October 2023: Hawks, Woodpeckers, Barred Owl
October1-7 Lots of walks, at the Arb, at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, and at Wachusett Meadows in Princeton, MA. Trees starting to turn color, love fall in New England. Unfortunately, the top of Wachusett Mountain was covered by dense fog. Arboretum Great Meadows, Concord Observation tower at the summit of Wachusett Mountain Wachusett Meadows, Otter Pond Sunday October 8 A couple of cormorants standing on top of the dinghy masts at the boathouse, looking a little out of place. I've never seen one perch there before; they're usually hanging out on the one lone willow on the tiny island at the north end of the pond. Tuesday October 10 Looking out the bathroom window as I brushed my teeth this morning, saw six mute swans, all gleaming white, powerful, steady wingbeats thrusting them forward, flying low, descending to land on the pond. When I see them in their graceful flight, they stop me in my tracks, I'm so in awe of them. Sure enough, when I walked a...