One Of Those Days

At lunchtime, I drove up to NH to buy a kayak from a person on Craigslist.  Unfortunately, someone stole it out the back of his pickup truck during the morning.  Seeking some solace, I wandered over to Great Meadows.

It was cold and a little windy, but the sunshine helped keep you warm.  I ran into another photographer and we had a wonderful talk walking around the lower impoundment.  That's because few animals were out and about.  The river is still open, most of the other open water had started to freeze over again after the last couple cold days.

The photography continued in the theme of the day.  I stopped to watch some Black-capped Chickadees.  I've got some good shots of them earlier this winter, so I patient waited hoping they would work toward sunny branches closer to me.  You guessed it, the kept moving back before flying away.  This is the best shot I got, I just wish the bird was in focus.

Near the outflow from the lower impoundment there is an interesting gnarled tree.  I tried my attempt at capture an image of it, in the afternoon light.   Right now, I couldn't find the right angle - the background is just too busy to get the necessary separation.  I scanned all the holes in the trees, snags and stumps - but as you would guess whether new or old, nothing was hanging around.

Returning back, I stopped by the beaver lodge.  They were a bit active.  However, it's challenging to capture a good shot, due to the various branches.   With all the pruning US F&WS did last fall, it's too bad they didn't do here.   Of course the beavers are of much help either.  After all why did I have to watch one swim across the river with a freshly chewed branch.  There are a few that I wish he would chew right near his home.  (If he did, I would be willing to provide him & his spouse a lovely framed family photo they could hang in the lodge.)







At darkness started to fall, I heard a coyote howling.  It was a little too loud & a little too close for comfort, but it did sound like it was across the river.  I wasn't going to stick around to learn either how well he swam, how far down stream he had to walk to cross over to my side.  (I know down by Route 225, the Concord is still frozen across.)  I took some comfort that my tripod could always be used as a weapon...Just need to remember to take the camera off.

The river started to become a hub of avian activity as ducks and geese started to arrive to spend the night in the open water.  Of course, even with flash it would be too dark to photograph them now.  What little light was left was reflecting off the white snow; but you had to step carefully to not twist your ankle in one of the many frozen holes.

Even the sunset conspired to join my so-so day.  The colors were nice.  Some high thin clouds were starting to form.  If they had only started to form about 90 minutes earlier, the photos would be to die for.  But that's why you have to come often - you never know if this is going to be the day of the killer shot, or the day where it's hardly worth your while to upload the card from your camera.  Today was smack dab, in the middle.