Winter Walk on the Beach from Hoick's Hollow to Sankaty Head.

1 snowy owl,  7 Harlequin ducks,  60 buffleheads,  sanderlings and various gulls.

At the Birding group,  saw bluebirds (and hooded mergansers and brant and northern harriers).  Lichen and Spanish moss shining green in the mist on Saturday morning ,  and the red winterberries abound.

September 14 Hike to Pout Ponds

Beaver Moon

The Farmer's Almanac says the November full moon is called the Beaver Moon because it was the time for trappers to set their last traps before the winter's freeze. 

 

Saw dozens of  long-tail ducks flying low,  first north,  then south.  White winged scoters on the water;  sanderlings still on the beach,  and many gulls,  including a Bonaparte's gull.   2 dozen seals on my walk to Low Beach...many right at Low Beach. 

Altar Rock

Hiked with Sam, Mari and Chipwich from Gibbs Pond to Altar Rock on Sunday.  The Sickle-Leaved asters are still out in abundance.  Still a little too early for much goldrenrod.  Did catch my first Blazing Star (Liatris)  of the season,  and some early Pearly Everlasting!

Hike Around Stump Pond

How to express the incredible aroma of the Sweet Pepper?  It's like sasparilla...

The sickle-leaved asters are out,  and the bush clover.  No goldenrod yet!

Middle Moors and Pout Ponds

Sickle Leaved Asters, Chrysopsis Falcata

Lichen field with Heathers

Wild Indigo,  Baptisia Tinctoria,  in full bloom

 

Dozens of Wood Lilies

Wood Lilies,  Lilium Philadelphicum,  and Toothed,  White -topped asters,  Seriocarpus asteroids

 

Squam Swamp in mid-July

Looking almost fall-like,  with mushrooms and fungi

Indian pipes