Plum Island

Another summer day trip this year was to Plum Island - a larger barrier island north of Boston.   A nice beach, some nice homes. But I went mostly for the birds.

A friend had taken some great photos of birds on the island.  Given the challenge of birding in the trees during the summer, I thought a nice open area would provide more opportunities.

This area is special as there is a lot of preserved marshland.   Plum Island, while a barrier island, is also home to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.  Plum Island sound is also surrounded by several other preserved wetlands, making the entire area a great habitat for a variety of water foul.

The Marsh on Plum Island - looking west towards the sound

The island itself was a variety of habitats.   I expected mostly marsh and beach, but found the island had a large number of trees, which surprised me.  Driving down the island it wasn't long before I heard Jays, Catbirds and mockingbirds in the trees along the road.   The trees included several Pine groves, which provided eats for Black Capped Chickadees, who spent the day coming through the cones looking for seeds.

Boardwalk connecting the beach (behind me), grassland, small forest, then the road

Chickadee picking seeds out of a pine cone

My first stop showed some of the challenges I would face in birding.    While I didn't have trees in the way, the challenge today was distance.    So many of our feathered friends were far away - my 300mm just wasn't enough. 

Most likely Yellowlegs, zoomed and cropped to the max

However, on occasion a bird would be close enough for a great photo and ID

Greater Yellowlegs, feeding close to shore

For me it was fascinating to see 'true birders' in this area.   I was interesting in getting great shots (Yellowlegs, above), whereas the birders were there with spotting scopes and chairs, staring at the cluster above.   Apparently they were waiting to see markings as there was rumored to be a rare bird amongst the birds.    Right now I'm more interested in getting a great photo than checking birds off a 'seen' list.   (Although I do enjoy seeing a new bird for the first time.

However, the 300mm did work well when birds took off and flew close by. 

Juvenile Herring Gull.   Looks awful hawk-like from this angle

Great Egret   (Snowy Egrets have yellow feet)

Of course, you don't always need the zoom for an amazing photo

Great Egret, foraging in the middle of the marsh

Plum Island itself is one long road form the entrance to the tip of the island, with several parking areas to leave your car and explore.   Some areas are just walks into the marsh. One has a few boardwalks that go throughout the trees and dunes.   And, of course, several are for people going to the beach.   After spending most of the day exploring, it was definitely time to hit the beach.

One of several boardwalks connecting the road to the beach

Beaches are connected to the road via boardwalks.   Not only easy on the feet, the boardwalks are there to preserve the dune habitat.   They're worth a slow stroll to check out the plant and wildlife living in the scrub habitat.

If you drive far enough down the island, the beaches are not very populated.  There were maybe a half dozen people on the beach on this Friday. 

Plum Island meets the Atlantic

Perhaps because I grew up not far form the ocean (sound), but there is nothing like the ocean to bring me to a calm place.  (Yes, I'm one of those strange people that love the smell of 'low tide'.)  After just watching the waves roll in for a while, I couldn't resist and had to take my shoes off and walk in the surf for a while.

And my walk was rewarded.   Not only did the camera not get wet, there were several gulls and Sanderlings on the shore who didn't mind getting their photo taken.    Sanderlings are the birds that feed right where the ware meets the ocean, and 'run away' when a wave comes in, then run back out was the water recedes to find bites to eat right under the wet sand.

Sanderlings, rushing in as the waves go out

Hanging out on the beach was a perfect way for me to end my day.

I will definitely visit Plum Island another day.   I found they do open at 5am, so potential for sunrise photos one day (you never know).  A longer lens would be nice, but I've also found several web sites that list what kind of birds are seen where, so maybe do a little research to see what can be seen on the island.    And if I visit in August again, maybe leave the camera in the car and bring swim trunks - the water was super warm.

Please visit my Flickr Plum Island album to see some more photos.

Thanks for visiting, and maybe see you on the Island one day....

Sunshiny Day

"Sunflower Parking"

The sign struck me as odd.   I was driving to Plum Island for the day, and had started seeing "No roadside parking" temporary signs for about a half mile.   Also odd, since there was nothing around and no reason to park.   As I rounded a turn I saw the "Sunflower Parking" sign at a little farm stand.  But as I rounded the corner I saw a small field of sunflowers. 

I made note of the field and continued on with my trip

Overview of the field

On my way back I kept my eyes peeled.

I saw the field again (above) and decided 'why not'.    After I pulled in I was directed to this rutted gravel path to 'go around back'.    I didn't hear the banjos playing, but it was close.  :)   The road just lead back to a fallow field used for parking, where I paid $10 for the privilege. 

Path next to the sunflower field

I was not visiting Colby Farm.   Doing some searching when I got home, apparently this is one of the top places to photograph a sunflower field in New England.  The sunflowers were actually past their peak - many dropping or giving up their seeds, but the field was colorful enough it made for some nice shots.   But that did tell me that the field was gown for the photography - if they were selling sunflowers they would have been harvested already.

View from the 'back' of the field

I had an enjoyable time there.   I walked around the whole field to see what there was to see.    Obviously the side the flowers were facing was most interesting, but on the back side you had a chance to walk into the field a bit and get some close-up shots.   For the field overall, I was able to hold my camera over my head to get some field shots - there really weren't any high points to get a nice overhead shot (no rolling hills)

Some highlights

Close-up, high contrast

A little fun with B&W

A stranger posing for her own photo made a great subject for mine

And, of course, I had to get the obligatory selfie (What did we do before social media?)

Your blogger

Colby Farm also has a small animal collection near by (a few ducks and chickens, a goat or two - no petting) and a farm stand with fresh veg and local meat - Colby farms 20 acres.   They also had burgers and dogs on a grill - if you're there with the kids.   Right off I-95, it's a nice visit, and would recommend it to fellow photographers, or anyone who is a fan of sunflowers. 

Thanks for visiting!    Please check out more of my photography on my Flickr page.

Fascinating Fungi

I love mushrooms.

Well, I've loved eating them for years now.   But it wasn't until I joined in the Urban Nature Walks that I got really interested in the in the wild.  Now I enjoy seeing them in the wild, and am learning to identify them based on their looks and location.

Been a dry summer in Boston though, so not a lot of fungi on our Franklin Park walks. 

On a recent Friday I took a field trip to Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, southwest of Boston in Sharon.   I had hoped to do some birding - but to no avail.   Aside from a few regular birds, there wasn't much to see.  (Although I heard a pileated woodpecker, he was not to be found).

Instead, I found a plethora of fungi!!  The forest was damp enough and diverse enough there were mushrooms everywhere.  Even more interesting, different parts of the forest held different species.  Some parts of the forest were drier than others.  Some got more sunlight.  each had different medium for a mushroom to grow in.

Whatever the case, it made for some nice viewing and interesting photography.   Some highlights of my walk are below....

As for birds - that didn't work out as well.   Apparently they now have a meadow, which I  didn't find until mid afternoon - and the birds hang out there in the mornings.    Most birds were your regular cast of characters - Blue Jays, Robins, Downy woodpecker, Catbirds, Hummingbirds, and a cluster of Black Capped Chickadees   (They seem to love pine trees).   

I didn't find out until later that I had heard a Pileated Woodpecker while walking.   (middle age frumpy guy with binoculars tuns into another middle age frumpy guy with camera and binoculars...)  I ran into another birder and he told me that "That's too loud to have been a woodpecker" was the pileated.   Had I known at the time, I might have gone seeking him out. 

Black Capped Chickadee with punk haircut

Plenty if other wildlife as well.   A few frogs, lots of dragonflies (huge ones, that wouldn't land anywhere for a good photo), and a ton of pollinators.

For more photos of my walk, see some of the highlights in this Flickr album.

If you're interested in identifying mushrooms yourself, I've found the book Fascinating Fungi of New England to be a great resource!


Thanks for visiting, and see my Flickr page for even more photos.