I decided to take a look at the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge this morning, as I had seen some excellent posts on some of the blogs that I follow on this week’s theme of The Road Taken.
It also made me think back to last weekend’s trek through the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge that is near to where I live. In particular, it drew me back to the path taken by the river Nashua, as it’s swollen beyond its banks…
The River Grows
As you can see, the road across the river may not be too passable!
And props to some of those blog posts I had noticed this week:
It was another day of unseasonably warm weather this Saturday in New England: it was about 65F, which is unheard of in February, particularly for the third day in a row.
So it was a great day for a walk through the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge in Harvard, Massachusetts. With the recent melting, it was not exactly arid, but definitely worth visiting…
Water Feature
This view of melting ice trapped among the trees is one of the many spectacular ones that we were treated to on this warm day!
Hope you have a chance to get out in nature this weekend!
As it has been a rather busy week with long days at work, I decided to take a short walk at Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge before coming into work this morning. It was well worth it, as I was the only person there and it was very relaxing to wander around with nothing but Nature’s sounds for my background music.
The other aspect is that it was fun to do a little photography. So I thought I’d share a couple of images with you before I get to the studio and edit them properly:
Reflecting the Nashua
With the flow rate of the Nashua river, reflections created interesting images; in the above image there’s a very mild amount of distortion.
Sharkfin Tales
In this image, the distortion of the reflection is more significant, as the stuck branch (sharkfin) is creating a bit of turbulence.
After a busy week and Saturday, I spent a little time this morning to catch up on some of the images from last weekend’s hike through the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. It was my first attempt at doing some further exploration of this lovely wetlands area. After doing a bit of research, I found that the primary purpose for which the Refuge was created is its “…particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program.”
The Refuge’s interspersion of wetland, forested upland and old field habitats is ideally suited for this purpose. The Refuge supports a diverse mix of migratory birds including waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, shorebirds, passerines, as well as resident mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. The extensive and regionally significant wetlands occurring on and adjacent to the Oxbow Refuge, including their associated tributary drainages and headwaters, have been listed as a priority for protection under both the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. The portion of the Oxbow NWR south of Route 2 lies within the 12,900-acre Central Nashua River Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designated by the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and the portions of the Refuge north of Route 2 are included in the Squannassit ACEC due to the unique environmental characteristics and values of these wildlife habitats.
Here are some additional images from last weekend’s trek.
Color in the Pines
Even coniferous trees are showing the effect of the changing season, as some of the needles are withering on this pine in anticipation of dropping before Winter arrives. Of course, we get to enjoy a soft bed under the tree from years of accumulated pine needles.
Leaves Preparing to Fall
As we look up to the sky, there is an interleaving pattern above us, showing the structure of individual leaves as they overlap with one another.The path is inviting, showing us the way betwixt ferns and trees with warm tones telling us of gentle strolls and comfortable temperatures.
Ancient Ferns
The persistent drought has caused these ferns to change from their familiar green to warm, yellowish tones. Given the age of ferns, one cannot help but imagine what it would be like to be surrounded by a forest of them, listening for the stealthy approach of a flock of velociraptors… (luckily, no humanoids ever had that opportunity, except in Hollywood).
Swamp Construct
Nature has an uncanny way of presenting us with lines and colors that draw our eyes to them. She never disappoints!
Dutch goes the Photo! 