush next to the path and was not bothered by me at all.

It plopped down into a little vernal pool and proceeded to take a bath. I was scarcely eight feet away watching. It was a delight to see.

After a bit of washing, it jumped to a higher spot on a reed and shook itself dry.

I have never appreciated the color yellow so much.

The rest of my walk was full of Redwings vigorously courting the females and battling back and forth over the ladies. The park was very dull. The Yellow Warbler was so great that it didn’t matter that there wasn’t much else to see today. It made the whole walk worth it.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 2, 2009 by OrientSee.

 I caught a look at a coyote during daylight a few days ago and posted a photo here. It always draws comments when people see and hear about how close coyotes live with us nowadays. However, the more dangerous predator is Fluffy, the feral cat. This cat has now taken up residence in Rosie’s Thicket and that means less birds to watch. I wouldn’t do anything to this animal but if I knew a way of letting the coyotes know, I would do it in a flash. They are excellent hunters but as a cat owner, I know how much of real threat they are to my own cats. They are reservoirs of cat viruses and as a result lead short brutal lives.

Rosie’s Pond was quiet except for this lone Snowy Egret. The interesting thing is all the green in the background. The marsh grass is sprouting like crazy and soon those empty gray flats will come back to life. It is the marsh grass that makes the rest of it all possible. Without the grass, no fish, no birds, no Ospreys, no Redwings etc. The grass is the rich bottom of the local ecology.

Nearby the wild cherries are blooming.

Bumblebees are nearly impossible to take pictures of. This is my best try so far.

Geoff’s Path and the Overlook were very quiet. It’s amazing how much activity is going on nearby, Nahant, Marblehead, Cambridge, Forest Hills while I have seen scarcely any warblers this year at Belle Isle.

At the Boardwalk panne, this Great Egret was fishing for mummichogs and catching them one right after another. It is no wonder that so many ducks and herons visit this pool.

On the other side of the park, I saw a Brownheaded Cowbird  (in the leaves at the right bottom) on the same branch with another gray bird. I didn’t recognize the gray bird but when I got home and looked it up, I felt a little slow. It is of course a female Brownheaded Cowbird but it doesn’t look much like the male.

On the way out of the park, this perky Goldfinch was in the Phragmites and brightened up my walk.

This morning was overcast and then started to clear. It turned into a very pleasant day and an enjoyable walk.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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