I have only visited Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) once before, and it was in 2007, and I had a red-tail hawk sitting on my glove while a politician held some kind of event for some local kids who won awards about projects they did involving birds. I didn't get to really check the place out fully, and always meant to come back. Well, here we are, 2015, and I had the chance to check out the trails and see what this area had to offer.
Also, it's important to note, it's March 28th- it was snowing when I arrived, I had to wear hat, scarf, gloves, and probably should have done another layer. What was I saying about signs of spring yesterday??
Enjoy the sights...
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| From the parking lot of APEC, you can walk out onto a nice boardwalk that takes you out to a tidal salt marsh. It must be an absolute joy to watch this marsh slowly come to life and turn green into the summer and grow tall with grasses! |
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| I am ALWAYS so happy to see cattails. These plants play such an important role in the wetlands, they provide a natural filtration for runoff that might make its way into the waterway they grow along. Cattails are having a tough time against the invasive reed, phragmites. |
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| When these cattails go to seed, they explode this fluffy seed that can take to the air to disperse. Birds use the fluff also to line their nests. |
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| The cattail nemesis... phragmites. |
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| I love trails that look like they are transporting you into some kind of magical place... |
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| A downy woodpecker was feeding on these little seed pods in this tree. He would dangle upside down to get into each nook and cranny with his little beak. |
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| Another downy takes flight from the area. |
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| I always love finding a new bird! This is a Rusty Blackbird. I was intrigued by it because I knew it wasn't a grackle, because of its short tail, and there were 5 or 7 birds calling, sounding nothing like grackles. |
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| An awful picture, but you can at least see the lovely colors his dark feathers are secretly hiding. |
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| A floofy little song sparrow, hopes that this wintry weather will soon pass. |
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| Surprise sneaky flyover by a red tail hawk! |
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| Little birdie feet in the mud of the salt marsh at low tide. |
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| My first greater yellowlegs of the year. What a lovely, leggy creature they are! |
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| Ever see those yellowlegs get stretched? |
APEC is a very cool place, whether as a family or with a friend, I recommend a visit! It looks like once it turns warmer the trails will really come to life as they green up and more animals start to stir. Go on your own adventure:
http://www.alleypond.com
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