To reward myself for a day of work well done, I decided to run over to Great Meadows to for the approach of evening and the setting sun. As I arrived, the wind picked up significantly, changed from the Northeast and turned cold.
It was a typical spring day at Great Meadows. The Canada Geese coming, going, eating, and nesting. A Great Blue Heron was fishing. Muskrats were all, feeding.
As I continued around the impoundment, I happened upon a pair of Wood Ducks preening in the reeds. Usually Wood Ducks are very skittish, but these stayed for a brief moment, before flying away. Unfortunately, the combination of setting sun and flying bird meant that the flight photos were going to be a trade off between motion blur of the wings and lack of focus due to depth of field. I like them anyways; probably since I have so few good Wood Duck photos. They are pretty birds.
Continuing my journey around the lower impoundment, I stopped by my favorite snag to see if the Tree Swallows were there. They weren't, but a Downy Woodpecker was.
The light of the setting sun light started to dance across the landscape. I am always drawn to the blues and golden color of the cat tails. Unfortunately, the sun soon retreated behind a cloud never to return this day.
I had three interesting encounters to end my day. First this carp was trying to migrate across the spillway into the impoundment. Second was listening to woman, with whom I shared the walk back to the parking lot, describing how she she enjoyed the refuge this evening. She had stopped by for a dose of natural tranquility as a tonic to her very stressful day. Third, I encountered a Yellow Warbler in the bushes near the kiosk.
