Smith's Point

Josh and I hiked out to Smith's Point on March 27, and I headed out there today,  September 12.   When we hiked in that early spring,  we saw 2 dead seals and more winter-killed birds.  Today,  just one sea gull was on the dead list.  I saw 3 different species of terns,  hundreds of sanderlings,  some late black-bellied plovers and some early eiders.  And of course,  herring gulls and greater black-backed gulls, double crested cormorants and crows. A merlin delighted me,  and two oyster-catchers always do.  It was crisp,  at 62 degrees and winds from the ENE at 15 mph.  But that did not deter folks from sunbathing on the Madaket beach!

Back in late March,  all three scoters, long-tailed ducks and brant joined the eiders.  I am looking forward to those winter ducks that keep the oceans so busy!  We did see piping plovers then, too.

This time I hiked out on the ocean side and back via the "interior"  and the harbor side.

There was dusty miller, and late  beach pea and,  in the interior,  a host of seaside goldenrod getting ready to burst open.  

Black-bellied plover

Oystercatcher on the Madaket mud flats

Common terns

Eiders right off Smith Point

Least tern near the point

Forster's tern

Beach pea

Seaside Goldenrod

  

Sconset Bluff Walk, September 10

 Foggy mornings have been magical...and perfect for a walk along the beach and back via the bluff walk.  The autumn clematis is in full bloom and contrasts wonderfully with the rosehips and goldenrod.  

Seaside goldenrod,  solidago sempervirens
and Clematis terniflora

Rosa Rugosa

50 sanderlings...here, but one

Windswept Bog and Stump Pond, September 9

In the shady places, St. Andrew's Cross,
Ascyrum Hypercoides 

Nodding Ladies Tresses at Windswept Bog

Stump Pond Willow Herb, 
Decodon verticillatus

Gone-by Gerardia at Windswept

Roundhead Bush Clover,
Lespedeza capitata

Bush clover and goldenrod

Bushy Aster, Aster dumosus

Tupelo and Fox Grapes

Tall Goldenrod?  Solidago Altissima

 

Pout Ponds Hike, September 8

Pout Pond

 

Slender-leaved goldenrod

Heath Aster, Aster Ericoides

Arrowhead,  Sagittaria Latifolia

First Blazing Star of the season, Liatris

Eastern Silvery Aster, Aster Concolor

Sickle-leaved aster,  Chrysopsis Falcata
 and Slender Bush Clover, Lespedeza Virginica

Foggy Middle Moors

Labor Day Weekend

The kids have left;  we loved having them!  Arthur said his favorite Nantucket activity was paddling with me in the kayak in Polpis Harbor.  Noa liked the monkey hanging from our chandelier and Frankie was always eager to dig.  And of course the bubble machine was a success!

Now the roads are lined with sweet everlasting (Gnaphalium obtusifolium)  and Slender-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia tenuifolia).  The tupelos are turning mahogany.    These were the predominant flowers at Norwood Farm when I hiked yesterday.  There was a NCF sign that the St. Andrew's Cross (Ascyrum Hypericoides)  which is so common there is unique in New England.   The winds are more frequently from the North and northwest.  Today is 69 degrees at 1:30 pm with winds from the north.

Asters are starting.  I saw the perennial saltmarsh aster (aster tenuifolia) this morning at Polpis harbor  (along with sea lavender and salicornia)  when we went clamming. 

Sea Lavender (Limonium Nashii)

Arthur & Noa at Coskata

Bushy Aster ( Aster Dumosus)

Kettle Pond at Norwood Farm

Favorite Norwood Farm Oak

Bush Clover

More Ladies Tresses at Norwood Farm

Sunrise, September 5

Sunrise

Noa and Frankie