What's Bruin At Great Meadows

Sorry, for the lousy pun, but it was thrilling last night to watch the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since I was a youth. It was with mixed emotions that I went to bed; elated that the Bruins won, dreading the alarm set for 5:45AM. Roy had emailed the camera club that he was going to be at Great Meadows at 6:30AM and welcomed anyone who wanted to join him. I caught up with him and Lou shortly after they arrived.

A Great Blue Heron was fishing in the water next to the bridge. My friends got their fill of heron shots, reflection shots, and even a few heron portraits. Moving on to cross the bridge the bird finally felt unsafe and flew away...towards me. Learning from prior mistakes, this time I was prepared and got a couple good photographs, in the early morning light.



>

Around the refuge it was quiet. Photographically, there weren't a lot of subjects of interest. Most of the shots that were available were not as good as others that I have previously taken.

Wandering into the woods at the end of the upper impoundment we surprised a Belted Kingfisher which flew away. We found it a few moments later in the neighboring pond. As Roy and Lou tried to stealthily approach the bird, I stayed on the far shore. I was able to get these flight shots as the bird flew off when two joggers came thundering by.





Back near the center Dike Trail two families of geese were busy walking the path. The young goslings are growing fast. This family seems to have weather predators without too much impact.



As the weather becomes warmer you are starting to see Dragonflies and Damselflies. The few that you do encounter are usually busy flying back and forth. They are just now starting to light upon flowers and reeds. I have to add learning about identification of these insects to my growing To Do list. I've been told that while resting Dragonflies keep their wings outstretched but Damselflies fold their's back along their body
.