coastsweep 2009

It was a perfect day to participate in Coastsweep 2009 -- I joined other Barnstable Land Trust members to help clean up several beaches in Cotuit. We picked up an amazing array of trash, from wrappers and bottles to rope and signs, and lots of bullets and balloon strings and plastic bags. My most horrifying find was a bag of fermenting bait worms -- even after a shower, I can still smell them. Yum!

To see more photos of the gorgeous day and other recent photos, here's a slideshow.

pass me a bottle

On a hike near Hathaway's Pond we came across a wonderful old bottle and metal dump, with literally hundreds of half-buried unbroken bottles probably dating from mid-20th century. My favorite is the bottle that broke with the perfect oval to display the moss growing inside.

We were also treated to the sight of a hawk in a tree just a few yards away from where we stood near Little Hathaway's Pond. Lots of wildlife out and about -- also saw a heron, and buffleheads, and countless other water birds enjoying the early spring temperatures.

Thanks to Red Bansfield of the Barnstable Land Trust for inviting me along on these walks, and of course to pal Gordon Starr for his amazing knowledge of the woods.

bay view farm

winter hike

I went on a hike today in West Barnstable with friends Marcella Curry and Gordon Starr (their respective spouses were otherwise occupied.) We had been given the task by the Barnstable Land Trust to try to find navigable trails connecting pieces of conservation land and the newly acquired Bayview Farm property. Having Gordon along was a godsend because he knows this land by heart and led us on a merry adventure through the woods and over the marshes. We got close to bushwacking (no machete -- but Gordon brought his clippers! Obviously he was a Boy Scout.) In addition to lots of wildlife, we saw the remnants of old buildings and stone walls around what were once farm fields and are now dense woods. Also saw animal tracks, fur and feathers, hunting camps on the marshes, and vintage vehicles left behind on the sides of the trails. A beautiful day with the ice beginning to melt, and a few signs of spring.