New England Blogs

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Natick MA

This post has been overdue. I visited The Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary a few weeks ago with some camera club friends. We had a two hour tour with a Naturalist who works at the Sanctuary. It was a fantastic time and I highly recommend a visit here.

Some of the things we saw....

A nesting Canada Goose


A Bluebird perched in a tree


We saw many Eastern Painted Turtles. This one was a tiny baby turtle, however it's true size does not show well in this image.



A waterfall


Some friends getting the shot


Sparrow on a nesting box


Baltimore Orioles


Columbine


Tree Swallow


And finally an adorable Chipmunk


Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day

Honoring our heroes today. I hope you have enjoyed your long weekend.


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Eastern Kingbird, Island Grove Abington MA

Eastern Kingbird perched on a tree.


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Walter

This is Walter. He belongs to a member of my camera club. I may have said that incorrectly..........a member of my camera club belongs to him. There. That's better. Walter has become somewhat of a mascot for our club. Everyone loves Walter.


Monday, May 23, 2016

Abington Male Swan

Relaxing on a beautiful day.


Sunday, May 22, 2016

Boston's Politically Incorrect North End Tour

Anthony Gesualdi is a life long resident of the North End of Boston, also known as "Little Italy". Anthony knows the people and the neighborhood....he knows all of the good and bad restaurants, and tells it like it is. I had a FANTASTIC time during one of his walking tours that I recently took with some camera club friends. Anthony took us to local spots that none of the other North End tour guides will take you to see.

Polcaris Coffee Store has been in business since 1932. These are the original scales used to measure the coffee and other goods that are for sale.



The local barber shop


Inside Monica's Mercato which is a local delicatessen.


We were treated to the most delicious Italian Sub to share. It honestly was the best Italian Sub that I have ever eaten. 


A local Hat Making business


An old pay phone


Courtyard behind the Old North Church (which I blogged about a few days ago)


Interior shot of the Old North Church


Copp's Hill Burial Ground



Here we are in front of the Paul Revere Statue


The tour ended at Anthony's "Momma's house" where we gathered at the family dining room table, heard stories of the old neighborhood, and were treated to a pizza from Regina's, as well as a home made meal made by Mama herself. The meal ended with a rum cake from Modern Pastry. 


I highly recommend this tour. What a great way to see the North End.
The website if you are interested in more information:
http://www.bostonnorthendtours.com/


Saturday, May 21, 2016

Fox Kits

Update: On yesterday's blog post, I wrote that there are three fox kits. I was wrong.....I saw four of them out last evening. They really are adorable.


They particularly like to play around the shed and Mr. S's "toys" that are down around the shed. I need Mr S to clean up down there!



Adult



Friday, May 20, 2016

Fox

They say when one door closes, another one opens. Ironically, that really does tend to happen......and it happened to me this week. As I wrote in yesterdays blog post, I have been so sad about the loss of the local swans eggs. But Mother Nature has blessed me in another wonderful way. There is a fox den in the woods right behind my house!!! We have three baby kits and at least one adult. I'm not sure if it's Mom or Dad that I have been seeing.....but I know it's the same fox because the poor thing has an infection in it's left eye.

Here is the adult last night after a successful hunt......a Gray Catbird in it's mouth!



The Kits are so adorable and playful. They have been playing in the same immediate area right behind my house....so I assume that is where the den is located. I shot all of these photos while on my deck.



I'm looking forward to the kits coming further out of the woods so that I can get some closer shots.

Here is the adult this morning around 9:30 in my backyard.


Stopped twice to look at me and then went off on it's merry way.



I'm heading back outside to the deck right now with my camera.


Thursday, May 19, 2016

Abington Swan Nest 2016

Some sad news. The swan nest at Island Grove in Abington has been compromised by a human. The eggs are no longer viable and the swans have abandoned the nest and eggs. It's a very sad issue in so many ways. The person who I believe did this suffers from mental health problems.
Here are a few images I have recently taken.

Sitting on this years nest



Another day sitting on the new nest. Notice all of the bread and corn that has been placed there. It is harmful to the swans (the bread) but it is not illegal. So sad.


Here are the eggs that were taken from this years nest....these are sitting on last years nest.


Here are the very same eggs, one day later, sitting on this years nest which is about 100 feet up the pond away from last years nest. This is a cell phone image.


I hope you are following this. It's like "Who's on First"? Mind boggling that someone would do this. I pray that the person responsible for this gets the mental health care that they need. 

Final image is Mama taking a swim. I can't help but think that she looks sad. I know I am.


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

The Old North Church, Boston

The Old North Church was built in December of 1723. In April of 1775 Paul Revere told three Patriots to hang lanterns in the steeple to signal the movement of the British Army........"One if by land, two if by sea". It is the oldest standing church in Boston and is a National Historic Landmark.

Paul Revere Statue across from the church


From Copp's Hill


Beautiful interior





Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Hull Gut

Hull Gut is a channel about 1/2 mile wide in Boston Harbor between Pemberton Point in Hull and Peddock's Island, just off shore. It's a favorite place of ours to sit and watch the boats go by in the Summer, and it's a beautiful spot to catch a sunset over Boston.

We took a ride late yesterday afternoon and that's where we ended up. Here is a boat going through the Gut, with Peddock's Island  in the background.


Taking a rest....


It was so windy. that this gull was literally just hanging in the air right in front of me.