Springtime

Bee & Crocus - Somerville, Massachusetts

Photo of the Week

Belle Isle Marsh - East Boston, Massachusetts

Florida 2011

Thought I'd put together a nice long post of some of the highlights from our recent trip down to South Florida. Had too many favorites to narrow it down any more. We had perfect weather down there and saw beaches and tons of wildlife and palm trees and even caught a spring training game. It was a great trip - especially nice to see some color after so much white for the past few months. Enjoy.

Photo of the Week

Canada Geese at sunset - Horn Pond, Woburn, Massachusetts

Photo of the Week

Hawk & Crow - Davis Square, Somerville

Photo of the Week

Monk Parakeet - Bremen Park, East Boston

Big Bend

Judy and I were off on a little winter escape down in Texas last week - we hit San Antonio, Austin, and Big Bend National Park. I'd been to Big Bend about 12 years ago and its definitely one of my favorite places in the US. About an 8 hour drive from San Antonio across west Texas past nothing but ranchland, windmills, tumbleweeds, and open skies. Its amazing how little is out there and yet how beautiful it is. And then you come to the park full of cool plants and animals with mountains in some areas and canyons cutting thought the Rio Grande along the Mexican border. A truly special place.

Images from the Chisos Mountain region:

Roadrunner:

Mexico's Santa del Carmen moutains:

View of the Rio Grande:

Vermillion Flycatcher:

Santa Elena Canyon:

Black Vulture at sunset:

Cactus close-up:

Photo(s) of the Week

Mute Swan during snowstorm - Lower Mystic Lake, Arlington, Massachusetts

Photo of the Week

Northern Cardinal - Horn Pond, Woburn, Massashusetts

Whale Watch

Judy and I trekked up to Gloucester early on Labor Day (and actually the day before as well, but choppy seas cancelled our first attempt) to head out on a whale watch. And it was an amazing trip - little wind, few waves, crystal clear water, and lots of whales. They may be huge, but they seemed to just mind their own business even when they were literally feet from our boat. Glad we got out there and we'll have to do it again next summer.

Our trusty boat:

View back into the harbor after launch:

Whale "tooth" and nautical chart:

Scanning the seas:

And a few whale images: