Author: patmorss

Gallery of Waves — pat morss

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While we’re waiting for spring foliage and fauna to become more active, here are some favorite Eastern Point storm photographs.

Some of us remember the “Great Blizzard of ’78” [and of course, The Perfect Storm].
But our storms occur often. Thacher Island, from Brace Rock. [2001]
Winter surf at sunset. [2003]
Wave fireworks. [2013]
Exciting day at the Eastern Point lighthouse; the shed is no longer there. [2013]
Spring waves. Caribbean colors. [2016]
The Gloucester fishing fleet has always challenged the weather. [2018]
Looking up at wave crests, from the Audubon sanctuary. [2020]
The sea working itself into a frenzy at Brace Cove. [2021]
Ominous weather conditions outside Brace Cove. [2022]
A wave with personality, Eastern Point lighthouse. [2022]
Colliding waves. [2022]
This duck is unperturbed by the Northeast storm. [2022]
Double-decker wave. [2024]

Mixed Venues — pat morss

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No particular topic this time.

Last March, a few plastic plantings were added to a tree cavity.
By August, the theme was headed toward Jurassic Park.
This March the growing number of offerings is overwhelming.
One of several passing deer chose to check out the bird feeder activity.
Mallard squadron departing from Niles Pond.
NOT the horizon and clouds, but just flat ice beyond open water on the pond.
A lone Red-breasted Merganser displaying his diving skills at Brace Cove.
The dive is instantaneous.
He spent more time underwater than above.
One of our sociable winter residents, a damp Downy Woodpecker.
A flock of Cedar Waxwings was tossing berries around.
Quite satisfied following Sunday brunch.

Winter Here and There — pat morss

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We’ll start with the “there,” our visit to Anne-Lise’s sister Berit and husband Jan in Tjome, Norway. And then the “here” with yesterday’s recreation on ice at Niles Pond, Gloucester (there was an excellent video posted last evening).

Flying across Norway, which has 3/4 the population of Massachusettss, but 15 times the area.
Landing at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport. A bit like Essex farms?
Norwegian winter birds – a Eurasian Magpie and a Hooded Crow.
Our Mute Swans are scarce, but they are abundant on the Norwegian coastline.
Fresh shrimp caught daily are reason enough to visit Norway. Time for Berit’s and my open sandwiches.
Gloucester’s short season is dead in the water, but Norway’s is still 12 months.
The evening golden hour has always attracted painters in Tjome and on Cape Ann.
Our same sunsets. We’ll all have equal day and night at the equinox in a month.
Back on Niles Pond, I wasn’t familiar with this iceboarding technology.
Iceboarders and iceboats share the pond.
Iceboats accelerate fast in puffs of wind.
Comfortable temperatures brought out skaters, sailors, hockey players and a dog.
Maintaining a broad reach allowed sails to take you in opposite directions.
This actually looks less comfortable than the weather.

Winter Progresses — pat morss

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Sure looks different from mid-summer.

However, the familiar Song Sparrow reminds us spring will come.
While a squirrel struggles for a hand-out of suet.
Just a few of the dozen-plus seals finding some winter sun at Brace Cove.
A slice of sun slashes through the clouds illuminating sea smoke on a cold morning.
One of the coyotes with mange searching for food, on the rocks in the fog.
While other healthy ones look pretty content, napping in the sun.
I’m told this Red-tailed Hawk may have been decapitated by a Great Horned Owl.
Our Inuit friends help hold my cross-country skis, while I look for boots and poles.
Skiing “out the door,” the first few strides are challenging.
The skis are happy to be back on the snow. But where’s the groomed trail?
First rite of spring, when the sun sets north of the lighthouse again.

The Storm That Wasn’t, and was — pat morss

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We anticipated a Nor’easter that didn’t materialize, but the the ‘Winter Wonderland’ that followed was magical.

The day before, families were out for a final walk.
Wind and waves began building, but this was as far as we got.
Next morning after the snowfall, all was white, contrasting with low tide.
Eastern Point light peeked over the encrusted bushes.
Our native winter-trimmed wild cherries stood sentinel.
Anne-Lise couldn’t wait to get outside for our walk.
Frozen, glistening, pure, enchanting, mystic, immaculate, numbing, …
… pristine, entrancing, otherworldly, glazed, squeaky-clean – and Magical.

So, What’s New? — pat morss

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Catching up on 2025.

This is as far south as the sun got at the Winter Solstice – now it’s headed north again!
Our resident Norwegian gnomes helped us usher in the New Year.
A lapse in flag etiquette. It’s been blowing hard.
Two otters playing in open water at the far side of Niles Pond, which is icing over.
Eiders are comfortable in the warmer ocean, that’s creating cold-air sea smoke.
We got some snow, making the deer (L) in the Audubon sanctuary easier to spot.
Mother and kids foraging in the snow, yesterday.
A buck is vigilant, not far away.
‘Sea Challenger,’ the wind turbine platform, ghosts by silently in the snowfall.
Snow is just another day for Gloucester fishermen, headed out.
Gulls and Mallards congregate around a remaining opening in the ice at Niles Pond.
Wet snow compromised the smooth ice today, but skaters and hockey players made do.

A Family Tribute – pat morss

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Anne-Lise inherited some Norwegian ski sweater embroidery that was never used. It was time to put it to its rightful use.

The embroidery was hand-sewn by either her mother or her grandmother.
Anne-Lise found this traditional mid-19th century design.
Taught at school, she continues to knit several sweaters a year.
Starting the body of the sweater on circular needles, the Norwegian way.
The body is nearly complete.
And then the sleeves, on shorter circular needles.
Two parallel lines of thread secure the yarn before cutting the neck opening.
The separate body and sleeves are waiting to be knit together.
But first, the “heirloom” neck embroidery is sewn into place.
Again secured with thread, the body is cut to receive the sleeves.
The finished sweater, created by generations.

Seasons Have Their Magic — pat morss

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Tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 4:21 is the winter solstice, bringing its own seasonal attributes.

Mostly dog walkers enjoy the fading-light solitude of Good Harbor Beach.
In contrast to a hot summer day in 1985.
Pretty much the same in 2016, except beach umbrellas were more popular.
Swimmers are not distracted by the view of Thacher Island’s twin lights.
Back to the peaceful present.
One of our winter residents taking a sunbath after a long swim, Brace Cove.
A lone female Ruddy Duck crosses monochrome Niles Pond.
While a Ring-billed Gull struts with purpose across a frozen portion.
A content Hooded Merganser pair.
He tests his hood diplay. “Just kidding; too early.”
A turkey showing off her aerodynamic shape. She can fly up to 55 mph.
Winter produces spectacular sunsets. ‘Sea Installer’ headed out from Salem.
Now it’s time to celebrate family and the Holiday Season.

Mergansers and Shalin Liu — pat morss

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Totally unrelated – Testosterone levels are rising in the Hooded Merganser population. And Anne-Lise and I had a great evening out in Rockport at “A Tribute to a Charlie Brown Christmas.”

On Niles Pond, the guys are already eyeing the female Hooded Mergansers.
“Time to test out my dance in front of the women.” No reaction.
Another male gives it a try. Same result. “I guess it’s not mating season yet.”
Off in a corner, still another male is ready for his practice run.
Excellent form, good height.
His landing could stand a little work. I gave him an 8.5.
We began our Rockport evening with a fine dinner at Fleur Cuisine Harborside.
Then to the Shalin Liu Performane Center, for David Benoit’s ‘Charlie Brown’ production.
David Benoit, piano; Courtney Fortune, vocals; Roberto Vally, base; Daniel Schnelle, drums.
Joined by the Cape Ann Youth Chorus, and Cape Ann Arts Alive Singers.
A highlight was the solo by Perry Ramsden. Courtney loves it.
“That was incredible.”

Settling into Winter — pat morss

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Falling temperatures are ushering us into the winter holiday season.

An unusual scene in a neighbor’s driveway.
They earned an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the Christmas tree lighting parade.
On our walks we can tell when another neighbor is out, but didn’t take Oscar.
Common Eiders enjoy riding the waves like a roller coaster.
Up and over the crest, and down the other side in their amusement park.
Last bird standing, before disappearing.
Plenty of winter shore birds at Niles Pond. Buffleheads just getting airborne.
The water lillies are a graveyard.
A few short months ago they were an impediment to navigation.
First ice on the pond has the ducks and gulls congregating around openings.
Morning forecast: “There are snow flurries on the Cape.” That’s the one named after a fish.
We’re doing just fine on our Cape, thank you.

Present and Past — pat morss

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It’s been slow out there, so here are a few current encounters, and some older ones that remind us of the seasons we have left behind.

Friends have add lifesize India Elephants to their extended family.
Dressed for their welcoming party.
These two USCG boats were performing maneuvers for most of two days.
The winter birds are flying in at Niles Pond – a flotilla of Ring-necked Ducks.
Across the pond, a juvenile Bald Eagle checks out the water birds.
And finds a perch to survey dinner options.
Now back to spring. I wish this hydroseeded lawn had remained turquoise.
A bumble bee doing its thing on a fall hydrangea.
Preening Great Egret at Niles Pond.
Visiting schooner Corwith Cramer anchored in a misty outer harbor.
“I can help you with that little one.”
“I got my dinner.”

In No Particular Order — pat morss

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Not much going on now as we wait for the seasonal temperature change – Maybe?

Beauport Museum has closed for the winter, as the leaves pile up.
Tending to moorings between Niles Beach and Ten Pound Island.
Four winter seals over at Brace Cove are looking over as if to say “I see you.”
A young coyote with mange might not make it through the winter – natural selection.
On Niles Pond the birds are doing fine – here, a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron.
Hank Heron (Great Blue) has been on a stopover heading south.
One of our favorite trees finally delivered its color.
A buck scouring at low tide for food in the seaweed of the Audubon rocks.
“I never did have much of a hankering for seafood.”
Brush fire smoke from the Lynn Woods Reservation. That’s the sun setting, not flames!

Transition — pat morss

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Adjustments are underway as we progress through autumn.

This could be mid-winter with low sun, but it is actually unseasonally warm October.
Norwegian Breakaway could be in the Caribbean, but is still cruising Canada’s Maritimes.
There are only two seals at Brace Cove so far, a long way from the winter twenty-five.
Hank Heron is back on Niles Pond during his migration south.
Cold blooded Painted Turtles warm themselves in the sun whenever it shines.
“Hey down there, there’s still ground cover. Can you flush out a couple of mice for me?”
Two more coyotes have mange – not looking good for the pack’s winter.
Some fall events are one-off, like searching for last week’s meteor.
However, we’re fortunate to have protected land like Ravenswood for hiking year round.
Telephoto view of Eastern Point lighthouse from a vista on Ledge Hill Trail.
Clear sunsets are redder as we transition toward winter. USCG cutter William Sparling.
A lone fisherman holds out as fall colors encroach on the rocks.

Cape Ann Plein Air – Quick Draw — pat morss

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I enjoy attending the Quick Draw event of the annual Cape Ann Plein Air Week because all the artists are in a concentrated area for the same two hours of painting.

This year’s Quick Draw took place in Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Strong wind gusts were a hazard – she’s hunkered down holding her small tripod.
It looks deceptively calm on the inner harbor, but numerous easels blew over.
It was quieter where Karen Fitzgerald was painting the Manchester Historical Museum.
Painting at the intersection of Central, School and Union Streets.
The two-hour time limit was up, so I took a walk around downtown during the judging.
Additional guest artists, invited just for the Quick Draw, were judged outside.
The 35 artists registered for the week-long competition set up inside.
Tim Kelly took first place among those fully registered.
Judge Lori Putnam promised a hug for all winners, here delivering with Tim.
Time for the public to buy paintings, and for the spider (right) to go home.

As Fall Progresses — pat morss

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The colors are late, but it clearly is fall.

Some of the best colors are in the dahlias, holding out down on Stacy Boulevard.
A German Shepherd was loving the ocean, running below the Boulevard’s seawall.
But a distant cousin coyote on Eastern Point looked forlorn with a bad case of mange.
This small butterfly found a comfy leaf for its final nap.
We traveled north looking for color. These leaves are natural, not turning.
Fall foliage was also late in Jackson, NH, but improving.
We found this restful fall scene at Eagle Mountain House, in Jackson.
The green in front of North Conway’s station had one good maple.
Conway Scenic Railway’s engines are the same used when my father was commuting.
These switching engines would rescue my Rockport Line Budd Cars when we broke down.
Back home, the ever-changing oceanscape is like fall foliage all year.

Enjoying a Nor’easter — pat morss

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Actually, it was well offshore, but it created some swells.

I expected surfers at Brace Cove, but they had a different idea about conditions.
However, there were hundreds of gulls foraging for food in the waves.
The surf was churning up the ecosystem near the beach.
The gulls were skimming over the wave crests and landing to feed.
They repeated the pattern, flying above each retreating swell.
Mostly Laughing Gulls, with Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed mixed in.
Later Saturday afternoon, Adventure headed out with a “bone in her teeth.”
The swells were larger out by the whistle buoy off Eastern Point lighthouse.
It must have been an awakening for some of the guests.
A sense of normal conditions on the Grand Banks, if 40-degrees colder.
Probably enough of this for now.
Tacking. “Ready about.” “Hard a-lee.”
It’s nice to see Adventure in her element.
Now a smoother ride back into Gloucester Harbor.

‘Play It Again Sam’ — pat morss

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In spite of this being a slight misquotation from the 1942 classic film Casablanca, it is applicable to some of the repetetive routines around here.

Sailing a quiet Gloucester Harbor after Labor Day. Birds starting their migrations south.
Thomas E Lannon and our other schooners are maintaining daily visitor and locals sailings.
Cruise ships on weekly schedules; Holland America Lines ‘Volendam’ passing while still dark.
Royal Caribbean ‘Vision of the Seas’ coming in by the whistle buoy at dawn.
Princess Cruises ‘Enchanted Princess’ heading out from Boston toward Canada or Bermuda.
Down on our deck, Mom turkey’s single kid is growing up. They look hassled.
On Niles Pond, a Green Heron must have been watching ‘Little Blue.’
He caught a frog and flew it over to the exact same dining rock Little Blue (Heron) uses.
Meanwhile, Little Blue was over at Brace Cove checking out the salt water marketplace.
The many young deer are maturing, like this proud-to-be-a-Whitetail.
Either it runs in the family, or this is the same single-antler deer as last summer.
A tender moment with a very late in the season Bambi.

Personal Schooner Festival — pat morss

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There were so many events packed into Gloucester’s annual Labor Day Weekend ‘Schooner Festival’ that I had to be selective, and concentrated on the boats.

FRIDAY: The dory shop at Maritime Gloucester reminds us that the trades are alive and well.
Crew on Columbia use their own dory to inspect the hull, while docked at I4C2.
The vantage point was good from The Fort, as Thomas E Lannon came in.
SATURDAY: I sailed the inner harbor on our sloop Troll. Ocean Alliance was hosting.
Dennis Sullivan, all the way from Wisconsin, docked at Ocean Alliance, Rocky Neck.
Ardelle had the same idea, taking guests out around the harbor.
Better exercise than I was getting. Ten Pound Island beyond.
Public deck tours on Malabar X, American Eagle, and Adventure, at I4C2.
SUNDAY: The breakwater is great for viewing the Parade of Sail; Ernestina-Morrissey.
Adventure is always a crowd pleaser.
Adventure rounding the breakwater and heading out to the race starting line.
Columbia dwarfs everyone else; Thomas E Lannon at left.
Preparing to raise Columbia’s third jib on the forestay.
Spectators in their vintage motorboat.
It’s just a matter of scale. There’s fun to be had on Jette and on American Eagle.
Early afternoon turned into a ‘progressive lunch’ visiting friends along the shore.
Start of the class of large schooners.
Columbia and the others returning to the harbor, capping off a perfect race day.

Summer Starts Winding Down — pat morss

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Gloucester’s upcoming Schooner Festival on Labor Day Weekend is an annual sign that summer is coming to an end. And there are other signs.

Lobster boat ‘Toby Ann’ is a sport-fishing boat on the weekend.
The girls agree to go fishing with dad.
‘Ardelle’ watching the whale watches’ whale watchers watching whales (they’re still here).
A lone seal anticipating fall, or outcast from summering on Cape Cod with the sharks.
A Mallard with her super-late August brood of ducklings on Niles Pond.
A Little Blue Heron takes to the treetops for a better view.
While a Black-crowned Night-heron prefers more cover.
A Red-spotted Admiral appreciates our new butterfly bushes.
A Monarch got its wing tips slammed in the door.
This worn Eastern Tiger Swallowtail won’t give up.
A squirrel taste tests acorns before storing up for the winter.
In any case, “It’s been a good summer, right”?

Frog Leg Lunch — pat morss

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Yesterday Anne-Lise and I walked around Niles Pond at just the right time to catch Little Blue (Heron) dining on ‘grenouille’ (Parisian frog legs).

“I think I got him.”
“Yup. Now I have to get him lined up to swallow.”
“I’ll try flipping him over.”
“Wow! Almost lost him.”
“Now I have him on a good trajectory.”
” A quick move before I lose him again.”
“There we go. Good right down to the last leg.”
“And down he slides. Forgot to wish myself a Bon Appetit.”