Hooded Merganser

Back Bay, Part Three

Rae Spencer6 Comments

Back Bay View Feb 6

A final set of photos from Wednesday’s walk at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

Back Bay View Feb 6

Back Bay View Feb 6

Back Bay View Feb 6

Back Bay View Feb 6

Back Bay View Feb 6

A rich variety of wildlife makes every visit a fascinating new adventure.

Warbler Feb 6

Turtle Feb 6

Turtle Feb 6

Back Bay View Feb 6

Coot Feb 6

Coot Feb 6

Ducks Feb 6

Ducks Feb 6

Ducks Feb 6

(The ducks pictured above are a new species for me, and I would love a little help identifying them. Are they Gadwalls?)

Merganser Feb 6

Merganser Feb 6

As much as I enjoyed taking these photos, I regret that I missed the deer.

Tracks Feb 6

And I’m aching to know who left the following tracks on a patch of sand near the trail.

Tracks Feb 6

There were two sets of tracks, side-by-side, moving in the same direction. The footprints were slightly smudged, but the tail-drag marks were clear enough. What do you think? Did I miss otters? Or are the tracks more lizard-like?

I can’t resist a mystery, and I would love to add deer photos to the archive. I’m already planning my next walk…

More Rain, More Geese, and Something New

Rae Spencer7 Comments

Geese Jan 15

Today’s cold rain trapped me between overdue errands and a warm afternoon in bed with a book. After procrastinating most of the morning, I decided to hurry through my errands, which might get me home in time to spend a few hours with my book.

I didn’t intend to stop anywhere for photos, but packed my camera by mistake as I rushed to leave the house. A few hours later, when it became clear that my errand list was too long and the day too short, I decided to slow down and take advantage of my mistake. If I couldn’t get to my book, I could at least take a few photos.

Cormorants Jan 15

As I splashed toward these cormorants, wishing for a thicker coat and waterproof shoes, a group of smallish ducks emerged from a hidden spot near the bank.

Mergansers Jan 15

They were a new species for me, and I could hardly wait to get home and look them up. (Are they Hooded Mergansers?)

Mergansers Jan 15

I’m adding this pond to my list of places to revisit, should we ever get another sunny day…