Sunrise and a Pied-Billed Grebe

I haven't been that motivated by photography lately.  I thought maybe it was time to get outdoors at a time other than midday.   As a result, I thoroughly enjoyed watching a beautiful sunrise at Farm Pond in Framingham.  There's something about that first morning light that can take your breath away.

And to top it all off, there were a few American Robins. a White-Breasted Nuthatch, and a nice flock of Yellow-Rumped Warblers moving through the trees along the water.  Unfortunately, sunrise is so late that I had to rush to get back to start work on time.

I spent my lunchtime break at Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton.

American Goldfinch

a snake passing by in the water

Pied-Billed Grebe!

I almost didn't see this little guy!  Glad I didn't miss it!  I thought it looked pretty against the lily pads.

Ground Pine (aka Princess Pine)

Shadow Darner

More Snowbirds

I stopped at the Rural Cemetery in Southborough and walked a little along the Sudbury Reservoir Trail.  Dark-Eyed Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Mute Swans were the only birds of note.

 Mute Swans (of five seen)

 Dark-Eyed Junco

The Dark-Eyed Junco is a winter visitor in our state.  I saw my first ones for this season this past weekend.  They are definitely a sign of the coming season and are also known by the nickname of "snowbirds".

 White-Throated Sparrow

There was a small flock of sparrows eating seed (presumably) from among the freshly scattered grass seed at the cemetery.

Mute Swan

Nature Walk at Fruitlands Museum

Finally the nor'easter released its hold on us, and the rain let up.  I heard on the news that we received between three and seven inches of rain.  I believe it!  It was wonderful to see blue sky and sunshine again!

I had a few nice birds in my yard before I left:

White-Throated Sparrow
Gorgeous!!!

Downy Woodpecker

Common Grackle

I also saw:  Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren and Black-Capped Chickadee.

Then, I was off to Fruitlands Museum in Harvard.  I paid for admission to the grounds only as I had visited the buildings last year around this time.  It is a wonderful place to walk.

There are still a few lingering blossoms...

Birds:

American Crow

Black-Capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Dark-Eyed Junco (No!!!!  I don't want snowbirds yet!)

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

Gray Catbird

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-Tailed Hawk

Thrush (unknown variety)

Turkey Vulture

White-Breasted Nuthatch

White-Throated Sparrow

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Turkey Vulture

Dark-Eyed Junco

Garter Snake

 I love how this mushroom looks like a flower!

White-Throated Sparrow

Eastern Phoebe

Wooly Aphid

Brown Stink Bug

 Birch Polypore

Autumn Meadowhawk

 Hairy Woodpecker

On my way home, I stopped for a short walk at Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

 Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillar

 Stink Bug

For the most part, there seemed to be a "lavender" theme.

 Autumn Croci

Beautybush

 White-Breasted Nuthatch

 Ichneumon wasp

Redvein Enkianthus

I had to stop one last time in Southboro to photograph the church with beautiful fall foliage next to it.