Author: Pat D

Seasonal restaurant and activity openings updated as of April 22 with changes since last week in bold. Thanks Bex Borden, Cape Ann Handywoman for assistance and legwork (and the idea)! Next update April 30 for the final one!

ACTIVITIES
Hammond Castle Museum	978-283-2080	www.hammondcastle.org	May 1
7 Seas Whale Watch	978-283-1776	www.7seaswhalewatch.com	April 17
Cape Ann Whale Watch	978-283-5110	www.seethewhales.com	April 17
YankeeFleet	978-283-0313	www.yankeefleet.com	OPEN
Pauline’s Gifts	978-281-5558	www.paulinesgifts.com	May 2021
Cape Ann Campsites	978-283-8683.	www.capeanncampsite.com	May 15
Vista Motel	978-281-3410	www.VistaMotel.com	OPEN
Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks	978-283-7600	www.OceanHouseGloucester.com	April 15
White Farms on the Causeway	978-559-7470	www.facebook.com/White-Farms-on-the-Causeway	OPEN
Thacher Island Trips/Straitsmouth Island trips	617-599-2590	www.thacherisland.org	May 1 for tickets
Marshall’s Farm Stand	978-283-2168	www.marshallsfarmstand.com	OPEN
RESTAURANTS etc
525 Tavern	978-525-3250	www.525magnolia.com	OPEN
Atlantis Oceanfront Motel Breakfast	978-283-0014	atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/	May 15
Azorean	978-283-5500	www.azoreanrestaurant.com	OPEN
Beauport Hotel Dining	978-491-5090	1606restaurant.com	OPEN
Blue Collar Lobster	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Capt Carlos	978-283-6343	www.captaincarlos.com	May 6
Causeway	978-281-5256	www.thecausewayrestaurant.com	OPEN
Charlie’s Place	978-281-5002	www.facebook.com/Charlies-Place-111697215533360/	OPEN
Crows Nest	978–281–2965	www.crowsnestgloucester.com/	OPEN
Dining Rooms at the Castle/Seaglass Restaurant	978-515-7386	www.castlemanorinn.com/chef/seaglass-restaurant/
Drift Cafe	978-314-4238	driftgloucester.com	TBD
Duckworths	978-282-4426	www.duckworthsbistrot.com/	TBD
The Franklin	978-283-7888	www.franklincapeann.com	OPEN
George’s The Office	978-281-1910	www.GeorgesOfGloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester House	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Goombadi’s	978-879-4287	www.facebook.com/Goombadis	OPEN
Horizon Chinese	978-283-8815	horizongloucester.com	OPEN
JD Meyers Best Friends/Magnolia Pub	978-525-2226	Public group on Favebook Magnolia Pub/JD Meyers	April 1
Jalapenos	978-283-8228	jalapenosgloucester.com	OPEN
Laneside Pub and Brewery	978-283-9753	www.capeannlanes.com/food-beverage	OPEN
Little Red Rooster	978-219-4004	littleredroosterglo.com	OPEN
Lobsta Land	978-281-0415	www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/	April 22
Long Beach Dairy Maid	978-281-1348	www.longbeachdairy.com/	OPEN
Machaca	978-865-3669	themachaca.com	OPEN
Marias	978-283-7373	http://www.mariasgloucester.com/	OPEN
Markouk Bread	978-283-3500	www.markoukbread.com/	OPEN
Midori	978-282-1888	midorigloucester.com	OPEN
Mile Marker One	978-283-2122	www.capeannmarina.com/dining	OPEN
Minglewood Harborside	978-281-0223	minglewoodharborside.com	OPEN
Mom’s Kitchen	978-282-4444	www.facebook.com/JustLikeMomMade0	OPEN
Oliver’s Harbor	978-559-7638	www.oliversharbor.com	OPEN
Passports	978-281-3680	passportsrestaurant.com	OPEN
Pilot House	April	www.PilotHouseDragonLight.com	OPEN
Pratty’s CAV	978-283-9700	10 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAV	OPEN
Rhumb Line	978-283-9732	40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930	TBD
Salt Water Grille	978-879-4244	www.saltwatergrillellc.com/	TBD
Seaport Grille	978-282-9799	seaportgrillegloucester.com	OPEN
Short & Main	978-281-0044	www.shortandmain.com/	TBD
Stones Pub	978-515-7366	www.facebook.com/StonesPubGloucester	TBD
Sugar Magnolias	978-281-5310	www.sugarmags.com	OPEN
Surfside Pizza	978-281-1700	www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com	OPEN
Taco Lupitas	978-282-9600	tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.com	OPEN
Talise	978-515-7814	www.taliserestaurant.com	MAY
TAJ – Gloucester	978-515-7337	ww.taj-gloucester.com	OPEN
Thai Choice	978-281-8118	http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/	OPEN
The Cupboard	978-281-1908	not recently updated	TBD
The Rudder	978-283-7967	facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurant	TBD
The Studio	978-879-4896	facebook.com/TheStudio51	TBD
Tonno	978-879-4795	www.tonnorestaurant.com/	OPEN
Topside Grill	978-281-1399	www.topsidegrill.com	OPEN
Two Sisters Coffee Shop	978-281-3378	www.facebook.com/TwoSistersCoffeeShop	OPEN
Willow Rest	978-283-2417	http://www.willowrest.com/	OPEN
Yella on the Water	978-491-5334	www.yellagrille.com	April 29
Zeke’s Place	978-283-7817	zekesgloucester.com	OPEN
7th Wave	978-564-5048	www.7thwaverockport.com/	OPEN
Bean & Leaf Cafe	978-546-7500	www.rockporticecream.com/beanandleafhome	OPEN
Bearskin Neck Bistro	978-309-8263	www.facebook.com/BearskinNeckBistro	TBD
Blue Lobster Grille	978-546-9990	facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrille	OPEN
BLUME	none listed	www.blumecoffee.com	TBD
Brackett’s Oceanview	978-546-2797	www.bracketts.com	OPEN
Brothers Brew	978-546-3775	27 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966	OPEN
Emerson Inn Pigeon CoveTavern	978-546-6321	https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/	May 1 2021
Feather & Wedge	978-999-5917	featherandwedge.com	OPEN
Hong Kong Kitchen	978-546-2626	13 Railroad Ave, Rockport,	OPEN
Helmut’s Strudel	978-546-2824	www.facebook.com/StrudelHelmuts/	TBD
Hula Moon Cafe	978-546-2572	27 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Lattoff Farmstand	978-879-3940	facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/	OPEN
Lobster Pool	978-546-7808	www.thelobsterpool.com/	OPEN
My Place by the Sea	978-546-9667	myplacebythesea.com/	OPEN
Nates at Front Beach opening with new owners under a new name TBA		18 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Red Skiff	978-546-7647	15 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport House of Pizza	978-546-6066	19 Broadway, Rockport,	OPEN
Roy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)	978-546-6696	Dock Square	OPEN
Roy Moore Lobster Co	978-546-6696	39 Bearskin Neck	APRIL?
Salty’s	978-999-5947	www.facebook.com/SaltysLobsterDogsandMore/	April 2021
Top Dog	978-546-0006	topdogofrockport.com	MAY
Blue Marlin Grille	978-768-7400	www.bluemarlingrille.com	OPEN
Boat House Grille	978-890-5113	www.boathousegrilleessex.com	OPEN
CK Pearl	978-890-7378	www.ckpearl.com	OPEN
Down River Ice Cream	978-768-0102	www.facebook.com/DownRiverIceCream	OPEN
Essex Seafood	978-768-7233	essexseafood.com	TBD
Essex River Dogs	(978) 801-4371	162 Main St, Essex, MA 01929	TBD
Farnhams	978-768-6643	www.jtfarnhams.com/	OPEN
Great Marsh Brewing Company	978-890-7827	www.thegreatmarsh.com	OPEN
Sheas opening delayed	978-768-6931	www.sheasrestaurant.com	TBD
Village Restaurant	978-768-6400	wedigclams.com	OPEN
Windward Grille	978-768-0050	windwardgrille.com	OPEN
Woodmans	978-768-6057	www.woodmans.com	OPEN
Hammond Castle Museum	978-283-2080	www.hammondcastle.org	May 1
7 Seas Whale Watch	978-283-1776	www.7seaswhalewatch.com	April 17
Cape Ann Whale Watch	978-283-5110	www.seethewhales.com	April 17
YankeeFleet	978-283-0313	www.yankeefleet.com	April 1
Pauline’s Gifts	978-281-5558	www.paulinesgifts.com	May 2021
Cape Ann Campsites	978-283-8683.	www.capeanncampsite.com	May 15
Vista Motel	978-281-3410	www.VistaMotel.com	April 1
Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks	978-283-7600	www.OceanHouseGloucester.com	April 15
White Farms on the Causeway	978-559-7470	www.facebook.com/White-Farms-on-the-Causeway	April 8
CLEOD glassworks	(978) 999-5259	cleodglassworks.com	OPEN

As you probably heard, the HGTV show Farmhouse Fixer visited Gloucester to “fix” an old farmhouse on Concord Street. It is Episode 4: “A Farmhouse for a Chef”. I recently watching this episode with special interest to hear what stories were told about the house and property.

In early 2020, GMG was contacted by Heidi Gemer, a producer at High Noon Entertainment about researching the properties HGTV was interested in. Joey forwarded it to me, and off I went! I love this kind of assignment and I dove in head first with great enthusiasm. I found all kinds of cool stories about both properties but the pandemic brought all my communication with Heidi to an abrupt halt. I had wondered what had become of the project, which obviously moved forward without my able assistance.

So I was very intrigued by what might be presented in these episodes. They told a wonderful warm story with all the usual Fixer-show drama and flair. BUT here’s one story they missed and I think it’s a pretty good one.

One longtime resident at this home on Concord Street was Harold Maddocks, who trained as an artist but became associated with his father’s drug store in Gloucester. This is perhaps how the story that a doctor lived there came to the attention of the current owners. It is unclear when Harold’s father lived there, but Harold lived there for a good chunk of the 1930s and 1940s.

Not only did he become a renowned local artist with a studio in Rockport, he was also president of the Addison Gilbert Hospital 1941-47 guiding it through the war years. A portion of his Dec 30 1963 obituary in the Gloucester Daily Times:

I went to Addison Gilbert to see if I could get more information but they were understandably busier with other things last spring. This is an example of his art work as seen at Images of a New England Seacoast 1900-1950 website and it is called Gertrude Thibeaud & Bluenose, Schooner Race, 1938 (when he lived on Concord Street).

I found a great deal of information about him at the Cape Ann Museum in their artists folders. Lucky me I snuck in there right before the shutdown. Here’s a picture that was included in that file along with a profile which included:

“A Sunday painter who had art training as a graduate of the old Massachusetts Normal Art School and very easily could have qualified as a professional painter if he had not gone into his father’s drug business.” I believe the profile prose and the writing seen on the photograph may be his own.

I was so sure HGTV would find this story as fascinating as I did, but alas I went down the wrong rabbit hole of research. Not all is lost though because I get to share this story of Gloucester with you! The lovely home today:

We tried the Mooring Restaurant in Manchester for dinner recently. Located on Union Street, it is a very small place with a pub-like atmosphere. The limited seating available during the pandemic allows for very few seats. The menu is small but varied and there was a daily special in addition. I had the chicken gyro and Jim had the daily special French dip which was served on a Virgilio’s roll. Jim especially enjoyed the side salad offered as a replacement for the fries. Our server, Amanda, was appropriately masked and distanced and did a great job as the only server while we were there. We might plan to return for lunch because of the pub type setting, nice and relaxed with a view of the world going by.

The Magnolia Pier shows off its springtime beauty. I love it there!

Also known as Prospect Street Cemetery, this is a very small and bleak looking cemetery sitting next the the AM VETS building. The few stones are old and clustered within a few feet of each other. A Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts published by the Essex Society of Genealogists (1991) describes it as “Small, abandoned, barren-looking cemetery sloping downhill from street with stone wall & iron gate. Marker at gate illegible.” It also notes that a list of names was published in the Gloucester Daily Times June 18 1925.

Unfortunately I could never actually recommend a stroll through here. Many have apparently taken advantage of the wall to hide garbage and poop bags thrown into the enclosed area. It’s also not a very big area and it would be a very short walk if you decided to take it. But several Gloucester families have their dead buried here and it deserves recognition as one of our cherished resting places.

A great day to be on the water recently!

A new acquaintance has shared some excellent photos taken of “our” eagles and hawks in Magnolia. I have been allowed to share them, a very gracious move from the photographer. Thank you! These are outstanding. I aspire to such perfection.

The April and June 1956 Gloucester Daily Times featured these advertisements for the Remick House and its accompanying restaurant Rockmont. It struck me that the current building retains most of the features from the 1956 version of the hotel, although the current Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks offers continental style breakfast only. The windows on the back side of the building seem to have come through the years fairly well. I love the detail offered in the ad regarding the chef and his training. I also love the 4 digit phone number!

I am having so much fun with this “Now and Then” segment and hope you enjoy them too.

It was my lucky day this week when we stopped at the Azorean Restaurant on Washington Street for a little dinner. The weekday special was pizza, which was exactly what I was craving. When we talk about favorite pizzas, the Azorean doesn’t come straight to mind for many of us, but I think it’s a very tasty choice (among many many tasty choices on their menu). That it was on special was a bonus! We ordered bread and oil to start. Jim had the Azorean salad and we shared some Italian pizza. It was a lovely relaxed experience with the staff following all safety protocols.

These openings of restaurants and activities is current as of information I had available as of April 15. The changes since last week are highlighted in bold. Thanks again to Bex Borden for her efforts to get this information out to you all.

ACTIVITIES
Hammond Castle Museum	978-283-2080	www.hammondcastle.org	May 1
7 Seas Whale Watch	978-283-1776	www.7seaswhalewatch.com	April 17
Cape Ann Whale Watch	978-283-5110	www.seethewhales.com	April 17
YankeeFleet !CODFISHING! 4/1-4/15	978-283-0313	www.yankeefleet.com	OPEN
Pauline’s Gifts	978-281-5558	www.paulinesgifts.com	May 2021
Cape Ann Campsites	978-283-8683.	www.capeanncampsite.com	May 15
Vista Motel	978-281-3410	www.VistaMotel.com	OPEN
Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks	978-283-7600	www.OceanHouseGloucester.com	April 15
White Farms on the Causeway	978-559-7470	www.facebook.com/White-Farms-on-the-Causeway	OPEN
Thacher Island Trips/Straitsmouth Island trips	617-599-2590	www.thacherisland.org	May 1 for tickets
RESTAURANTS etc
525 Tavern	978-525-3250	www.525magnolia.com	OPEN
Atlantis Oceanfront Motel Breakfast	978-283-0014	atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/	May 15
Azorean	978-283-5500	www.azoreanrestaurant.com	OPEN
Beauport Hotel Dining	978-491-5090	1606restaurant.com	OPEN
Blue Collar Lobster	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Capt Carlos	978-283-6343	www.captaincarlos.com	TBD
Causeway	978-281-5256	www.thecausewayrestaurant.com	OPEN
Charlie’s Place	978-281-5002	www.facebook.com/Charlies-Place-111697215533360/	OPEN
Crows Nest	978–281–2965	www.crowsnestgloucester.com/	OPEN
Dining Rooms at the Castle/Seaglass Restaurant	978-515-7386	www.castlemanorinn.com/chef/seaglass-restaurant/
Drift Cafe	978-314-4238	driftgloucester.com	TBD
Duckworths	978-282-4426	www.duckworthsbistrot.com/	TBD
The Franklin	978-283-7888	www.franklincapeann.com	OPEN
George’s The Office	978-281-1910	www.GeorgesOfGloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester House	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Goombadi’s	978-879-4287	www.facebook.com/Goombadis	OPEN
Horizon Chinese	978-283-8815	horizongloucester.com	OPEN
JD Meyers Best Friends/Magnolia Pub	978-525-2226	Public group on Favebook Magnolia Pub/JD Meyers	April 1
Jalapenos	978-283-8228	jalapenosgloucester.com	OPEN
Laneside Pub and Brewery	978-283-9753	www.capeannlanes.com/food-beverage	OPEN
Little Red Rooster	978-219-4004	littleredroosterglo.com	OPEN
Lobsta Land	978-281-0415	www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/	April 22
Long Beach Dairy Maid	978-281-1348	www.longbeachdairy.com/	OPEN
Machaca	978-865-3669	themachaca.com	OPEN
Marias	978-283-7373	http://www.mariasgloucester.com/	OPEN
Markouk Bread	978-283-3500	www.markoukbread.com/	OPEN
Midori	978-282-1888	midorigloucester.com	OPEN
Mile Marker One	978-283-2122	www.capeannmarina.com/dining	OPEN
Minglewood Harborside	978-281-0223	minglewoodharborside.com	OPEN
Mom’s Kitchen	978-282-4444	www.facebook.com/JustLikeMomMade0	OPEN
Oliver’s Harbor	978-559-7638	www.oliversharbor.com	OPEN
Passports	978-281-3680	passportsrestaurant.com	OPEN
Pilot House	April	www.PilotHouseDragonLight.com	OPEN
Pratty’s CAV	978-283-9700	10 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAV	OPEN
Rhumb Line	978-283-9732	40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930	TBD
Salt Water Grille	978-879-4244	www.saltwatergrillellc.com/	TBD
Seaport Grille	978-282-9799	seaportgrillegloucester.com	OPEN
Short & Main	978-281-0044	www.shortandmain.com/	TBD
Stones Pub	978-515-7366	www.facebook.com/StonesPubGloucester	TBD
Sugar Magnolias	978-281-5310	www.sugarmags.com	OPEN
Surfside Pizza	978-281-1700	www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com	OPEN
Taco Lupitas	978-282-9600	tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.com	OPEN
Talise	978-515-7814	www.taliserestaurant.com	MAY
TAJ – Gloucester	978-515-7337	ww.taj-gloucester.com	OPEN
Thai Choice	978-281-8118	http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/	OPEN
The Cupboard	978-281-1908	not recently updated	TBD
The Rudder	978-283-7967	facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurant	TBD
The Studio	978-879-4896	facebook.com/TheStudio51	TBD
Tonno	978-879-4795	www.tonnorestaurant.com/	OPEN
Topside Grill	978-281-1399	www.topsidegrill.com	OPEN
Two Sisters Coffee Shop	978-281-3378	www.facebook.com/TwoSistersCoffeeShop	OPEN
Willow Rest	978-283-2417	http://www.willowrest.com/	OPEN
Yella on the Water	978-491-5334	www.yellagrille.com	TBD
Zeke’s Place	978-283-7817	zekesgloucester.com	OPEN
7th Wave	978-564-5048	www.7thwaverockport.com/	OPEN
Bean & Leaf Cafe	978-546-7500	www.rockporticecream.com/beanandleafhome	OPEN
Bearskin Neck Bistro	978-309-8263	www.facebook.com/BearskinNeckBistro	TBD
Blue Lobster Grille	978-546-9990	facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrille	OPEN
BLUME	none listed	www.blumecoffee.com	TBD
Brackett’s Oceanview	978-546-2797	www.bracketts.com	OPEN
Brothers Brew	978-546-3775	27 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966	OPEN
Emerson Inn Pigeon CoveTavern	978-546-6321	https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/	May 1 2021
Feather & Wedge	978-999-5917	featherandwedge.com	OPEN
Hong Kong Kitchen	978-546-2626	13 Railroad Ave, Rockport,	OPEN
Helmut’s Strudel	978-546-2824	www.facebook.com/StrudelHelmuts/	TBD
Hula Moon Cafe	978-546-2572	27 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Lattoff Farmstand	978-879-3940	facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/	OPEN
Lobster Pool	978-546-7808	www.thelobsterpool.com/	OPEN
My Place by the Sea	978-546-9667	myplacebythesea.com/	OPEN
Nates at Front Beach opening with new owners under a new name TBA		18 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Red Skiff	978-546-7647	15 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport House of Pizza	978-546-6066	19 Broadway, Rockport,	OPEN
Roy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)	978-546-6696	Dock Square	OPEN
Roy Moore Lobster Co	978-546-6696	39 Bearskin Neck	APRIL?
Salty’s	978-999-5947	www.facebook.com/SaltysLobsterDogsandMore/	April 2021
Top Dog	978-546-0006	topdogofrockport.com	MAY
Blue Marlin Grille	978-768-7400	www.bluemarlingrille.com	OPEN
Boat House Grille	978-890-5113	www.boathousegrilleessex.com	OPEN
CK Pearl	978-890-7378	www.ckpearl.com	OPEN
Down River Ice Cream	978-768-0102	www.facebook.com/DownRiverIceCream	OPEN
Essex Seafood	978-768-7233	essexseafood.com	TBD
Farnhams	978-768-6643	www.jtfarnhams.com/	OPEN
Great Marsh Brewing Company	978-890-7827	www.thegreatmarsh.com	OPEN
Sheas reopening delayed	978-768-6931	www.sheasrestaurant.com	TBD
Village Restaurant	978-768-6400	wedigclams.com	OPEN
Windward Grille	978-768-0050	windwardgrille.com	OPEN
Woodmans	978-768-6057	www.woodmans.com	OPEN

Scenes like these just do a person’s heart good……..if you’re “from away”, I hope it helps a little bit.

From the Gloucester Daily Times Twitter account: sharing news:

This beautiful example of a barn along the byway can be viewed along route 133 near the old Candlewood golf course in Ispwisch. I think it misses the company of the golfers!

It’s time to prepare for the arrival of our hummingbird friends in about 2 weeks! I have a new feeder in my arsenal being delivered soon. Just you wait, Joey….just you wait…….

It’s been too long since we’ve been to Willow Rest on Holly Street. This was proven by the outstanding lunch we had with some of the GMG gang a few days ago. Three of us had the Cuban (HUGE and delicious); one Rotary sandwich (turkey, cheese and yummy stuff) and one Under the Bridge (crab cake, bacon and yummy stuff) . It is also a specialty variety store full of crafts and healthy food items. There are also prepared foods available for take out. There are picnic tables set up outside and distanced indoor seating. It was hopping with take out orders the day we were there. Everyone is appropriately masked and following protocols. Thank you for taking good care of us Ben.

We like to wrap our weekends at favorite places so off to Minglewood on Rogers Street we went to enjoy an early dinner and wrap up a fantastic weekend. As always, the service was spot on; the food delicious and the atmosphere exactly what we wanted. We feel very safe there with distanced seating, sanitizers everywhere and masked staff. the deck was empty but it won’t be long before that’s jumping too! Jim had a cobb salad and we each had the fish sandwich. So yummy. Thank you Zach and staff for another great experience! Also, points added to our Serenitee account! Win Win.

I picked up several items at Ipswich River Craft on Little Neck Road in Ipswich recently. I love my new shirt…..the fit is perfect and comfortable. The hat is high quality and the sign is gorgeous. The signs are individually crafted with great care. These will make great gifts. Thanks!

Job Fair at the new YMCA at Gloucester Crossing today Monday April 12 from 5-7 pm. There are 20 or so businesses looking for employees! C’mon down.

We were surprised to find this snowy owl at Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Sunday as I believe it is getting kind of late for them to be hanging around here. It was delightful as this owl was very active in our time there grooming and hopping up and down from the ground to nearby posts. It also stared down some pretty brave crows. I don’t think I will be seeing another one until next year……..

As I have described several times, we have a nest nearby that the eagles and the hawks have each been grooming and building over the past several weeks. Two years ago, there was a hawk family in there but last year it was empty. This year it seems to be a popular spot for both a pair of eagles as well as a pair of hawks. This creates a great deal of activity in our backyard here in Magnolia. Today I observed what I believe to be mating between a pair of nearby red tail hawks. The female flew into the tree from a nearby perch and the male soon joined. Shortly after they seemed to be done, the male flew off. Not a comment on male/female relations, but take from it what you will…….

For additional pictures and story, please feel free to visit Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.