Day 2 Filming the Duckling Family

Mallard Duckling ©Kim Smith 2015The Mallard Duck family that I have been filming during the early morning hours this past week is allowing me to get very close, venturing to within two feet from where I am tucked in amongst the reeds by the water’s edge. The ducklings mirror the parent’s every action and they are are especially adorable learning how to oil their feathers. Although the female attempts to stay close, and the male is always hovering nearby, one is becoming increasingly independent, a little too independent if you ask me. I can’t get over the ducklings vulnerability–its a miracle any survive to adulthood.

Female Mallard and Ducklings ©Kim Smith 2015

The mixed flock of ducks is comprised mostly of Mallards, with several pairs of American Black Ducks mixed in. A single pair of Blue-winged Teals was spotted for several days.

Blue-winged Teal adult male breeding ©Kim Smith 2015

Blue-winged Teal Adult Male Breeding Plummage

American Black Duck ©Kim smith 2015American Black Duck

Cape Ann Brewery

Met a lovely couple from Acton at the Brewery on Friday.  Guess what, the Brewery  is growing their own hops.  Great view and weather on Friday.

May 29, 2015 visitors from Acton enjoying the view

May 29, 2015 Looks what growing at the brewery

How Bout the Pair Of Balls On this Hazey Daizey Chick?

What kind of psychopath holds a bat in their hands?

I ever get a bat in my house, here’s what I’d do…

I’d go to the hardware store and buy a couple sheets of industrial strength plywood and cordon off the room in which the bat was last seen never to set foot in that room again.  Just totally write off the use of that room forever and ever and a day.

https://instagram.com/p/3UBhWKF-GS/

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Holding a bat in her hand.  That’s just plum crazy.

Dracula, ever seen the movie?

Behind the scenes of the GMG Podcast. A MUST SEE VIDEO!!

If your only going to watch one YouTube Video this Summer this is the one!

Behind the scenes of a typical GMG Podcast.

The Ball Busting starts at about the 55 second mark in the video.

The Stars include; Joey, Kim Smith and Toby Pett.

and off screen commentary by Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Frontiero Jr

ENJOY!

Beauport Princess May 31, 2015 Brunch Cruise

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cape ann dining news
http://capeanneats.com

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Go to www.beauportprincess.com to purchase your tickets today!!

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GHS LAX PREPPING FOR THE TOURNEY IN THE EARLY MORNING FOG!

Hi Joey,

The girls lacrosse team prepared for our 1st tournament appearance in the fog at an early morning practice today.  Here’s a cool picture of them warming up the goalies.

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submitted by meghan_w_mac

Spectacular Rubber Duck Race in Rockport Today!!

I have attended the Indianapolis 500 race in Indianapolis and it does not hold a candle to the thrills and excitement of the Rubber Duck Race put on by the friends of the Council on Aging in Rockport! A few quick shots just after the race was completed follow.

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Rubber Duck and Homie mistakenly thought the race ended here after washing out to sea. They eventually figured it out and were able to get grandstand seats close to the pits with Blue Duck.
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The dedicated Rubber Duck Race Officials who make sure everything including psi of all ducks are within specs.
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Blue Duck has a winning ticket in here, she can feel it.
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Here comes the official pace car and OMG she starts spinning out!
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The Pace Car Rubber Duck blows a tire and flips as she goes by the pits!
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Here comes the pack! Little pinky is edging out baby yellow!
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Very few keep their head above water as the surge to gain an edge. The smell of burning rubber, the deafening quacks!
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Pile up in the third turn but there is no yellow light, no caution flag in this duck eat duck race. Race results will follow. Blue Duck was seen ripping her tickets in two. There’s always next year Blue Duck! Next time I think we need to shave and wax our ducks.

New Shade Tree At Cripple Cove Pleases Bob Driscoll :)

Hey Joey  Going passed The Ben Smith Playground at Cripple Cove, I noticed a new shade tree has been planted.  Most awesome thing for the residents of Gloucester to be doing.  The quality of life always improves where trees are nurtured.  Thought I would share the tree with you and your viewers.  Keep up the good work Gloucester,  Bob Driscoll

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and my Madeline couldn’t resist cracking a related joke…

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Madeline being Madeline

A post shared by Joey C (@captjoe06) on

Why I Relay…

Hello Joey!   On the Relay for Life of Cape Ann we have been posting testimonies of people who relay and why…I was wondering if you would be interested in posting some of the testimonies on your blog to generate some excitement for the upcoming Relay for Life of Cape Ann at Burnham’s Field June 20th from  12:00 noon to 10:00 pm.  I am attaching my testimony below for your consideration.  Thanks for your continued support…We really appreciate it….JPEG is my son on Cancer Survivor’s Day 1997
Why I Relay:
The true meaning of a heartbreak:  I had boyfriends in my teens that I thought were the end all and be all….when there was a breakup I would cry for days feeling heartbroken.  I had a failed marriage, when that ended I felt broken hearted….What I didn’t know was the real feel of a heart break that happened on August 1st 1996 when my now husband, Dan got a phone call that the lump they removed from our 4 year old son’s chin was in fact Hodgkins Lymphoma…I still remember that pain like it just happened….and the fear… the unknowing….then slowly the mending…people coming together, family, friends, people I didn’t even know.  The random acts of kindness, someone holding your hand as you cried, the prayers and the love!!!! My son Travis is now 23 years old and celebrating 19 years remission.  Apiece of my heart is still chipped away, as everyday I think of cancer, everyday I fear it’s return…. I relay for the random acts of charitable kindness, the friends, the family, the love….and that some day…. some day..No other parent will feel that heart break.
Brenda Leahy
Relay For Life of Cape Ann
Leadership committee

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Allen Sloane Forwards Homey As Flying Consultant

Joey,

did you see that Homey has a gig as a “flying consultant”?

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it is photo #4

The week in 39 photos – CNN.com

Sunset Storm Timelapse From Becky Tober At Cape Ann TV

Sunset Storm Timelapse

From monster clouds to a colorful sky, see the whole night’s sky in under a minute!

D.E.S. Crowning – Thursday Night Mass

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Father Jim Achadinha  with Mr. and Mrs. Jose Diaz Ferreira the 2015 Emperor.

IMG_4149 Stitch

Father Jim Achadinha gave mass in Portuguese at the D.E.S. Portuguese Club.

Other scheduled events celebrating the Feast of the Holy Spirit,

Friday May 29, Father “Jim” will be leading in the singing of the Rosary in Portuguese; all are invited at 6:30 at the Portuguese Club on Prospect Street.

May 31st Mass will be held on Trinity Sunday at 11:45 at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, the Crowing procession will depart the Portuguese Club at 10:00.

Come celebrate a 700 year old Portuguese tradition honoring the Feast of the Holy Spirit.

Baby Bunny Nest ~ An Enchanting Discovery!

Look what we uncovered while working at a client’s garden ~ 

https://instagram.com/p/3O-OLmDyhV/

Baby rabbits are called kits or kittens and these look like they are Eastern Cottontails, the most common and widespread species of rabbits in North America.

https://instagram.com/p/3O-r9qjyia/

In the future if I accidentally come upon a similar looking nest, I think I would leave it undisturbed. We were very startled by the sight of the baby wild rabbits after pulling away leaves and the downy soft “lid,” or protective covering, and they very nearly were almost raked!

https://instagram.com/p/3O9z4XDygZ/

 

Look What Andrea Holbrook Captured ~ A GLOSSY IBIS IN GLOUCESTER!

 

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Andrea writes, “OK , because of where I work — Gloucester — and amazing bird photos posted by friends — that would be you Kimberley Caruso and Kim Smith — I find myself stopping to shoot shorebirds with a camera. Spotted Thursday morning at Grant Circle, a glossy ibis and two snowy egrets. Not great photos but I had never seen a glossy ibis before!”

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Thank you so much Andrea for sharing your photos of the stunning Glossy Ibis. It’s breeding range in the Western Hemisphere is quite narrow and I would love, love to capture this species on film. Keeping my eyes peeled thanks to you!

From the Mass Audubon website, “In Ancient Egypt, ibises were venerated as sacred birds. They were believed to have a connection to the deity Thoth, the wise scribe and lorekeeper of the Egyptian pantheon. While Glossy Ibises are not literate, they are marvelous travelers. The Western Hemisphere population of this species represents a fairly recent arrival to the New World, believed to be descendants of birds who flew from Africa to South America in the early nineteenth century (Davis & Kricher 2000). Read More Here