June 30, 2009 by OrientSee.

 At least it wasn’t raining or fogged in this morning. Before Gaia could change her mind, I went for a walk. Coming through the thicket towards Rosie’s Pond, a break in the tree branches framed a Great Egret feeding in the tide filled pond.

I looked out across to the train yard. I still haven’t seen any hatchlings in the nest but I was surprised to see a second nest, smaller to the left of the main nest. I’m not sure that I had ever seen this before. I wonder what’s going on. Both the Ospreys showed up later but they were perched on the two poles in the flats. Neither even approached the nests.

The Overlook was quiet, as quiet as it gets with Redwings, Cowbirds, Starlings, Robins and Grackles.  It does seem like a lot of Mourning Doves were all around. I think that the new generation of doves just launched from the nests recently. The Overlook panne featured a very stately Great Egret.

Just beyond the panne, I found this Ribbon Snake laying on a piece of driftwood. I was surprised since this is a very wet part of the marsh flats and any passing hawk would have had an easy snack.

Looking back to the water, I noticed this mixed pair of egrets feeding side by side.

The Boardwalk overlooking the east flats had five Glossy Ibis spread out feeding in the little puddles.

The park meadow is still in bloom but except for a Song Sparrow there wasn’t much flying around except for the swallows. By the park entrance, a bumblebee was feeding on top a very large thistle.

Further along Bennington St., a small clump of lillies have gone wild and provide real relief from the dull pavement.

“While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”

The Lake Isle of Innisfree - W.B. Yeats

The weather this June has been wet and gray. Rain, fog and wind have set new records for this month. Getting out is the best medicinal. Belle Isle is my pharmacy.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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June 25, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Windy wet weather and a vacation have kept me away. Today the sun came out and so covered with repellant, I went for a walk. The thickets have turned into islands of jungle. There were glades almost as dark as night even though it was noon. A  lilly was caught by a shaft of sunlight and offered this stunning sight.

All the trees and plants are in full production. The wild cherries are flourishing and the mulberries are getting larger and juicier.

Both of the Ospreys were on the poles but the nest was empty. I am beginning to think that they will not breed this year. A distant Great Blue Heron was foraging in the flats. The path out to the Overlook is getting wilder and is close to being overgrown in places. I always admire bumblebees for their industry but the tree swallows are almost as busy. It is only occasionally that you can see one this still.

The Overlook panne was full with just this one Snowy Egret.

Across the creek on the Winthrop side, the rest of the egret clan was in full force with both Snowys and Greats out on the flats. Over to the Boardwalk, this Savannah Sparrow eyed me as I approached.

The Boardwalk panne boasted these four Glossy Ibis busily feeding.

The park meadow was a real delight with the wild flowers in rampant bloom.  It was just spectacular.

Finally out at the park entrance, a Brown-headed Cowbird was perched on the park sign.

It was terrific to be out in the sun and seeing so much today. It has been too long since I was last out. I’m looking forward to getting out early in the morning tomorrow.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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June 11, 2009 by OrientSee.

 The weather has combined with my inertia and has turned me into a bit of a slug lately. Finally rain or not, I went out for a walk. The thickets are full of wild rose vines in bloom and the mulberries are fattening up nicely. A Great Egret was feeding in one of the deeper drainage ditches and often only his head was showing. The Osprey nest was attended by one adult. I have no idea if there are any eggs up there or not. I’ll just have to wait until a chick pops up a head or not. On Palermo St. I found this allium nearly buried in a jungle of weeds.

Geoff’s path out to the Overlook was full of Redwings and Grackles angrily protesting my presence. The Overlook had a few ducks dabbling for food. A pair of Willets were back and forth. One perched on this log for a while. I expected to be dive bombed by one or the other. Today they ignored me which was a surprise since they can be very aggressive.

At the Boardwalk, the only thing to see was a Snowy Egret sitting still and all hunched over. Nearby at the edge of the meadow, the Rus Rugosa were in glorious bloom.

At the crest of the meadow, two birds were tangling with each other. The first was a Kingbird which was doing its territorial thing.

Its opponent was a Baltimore Oriole. It was the brightest thing at Belle Isle today and it lit up my day.

Further along I cam across a finely made carpet of daisies.

Bennington St. was quiet. At Suffolk Downs station, I found this mysterian, a bird that I cannot identify. It’s an immature something.

[Next Day - The mystery has been solved by my favorite birding guru. It’s an immature male Baltimore Oriole.]

Getting out today was a powerful tonic. It was worth the effort for the uplifting of my spirits. Even the Starlings looked good today.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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June 3, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was cloudy and cool. The wind has slackened a bit from the furious blasts of the last few days. Rosie’s Pond had a few ducks, two Snowy Egrets and one Great Egret. One of the snowys was bent over and feeding with it neck nearly horizontal. It held this pose for some minutes. For a few seconds, I couldn’t decipher what it was. I have seen egrets do this before but it does look strange. The Osprey are still attending the nest in the train yard. Perhaps, there will be some nestlings soon.

On the way to Palermo St., I noticed that the mulberries are swelling and soon the birds will be gorging themselves on the fruit. The little meadow was full of wild flowers like this yellow specimen.

On Geoff’s path, I caught a shot of the most insubstantial bit of airborne fluff. The air was full of these little wind driven seeds.

The path was mostly quiet but at the Overlook, I visited with a Goldfinch.

A few ducks were feeding and then a Willet took umbrage at my presence and flew by, loudly screeching.

The Boardwalk was quiet. In the park meadow, a Bobolink flew around while all kinds of butterflies were busy, including this black and yellow fellow on a thistle stem.

The entrance was being mowed which discouraged the birdlife. Across Bennington St., I found this broken robin’s egg on the sidewalk. I wonder how it ended up crashed on the asphalt.

Just feet away from the egg in the middle of a very ugly entanglement of thorn and dead tree trunk, a bright rose gleamed in spite of the trash and lifeless limbs.

It was a beautiful day to be out in spite of the intermittent clouds. The season so far has been disappointing. No warblers to speak of and only one Baltimore Oriole. The hawks are too busy with rearing their young and so they seem to have disappeared. The shorebirds should be here in big numbers but not many can be seen here at Belle Isle. Thankfully, there are plenty of egrets and herons. Drop by and take a look yourself.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 26, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was cooler and the winds brisk. I was surprised to find a Glossy Ibis feeding in the shallow pools at Rosie’s Pond. It was redder than I am used to seeing and it was solo. Ibises usually are very social birds.

A Great Egret plopped down and the Ibis took off. The egret looked like a peer of the realm.

Throughout the thickets and especially along Palermo St., the locusts were in bloom as if a snow storm had blown through. There was a wonderful aroma wafting off these flowers.

More flowers. The blue Irises are still in bloom but the gold irises outshine them now.

Yellow seemed to be a theme along Geoff’s path. First it was a Yellow Warbler.

Then it was a Common Yellowthroat. It has been a slow season at Belle Isle for warblers.

Finally a gorgeous Goldfinch posed in the sun. It wasn’t put off by my camera but hung around till more important business called ( a male finch).

The Overlook was quiet. A few ducks and Yellowlegs but no swans today. A female Redwing preened itself and was generally far less wary than the males usually are.

The Boardwalk was very quiet. The algae mats were strewn with abandon over the grass but there wasn’t much else to see.

The park meadow had lots of flowers on display including these daisies.

It was bright day filled with brilliant birds, flowers and wonderful smells.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 22, 2009 by OrientSee.

It’s been the second day of a short hot spell. I was not expecting to see much today. There were a few Snowy Egrets in Rosie’s Pond but little else. No warblers in the thicket. More Irises were in bloom on Lawn Ave.

It was trash pick up today and it seems that Rudolph is passing on to his reward.

The Osprey are doing well. One was up in the nest at the end of the T yard while the other was posted above the flats. It even screamed a little when I popped up to take a better look.

The Overlook path was full of Redwings but no owls or warblers today. The Overlook panne had some mallards and several Snowy Egrets who took to the air when they saw me.

The biggest surprise were these three swans in the panne. They are enormous and dwarf everything that flies at Belle Isle except for the planes landing at Logan.

The Boardwalk was quiet. A small flock of BlackBellied Plover were resting further out on the flats.

I walked across the park meadow and admired the tiny new pine cones. When I touched the branch, an enormous smoke cloud of pollen flew off. It was amazing to see how much pollen there was.

Out by the park entrance, I got to see my first Cedar Waxwings of the year.

Across Bennington St., is the flood pumping station. It has a pool filled with floating waste and urban discards. It was strange to see this Grackle walking on the raft of debris looking for food. It was walking on water which is strange for a bird that perches on trees most of the time.

I went to check on the Flicker nesting site and caught a glimpse of a plastic race horse named Biscuit. Suffolk Downs does have some strange sights from time to time but this horse was special.

Dripping with sweat, I got back home. I got to see a lot today and talk to a few of the Belle Isle regulars. I really can’t imagine living anyplace else. There’s just always something to see and enjoy.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 17, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Seasons sometimes slide into the next without any fanfare. No showy leaf colors, no snow. Spring is sliding into summer. The apple and cherry blossoms are gone and the lilac blooms are going by. Soon the mulberries will be bursting with juice. The flats have gone green in just a few days. The emergent grass blades had been hidden in the straw bleached stems of last year but now the grass is bursting with growth and the marsh is fully coming to life.

By the marsh’s edge on Palermo St., this magnificent iris was in bloom.

Almost at its feet, a snail was toiling in the wetness.

Across the flats, an Osprey was feeding off the top of some flotsam.

On the street a Flicker was feeding as if it were a pigeon.

Geoff’s path was quiet. I got a fleeting glimpse of Common Yellowthroat while the Redwings were noisily calling everywhere. The Overlook and the Boardwalk pannes were quiet with a few pairs of Mallards feeding. In the park meadow, an Eastern Kingbird was perched on a weed stem.

I had hoped for an Oriole or two but the wind was up and perhaps discouraged the birdlife. Just by the Suffolk Downs T station, I was fortunate to notice a Flicker flashing its gold underparts. I realized that it was entering a nest hole. Here it is peeking out.

It was cool and wet today but the walking was enjoyable. The mosquitoes haven’t shown up yet and so it is pleasant to walk in the thickets. Still there haven’t been many warblers and few shore birds so far.  I keep hoping for more migrants passing through.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 13, 2009 by OrientSee.

The last few days have been strange but enjoyable. I’ve gone out in the middle of the day in glorious weather and enjoyed my leisurely walks but after the Great Horned Owl, there has been little to see. I’ve enjoyed the scented blooms and warming days but the beasts and the birds have not been cooperating. The warblers et al seem to be passing up Belle Isle this year. Today I went out earlier and there were things to see.

Rosie’s was empty and the thicket had a few sparrows and catbirds. The Osprey were about. One was off and on the nest while the other was eating on top of a large piece of driftwood out on the flats. Lawn and Palermo gave me this great view of a Mourning Dove with a beak full of nesting material. A Brown-headed Cowbird was perched on the telephone pole nearby at the same time.

Geoff’s path was full of Redwings and Catbirds but no warblers. At the Overlook, a female Redwing stopped and let me approach very close.

The flats were full of Redwings and swallows swooping near and far.

On the Boardwalk, a very pretty Tree Swallow rested.

Out in the pannes, a Great Egret was feeding and then I noticed another darker large bird and it turned out to be the first Glossy Ibis of the year for me.

The Ibis was alone except for the Great Egret. I thought that a little strange. These are very social birds and I am not used to seeing them alone.

The park meadow is a vast carpet of yellow. At the top of the mound, this reminder of last summer’s glory still stood and still impressive.

The park entrance was overwhelmed by the noise of the resurfacing crew working on the street. I crossed over the bridge to the side of the pumping station and discovered  by the pool, a colony of Barn Swallows roosting in the crevices of the building. Perched on a nearby fence pole, was this decidedly duller Rough-winged Swallow.

Seeing the Glossy Ibis was a treat and a break from the last few days. The construction crews should be moving on soon and perhaps that will make a difference. Even when it has been quiet, the weather has made every walk a treat.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 8, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was full. The Osprey are still sitting on the nest. One is on the nest while the other is nearby standing guard. Rosie’s Pond was surprisingly empty. In he nearby thicket, I watched a Catbird in courtship display.  In the shade, this Savannah Sparrow rested for a while.

Over on Lawn Ave., the first surprise of the day was a Baltimore Oriole in the apple blossoms. They are just so bright and with the blossoms, it was even more magnificent.

Along Geoff’s path, I saw my first deer signs. This is a deer track in the mud. So now Belle Isle definitely has large animal life as well.

Next along the path, I found this bizarre image. In a puddle of water lies an egg partially submerged.  It was about the size of a chicken egg. I haven’t the slightest idea of what it was and where it came from.

I turned from the egg and had my second surprise. Perched nearby, this Great Horned Owl calmly watched everything. Even a loud incessant crow could not disturb his apparent composure. This is my first Great Horned Owl at Belle Isle and it was jumping up and down terrific.

The Overlook and the flats were quiet. From the Boardwalk it was possible to see lots of Brant scattered along the creek bank. A single Great Egret and four of these Snowy Egrets were moving from one panne to another. Most of the water surface was covered by algae blooms.

The park meadow was exploding with yellow as this one wild flower bloomed everywhere.

The meadow made me think about one particular meadow bird and magically it appeared, a Bobolink. That was my third happy surprise of the day.

It was with some relief from all the excitement to reach Bennington St. and start home. Belle Isle had a lot to enjoy today. I was very impressed and even more thankful that I live so close to so much beauty.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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May 4, 2009 by OrientSee.

 Today was grey with overcast skies and by the time that I was able to walk, it was low tide. I wasn’t full of expectation as a result. Rosie’s Pond and Thicket were very quiet. I walked over to Palermo St. and my nose came awake. All the fruit trees were in full bloom and the air was filled with so much scent that not even the airport could overpower the smell. The old Belle Isle sign was framed in bloom.

The rest of my walk was very quiet except for one bird along Geoff’s Path. A very bright and beautiful Yellow Warbler popped up in a bush next to the path and was not bothered by me at all.

It plopped down into a little vernal pool and proceeded to take a bath. I was scarcely eight feet away watching. It was a delight to see.

After a bit of washing, it jumped to a higher spot on a reed and shook itself dry.

I have never appreciated the color yellow so much.

The rest of my walk was full of Redwings vigorously courting the females and battling back and forth over the ladies. The park was very dull. The Yellow Warbler was so great that it didn’t matter that there wasn’t much else to see today. It made the whole walk worth it.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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