Soapstone Mountain

Looking north from the old Monson Turnpike Road heading from North Dana. Early April after the 2015 winter. taken 4/11/15

The west branch of Fever Brook dumps into the Quabbin from this beaver pond below Soapstone Mountain.

Early morning in early spring in a beaver pond.

90 years ago this pond was used as an ice pond. Local residents cut blocks of ice out of it to use in ice boxes to keep food cool.

West branch of Fever Brook starts to open up in mid March.

In early March the Quabbin's bald eagle population get started working on their nests.

Late winter, early spring, ice out means life will be easier again to many birds and animals.

Snow and ice gone by early April.

Snow is melting fast on all the roads and hiking trails. Easy access to both people and animals.

A spring foggy day at Quabbin.

Some foggy days can be very good for photos as fog dissipates. 4/22/15

This is looking north from the Goodnough Dike in the Quabbin Park with Mt. Lizzie and Mt. Pomeroy in the distance.

Brooks over flow with snow melt. This is Hop Brook in the New Salem area. The Quabbin's water level also rises.

Northern painted turtles come out of estivation and vie for the best sunning logs.

"What are you looking at mate? Take a picture it lasts longer !"

A spring meadow at Ware River Watershed. Its part of the DCR Quabbin watershed in Rutland MA.

Female red wings blackbirds are looking for places to nest in the phragmites.

The remains of an old mill on Dickey Brook in the former town of Prescott..

Boat rentals will be starting soon, which usually starts the second week in April.

Chipmunks are coming out of their burrows and grabbing anything they can for food.

Green frogs make an appearance.

Good morning Quabbin !

This is part of the old Route 21 that ran from south to north up through the Quabbin Valley from Belchertown to Athol before the Quabbin was constructed in the mid 1030's. 5/16/16

Bees get busy !!

Bumble bees bumble …...

Sunrise, New Salem MA. May 13th, 2016

Hummingbird moths sometimes fool people into thinking they are watching a hummingbird with their rapid wing beats.

Beavers emerge from a long winter of taking care of kits in their lodge. Now they get busy repairing all the damage sustained by winter to their dams.

Beavers continue their work where they left off in the fall.

Everybody chips in helping with the repairs !

Canada geese do battle for territories in beaver ponds and sections of the main reservoir. The battles end with one pair being driven off.

She looks prehistoric huh ? A female snapping turtle laying her eggs along the shore of the Quabbin Reservoir on June 1st. Lots of turtles out laying eggs as happens each June. Watch out when driving for turtles on the roads around wetlands. 6/3/16

Water runs over the spillway when the Quabbin reaches full capacity which is 530 feet above sea level.

Here are two large snapping turtles about to lay their eggs at a sandy place on the waters edge. These snappers have historically been using this spot for years and years every June. The sex of the young turtles will be determined by how warm the eggs keep while buried in the sand. 6/2/16

It follows a sluiceway after it flows over a 400 foot long dam.

Ribbit !! A Big bullfrog was setting on this log catching flies..... 5/31/16

Lady slippers are out in full force right now in the Quabbin watershed. heres a bee that I watched go into the bottom of this flower and come out the top after about 2 minutes of buzzing around inside. 6/2/16

It then flows into a longer sluiceway and into the Swift River.

In the spring when the Spillway dam is flowing over its quite a sight. It has only flowed over 50% of the years since constructed.

Early spring moon over Moore Island

The view from Soapstone Mountain as spring turns into summer. Below is the location of the former town of North Dana.

Late spring / early summer lady slippers.

Lady slippers have made a huge comeback at Quabbin since the deer hunt was enacted in the early 1990's.

Lady slippers can usually be found in late May.

These are the first ones Ive found. 5/23/15

The Quabbin Reservoir has some of the best cloud formations in Massachusetts year round ! Early morning right after sunrise. 4/22/16

Lady slippers ! May 23rd, 2013

Harvard Pond in Petersham, MA. 4/18/16

Moore Island channel. 6:30 AM, 5/21/15

Looking south from a boat coming down the channel. Taken with my iPhone 6 ...

An early morning shot of a beaver pond on the Quabbin watershed after 1.5 inches of rain overnight. The ice is starting to melt! 2/25/16

One of my favorite beaver ponds had a breach from all the rains within the last few weeks. The family of beavers are gone and this pond is draining slowly.

I watched this bumble bee climb up from the bottom, and come out the top of this lady slipper.

A great early fall sunrise over the northern Quabbin watershed :) with Mt Wachusett on the right side of the sun on the horizon.