Sunday Bluebirds

Yesterday was too busy to put a blog post together.  In the afternoon, I visited Tower Hill Botanic Garden, still beautiful in late September.  Early evening, I went to Farm Pond in Framingham to try to catch the rise of the Super Moon.  Then, around 9, I went to Chestnut Hill Farm in Southboro to witness the spectacular full eclipse of the moon.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden:

Autumn Crocus 

Blackberry Lily

(gone to seed and showing why it is so named)

Great Spangled Fritillary

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

Pine Warbler

Black-Capped Chickadee on sunflower

Eastern Bluebird

Farm Pond:

Mute Swans

They are not my favorite bird (invasive species, bad for native ducks), but I loved how close they were together and the rings they were making in the water.  (Click to enlarge)

While I was waiting for the moon to rise, the sky took on a beautiful pink hue as the sun went down behind me.  I find this scene prettier than it was after the moon came up!

I was hoping the moon was going to align with the beautiful Armenian Church steeple, but no!  It had to come up over an ugly brick building and some parking lot lights!  I'm sure the blame is fairly placed on the photographer and not on the moon!!!

So, the distant views were better than zooming in on ugly brick buildings...even though you can't really feel the super-size of the moon from these views.

Chestnut Hill Farm:

Now for the eclipse!  Chestnut Hill Farm stayed open late so that people could come and watch the eclipse, and someone set up a telescope!  George and I went from 9-11 and enjoyed the beautiful night sky, great weather (cool but clear) and stunning views of the eclipse!

It became harder and harder to focus my hand-held camera the more the shadow covered the face of the moon.