There are many early indicators of a seasonal shift from Winter to Spring at Wachusett Meadow Farm in New England — an increase in snowshoe travel, strong shadows and patterns, running streams, melting snow patches on stone walls, diminishing icicles, sheep wool thick enough for shearing and diverse creatures sunbathing and feeding.
The clouds accumulating before last week’s Winter storm felt ominous, yet were mesmerizing. In relationship to the landscape, they provided an experience of dramatic movement during a shift in atmospheric pressure.
This red squirrel took great care to find, examine, select and enjoy only the choicest of black sunflower seeds from the treasure trove beneath the bird feeder.
Even within the short space of an hour, the Winter light in New England can intensify color dramatically.
In Massachusetts, the return of the red-winged blackbird is a welcome sign of Spring. Luckily, this one doesn’t seem to mind the snow.
The Sun was perfect for capturing “eye light” in animals and birds of different sizes. A close inspection of the squirrels’ eyes reveal barns and landscapes of the Audubon. The eyes of the titmouse and the northern cardinal are harder to decode, but they sparkle charmingly, anyway.
On a chilly New England afternoon, the Northern Cardinal and the American Tree Sparrow shared a feast at the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Massachusetts. Neither bird paid attention to me.
One of New England’s greatest novelists, Herman Melville, wrote “Moby Dick”, a dramatic story about Captain Ahab’s obsession to destroy the Great White Whale. At my local Audubon, there is a huge glacial boulder which reminds me of this mythical whale.
Happy New Year!
This lively and dramatically colored pair of evening grosbeaks swooped in to the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA recently. They enjoyed black sunflower seeds from the feeder and on the ground. The female’s tall feathers blended in beautifully with the seeds. The red squirrel seemed to be happy to share the bounty!
After spotting this elegant pair of foxes on a recent walk at the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA, I was inspired to create an origami display that featured them. In Scandinavian folklore, foxes were believed to cause the northern lights, so “Foxfire” is the Finnish name for this unique atmospheric display. While Massachusetts is too far south for northern lights viewing, my mini-foxfire origami creation brightens up my holiday table.
This cardinal at the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA delights in the action “on the ground” as well as in the treetops.
The squirrels continue to adapt to their environment.
Winter has transformed the Wildlife Pond at the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton, MA. The beaver lodge has a chunky white coating, while other areas of the pond sparkle with ice ranging from rough and jagged to windblown and smooth. The red and gold vegetation at the pond edges lends a delicate frame to this “ice world”.
Pumpkins, Fall vegetation, colonial houses, and snowy landscapes dotted with the creatures that inhabit them all evoke a traditional New England Thanksgiving. Wishing you a wonderful holiday from Central Massachusetts.
Winter friends spotted on a recent visit to the Wachusett Meadow Audubon in Princeton MA. Wide-ranging colors and bursts of energy lift one’s spirits on a gray New England day.
