Author: Pat D

We went looking for fall colors and found kingfishers instead. At 3 different locations recently, we watched the kingfishers doing their thing. It was almost like they were watching us instead of the other way around! I just love finding these guys.

The Great Essex Scarecrow Festival has returned this year and the participation levels are wonderfully fun to see! It’s a fundraiser for the Essex Council on Aging. Creativity is is full display all over Essex, as you can clearly see here. It’s a fun little display well worth the short ride up the road on one of these beautiful fall days.

The new parking kiosks appear to be installed and in working order. You might want to download the Flowbird app.

There is always a story waiting for you when you stop by the Little River Landing. This time it was about the birds, mostly the herons camouflaging waterside. I was very impressed with how well they blended in. The cormorant seemed not to notice as he bathed and the kingfisher turned his back on the heron pair, but noisily.

We were riding around Essex recently and noticed the old police building is being demolished. This got us wondering about ClamFest status for this year. Although it had been scheduled for Oct 24, it has been cancelled for this year. This is apparently due to difficulties in the restaurant industry making it difficult to hold the chowder competition, which is the featured event for the ClamFest. We are sorry to hear this as it has been a favorite fall event prior to COVID but we will look forward to its return.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of the demolition along with the new station.

I was feeling a little out of sorts and prescribed myself some time outside enjoying the beautiful fall. Worked like a charm. I stopped at the Cox Reservation in Essex for these shots. I heard new-to-me bird and animal calls. One squirrel example here in the video. These vocals could be heard far and wide though I do not know what was going on for the squirrel (input welcome). It’s kind of amazing what you see and hear once you stop to look and listen!

Special wishes for a very happy birthday today for GMG Jim. You will find him at the Magtoberfest car show with his Mustang from 11- 5 today on Lexington Ave if you want to give him a shout out. As you may know, Jim has been visiting Gloucester since our honeymoon in 1985 and here are some photos from over the years before we were able to retire here. As you can see, the years have (mostly) been kind……..

There’s a big party planned in Magnolia tomorrow and they are calling it Magtoberfest (love that)! Pat D’s Photos will be there at the Cape Ann Makers Market in the Magnolia Library along with about 20 vendors including our friends at Cape Ann Sea Salt and Ardizzoni Photography. For this Magnolia show, I will be featuring a couple of items you might find interesting including this triptych canvas of the “old” Magnolia Pier just before the storm that destroyed the it in 2018. Also featured will be notecards of our “Magnolia Eagles”! We will also have gift baskets, prints, puzzles and other items available for your holiday considerations. No supply line issues at the Magtoberfest so stop by 11-5 on Sunday Oct 10.

Have you been wondering about these signs around town (like I have been)? I don’t know about you, but I found myself saying “who is this Buddy and why am I not familiar with the name?” Turns our they are advertisements for the current play “Think of Me Tuesday” running at Gloucester Stage until Oct 17.

The company has returned to the indoor stage for its last show this season. The play is especially for those of you who love Gloucester and contains many many inside references you will enjoy. Bonus: the new bathrooms have been completed! Call for reservations today and take note you will need a mask as well as proof of vaccination.

Some scenery around town recently made me think these are good candidates for this year’s Cape Ann Plein Air Festival artists. I’m just calling them my own personal plein air photos! I will be gallery sitting at the pop up gallery 123 Main Street on Saturday if you’d like to stop by to see the real thing. Come on down and say hello from 11-3.

We took our company up the road a bit to the Village Restaurant in Essex for dinner recently. After making online reservations (easy-peasy) we were greeted and seated although one member of our party had not yet arrived. That’s a bonus when you have a young child with you! It was dusk and beautiful out back. I noticed chargers for electric vehicles (another bonus) AND the service was friendly and efficient. Our daughter ordered the bucket of rum which was literally a bucket and she was quite pleased. We also had broiled scallops, fish fry and a sandwich. It was a comfortable and relaxed dinner in a very pretty setting and I can’t wait to return.

We had a visit from our grandson recently and took him down to Maritime Gloucester to check out the touch tanks. It was a wonderfully immersive experience for him, approved by his zoo educator Mom. Thanks Maritime Gloucester! If you haven’t been in a while (with or without a child), make it a point to stop down. Inside and out, it’s a winner!

A fundraiser for the O’Maley field hockey team was held last week at the Magnolia 525 Tavern on Lexington Ave and it was a huge success. We stopped by for some of the fun and to help support the team as well as the local restaurant. It was easy to make the online reservations or you can call. The food was yummy: I had the Asian Short Ribs and Jim had the Eggplant Parm special. The strawberry shortcake was a sweet way to end the evening. The place was hopping especially with so many team members and their families in attendance. Special shout out to Josie Martell for organizing the event. If you want to offer a fundraiser, this is something to consider!

Open til 1 today! You still have time to stop by.

As I posted, we recently saw a young eagle in our nearby “resting tree”. The very next day, we spotted a pair of adults in the “nesting tree”! I believe these to be the same pair we saw last spring in that same nest practicing building skills. I am very happy to see them return! Any sort of eagle sighting is a blessing.

The newly completed Sea Level Rise Mural at Ocean Alliance as seen from the harbor as presented by the Cape Ann Climate Coalition. It’s quite striking.

I visited Medford this week to try to find some eagles at Mystic Lakes Park since my Facebook memories indicated that we’d seen some there a year ago. Although I did see an eagle in flight from a distance, I spent most of my time watching this heron patiently hunting for its lunch. Over the course of the hour I watched it, this heron did not successfully catch his prey for nearly the whole hour, but I was rewarded just as I was starting to think about giving up the ghost. The heron seemed to enjoy a hearty meal on this beautiful fall day.

I was surprised to see a large bird in the “resting tree” behind our apartment as we haven’t seen too many larger birds recently. But I knew right away from its size, appearance and behavior that it is likely a young eagle. I am very excited to see young eagles hanging around this area! Young eagles in the area often means there are adults around too though I did not see any this time. As is usual, the crows were not happy and felt the need to harass the young eagle, which it seemed to mostly take in stride. I hope it returns soon.

I was surprised to learn that the School Street Sunflower field in Ipswich is still open for a couple of more weekends with new patches of sunflowers expected to peak within that time. It’s a great take to stop for a visit and chat with Paul, the creator of the “Light” themed paths through the field. I took my sister there under threatening skies and gray clouds but it was still spectacular. The light was very interesting and added to the experience. If you go, I suggest purchasing the tickets online here and take notice of the field location on Lowe’ Lane (near the Dairy Queen) as Paul informed us this would be the location of the tulip field next spring. There’s something about sunflowers that just brings a smile out and the welcoming greeting upon arrival is a nice bonus. Well worth the short drive. More pictures, details and an announcement at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/Pat-Ds-Photos-and-Adventures-105596528079294

Big news from Cake Ann on their Facebook page!