April Ashfield Highlights!
Winter was very long in New England so the start of spring was very welcome when it finally arrived. And even when it arrived it was as if winter kept its claws dug in. We had many cold and frosty mornings and lots of cloudy days. But still, I knew that we were turning the corner and was so thankful that the calendar said April. In this post I will share with you my highlights from April. The vast majority of these photos are from Bullitt Reservation in Ashfield, MA while a handful are from Edge Hill in Ashfield and a small handful are from other spots in Ashfield. Two different mornings I had to turn back on Route 116 and head back home because of black ice - like I said - winter was really trying to hang on.
These first two photos are from a cold and drizzly morning at Bullitt. I was really feeling the need to be outside so I bundled up and went. It was a very quiet morning as I did the loop through the woods. As I continued on the trail I caught the glimpse of movement to my left. I immediately stopped dead in my tracks and saw something climbing up the backside of a tree to my left. As quietly as I could I moved to my right to get a better angle to see if I could catch another glimpse. I set up and waited while seeing no movement at all. About 5 minutes later look at who said hello to me from the top of the tree!
On a gorgeous sunny early April morning at Bullitt I heard the glorious sound of peepers! It was the first time I had heard them this year. I walked back down near where a beaver or two had been busy earlier damning up a small area. I figured this would be where the peepers would be peeping. Sure enough - this was exactly where they were - I honestly couldn’t believe I could see them so well. It was truly beautiful -
The next morning back at Bullitt I heard the very distinct sound of Northern Flickers. That morning I saw over 6 different Flickers - I had never seen. so many at once - just spectacular!
Another morning at Bullitt I honestly had struck out and decided that I had tried hard enough and decided to leave. Just as I was leaving I saw this truly magnificent male pheasant - score!
I will have an update in a later post for you about the Sandhill Crane pair that I am usually following in the spring. I’ll just say this - this particular morning I saw only one adult. I had arrived extremely early - well before sunrise and waited and waited for the crane to start waking up. They sleep/rest in swampy areas with their heads tucked into the feathers on their backs. Just as the sun was coming up directly across from me it lifted its head and looked right at me - with a beautiful thin line of light outlining its body. At exactly the same time the fog was lifting off of the water on the swamp. This otherworldly scene sent chills through my body as this was my first sighting this year of this spectacular bird. I always wonder- how many miles did this crane fly to come back to this exact spot. These cranes are not tagged so I cannot swear with 100% scientific certainty that this is one of the adults that I have been watching over the previous 5 years. But I am personally sure that it is. Like I said - more to come at another time about the cranes.
The next morning I was driving back to Ashfield when I saw this stunning horse out in a very frosty field just as the sun was coming up.
That same morning I continued on to Edge Hill. It was a beautiful morning with full sun. As I was heading back to the car I saw this loving pair of Rock Pigeons enjoying each other and a beautiful spring morning.
Another morning in Ashfield I decided I wanted to see the beavers that I usually see at one of the swampy/small pond areas. I sure did! I saw them both swimming around in the very early morning light - one was much larger than the other. I waited and waited for more light. Just as the pond turned golden from the sun they began to mate!
A few moments later she swam right in front of me as if I wasn’t standing on the edge of the pond with my camera and tripod! She is much smaller in size than the male.
And then she gave me this pose - just incredible.
Back at Bullitt another morning I saw a porcupine way, way up in a tree!!! I waited for almost 1.5 hours to see if it would wake up and come down further in the tree - and it did!!
And then looked right at me… :)
Another very crisp and frosty morning back at Bullitt up in the upper field…. and once again I was surrounded by those spectacular prisms of light from the frost crystals!
Once the angle of the light changed and I could no longer photograph the ice crystals, I decided to do the loop through the woods. And in the most glorious early morning light I was able to photograph this precious chickadee…
Back at Bullitt the following morning - I saw the unmistakable flitting of kinglets!! I thought to myself - this is incredible! I set up and tried to “catch up” with their very frenetic high speed movements. I felt like my hands were tied behind my back I was so slow on the shutter button - and then I finally got into gear and caught up with this very special Ruby-crowned kinglet!
And then even more magic - he flashed his brilliant red crown!
My last April morning at Bullitt was stunning… cool, crisp, and not a cloud in the sky. I decided I wanted to be at the top of the wooded trail for sunrise. As I made my way up the trail I could see dazzling streaks of bright light from the sunrise breaking through the trees. And then for some reason I felt like I was being forced to look left immediately…. and right in that dramatic light was a Broad-winged hawk perfectly perched in light and darkness. It took my breath away…
I could not get that hawk out of my mind as I continued along the trail. Further down the trail something caught my eye up and to my left - guess who?? I will end this post with these last photos of this striking Barred Owl. What a way to end April…
Thank you for coming along with me…