Millennium Park (Blue Heron Trail)

Blue Heron Trail (Millennium Park), originally uploaded by oehlkers.

Took a walk on the eastern part of the Blue Heron Trail, starting in Millennium Park and ending at Wells St in Newton. A gorgeous day. Lots of song sparrows singing away. Chickadee fee-bee choruses.

Pine Island (Blue Heron Trail)

Pine Island (Blue Heron Trail), originally uploaded by oehlkers.

On Wednesday, I decided to explore the Dedham side of the Blue Heron Trail, starting at the Great Plain parking lot. I can't recommend it. There is a huge mud puddle to start. Then the trail breaks at the "Long Ditch" and you have to walk on a heavily traveled road over a narrow bridge. Pine Island, along the way, sounds tranquil but is apparently a gang hangout. The trunks of trees on the trail are tagged with spray paint and there is a concrete structure at the tip of the island that is just covered with graffiti. An unusual thing to find in the woods.
But the birds were enjoying the good weather. Got my first real ear-full of song sparrows this spring and the goldfinches were singing like crazy.

Lower Cutler Park (Blue Heron Trail)

Cutler Park (Blue Heron Trail), originally uploaded by oehlkers.

Lily and I parked at the lower end of Cutler Park on Sunday evening and set out to look for "amimules" but we had to turn around when it started to rain hard. I convinced her to return the following evening. The spring peepers were out in full force.

Cutler Park (Blue Heron Trail)

Cutler Park (Blue Heron Trail), originally uploaded by oehlkers.

This week was Blue Heron Trail week. I'd never really explored much beyond Cutler Pond, so I took some time to hike through the woods in Cutler Park. I made it around Powell's Island and decided to turn back. Lots of joggers and mountain bikers--a very popular set of trails.

Birds at my house

Mourning Dove , originally uploaded by oehlkers.

This mourning dove's been hanging out recently on my window feeder. Content just to sit there. And tonight the neighborhood starling/grackle party came to my yard. Gotta love it. (Documented here).

Charles River Peninsula

Charles River Peninsula, originally uploaded by oehlkers.

I'm being drawn back again and again to the Charles River Peninsula. It's a little more populated now--a father and son fishing, a group of guilty-looking teens. Maybe it's the prospect of hearing bobolinks later in the spring. Tonight I spotted a pair of skittish bluebirds. I brought my hand-held recorder to capture some of the ambiance. Here's a 3 minute long taste. You'll have to crank it, and the airplane/road sounds are loud, but I think it is a nice (if slightly subdued) sample of the usual grackle/redwing/blue jay (and in this case a scolding squirrel) cacophony that reigns down there. The song and white throated sparrows were out but I didn't hear them singing.

Chase Woodlands and Peters Reservation

Peters Reservation, originally uploaded by oehlkers.

If you are seeking isolation and the chance to see active wildlife, I recommend the paired Trustees of Reservations properties, Chase Woodlands and Peters Reservation in Dover. The trails are not that well marked and large chunks of the Chase property are closed for "restoration" but bird-life (spotted yet another Eastern Phoebe), frog-life, and snake-life (pictured) abounds. I scared a deer on my way out, its white tail flashing. And I found a deer tick crawling up my leg.
I also heard something delightful on my walk (recorded here, though you have to listen hard through the wind noise). A pair of chickadees fee-beeing, starting on different notes (as far as I can tell, A-G, C-Bflat)