Sometimes The Bear Gets You

This morning I headed to Great Meadows to see what sorts of adventures awaited me. Though it was just a little past sunrise, there was already a car in the parking lot. It was one of those days where you might hear something, but you can't see it. If you could see it, there was something between you and it....or it moved on before I could get it in the the viewfinder. Enough of the complaining here is what I did see.


Female Downy Woodpecker






I was attracted to the unusual red color. It was only when I looked closely once I got home that I noticed the missing wing.


At the far end of the lower impoundment I scared a wood duck while crossing the bridge. I waited a while by the water control gate and they eventually reappeared.






The turtle didn't seem too bothered by the ducks...but he did disappear a little while later, so maybe he was waiting to make a dash to safety.


I've learned whenever water fowl start dunking to keep your camera ready because a stretch is coming up...I wish I had learned to set up my camera without reeds in the way.






The ducks weren't the only families out this morning. There were lots of human families also out enjoying a sunny Sunday morning. This was probably the largest group that I encountered.



I should have gotten a photograph of the group of birders I encountered, but I had the long telephoto on when I needed the wide angle. It was just the story of the day.