Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge

[urbpan]

My father and I went to the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge in Longmeadow Mass. today. It's a large protected wetlands near the Connecticut River and the Mass/CT border. It's kind of amazing that we've never been there before--my dad just found out about it from a friend--Dad has lived within a couple miles of the place for the past 33 years.



There were lots of ponds.


This pond drained into a culvert, which had been cut open on top for some reason.


The water from the pond flowed down this stream, toward the Connecticut River. You can see that there is a lot of beaver activity here (note the large tree on the far right of the picture).


Ferns were starting to unfurl.


We saw a lot of this plant, which I don't recognize. It looks like it could be a relative of lady's thumb.


We also saw many jack-in-the-pulpits.


But only one trillium.


And one small toad.

As we got closer to the river, we started to hear really strange noises. Industrial grinding and roars, and the screams of many children. I was kind of freaked out, honestly.


And then we realized we were hearing the nearby amusement park, across the river.

Comments

Longmeadow nature reserve pics

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, these pictures are BEAUTIFUL! I also grew up right near Longmeadow, right across the border in Connecticut, and yet I never knew about this nature preserve! I wish I had-- I live in California now, and haven't been back to the East Coast in years-- thanks for sharing these!

[buboniclou.livejournal.com]

Wow, that tree is almost comically chewed.

[miz-geek.livejournal.com]

Lovely pictures.

[weofodthignen]

How great that there are all these preserves near you folks that are so well preserved they're secret :-) I think that's marvelous!

M

longmeadow wildlife

[(Anonymous)]

I also have never been there -- despite my family living in Longmeadow for most of my life. Looks like a good respite from precision cut suburbia. But watch out for deer ticks (saw this noted on the official web address of the preserve). You'd think that in school they might have suggested wild life trips here.