Tag Archives: Nature

Remembering the Birds of Winter

May 13, 2017birds, Cape Cod, Eider ducks, mergansers, mergnasers, Nature, New England, Swans, turkeys, winterbirds, Eider ducks, Falmouth, MA, mergansers, Nature, New Englandhealy24yang

I had originally wanted to post these pictures much earlier – like back in Winter when Yang and I took them. However, the semester has been brutal, and I just didn’t have time to do all the editing necessary. So, here they are!

The weekend after my birthday, there was a slight warming spell, so Yang and I made an expedition to Falmouth. After a hearty tea luncheon at the Dunbar Tea House – love that Ice Wine Tea! – we did some bird watching on the nearby rail trail. In one of the ponds, we saw the beautiful swans above.

Also in this pond, we were able to see a flock of Mergansers. Here is one chap swimming solo, with his lovely feathery mane.

Later, I was surprised to see a whole flock of males and females swimming happily in the ocean. I never realized this duck was an ocean as well as fresh-water critter! You’ll have to forgive the fact that the photos are a bit blurry. It’s not easy to get near these guys – especially with a cold ocean separating you. Still, if you click on the picture, you’ll be able to get a decent look at the ducks.

We also saw some of the ever-popular Mallards. A happy pair celebrating an anniversary, no doubt, with an afternoon out on the ocean. These ducks are pretty common around New England, so I normally wouldn’t photograph them. But they posed so beautifully, Yang couldn’t resist. Also, some of my other bird-loving followers might not have these guys in their necks of the woods – or ponds.

We also saw a pair of Eider ducks. I know they are a little blurry, but, again, there’s that pesky ocean in the way. Do you think the Eiders are funky enough to want to get down? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Once again, the Megansers, just because I think they are so cool!

And, in a different pond, more swans!

But here’s where things get really weird. Driving through the town of Falmouth, we had to stop for some feathered pedestrians.

So why did the turkey(ies) cross the road? We’ll never know. They were in way too much of a hurry to stop and answer questions. They just wouldn’t talk turk . . . No, I can’t say it. One bad pun per post is enough for any reader to suffer!

Autumnal Woodlawn Cemetery – No Blinking!

November 4, 2016Autumn, birds, Cemeteries, Don't Blink, Fall, Gothic, herons, Nature, New England, tomb stonesAutumn, birds, Bronx, Cemeteries, Foliage, Nature, New England, Woodlawn Cememteryhealy24yang

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Three years ago, Yang and I took an autumnal visit to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. This was our second visit. Our first was in the summer, and we took many photos of the gorgeous sepulchres with their ornate carvings of lions and sphinxes, as well as beautiful stained glass inside. This time, with the fall leaves beginning their metamorphoses into vivid colors, we concentrated on the outdoor imagery. I love the way this angel is framed by the flaming curve of the branch and leaves above it.

I also found this figure fascinating, straining for freedom, emerging from his marble prison – perhaps to burst the bonds of the body’s clay and fly away on the sharp wind of the north to eternity.

We found this image especially beautiful, the soft orange of the tree leaves providing a brilliant background contrast to the soft grey/white of the stone and the gentle and flowing draperies of woman portrayed here.

This woman draped meltingly over the tomb stone in her anguish was a deliciously melancholy image to ponder. I actually manged to find a piece similar to this monument from Toscano to add to my own Halloween graveyard in my front yard this year.

I’m fascinated by this monument. My guess is that the chap memorialized in Roman senatorial garb must have been a judge or a high political figure. I hope he met a better end than Julius Caesar! I thought the warm orange of the tree behind his imposing statue made an appealing contrast. Stern but not harsh features on this chap.

Happily, we found a wonderful living denizen in the cemetery. Woodlawn also contains a beautiful reflecting lake, and this Great Egret found it just the ticket! Of course, he was probably more up to fishing than reflecting – a bird’s got to eat!

There were other typical Victorian monuments, wonderfully complemented by the fall colors. Here is a mother with her children. One hopes this is not a comment on the high mother/child mortality rate but rather a celebration of deep feelings between parent and children.

I was intrigued by this praying woman, high atop her monument. She almost has an aspect of the Catholic Virgin Mary, not what you would expect in a seemingly predominantly Protestant cemetery. Again, the autumn trees provide a pleasurable contrast to the cool white and grey-aged stone.

This cemetery is indeed a pleasure to stroll through, just be sure to bring your camera – whatever season you visit!

Here’s a link that gives you a virtual tour.

Falmouth Rail Trail – Look! Ospreys and Swans! Oh My!

September 17, 2016Cape Cod, Nature, New England, Osprey, Rail Trails, Swansbirds, Cape Cod, Falmouth MA, Nature, New England, Osprey, summer, Swanhealy24yang

Before the summer is over, I wanted to post some of my other favorite images from the summer adventures Yang and I had along the New England rail trails. In June, we did a rail trail in Falmouth, on the Cape. As always, we saw some of our favorite birds there. We sighted many rabbits and chipmunks, and at one point a fox dashed across the trail far ahead of us. Per usual, the Catbirds wouldn’t hold still long enough to be photographed.

So, here are some of the lovely birds we could photograph. In one little bay, we found this swan family: Mummy and Daddy and several young cygnets. Interestingly enough, one of the kids had already turned white!

We also managed to photograph this gorgeous Osprey. Look at those eyes! They’re enormous. No wonder no prey escapes this guy or gal. There are several spots along the trail that have osprey nests on poles and platforms erected by the good folks on the Cape. There is even one platform in the bay near the docks in Woods Hole. As your ship pulls in or out, you can see the family chilling in the nest.

We caught this swan swimming forward to greet us in a different marsh along the trail. I think he’s saying, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” in this shot

This display is always fun to see along the trail. I think it’s neat that the people who live next to the trail here have such a fun and creative bent with all these nostalgic items.

This whole rail trail is wonderful to travel, and we usually take the ferry from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard to walk around there and enjoy the beautiful houses, especially the Victorian camp cottages. Sorry, no pictures. I feel intrusive taking those shots. What a great – and exhausting way to spend the day!

Birds and Beasts at Mt. Auburn Cemetery

August 1, 2016birds, Cemeteries, English Robin, herons, Nature, New England, robins, tomb stones, turkeys, turtlesbirds, catbird, Cemeteries, Great Blue heron, Nature, New England, robin, summer, turkeyshealy24yang

We went to Mt. Auburn looking for birds and beasts. In the past, we’ve seen rabbits, ground hogs, foxes, hawks, and robins, but we had a few surprises this time. This is a lovely catbird. I’m afraid you can’t quite distinguish his/her black cap. We have at least one who lives near our house and is rather friendly, visiting the bird feeders, sipping from the bird baths and fish pond, and plucking up multi-legged critters from the ground. We also saw tons of robins. I wanted to include this picture for my British viewers. Your robins are adorable, petite, and feathered lovely blue and rust. Ours, as you can see, are longer and larger, with a grey/black body and striking rusty-red tummy. Their faces and build are similar to your blackbirds, though yours are really black. I heard that your robins were struggling. How are they doing now?

Here was a nice surprise! Down by one of the ponds, we found quite a few painted turtles sunning themselves. Look at this guy stretch his hind legs. Seems comfy, doesn’t he/she. Meanwhile, in the pond, a baby was swimming around like crazy, having a ball. maybe this guy on the shore was a watchful parent?

We really had a surprise when we saw and were able to follow a Great Blue Heron around the cemetery. We expected to see him wading in one of the ponds. That’s how we usually see them, but not this guy. He just took himself on the most casual of strolls, looking around, chilling out. maybe he was looking for a friend?

Okay, here he is paying his respects.

Heading back to our car we got the biggest of surprises! A flock of about 8 or 9 wild turkeys! Notice the “beards” hanging from some of the birds. I’d never noticed that before.

I talked to a woman who was planting some flowers at a relative’s grade, and she told me the turkeys were making her nervous. Apparently, a turkey had gotten too aggressive with one of the workers in the cemetery last week, with things had not going well for the turkey. I have heard that these wild bird can be exceptionally bold. These guys didn’t bother us, but then, again, we didn’t bother them, either. I prevented Yang from mentioning either dreaded trigger word: Thanksgiving or drumstick.

Once More, DON’T BLINK!

August 1, 2016Cemeteries, Don't Blink, Nature, New England, tomb stonesCemeteries, Gothic, Nature, New Englandhealy24yang

Recently, Yang and I decided to take a stroll in one of our favorite cemeteries, Mt. Auburn in Cambridge, MA. So, to avoid the July heat and try to catch sight of some interesting birds, we left early in the morning and managed to get in around 8:00. Parking in a slightly different location, we almost immediately came across this monument to Edwin Booth, a famous Shakespearean actor of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, his mental health in later years led him to take the method acting thing a bit too far, his Richard III indomitably driving Richmond off the stage and his Othello trying to strangle Desdemona for real – maybe an inspiration for Ronald Colman’s A Double Life? Still, he posed far less of danger than one of his actor sons, John Wilkes.

Here you can see some wonderful reliefs carved on series of family tomb stones.

This beautiful woman, perhaps an embodiment of the soul, presides over a family vault.

Walking up the hill towards the tower that gives a beautiful panorama of the cemetery as well as of Boston and its environs, the slope that rolls down into the rest of the cemetery provides a peaceful, shaded landscape. This day we didn’t see any exciting creatures at the top of the tower, which you ascend via a spiral stone staircase in the center. Once, when we were up there, we saw several hawks circling. Here’s a nice shot the stone path leading up to the tower. I also had to take a photograph of the enormous roots of this ancient tree snaking across and underground. There’s a Lovecraft moment in here somewhere.

From lectures on cemetery tours and material I’ve read on monument art, I feel fairly safe conjecturing that the kneeling female figure represents the soul of the recently departed and the angel’s lifting a cloak from her represents this sacred figure lifting the veil of life cloaking us from God’s radiance, preparing the soul to ascend to heaven. Interesting that the soul usually is portrayed as female. A connection to the goddess Psyche?

Another intriguing relief. Any comments on the symbolism?

Here’s a figure to give all the Dr. Who fans the willies. How would you feel if this child cherub came to life? A comforting figure or not?

A Walk in the Sterling Woods

July 17, 2016flowers, herons, Mass. Central Rail Trail, Nature, New England, Rail Trailsbirds, Great Blue heron, Mass. Central Rail Trail, Nature, New England, summerhealy24yang

Recently, Yang and I decided to take a Sunday morning walk, while it was still relatively cool, in the wooded rail trail in Sterling , MA – right behind the center of town. As you can see from the sign, the name of the trail is the Mass Central Rail Trail. It runs about a mile and three quarters one way, so round trip is about three and a half miles – too short for a bicycle ride, but nice for a walk.

Parts of the trail are flanked by swamp and marshes like this, where we saw tons of Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Song Sparrows. Using our new binoculars, we could watch a Song Sparrow raise his head and liberate a beautiful song. I just wish we had a camera that could photograph what we see through the binoculars. We also saw a ground hog pick his way through the underbrush and onto the trail, but he was too quick for us to get a photo of him.

The trail itself is straight and flat with packed gravel, perfect for easy walking and so beautifully shady and cool during a summer day – especially in the morning. We were lucky to see scads of chipmunks and even a few rabbits. We weren’t so lucky in finding ourselves sometimes accompanied by mosquitoes – but they weren’t so bad here as in other woods we’ve strolled through.

Toward its far end, the trail passes across a lake. This area had once been a vacation resort, but now, as a public trail, anyone can go there to fish, boat quietly, or just enjoy the view. There are some benches in the woods overlooking the lake that afford a lovely relaxing outlook. Once, Yang and I took our tea and scones there to sit and have breakfast and enjoy the beautiful vista. We saw scores of dragon flies and baby fish. We’ve also seen a Great Blue Heron here in the past. I think I might even have done some reading. Where a bridge carries you over the lake, you come out into the sunshine, and it’s such a pleasurable view!

Yang really enjoyed using our new binoculars!

In the parking lot, I saw these lovely daisies and chicory, so I had to photograph them. One year, I found loads of Baltimore Orioles, male and female, building their nests in the trees along the lot. No such luck this visit. I might have come too late in the season. Still, a wonderful walk.

Summer Birds and Beasts One

July 3, 2016birds, black cat, cats, mischevious cats, Nature, tree frogbirds, black cat, cats, Nature, spring, summer, tree froghealy24yang

Yang went to pick up the watering can for the plants the other evening, and this is who greeted him. My friend Sarah tells me that he/she is a grey tree frog! We always have plenty of toads in the yard. In fact one used to sit on a floating platform in the fish pond and sing away the afternoon. However, I didn’t even know we had these guys in our yard! Quite the cutie, isn’t she/he?

Here, you can see, from left to right, a Blue Jay, a Mourning Dove, and the edge of a shy (or hungry) Red-bellied Woodpecker’s wing. I always get them mixed up with the Common Flicker. I can tell the difference in how they look; I just can never remember which name goes with which bird. Ah, here he is peeking out at us!

Here’s a Downy Woodpecker. It could be a Hairy Woodpecker. I know the latter is bigger, but I can’t exactly make the comparison here. I also know the Hairy has a longer beak, but unfortunately the picture is not quite sharp enough. We get both types, as well as Flickers and Nuthatches. No Piliated Woodpeckers, though!

Next are a Cardinal and a Mourning Dove. Some of these images aren’t as clear as they could be because I had the screen down on the window and had to shoot through it.

Darned old Mourning Dove with a Red-winged Blackbird. The Blackbird is hard to catch. He comes by all the time, but always seems to see me and fly off before I can get a good shot. I’ll have some more bird pictures later with him in it –– as well as other birds. I would also love to get a shot of our Catbird. She is forever landing nearby and popping around looking for food or getting a drink from the bird bath near the fish pond. All I have to do is hold still and she’s my buddy. I’m happy to say that on our bicycle rides, Yang and I have seen a plethora of Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Song Sparrows!

Oh, and by the way, Yang and I aren’t the only ones in the house who like to bird watch.

October Images

November 23, 2015Autumn, birds, Nature, New England, UncategorizedFoliage, Great Blue heron, Nature, New England, Piliated Woodpeckerhealy24yang

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This past week has given us a great deal of ugliness – and beauty, too, in the responses of support for those who have been attacked but not necessarily bowed. Here is a little bit of beauty from New England sent out to all the world in hopes of giving some comfort, distraction, happiness. Please enjoy.

First, I have images from our bicycle ride in Cheshire, Connecticut. I saw plenty of remarkable birds. Here is a neat shot of a Great Blue Heron. He blends in with the leaves, doesn’t he? We were so fortunate to get this close a shot.

We also saw this neat flock of mallards enjoying a swim together in the canal next to the trail.

This was one of the several pairs. Clearly honeys. The foregrounded leaves of salmon to yellow emerging from green captures fall elegance.

The same couple swim toward some delicate red berries. The lady duck seems to have an itchy tootsie.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a shot of the most exciting bird of the day. A Piliated Woodpecker! Those guys are gigantic! Like pteranodons! I don’t have a picture of my own, so I am borrowing a photo (with proper accreditation). This guy was bigger than the large crows with whom he/she was tussling. I would that I could have gotten close enough with my camera. So, thank you Andrew Brown at Wikipedia.

Our October holiday weekend took us on plenty of day trips. On our drive home from a rail trail ride, Yang brought us through Stafford, Ct. where we stopped at sunset for these gorgeous colors.

The reflections of the fiery maples and oaks on the pond at sunset were magnificent!

Here are Yang and I in some pictures, so you know we were really here to take the photos.

What a lovely bouquet of all the lushest fall colors.

I have some more pix, but I don’t want anyone to pass out from foliage overdose – so I’ll save them for a Part 2.