Author: Pat D

I was curious to see if I’d see osprey returning to nests other than at Lobsta Land, so we took an easy little road trip out to Ipswich to check out the Sally Weatherall Observation Platform on Littleneck Road. Though we saw nothing more than a soaring hawk, we were pleasantly surprised by the ease of access. The parking area is quite small, but the walk is very short and easy. The platform is a good size and allows an expansive view including an osprey nest. We were there at high tide on a very nice day. It’s a short ride and easy access so I think I will check on that nest again soon.

This young eagle has been spotted along Little River in West Gloucester several times recently. It’s often in the company of a banded adult. You may remember I have been calling these two Fred and Ethel. The one you see here is perhaps around 3.5 years old as determined by its plumage coloration and other indicators. Eagles of this age are sometimes called sub adults.

I have followed a number of eagles over the years and have noticed that they seem to have their own personalities, which shouldn’t be surprising. The adult of this pair (Fred, though I don’t know if it’s a male) seems particularly skittish. It doesn’t seem to sit for very long in one place. This younger one (Ethel though I don’t know if it’s a female) is more likely to “sit and stay awhile” so I appreciated the opportunity to watch and observe for a while recently. We are very blessed here to have eagles in our midst. I understand they are predators and can cause some issues for neighbors, but overall it’s a true blessing.

Jim was craving some Italian Fish Stew and so off we went to get the one he likes the best: Blue Marlin Grille on Eastern Ave in Essex. It was lunchtime but our meal choices were more than enough for an additional meal. We saw friends (hi Marcy) and were served by friendly staff (thanks Morgan). I got the meatballs, which could have served to fill in for the moon during the eclipse (they are large enough) and Jim got fried clams along with the Italian Fish Stew. PS They are open on Monday, so win-win!

We are excited that the whale watching options here in Gloucester will be opening soon and I cannot wait to get back out there. Thank you to the Women’s Community Club of Magnolia for offering Cape Ann Whale Watch tickets as a raffle prize, which I won!! Woot Woot. Here we come!

When our family visited recently, we knew the weather was going to turn rainy and we were seeking appropriate indoor activities to entertain a nine year old as well as a three year old. Luckily, our friend Chris Langathianos clued us in to the Aloha Mini Glow Golf course in the Northshore Mall. The area is BRIGHT and glowing though the space is a little small. There are 18 holes and you can play up to three rounds with admission. Admission was reasonable and the course was challenging enough for the older child and the adults. It was a quiet weekday afternoon so we had the place to ourselves for most of our visit. The toddler enjoyed it, but if there aren’t older children or adults that you need to entertain in the rain, I wouldn’t suggest that particular activity. The pricing is reasonable. The mall provided further distractions (including the play area for the younger children) so it was a win-win.

We are getting to the time of year when you may get family visitors, as we did recently. And if there are children, you may be wondering how to entertain them. This post continues to discuss the activities we experienced recently with a 9 year old and a 3 year old. We drove into Boston to visit the New England Aquarium. Normally I would recommend taking the train, but for various reasons we drove this time and paid to park in the garage next to the Aquarium. Not a deal breaker, but you do what you have to do.

They were experiencing some issues with the 3D offerings so we just got “Aquarium” only tickets. It’s a little on the pricey side but definitely worth the joy and amazement demonstrated by the entire family. We were lucky that is wasn’t that crowded and there was easy access to all the exhibits and talks. Of course, the featured aquarium tank that spans all the floors is the main attraction, along with the penguins. But there are plenty of other informational and attractive areas to explore. The sea lions were especially entertaining. It took us an afternoon to make this visit without rushing through so it’s a wonderful way to spend half a day and experience a little bit of Boston for a fuller day if you choose. Seal of approval from 2 kids and their parents as well as the grandparents!

We had family visiting a while ago and it was nice enough to go to one of my favorite places to take visitors: the Zoo! We are blessed with 2 Zoos in the area and decided to visit Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Since it’s kind of early in the season, some renovations are still under way in some areas which is very normal. But it was the perfect day for many of the animals to be out and relatively active. We were especially thrilled with the flamingos and the active black bears. The children in the group remain (mostly) engaged but the adults were totally enthralled. We have a membership that allows guests so we paid nothing extra at the gate. I think this is a good investment as we go a few times a year and it pays itself off. The drive and the parking are relatively easy so it makes for a great family activity.

We visited Pauline to get a little preview of the upcoming season after improvements with the building and new stock added! It’s time to celebrate when Pauline’s reopens! Link to Pauline’s Gifts for additional info here.

Pansies may appear to be fragile, but are actually able to withstand the vagaries of spring weather. It reminds me a bit of the fishermen’s wives and children throughout history: Standing strong against the winds and vagaries of the ocean. Thank you Generous Gardeners for the reminder.

We saw so many vessels hailing from Maine out in the harbor on a recent morning! Although I know the traffic does not compare to “back in the day”, it delights me nevertheless to see so much activity in our harbors and at our docks. Welcome Contender, Amanda May, Big Dipper and Another Notch.

Sharing information from Facebook regarding Earth Day cleanup postponed one week:

We decided to go to the Lobster of Gloucester on East Main St recently for a late afternoon snack and drink after a shift at the shop. Long story short, I think I have found my favorite new summer drink: Shore Thing! Absolute deliciousness. We sat in the larger dining area for the first time and were happy to see it was quite busy with families, couples and senior citizens like ourselves. The appeal of the Lobster is wide ranging. If you’ve been there last season, you should take note the entries have changed around a bit. For dining room seating, enter by the door facing East Main St and you’ll be greeted for seating. For bar seating, use the side door you probably used previously.

We each ordered appetizers: bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp tacos. It was a perfectly sized portion for a late afternoon snack. There was plenty of friendly staff (also reassuringly knowledgeable): our server Olivia is a good example and I listened to her patiently guide some customers through the seafood choices. The Lobster is back and I think it’s better than ever!

We were anxious to get back to Yella on the Water on Western Ave in Gloucester so we decided to stop for dinner after being at the shop all day. It was a GREAT decision! The atmosphere is relaxing, the staff welcoming and the menu nicely varied. They have not been open very long this season but the place was hopping that evening so I’d recommend reservations. Kezia was our friendly and helpful server and we were happy to be seated by a window outlooking the boulevard and harbor.

I had a chicken kabob and GMG Jim had the shrimp scampi. For the sake of the blog (as always), we each also ordered dessert: outstanding chocolate creme brulee and Jim had the strawberry shortcake. It was a lovely dining experience you won’t want to miss. Thank you Carlo and Danielle!

It was a perfect Saturday morning for kite flying so we went to observe the event at Cogswell’s Grant on Spring St in Essex last weekend. We arrived early and things got off to a slow start, but that was due to our time constrictions and had nothing to do with the organization or participants. There’s a large open field and individuals and families began to gather to send their kites off with the winds. They even offered a kite making workshop for a modest fee, though the event itself was free. As a special addition, we were treated to an Air Force flyover in celebration of the National Guard’s First Muster in Salem.

I stopped by the new shop run by Sabine Ocker at 80 Main St to take a look around. We love to browse antiques, especially Gloucester related items. This neat little shop offers a wide variety of nostalgic items for your viewing. The store is set up nicely so you have elbow room to browse and Sabine is friendly and knowledgeable. In these first few weeks, hours will be variable so plan accordingly or check ahead. Email 80MainAntiques@gmail.com

I underestimated how much I miss seeing our schooners in the local waters. I was attending the recent fundraiser for Maritime Gloucester and spied Isabella approaching for a special visit to the Gloucester House. My heart sang. I hope yours does too and perhaps you will consider helping Maritime Gloucester reach their goals in support of the upcoming 40th Schooner Festival Labor Day weekend 2024.

We took a ride up 133 and 1A toward Parker River National Wildlife Refuge a few days ago and had quite a few bird sightings along the way. Each sighting on its own would have made for a good day, but to find so many special sights was a big treat. It gave me real hope for spring. We saw “our”eagle in West Gloucester, a screech owl along the route, a pair of Great Blue Herons at Parker River, as well as glossy ibis and egrets in Rowley.

When we stopped in Rowley for the large gathering of egrets and glossy ibis, a very nice man called me over when he saw my camera to point out the yellowish bird amongst the egrets far out from the roadway. He told me this was a cattle egret, my first sighting! Although the photos are pretty cropped, you can clearly see the yellowish coloring of this single bird. Thank you sir! What a treat. One trip offered up so many beautiful sights. I love our Cape Ann and area!

Sharing news from the Lobster Roller Facebook page:

Sharing information from the Castle Manor Inn Facebook page. Looking forward to this breakfast option coming back.

I needed an ice cream sundae to accompany me while watching the eclipse recently so we went over to Long Maid near Long Beach. Boy, was that sundae good eclipse company! AND Surf Side Subs is now open as well on Thatcher Road. Enjoy your spring.