I asked my brother David if he had any interest in going to Plum Island with me for 3 nights to go birding in the hopes of seeing a Short-eared owl - he immediately said yes! Plum Island is on the North Shore of Massachusetts. We went in mid-January and could not have asked for a better stretch of weather for our outings. We did not need face masks which have been so necessary during this very frigid weather - what a gift.

He picked me up mid-morning on Monday, January 12th - we packed the car to the gills and off we went. Our game plan was to go directly to the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island - we arrived around 12:30. Neither of us had ever been - I have been wanting to go for sometime. I had been obsessively tracking both short-eared and snowy owl sightings at Parker River on e-bird for the two weeks before we left.

Christmas Day in Kennebunk was bitterly cold with overcast skies in the early morning hours. I bundled up and drove over to the Wells Reserve just hoping to see the Great Horned Owl again. I knew that was asking a lot after just seeing it on December 23rd but I thought - you just never know. I arrived at the empty parking lot and it was glare ice. I parked as close to fresh snow as I could and put on my ice grippers on the bottom of my boots and off I went - face mask and goggles rounded out my outerwear - it was cold. I decided to head down the main path like the previous time and then my plan was to head right to the area where I had seen the Great Horned Owl roosting in that bittersweet…

The main path is nice and wide with trees and tangles of brush and bittersweet on both sides. For some reason I walked more on the left side of the

The entire six days that I was in Kennebunk I saw one lone loon on the Kennebunk River. I am assuming it was the same one - but who knows. This loon is a Common Loon in his or her full winter plumage… all shades of white and black - very different than their striking summer plumage. A loon is always stunning to see and I was thrilled to see this one meandering up and down the stretch of river that I was on.

The following photos are all from Christmas Eve day. It was a very gray brutally cold day with snow off and on - I didn’t venture far. I decided to try and capture some shots of this majestic bird while it was snowing. I never heard its hauntingly beautiful call but in my mind I could hear it. The section of the river I was on is at a narrow point so I was able to get closer shots than are often possible when loons are out on a lake in their summertime habitat.

I want to let you know how much I appreciate your post comments, emails, texts and calls - and also to apologize - I just can’t keep up in responding. But please know that I am so grateful that you enjoy - coming along with me…

I decided to spend some time along the Kennebunk river during the afternoon looking for water birds. Finally the sun popped out and I saw this gorgeous Common Eider across the river… this photograph makes me cold all over again when I look at it! They are such stunning birds…

Just like last year I am back in Kennebunk for the Christmas holiday week. I arrived on Monday after a very easy drive up here - clear skies and clear sailing. I arrived in the afternoon which gave me time to get settled and organized for the week - needless to say my passion for nature photography requires a lot of equipment! Cameras, tripods, lots and lots of warm clothes, hard drives, laptop, memory cards, camera batteries and on and on. I had planned my first outing to be for Tuesday morning at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. I spent lots of time there last year and loved it. This post is longer than usual so please settle in - I hope that you enjoy.

Up through the trees ahead of me to the right… I saw a huge white bird perched on top of a dead tree! I honestly thought - I know it isn’t a Snowy Owl - but who is it?? It was hard for me to see through the trees to get a good clean look. Unfortunately I was on a part of the road where I couldn’t just pull over. I knew going forward any further would likely flush the bird and I couldn’t back up… So I went forward as slowly as possible …. and just as I was getting a better view of the bird it flew off and crossed the road out of my view! I then looked ahead and saw

At dawn and dusk birds in huge flocks zip past while fighting the usually very strong winds out on Race Point. . The birds bobbing along on the water often ride very powerful and crashing waves. It is truly an incredible spot to spend time at - I just love it. I little further down the beach I saw hundreds and hundreds of Northern Gannets the closest I have ever seen them off the shore - flying, turning and diving for breakfast. Breathtaking!

When I woke up this morning everything was totally socked in with fog - mid 50’s for temps and low tide -perfect. I immediately got dressed and put on my raincoat and grabbed one camera with my new lens. I went right out my door onto the beach on the east end of Ptown. A couple of years ago I found out that a Great Blue Heron liked to hang out at dawn and sunrise on the beach on the east end. I was hoping that he was still keeping to his routine and that I would spot him. So off I went in fog so thick I could barely see 2 feet in front of me. Since there was no wind all I could hear was the

I am still fighting with this program - which is not typical - grrrrrr…... I am continuing to work on more Ripley photos for you - I am thrilled so many of you have enjoyed seeing those stunning birds! I promise - more will be coming from Ripley and my other incredible adventures in the Litchfield Hills.

Inserting my text between photos is one of the issues that I am having so I will share all of my commentary before the photos.

This morning I went to Bullitt as it looked like we would have a heavy frost overnight - and we sure did. It was 28 degrees with no wind when I arrived. Since my morning with the hoar frost in Hawley I have been hoping for some frosty conditions again so that I could try photographing them with my new lens. It was not a hoar frost at Bullitt this morning but it was a very good heavy frost. All of today’s photos are handheld with my new lens - no tripod..

For four days last week I was in the beautiful Litchfield Hills area of Connecticut. I spent as many hours outdoors as possible exploring the many trails in this stunning part of CT. In addition to exploring nature trails I had the good fortune to have booked 4 hours privately at the Ripley Water Fowl Conservancy. I had known nothing about this incredible organization until I had been preparing and researching for my trip. On their website there was a section for photographers so of course I immediately checked it out. I was absolutely floored - they offer 4 hours of private time for

This is the continuation of my Saturday morning incredible outing at the Hawley Bog. As I mentioned… just as the dream-like color show in the hoarfrost ended the bird song exploded. As I continue to replay the morning back in my mind over and over - maybe the bird song was happening all along and I just couldn’t take it all in at once. That honestly could be the case - it was all so incredible. It was a landscape I dream of and I was in the middle of it.

As soon as I finished with the color show shots I immediately

There are no words to adequately describe my outing this morning at the Hawley Bog Preserve….. spellbinding is the best word that I can think of…. pure Lorraine Magic! Truly spectacular - start to finish!

I am breaking this up into two posts…. this first one is landscapes only with no birds. And omg the birds!! :). I planned on going this morning because I thought there was a great chance of hoarfrost. Hawley is a good 40-45 min from our house - so up and out I went

There is nothing like New England in the fall. So far we have had one gorgeous day after the other - truly incredible. This morning I went to Bullitt and it was absolutely stunning. The usual - arrived at Bullitt before sunrise - no wind - but warmer than usual - 57 degrees. This past week I bought myself a new lens ( Canon 70-200) and this was my first outing taking it out. A few months ago I bought a new contraption from Cotton Carrier that lets me carry a second camera a lot more easily. I put my new lens on the camera that I would use in my new carrying contraption and carried my big zoom lens and tripod as usual - off I went.

Recently I went to Edge Hill in Ashfield for my early morning outing. Yet another gorgeous morning - high 40’s, no wind and not a cloud in the sky when I started out before sunrise. I did my usual loop up and around the property and was not really having much luck seeing or hearing birds - but it was all still beautiful. I decided to end by going down towards the lower field and just wander around and watch the sun come up over that field. . The sun was just getting ready to pop out above the tree line to my left when I decided to just set up right there and scan the field below.

This post is a combination of my last couple of mornings in Lenox at the Pleasant Valley MA Audubon property. I never saw the heron again after the first morning. I am so thrilled that so many of you enjoyed the Heron and Full Moon post - thanks so much for your posts, texts, VMs and emails - I sincerely appreciate them.The second morning I went around the Audubon property in the exact order that I had done it during the first morning - another picture perfect September morning. No humidity, 50 degrees and no wind. As I was going around on the trail I heard a pair of Barred Owls

WOW!!! What a morning I had…I am in Lenox for a few days exploring the nature preserves out here. I drove out Monday and went to the three different preserves that day to do my scouting. I can’t stop thinking about yesterday morning because it was so incredible. I booked these three nights so that I would be out here with the full moon setting in the mornings.

I arrived very early at the Pleasant Valley MA Audubon property yesterday morning- no surprise.:) I had spent quite a bit of time

I am finally ready to share this post with all of you. I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time for two mornings in a row on 8/30 and 8/31 at Bullitt. Fall warbler migration was in full swing both of those mornings. Once I found my spot I set up and honestly I could not keep up because there were so many warblers zipping around right where I was! I thought I would number the photos I need help with …so if Dan or Allan or anyone else wants to respond with their input as to the identifications of the various birds I would really appreciate it - thank you! I have tried through Merlin

This is not the order that I had planned to share with you from my Labor Day Weekend outings… but I have changed my mind and will start with this morning and share Saturday and Sunday morning another time. I want to first start by thanking Dan and Allan for helping me with the identifications of birds that I either don’t know or get mixed up - thank you both very much. When I do post my sightings from Saturday and Sunday Dan and Allan will have their work cut out for them - I was in the right place at the right time to see and photograph so many warblers - and so many that I can’t

On the mornings that I am able to go out I continue to head to Bullitt. The sounds, colors and feel of a new season making its way in are absolutely everywhere. Lately the mornings have been around 50 degrees with no wind - absolutely spectacular. I thought I would start this post with a video of a glorious sunrise last Tuesday. For this post I am combining shots from a few mornings - all at Bullitt.

Before I begin and forget again I was asked what kind of equipment

I am thrilled that so many of you enjoyed the last post - that was a special morning. Speaking of special mornings - I had another one this morning - back at Bullitt.

Here goes -

I left the house earlier enough to see the spectacular full moon setting - always a special way to start an outing. I arrived at Bullitt - no wind and 57 degrees - beautiful. As soon as I get out of the car I