Author: patmorss

Thursday was beautiful and a great opportunity to wander around Rocky Neck.

Yesterday afternoon a small cruise ship from American Cruise Lines, that has a New England, Nova Scotia, St Lawrence Seaway itinerary, came into Gloucester. The only oddity was there were no passengers – was she relocating in anticipation of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions?

Our adult male turkeys are still courting the women, while one of the younger students encountered an intruder with red feathers. We moved on before he gave up pacing back and forth.

The wind was finally dropping off Sunday afternoon, and then there was a surprise squall.

It’s a mostly cloudy, rainy and foggy week. The deer are out in the mist foraging for a healthy marine diet in the seaweed. But there are cheery spots of color at the bird feeder, and at the tulip beds down on the Boulevard.

CORRECTION: Our ornitholigist daughter has just let me know the Red-tailed Hawk chased by the crows, that I posted a couple of hours ago, is actually a first-year Bald Eagle. She says the juveniles get their white heads in their 4th year. How ’bout that?

This morning I watched another of several encounters between crows and a Red-tailed Hawk. Physical contact by 4 crows happened in the air, and I only caught one shot as the Red-tail headed to the ground for refuge. The other photos are of 3 crows doing fly-bys to encourage the hawk to leave.

It’s not JUST the birds

Recent activity on daily walks. Our family of 9 turkeys appears to have finally broken up for mating.

Our neighbors are celebrating with special menus – at the feeders, and on Niles Pond.

We got to watch some of the action before the Northeast Storm hit yestarday afternoon.

But, a few other photos first.

Our Turkey family is all grown up now and the Tom boys are on the prowl. Today’s presentation on Niles Pond was a pair of courting Mallards, that didn’t seem to mind us watching.

Last weekend we had a beautiful and uncrowded visit to Halibut Point.

We are seeing hints of spring on our daily walks, and also took a ride over to Lanes Cove.

Some odds and ends from our walks from home during the last week-plus.

Gloucester lobster boats came in over the weekend loaded down with their traps, to beat the March 1st temporary moratoriaum during the Right Whale migration.

Another pretty winter weekend on the coast

As we await the next storm, a few outdoor encounters over the last week and a half.

Anne-Lise, my wife, just pulled out a ski sweater she knitted a few years back, which gives me a good opportunity to showcase her Norwegian knitting expertise. This sweater, designed in 2000, celebrates the Millennium and was worn by Norway’s ski team in the 2000 World Championships.  The medallions around the top depict the last 1000 years of Norwegian history, culture, and natural beauty, which are bookended by a symbol of King Olav den Hillige, who Christianized Norway in AD 1000 at the end of the Viking era, and a traditional 8-leaf rose symbolizing King Olav V, when the royal family was forced into temporary exile during WWII.