Nature Notes

 Tuesday April 1 When I went to check on the  owls this evening, the mom was off the nest. Here are 2 of the owlets. Great Horned Owlets Friday April 4 Walking around the pond early this morning, an immature  bald eagle , white head, white and brown tail feathers, circled over the water, then swooped down, talons out, touching the water with a little splash but came away empty handed. Probably 4 years old, according to All About Birds (they get the full white head and tail in their fifth year.) Walking along Pond St. on the way home, a  Cooper's hawk was perched high up in one of the trees, possibly scoping out the many house sparrows and starlings that have been active around there lately. In the afternoon, went to Drumlin Farm to see the lambies and goaties. The lambs were in the barn, almost all lying down, looking tired out. And in the evening, I went back to check on the owlets. Saw all three this time. The nest is starting to get crowded - you can see mom ge...

Saturday March 1 Morning light at the pond. My neighbor, David, mentioned that he's been hearing  red-winged blackbirds over at the Arb, so I went over this afternoon to check it out. I think of them as one of the first birds to return after migration - exciting after a long, cold, exceptionally windy February. Lots of males around the marsh, some perched high up in trees, sounding off with their loud, buzzy trills. Wanting to see them closer up, I walked along the top of the concrete conduit that runs through the middle of the marsh. At one point, as I looked down, I spotted several owl pellets - indigestible bits of fur, bone and teeth from their food that they compact together and regurgitate, often from a regular roosting spot. I saw six within a couple of square feet.   Sunday March 2 Walking past Mary and David's house, I noticed their witch hazel has started to bloom, another sign of spring. Later on this afternoon, stopping at Leverett Pond, which is almost entirely...

Sunday February 2  Headed over to the Arboretum at dusk to meet up with Beth and her friend Judy to look for the great horned owls . Walking along the conifer path, we heard one hooting and headed that way. Saw a couple of people looking up at a tree, and there it was, perched on a branch near the trunk. We got a good look at it before it flew off. Following, we found it again, perched on an open branch, easy to see. Wonderful! Monday February 3 A little snow fell overnight, making interesting patterns on the ice at the pond this morning. And making the conifer path in the Arb a winter wonderland.   Wednesday February 5 On my way home from the pond this morning, I spotted a  Cooper's hawk land on a post in a neighbor's front yard along my street. After a minute or so it swooped up to land in a tree and then took off over the rooftops. Saturday February 8 Saw the mixed species flock again at the pond this morning: a couple of  black-capped chickadees , a downy wood...