A perfect hour on a September afternoon

Surprisingly reflective great blue heron on waterfall, Dover, MA

An hour to kill before after-school pick-up brought me to the Charles River Peninsula. The weather was perfect autumn. Sunny but cool in the shade. The air smelled of sugar.

Gray Catbirds, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Berries. Catbirds everywhere. A hermit thrush (not pictured but in the tree above also eating berries). A red-eyed vireo with a bright yellow under-tail. A migrating pine warbler.

Backlit Kestrel, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

The hour's real excitement, though, was a kestrel, flying between the oak grove and the utility poles.

Better lit though more distant Kestrel, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

The red-bellied woodpeckers and robins muttered their discontent but the bluejays were completely silent. A quiet mob that finally drove the kestrel from the property.

Better lit great blue heron

On the way out I watched the great blue heron stalking fish in the river. I'm looking forward to more hours like this.