Author: patmorss

Scallop season opened April 1st, and there has been a steady parade of boats in and out of the harbor. Our wildlife, however, doesn’t have an off-season.

Catching up on what’s going on around us.

I don’t know who this is, but he was out on the Audubon rocks this morning balancing stones on his see-saw. He had patience.

We’re in a lull waiting for spring activity. And the major bliuzzard that came across the country resulted in only a modest, rainy Nor’easter on the coast.

March 1st was the beginning of Meteorological spring. We’ll see if Punxsutawney Phil is right that there will be no spring until after the Vernal equinox on March 21st.

During the recent yo-yo temperature swings, with record highs and lows within a week, nature learns to cope.

Exactly two weeks after Atlantic Merlin came by Eastern Point, clearing the path for the new fiber optic cable from Lynn, MA to the UK and France, Decisive worked worked her way through early this morning (Thurs) laying the cable. Meawhile on Niles Pond, after the ice melted, the Mergansers were out in force with Valentine’s Day thoughts. [And a twist at the end.]

First, an update on Atlantic Merlin, our “Curious Visitor” last week – thanks to Catherine who yesterday posted photos of her in the sea smoke off Cape Ann, taken by C.Ryan who indicated Atlantic Merlin is working on a fiber optic cable from Lynn, MA to the UK and France. Early this afternoon Marine Traffic positioned her about 20 miles NE of the Cape. Here are a few mostly wildlife updates:

Early this morning Atlantic Merlin, classified by Marine Traffic as an “Offshore tug/supply vessel” under Canadian registry, arrived a couple of miles off Eastern Point. I watched through the haze as several cargo packages were transferred to a smaller fishing boat. After the samller vessel left, Atlantic Merlin continued closer over the next several hours, finally inching out of sight up the Cape Ann coast during the sunny afternoon. It would be interesting to know what her assignment is.

There are different ways to take a dunk.

Winter birds are settling into their seasonal routines.

This year we are, of course, celebrating Gloucester’s 400+ Anniversary (the “+” is for the centuries native peoples were here before Europeans, and for the years that are yet to come). The Overture was televised locally, and the Gloucester Times had comprehensive coverage, so this is more my personal view of this opening event of the year-long celebration.

It’s been slow recently for our waterfront and wildlife activity, so here are some photos that didn’t “fit the theme” a while back, followed by a few from our recent walks.

Things were about normal for the end of the year.

Some things to keep in mind when we’re celebrating this Holiday season.

Hank Heron (‘The Great Blue’) continues to entertain us, this time dealing with the first ice of the winter on Niles Pond. Here, in his very own words.

Everything is normal for this time of year, leading up to the Holidays.

During our walk by Niles Pond yesterday we were treated to one of Hank Heron’s younger friends scoring some misses, but mostly hits, while fishing for lunch. Here’s one of his (her?) successes.

Another week enjoying our feathered friends, and the weather extremes.

There is never a lack of interesting happenings around here. Recently – historic ships coming to Cape Ann for maintenance by knowledgeable craftspeople; a mystery as to the animal contractors at Niles Pond; and celestial bodies showing off.