Outside my Office Window

The woods outside my office window were busy this morning.  A flock of Dark-Eyed Juncos pecked its way through my garden.  There had to be at least 25 of them.  Also, a flock of American Robins kept jockeying for position in the trees out front.  A Downy Woodpecker moved through.  Chipping Sparrows, Black-Capped Chickadees, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Blue Jays, and Tufted Titmice also moved through in small numbers.  A House Finch was chased off the peach tree by a Dark-Eyed Junco.  The sun shines directly into the same windows in the afternoon, so I have to pull the blinds, but it sure was a treat to see all those birds this morning!

I took my lunch break at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land.  They are finishing up the mowing of the front meadows.  The back meadows have not been touched yet.  I found birds active along the edges of the woods and in the remaining un-mowed sections.

Golden-Crowned Kinglet

prob. Eastern Phoebe

Palm Warbler (click to enlarge)

Hermit Thrush

 Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

There were tons of Eastern Bluebirds, and they looked so pretty against the fall colors in the background.  If you like bluebirds, visit Breakneck Hill!  I've seen them there year-round.

Morning at Hopkinton State Park

I was happy to discover the park is open from sunrise to sunset once again.  They must just open late during the summer season.  Guess the park ranger wants to sleep in during the summer!  In any case, I am glad to have the chance to be back for sunrise!  The light and colors and water all changed so much in the hour that I was there.  Once the sun came up, the mist formed above the water, too.

grey clouds to the East

cotton candy to the West

Dark-Eyed Junco

There was a nice flock of Dark-Eyed Juncos on the edge of the parking lot.  They were the only bird activity before the sun came up.

Once the sun came up and started warming the trees along the water, I saw 6 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets and 2 Golden-Crowned Kinglets.  Also a Downy Woodpecker, a flyover Double-Crested Cormorant, Blue Jays, a Northern Cardinal, a couple Brown Creepers, and Black-Capped Chickadees.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Breakneck Hill Conservation Land

The fields were being mowed today at Breakneck Hill.  Most of the nectar sources are gone by anyway, so I don't feel badly about it.  This is a wildlife-friendly mowing schedule compared to a lot of other places where I walk.

I saw a couple of Clouded Sulphurs and one Orange Sulphur today, but they were all from a distance.  Watching for butterflies is tough this time of year anyway, when milkweed seeds and falling leaves are all blowing in the wind distracting the eye.

There were some nice birds to make up for the lack of butterflies!

Apple Camouflage 

(click to enlarge and see who's eating the apples)

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Downy Woodpecker

 GORGEOUS!!

The rotting apples in the orchard are a popular substitute for flowers this time of year.

Meanwhile, outside my office window this afternoon, I was entertained by:

American Robins
Black-Capped Chickadees
1 Dark-Eyed Junco (first confirmed sighting of the fall)
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Tufted Titmice
1 Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Autumn Visit to Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

I missed Great Meadows during the government shutdown, so it was my destination today.

Great Blue Heron

Ruddy Ducks

Once the leaves fall down, hives start showing up!  I'm kind of glad that I don't see them when they are full of stinging insects!

Eastern Comma

again

Canada goose

Next I stopped at the Minuteman National Historic Park and walked the trail a bit, passing both the Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith's House.

Hartwell Tavern

Captain William Smith House

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Eastern Bluebird

Last but not least, I made one quick stop to check for butterflies at Stearns Farm on my way home.  There are still a few flowers!

 American Lady

Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary

I took a nice mid day walk at Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary, taking my time and walking the Cart Path, Pitch Pine and Sassafrass trails.  It was pretty quiet except for a White-Tailed Deer that I startled on Sassafrass Trail after the burn area.  Another pretty fall day here in New England.