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Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Summer Bird Migrations

Aug 27, 2017
1 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Summer Bird Migrations

We took a break from our field work tracking and photographing white sharks here on Cape Cod to head to a favorite birding spot on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and take a look at birds that are passing through the refuge on their southerly migration. We also include some images of shorebirds that were still in breeding plumage heading north that were taken in May. #capecod #birds #monomoynationalwildliferefuge #migration #shorebirds #conservation

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Wild Southeast Alaska: Spring Abundance

Jun 12, 2016
1 min

Wild Southeast Alaska: Spring Abundance

During the spring each year an amazing natural spectacle unfolds in Southeast Alaska. Creatures as large as humpback whales and as small as shorebirds square up in anticipation to feast on spawning herring. The following images were recorded over an eight day period mostly in characteristic wet weather of the region. We witnessed incredible wildlife doing their thing to survive. As usual pictures tell a beautiful story. Hope you enjoy the show. #arrowsgoldeneyeducks #brownbea

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Spring in the Shadow of Mt. St Helens

Apr 3, 2016
2 min

Spring in the Shadow of Mt. St Helens

Thirty six years ago Mt St. Helens exploded. For about sixty days the volcano had been giving clues of a pending event - starting with a 5.1 magnitude earthquake on March 20th, 1980. Scientists mobilized intoÂ position to study this active phase of a volcano that had not had a major eruption since 1842. Residents were evacuated; instruments and cameras were put in place and scientists waited. But in spite of the significant signs no one was really ready for the massive explos

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Winter Approaches

Oct 21, 2015
2 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Winter Approaches

Our work with the Massachusetts White Shark population study is winding down with only a couple of weeks to go to the end of the field season. The air and water temperatures are dropping and with the onset of autumn the weather in New England has added some drama to our trips when we can get out. The work continues to be exciting as we have observed changes in the shark behavior and especially in the size of the sharks that are in the area. Larger sharks, both male and female

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook

Sep 12, 2015
3 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook

The last six weeks of summer have been a blur of intense activity on the Outer Cape Cod area. Emotional highs and lows and the awe of natural history in action have provided opportunities to witness some unique beauty here. Thought I would leave you a few impressions of a Cape Cod summer in the field as I now take a two week break to travel west. Most of our time in the field here as been in support of the white shark population study being directed by Dr. Greg Skomal, pictur

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Monomoy NWR

Sep 2, 2014
2 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Monomoy NWR

Hard to believe that the dog days of August have come and gone here on Cape Cod and we are welcoming that wonderful time of year known around here as "Septober - Sixty-one Days of Heaven". As many of you who follow this blog are aware our summer has been dominated by the support we are providing to the Massachusetts Shark Research Program led by Dr. Greg Skomal and John Chisholm of the Department of Marine Fisheries here. That said we did manage a visit into the Monomoy Natio

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Flight & Pursuit: Autumn Migrations

Oct 30, 2013
1 min

Flight & Pursuit: Autumn Migrations

Beautiful fall weather continues here on the outer edge of Cape Cod and a continuing flow of returning raptors are visible in our open spaces and barrier beaches....but you have to look for them. Had a brilliant encounter with a pair of red tailed hawks in Chatham today. See below. Also as previously reported - sightings of Marbled Godwits are rare - anywhere. This fall we were blessed with sightings and images in three different areas. Mount Desert Island, ME, Tern Island, C

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Autumn

Oct 5, 2013
2 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Autumn

The beauty of this time of year on Cape Cod is exemplified by the diversity of observations that one can have in a short period of time given migration and weather patterns of the season. The following sightings all occurred within the past week in the mid Cape region and waters. The red tailed hawk below was astounding in its concentration as it lifted off from its perch and kept focus while generating lift in the most beautiful way. The shorebird southerly migration is slow

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Down East – Road Trip Report

Oct 2, 2013
1 min

Down East – Road Trip Report

It has long been a goal of ours to explore the coast of Maine at any time of year so when circumstances presented themselves to allow a chance trip in our spectacular New England Fall - we took it and headed down east for a few days. And of course, the weather cooperated nicely with deliciously mild "Indian summer" temperatures and virtually cloud - less skies. Our path took us to two beautiful areas in mid coast Maine - St. George Peninsula and magnificent Mount Desert Islan

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook

Sep 19, 2013
1 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook

As summer days turn into autumn here on Cape Cod the beautiful "Septober" environment blesses locals who get to celebrate the close of the hectic summer's passing. Mild temperatures, incredible color and the fall migration are just some of the treats we enjoy when home in Chatham. Check out these images we recorded on a flight to observe our home town from the air. We were reminded how special Cape Cod is...especially at this time of year. #chatham #shorebirds #thecommonflat

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Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Sandy Neck

May 5, 2013
1 min

Wild Cape Cod Notebook: Sandy Neck

As we have noted, and all Cape Codders know, Spring comes late to our little sand spit in the Atlantic. Looking for spring signs of returning migrants has been one of our most enjoyable pastimes the past couple of years as we patiently wait for the water to warm so we can get back out on the sea. We have ventured into some of the more remote parts of the Cape and recently discovered a treasure in our midst, Barnstable's Sandy Neck and its adjoining Barnstable Marsh. To fully

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Chatham Fall Journal: Pictures in Nature

Oct 7, 2012
4 min

Chatham Fall Journal: Pictures in Nature

On a recent visit from my friend Wayne, I made a conscious decision to embark on an early morning birding excursion without bringing my camera. Wayne is an avid birder who doesn't get to wander on the outer beaches of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge very often so I was keen on making sure he had a good experience. Common practice for birders here is to have good binoculars but especially for small shorebirds to pack a spotting scope on a tripod. We each decided to bring a sc

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Offshore in Search of Bluefin

Signs of Spring on Cape Cod #3

May 7, 2012
1 min

Signs of Spring on Cape Cod #3

After record breaking warm temperatures during the month of April the weather patterns have turned back to a more normal pattern andÂ has become seasonably cooler. Several days of easterly gales have ceased with a cold front passing and the sun broke out today in all its glory. We decided to take a trip up to the beech forests of the Lower Cape near Provincetown to see what bird life might have "dropped" in on its northern migration. What a beautiful day in the wilds of Cape

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Monomoy Journal

Oct 3, 2011
1 min

Monomoy Journal

Our time in the field this fall has taken us into the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and, as in past years, has provided some wonderful wildlife experiences for us. We are truly blessed to live on Cape Cod. Posting a few more images to highlight our experiences observing the comings and goings of life that is passing through this fall. Be sure and check out earlier posts. #monomoynationalwildliferefuge #shorebirds #capecod

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Wild Chatham Notebook: Migrations

Oct 1, 2011
1 min

Wild Chatham Notebook: Migrations

A visit to South Beach to check on the latest migrating shorebird populations was blessed by the appearance of a pair of young Peregrine Falcons who sent the population of dunlins, red knots, black bellied plovers and semipalmated plovers into very nervous aerial behavior. Wonderful to watch these magnificent raptors in action. Watching hundreds of birds erupt into flight in an instant as a falcon swoops in is truly breathtaking. #chatham #peregrinefalcon #shorebirds

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Peep Show on South Beach

Sep 28, 2011
1 min

Peep Show on South Beach

The fall migration of shorebirds is still in high gear even as we move into fall. Lots of great looks at several substantial flocks gathered near the high water mark. In the strong SW winds many birds hunker down behind anything they can find allowing some very cozy gatherings of resting birds. #capecod #chatham #shorebirds #monomoynationalwildliferefuge

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Plovers, Peeps and other creatures on Parade

Sep 9, 2011
1 min

Plovers, Peeps and other creatures on Parade

These birds were feeding furiously and then decided to have a little struggle over a sand worm. Made for a great set of images. One pictured here. IIn the latter part of summer and into the early fall the pace really picks up for the southerly migrations of seabirds and shorebirds and the like. Here are a few images we recorded along the way here in Chatham. #birds #monomoynationalwildliferefuge #shorebirds #plovers

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