Jeanine and I were up at the crack of dawn to visit our favorite owl’s nest. There we found a female who we believe is sitting on eggs. She only popped her head up a few times and we were unable to locate her mate anywhere. As we were leaving, we ran into a gentleman who told us about another nest on the opposite side of the park. It was something of a treasure hunt to locate the second nest based on the clues he gave us but we managed to do it. Unfortunately, the nest does not appear to be occupied this season. We will no doubt check it again several more times before standing on that conclusion. Afterward, we enjoyed breakfast at the Blackbird Cafe, something we have not done since the start of the pandemic. We had to order takeout and eat in the car but it was still a treat.

Effective today, I am, in theory, immune from Covid 19. Jeanine, Nicolai, and Maya have already reached this milestone with Kyle just two weeks behind me. The feeling of liberation is wonderful and I feel as free as the various birds flitting about in our backyard.

This afternoon, I enjoyed my (healthy) lunch at Horn Pond which is just a few miles from work. After eating my chickpea fritter pita sandwich, I put my drone up for an ariel view of the pond and surroundings.

One of the perks of living in the Conantum community is that we share several common spaces. One of those is a community garden. Jeanine is pictured here tending to our section of the garden which she plans to use primarily for herbs. The garden is a short walk from our house and is also an excellent birding destination.

The hawk pictured here was perched on the opposite side of the river when I returned from an evening stroll with Jeanine. It was considerate enough to remain there until I could get my telephoto lens and camera set up. No sooner than I captured the regal pose above, it took off down the river. Unexpectedly, a swallow entered the frame as I was following the hawk in flight. Neither appeared to be chasing the other, just sharing the air space.

Today my soccer team lost 2-1, ending a 51 match undefeated streak in our Over-55 league. We picked up a first-half lead with a beautiful long-distance rocket of a goal but were unable to keep Medfield from scoring twice in the second half. It would be easy to blame our injury-impaired roster, which now includes me, but the fact is our opponent played a better match and deserved the win. I pulled my left calf muscle just below the knee early in the second half and had to watch our unfolding defeat from the sidelines. From prior experience, it will take several weeks for this type of injury to heal and may represent the end of the season for me. It is said that all good things must come to an end and now that is true of the Concord United Veterans 51 game undefeated streak. The sting of the loss is lessened by the knowledge that this league record will probably stand forever.

On the recommendation of a friend, Jeanine and I went for a hike in the Twin Pond Lincoln Conservation Land. Located less than five miles from our house, the 54-acre tract includes five ponds connected by Stony Brook. It was absolutely lovely and teeming with birds and turtles (ten on just one log).

I finally managed to photograph a King Fisher, a pair, in fact. One shows up almost every morning but every time I step outside for a better shot, it is off to the other side of the river. I think that the pair were more interested in each other than me which allowed me to get close enough to capture a half-decent image. Click on the images to reveal more detail.

The boating speed limit on the Sudbury River is 10 mph. Sadly, there are a few people who choose to ignore the rules. Given a 10 to 1 ratio of kayakers to power boaters, it is just a matter of time before this guy causes a problem. I photographed his boat ID and if I see him speeding in the area again, I will file a complaint with the appropriate authorities.

Located close to my office, the Vine Brook Wellfield is a well-hidden natural landscape in the midst of much commercial development. I have previously photographed this scene in winter and can definitely say that spring offers a more photogenic result. My recent post featuring a photograph of painted turtles was taken where the water from this marsh empties into Vine Brook.

Open Table and Jeanine were recognized by Food Bank News for their innovative approach to food distribution in the face of the Covid pandemic. The article features three US food relief organizations that have embraced digital technology to enable online ordering. The section featuring Open Table is appended below (click on it for an easier-to-read view).

This photo does little to convey the beauty of the full moon’s reflection on the river as was the scene this evening. It is made even more mesmerizing by the ever-changing patterns of light on the wind-whipped water.

Maya was sporting a new haircut when the entire family got together for dinner at Kyle’s place. The glasses belong to Nicolai but we all thought they looked good on her. The kids had a lot of news to share this week. Kyle is poised to make an offer on a house in Medford. Nicolai has accepted a full-time teaching position at Concord Middle School. Maya has been offered a summer internship with Rivian, the electric truck maker. I have already asked her if she can get me an employee discount. Jeanine is adjusting to reentry after a week of blissful vacation. I had my second Moderna vaccination yesterday and feel like shit (achy and fatigued). Neither the shot nor the cold rainy conditions kept me from showing up for my soccer game. I played for the first half which we finished with 5-1 lead. It was clear that I was suffering on the pitch so the manager pulled me from the lineup for the second half for which I was grateful.

I am happy to report that the owl’s nest Jeanine and I discovered last year is still occupied. It is not yet clear if we will have owlets again this season but I plan to make frequent visits for the next month to see what develops. I invited our new friends, Dave and Sara as well as his visiting grandson to join me for the outing. Later in the morning, I got my second vaccination shot and took it easy for the balance of the day. Jeanine returned from her week-long vacation in Provincetown and shared stories of her adventures with me.