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urbpanThe first official Urban Nature Walk went off splendidly yesterday.
We had eight participants, which was a fairly good number--not too big. And as it happened, the group ended up pretty spread out. We started in a tight group, on the city streets, but once we got to the Back Bay Fens we fanned out across a broad area. I kept moving to the front-most people (those who did not have binoculars, and so did not care for birding) back to the back-most people (who happened to be meticulous birders, taking care to be very certain of identifications).
The weather was surprisingly gorgeous. Many of us found ourselves somewhat overdressed, as the November chill was singed away by bright sunshine. It was cool enough, however, that our animal sightings were limited mostly to birds and a few gray squirrels. (A couple of flies were seen, but didn't stay long enough to be identified.)
Highlights included an immature red-winged blackbird, some white-throated sparrows and many migratory ducks. Not to mention that we got to watch some of Boston's emergency workers tackling an apartment building fire in Kenmore Square. Very Dramatic.
Some of our group was interested in plants, and though most of the herbaceous plants are quite sere in late November, there were some nice plant moments. From one of the bridges we got a glorious view of the seed tops of the giant reeds, glowing with sunlight. The nettles that stung Turil on our practice walk in the summer surrounded the paths at the base of the Victory Gardens--watch where you place your hand! And an apple tree was found to be bearing surprisingly sweet chilled fruit, if you worked hard enough to get one.
We walked for about three hours before hunger (and the need to get home and walk our dogs) decided the walk should end. We were about halfway up the Muddy, at the Riverway. We need to do at least one more walk, to get a more complete feeling of the Muddy River, and to get enough stuff to make a zine out of. Already Alexis has shown me some wonderful pictures that she took. I'm thinking that in three Sundays from now we can continue the walk, starting at the Riverway and continuing to Olmsted Park and up to Jamaica Pond. Some of the best Urban Nature is in this next leg of the journey! Can you come (again)?
Here's where the Muddy disappears into the Charles, at Charlesgate
Identify this plant!
Giant reed (Phragmites australis) glowing in the sunlight
Two male hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).
The hidden beauty of the city.
We had eight participants, which was a fairly good number--not too big. And as it happened, the group ended up pretty spread out. We started in a tight group, on the city streets, but once we got to the Back Bay Fens we fanned out across a broad area. I kept moving to the front-most people (those who did not have binoculars, and so did not care for birding) back to the back-most people (who happened to be meticulous birders, taking care to be very certain of identifications).
The weather was surprisingly gorgeous. Many of us found ourselves somewhat overdressed, as the November chill was singed away by bright sunshine. It was cool enough, however, that our animal sightings were limited mostly to birds and a few gray squirrels. (A couple of flies were seen, but didn't stay long enough to be identified.)
Highlights included an immature red-winged blackbird, some white-throated sparrows and many migratory ducks. Not to mention that we got to watch some of Boston's emergency workers tackling an apartment building fire in Kenmore Square. Very Dramatic.
Some of our group was interested in plants, and though most of the herbaceous plants are quite sere in late November, there were some nice plant moments. From one of the bridges we got a glorious view of the seed tops of the giant reeds, glowing with sunlight. The nettles that stung Turil on our practice walk in the summer surrounded the paths at the base of the Victory Gardens--watch where you place your hand! And an apple tree was found to be bearing surprisingly sweet chilled fruit, if you worked hard enough to get one.
We walked for about three hours before hunger (and the need to get home and walk our dogs) decided the walk should end. We were about halfway up the Muddy, at the Riverway. We need to do at least one more walk, to get a more complete feeling of the Muddy River, and to get enough stuff to make a zine out of. Already Alexis has shown me some wonderful pictures that she took. I'm thinking that in three Sundays from now we can continue the walk, starting at the Riverway and continuing to Olmsted Park and up to Jamaica Pond. Some of the best Urban Nature is in this next leg of the journey! Can you come (again)?
Here's where the Muddy disappears into the Charles, at Charlesgate
Identify this plant!
Giant reed (Phragmites australis) glowing in the sunlight
Two male hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).
The hidden beauty of the city.
Just an idea...
Date: 2003-11-25 10:05 pm (UTC)Hope all is well.
Tim
Re: Just an idea...
Date: 2003-11-26 09:57 am (UTC)Tim, join the Yahoo list, by the way.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-26 11:15 am (UTC)