Author: patmorss

Hot and Cold — pat morss

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It’s been a real yo-yo of temperatures, but the animals adapt and it’s beautiful.

Beginning of a snowstorm, so better stock up on rhododendron leaves
Sitting it out
Then it was in the mid-60’s and comfy in the sun
The ice melted and it was back to snorkeling on Niles Pond
Nothing worth diving for
And another snowstorm leaving natural tinsel on the trees
Flocks of Winter Robins took it all in stride
Cross-country skiing on the main pedestrian-way
But nicer on the trail less taken
A small inukshuk on the rocks as an aid to navigation
Who needs to go South? We have turquoise waters too.

Harp Seals — pat morss

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On yesterday’s Good Morning Gloucester there was a story and video from Mike Codair about rescue of a Harp Seal stranded on the ice. That is prompting me to go “off Island” and post photos from our 2002 trip to see the newborn on the Gulf of St Lawrence pack ice, near our base, Iles de la Madeleine. One hotel opened off season to accommodate those of us wanting to experience the spectacle. The mothers haul out to deliver their pups in late February, and after just two weeks they are self-sufficient and leave independently.

The fishing fleet at Cap-aux-Meules, on Iles de la Madeleine, reminded me of Gloucester
Three helicopters were chartered to take us a half hour out onto the ice
Mothers with their pups were in all directions
When a mother went under the ice to hunt, we could photograph her pup
Lying on the ice, we could be mistaken for mom (got milk?)
The world looks different when I’m on my back
Yawn!
After two trips, we left the seals to the National Geographic researchers
Giving up our helicopter seats to others, we enjoyed some dogsledding

February Thaw — pat morss

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My first 2022 lunch on the deck today. Our thaw will be short lived with snow predicted tomorrow, but everyone is enjoying it.

I can see for miles
A meltwater sip, and maybe a bath, for the Winter Robins
It’s a short menu here on the Audubon – let’s try that house over there
Splendid! We can eat as high as we can reach
Squirrel gorging on suet
Several of the twenty five seals at Brace Cove, napping in the sun
Hooray – our owners let us out on the deck
Lots of dog walking and re-acquaintances
Not so easy for the lobster boats. A helpful tow home
And lost revenue in the lobster pot graveyard
But there’s hope with the sun already setting well north of the lighthouse

Reconnecting with our Winter Friends — pat morss

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Our wildlife has adapted to winter.

The turkeys were ahead of us on our walk
Sure you can – please join us
Very unusual taking to the trees mid-day
More than one
After Niles Pond froze over, the Mallards moved to the harbor
Along with the Canada Geese
She has a new wardrobe this winter
A flock of Winter Robins greets us on every walk
Wiley Coyote is back to his routine
Walking up the path from the rocks
Now, that’s a confident face

Blizzard Came and Went — pat morss

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Despite all the hype about the “bomb cyclone” blizzard of 2022, we were fortunate to weather it fine without losing power. Nice fluffy snow when it was over. This was our weekend timeline:

“White sun at night” did not lead to a “sailor’s delight”
We checked in with the seals, and they were nonchalant
Filled up on cerrystone clams at Tonno
Confirmed we were well stocked with thistle & sunflower seeds
Tried to watch the Nor’easter’s waves, but there was a white-out
Next morning, windblown snow (whale surfacing – center)?
A pristine view at breakfast
The front door before shoveling out
And after
Took our daily walk
A pretty winter day – with a Bloody Mary to follow

Ocean Effect Snow — pat morss

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Our couple of days of “Ocean Effect” snow was pretty, with low temperatures keeping it fluffy.

Gathered it was sunny inland
Northern Harrier soaring low over the Audubon sanctuary
Male Cardinal adds a touch of color in the snow
He’s an unwelcome guest for the resident Downy Woodpecker…
…who shinnies down the chain to express his displeasure
But the woodpecker allows the female Cardinal in…
…to take a nibble of the suet
After the snow, a House Finch couple shares dinner out
We meet new neighbors on our walks – shake paws with Louie
With the sun out – an international Canada-USA hockey match on Niles Pond

What a Difference a Day Makes — pat morss

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A windy night, then woke up in the midst of our first major Northeast storm of 2022.

Wind gusts up to 55 mph
The Audubon land flooded well above average at high tide
We had a seal basking on our rocks last week, but not today
Five deer asking what happened to their path to the rocks
They bounded off on an alternate route, one at a time
Waves kept building much of the day
Looks like a head in the middle (George Washington?) with arms up, over the breakwater
We were looking up at the waves next to Mother Ann Cottage
Instant duck pond, appropriately on the Audubon land
Headed toward an unusual sunset

Snow, Sun, Rain, Gone — pat morss

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Nice snow over the weekend, but then warmer with rain and it was gone.

Comfy snow cushions
Restaurant stayed open
Pristine and quiet next morning
Snowshoes beat me out to enjoy it
Shaft of sunlight on a Station of the Cross
Challenging skiing approaching the rocks
Frozen tidal pond
Afternoon walk around Niles Pond
My chair basking in the late afternoon sun

Pretty quiet until there’s food — pat morss

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It was cold on Tuesday, so we took along a small amount of bread for the Mallards on our walk by Niles Pond. I have just read this is not nourishing for them, so it may be cabbage, kale, cracked corn next time.

There were only several ducks, and they were entertaining slipping on the ice
Shortly, the Navy’s Blue Angels flew in, in formation, quacking pond-wide
This attracted dozens from the shoreline bushes on either side
One gull snuck a bite off to the side
Soon we had the whole Niles Pond duck population; maybe 10% got a bite
They dispersed just when the geese thought this might be worth investigating
Our juvenile Black-crowned Heron looked on with amusement
But not amusing enough
A parent (?) stayed alert close by
Just another winter sunset

Year’s End at World’s End — pat morss

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Some encounters with Nature during the final days of 2021, on a Cape Ann “World’s End.”

Flock of Winter Robbins looking like leaves left on a tree
Fisher (Cat) relaxing in a tree in front of the house
Bufflehead accelerating down a Niles Pond runway
Reaching lift-off speed
Wheels up
Juvenile Black-crowned Heron crossing the pond for a new vantage point
Its adult cousin studies the pond and us
Bottoms up at the Mallard underwater cafe
Lobster boat ‘Jeanne’ bringing in the traps New Year’s Eve

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Steller’s Sea-Eagle now in Maine — pat morss

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The rare Steller’s Sea Eagle from Asia that was hanging out mid to late December in the Taunton River, MA area, and covered in the local and national press as well as by Kim Smith, is now in Maine. Our daughter Jeannette took these photos of it in Georgetown, south of Bath, on New Year’s Eve day. She and her husband Derek own the Freeport Wild Bird Supply store and provide all our supplies with endless patience reviewing what I want to post with confidence on GMG. There is a lot to learn on their website, freeportwildbirdsupply.com

Steller’s Sea-Eagle, Georgetown, ME
Steller’s Sea-Eagle, Georgetown, ME

Christmas Wildlife — pat morss

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A Holiday is just another workday for feathers and fur.

Humans – They may have food. An ice shelf to contend with at Niles Pond
Well, where is it?
A patient female Mallard
Out on the pond, an uninvited male Merganser gets between a couple
Thanks Dear
Red-tailed Hawk (center) harrassed by dive-bombing crows at the Audubon Sanctuary
Score one for the crows
Not the venison we had for Christmas dinner
This White-tail was too quick, during a regular sunset visit
And the sun, setting farthest to the south of Eastern Point light

Rocky Squabbles — pat morss

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There are rock ownership issuse out here. But wildlife generally gets along (unless you’re dinner). Happy Solstice tomorrow.

Loud barking when a second seal hauled out on the same Brace Cove rock
Mallards generally claim this Niles Pond rock
And share it with the turtles during lily pad season
But lately Hank Heron has moved in
One lady was clearly expressing her displeasure
Large Hank had no concern and raised a leg to rest
Until two noisy tree surgeon trucks passed by
Meanwhile, diving Mergansers were having a bad hair day
And a Black-crowned Night Heron hid in the reeds at water’s-edge

More of the Same, but That’s OK — pat morss

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Another week of walks checking in with our friends.

Winterberry Holly is adjusting to rain and frost
Starlings are passing through
Turkeys not far from their reflections at their favorite red car
A Mallard and a Cormorant know where the rocks are close to the surface
Hank Heron is still hunting at Niles Pond
We’re on the road just 6 feet away
Merganser greeting us, close to the reeds
Flying in to check out the male with two women
A gaggle of Canada Geese on the pond
Then moving on
Chinese yacht ‘Zhai Mo-1’ out for sea trials, following repairs due to Greenland ice encounter
Smoother return to Gloucester Marine Railways, before provisioning for China

Niles Pond Never Disappoints — pat morss

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The winter birds are back.

Something has the Cormorants’ attention
A Great Blue Heron, motionless like a statue
Watching me, ten feet away, as well as the pond
A female Mallard beauty with every feather in place
The boys (with one interloper) huddle to discuss the next play
We gather this is a cross between a Mallard and an American Black Duck
OK, so this was a month or so ago – last flight out to Mexico for the Monarchs
A Bald Eagle flew in over our heads this morning
Some kind of interest in the harbor
Here it is – some tender loving care for ‘One Love’
And concluding with this evening’s sunset. We’re spoiled.

Catching Up After Thanksgiving — pat morss

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The holiday had no impact on life around us (except the first photo).

A selfie with a sign of the season
Not certain whether this ball is normal
That’s better; lots of Mallard couples on Niles Pond
What did this Merganser find on the bottom? Yucky!
Red-breasted Merganser (left) showing proper fishing form to a juvenile
Seal waiting line at Brace Cove as tidal rocks get exposed
I claim this one
Last Fresh flowers of the season
Northern Harrier hunts low over the Audubon sanctuary
It’s getting dark early
And the sun is setting well south of the lighthouse

Seals of Approval — pat morss

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The seals approve of Brace Cove. We had a record (for us) of 24 this last weekend.

Here are 10 of the 24
Another grouping in the panorama
This little guy found the last rock to appear at low tide
On the other side of the causeway, it was ladies evening out on Niles Pond
This is the reddest tree ever
The USCG is always training
And with some unseasonably warm weather, evening fishing remains popular
Once again the sun will start setting to the left (south) of the lighthouse

If you have wings, you’re doing fine — pat morss

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This seems to be the bird edition. More Feathers than Fur around recently.

White-breasted Nuthatch enjoying dinner at our rustic cafe
Downy Woodpecker literally scampering up and down the patio door screen
Got room for one more? Actually, they’re hiding now through Thanksgiving
Cooper’s Hawk skimmed our heads and landed at a better observation post
Every feather has its place
Mallard couples at Niles Pond, taking over the turtle rock
This Ring-necked Duck did have 4 cousins with him
Gulls relaxing at Brace Cove
Code Red Alert!
One lap around the cove and back

Nor’easter Encore for Surfers — pat morss

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Our secondary minor storm came through Saturday and was enough to keep the surf up at Brace Cove.

The venue, with Twin Lights in the background; taken from Brace Rock
Waiting for an eligible wave
Up for easy cruising (if you know what you’re doing)
Graceful style – looks applicable to downhill skiing
Second surfer catching a nice wave
Showing off for the first surfer on his way back out
Good form as well
Always good to stay clear of the rocks
The largest wave attempt while I was watching
A very quick descent
And an impressive recovery
But the ocean won this encounter

After the Storm — pat morss

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The surf is still noisy, but the nor’easter has passed out to sea. Back to the daily walk (we were fortunate not to lose power or have damage).

Tree surgeons said the challenge is removing branches without causing another outage
Instant apple harvest on our road
Crackers for the quackers
Mother Ann has witnessed many a storm
An unfortunate casualty – injured wing
After a dark week, the sun begins to poke through
The setting sun under the clouds produces a warm glow
Waning daylight
Finally a visible sunset