I had come to capture some of the maintenance activity that happens at the refuge. Ziggy was there with the chipper. He and Alan were cutting down many of the maples that were growing into the banks of the dike.

You can barely see Ziggy and his chainsaw cutting down the cluster of maples

Forty five minutes of cutting is rapidly turned to wood chips and recycled into the refuge
Every morning I was at the refuge this summer, I would encounter Mora who was obviously pregnant, speed walking to stay in great physical shape. While I was helping Alan and Ziggy by dragging branches they had cut to the chipper, I saw her for the first time in a couple weeks with her new son Phineas. She stopped for a brief moment to let me take their photo.

A large group from Temple Sinai in Brookline came to the refuge for a wonderful walk on a sunny day to enjoy God's creation, hold a small service for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, and spend time in fellowship. For a change birds got to hear people singing and the blowing of the shofar. Before they left, the children enjoyed using the telescope and the views from the tower.


Back in the refuge the sparrows are very active up and down the trails. They are often seen along the edges of the trails and in the reeds. One very cooperative subject worked his way up a cat tail until he was perching on the top, reminding me of this summer's Marsh Wrens.



Wandering around the refuge several other sights caught my eye.

While the ducks are generally skittish, this pair were feeding amongst the smart weed creating a classic Great Meadows image.

Ladybugs are everywhere (well it just seems that way) if you look close enough

This explosion of mushroom occurred in the last week. It wasn't here the last time I walked by.
