Workshop, and Daniel Webster Sanctuary

Canada geese flying into land

First an announcement.  On Saturday, March 19 starting at 6:30 PM at the Stone Barn of Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, I will be holding a program on doing nighttime macro photography, and we utilize a vernal pool.  This event is limited to 10 participants.  The fee is $20 and will include drinks and snacks.  Equipment DSLR with a Macro lens or a lens in the 70-200 External Flash a Flash extension cable or remote flash trigger Boots Flashlight or headlamp and appropriate clothing.  Anyone that is interested, please email me at mborn@photobee1.com.  By the way, half of the proceeds will be donated to the sanctuary.

Yesterday, it was a beautiful day and warm with the temperature starting out in the 50s and going into the 60s.  My son and I spent the morning at Daniel Webster Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary in the morning blind.  The sanctuary has two blinds, one at each end of the pool, morning and afternoon blind, so named because the location of the sun.  There was a lot of passerines flitting around in the brush and bushes.  However, none of them perched in a location where we could photograph them.  The two main species that we photographed were painted turtles and Canada geese.

We started out with three painted turtles on the log and by the time we left, there were seven painted turtles all enjoying the bright, warm sun.

Painted turtles on the log

Initially, there were only a few Canada geese in the pool but as the morning wore on large groups flew in.  The Canada geese put on a show with many of the geese bathing and preening.  The geese would raise large splashes a water duck underneath the water and even bays upside down with their feet in the air.

Canada geese landing

Canada geese swimming and preening

Canada goose bathing

Canada goose flapping its wings

While watch and the Canada geese, around the corner of grass, swam some ducks.  There was a pair of mallards and for my first time visiting here a Northern Pintail.

Northern Pintail and mallards

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A Morning at Daniel Webster Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary

Yellow Warbler with Inchworm

As I mentioned in my last blog, I went out photographing and traveled down to Daniel Webster Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary.  When we left the house, there was cloudy and a little windy and, when we arrived at the sanctuary, it was drizzling, windy, and the temperatures were in the low 40s.  During the morning intermittently it cleared up on an off.  The main problem most of the time was the birds would just flying back and forth and not landing anywhere for decent photos.  We were set up in the morning blind.  However, by waiting long enough a few birds did honor us by coming in and letting us take their picture.

Yellow warblers were flitting back and forth and landing in the bushes capturing inchworm caterpillars.

Yellow Warbler with Inchworm

Tree swallows were flitting back and forth in one landed in front of us, and was preening.

Tree Swallow Preening

A Spotted Sandpiper made its appearance flying from rock to rock.

Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper in Flight

Normally, the logs a loaded with painted turtles sunning themselves, but today only one made its appearance.

Painted Turtle Climbing the Log

Walking back to the car, a male bobolink was on the top of the grasses seeing in its boisterous song.  I took this picture at eye level with the bobolink.

Bobolink Singing

Although there was not a lot of different photo opportunities, we made the best of what was there.  Other people joined us and the blind and we had good discussions about birding, photography, equipment's, so all in all, it was a good morning

Allens Pond Bird Walk to Mount Auburn, and Great Meadows

Over the weekend, I suffered a computer crash, and now that I am almost recovered from it, so I will catch up on my blog posts.
On Friday, May 18, 2012.  Paul Champlin led a birding walk for six participants, for Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge and then after we finished at Mount Auburn, we spent part of the afternoon at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, Massachusetts.  For the entire trip, we saw approximately 60+ species of birds.
Mount Auburn Cemetery is and Important Bird Area, besides being an active cemetery, botanical garden and a wildlife preserve.  Mount Auburn is a wonderful place to visit, even if you are not a birder.
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Concord Unit is also an excellent place to visit and observe nature at its best.
Photos from Mount Auburn

American Robin on gravestone with food

Baltimore Oriole

Blue Jay on Nest

Blue Jay

Eastern Chipmunk on top of a burial crypt

Scarlet Tanager Female



Tiger Swallowtail

Scarlet Tanager Female

Photos from Great Meadows

Marsh Wren

Marsh Wren

Painted Turtle

Pearl Cresent

Young Common Snapping Turtle sunning itself on top of a muskrat den