Category Archives: wildlife

August 12, 2026

Wildlife Photos (Easthampton & Westfield, MA)

Dates Of Visits: June, July & August 2026

Locations: Arcadia Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Easthampton, MA), Stanley Park and Robinson State Park (Westfield, MA)

Summary: Lots of wildlife photos from western MA

I realized I haven’t posted in a while. So, I thought a quick tour of some of my favorite local parks would be a good way to get me back to posting on a regular basis.

This post highlights three of my favorite parks in my area.

Because of it’s proximity to my new home and it’s overall beauty, Stanley Park in Westfield, MA, has become one of my favorite places to photograph wildlife.

I saw this American Bullfrog croaking during one of my visits.

Male Bullfrogs croak to attract females and defend their individual territory.

Stanley Park also has a wide variety of wildlife such as rabbits, turtles as well as other critters.

Stanley Park also has a lot of geese and ducks.

This momma goose was nesting some eggs during one of my visits.

Some ducks and geese, like this Ebden Goose giving me a rather stern look, do sometimes nest together and even raise each other’s eggs. In fact, it is not uncommon for geese and ducks to either lay eggs in close proximity to each other’s nests or sometimes they lay their eggs in the nests of other ducks or geese, also known as brood amalgamation.

Turtles are also abundant at the park.

But, I took my favorite photo from there a few years ago. I encountered this fox, who I dubbed “Red”, while they were hunting.

Stanley also has a lot of chipmunks.

Another park in the Westfield area, technically the neighboring town of Agawam, that I like to frequent is Robinson State Park. I have been able to photograph these rabbits and a real gem; a Green Heron. While Great Blue Herons are common to the area, at least to the places I visit, Green Herons have always more elusive for me. So, when I got the opportunity to photograph this one, I made sure to get a photo of it!

You may see baby cottontails, called kits, with a small white spot on their forehead often called a “milk spot.” This is a common trait among healthy kits. The mark usually goes away as they grow into adults, though some rabbits keep it into adulthood. White spots can also be a sign of disease or infection or some other condition in older rabbits, although they often appear in groups when a rabbit has these conditions.

Another one of my new favorite places to visit is the local Mass Audubon in Easthampton, MA (aka Arcadia). Over the years, I’ve photographed deer, a falcon and a variety of critters. But, during my most recent visits, I have seen chipmunks, a deer and a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Sapsuckers, which feed on tree sap and insects, are known to girdle trees by drilling rings of holes, which can injure or kill the tree.

I photographed this fawn during a recent a visit. Don’t worry. Mom was nearby and very eager to get her little one moving.

But, mostly, I have seen chipmunks at Arcadia. Lots and lots of chipmunks.

I’m sure I’ll be posting more photos from these parks in the future, especially since I’ve heard and seen lots of wildlife when I didn’t have my camera with me.

I do have lots more photos of destinations I’ve visited. I just haven’t had much free time to edit and post them. Hopefully, I’ll have the time to post new photos of my travels!

16 Comments | tags: birding, birds, chipmunks, deer, Easthampton, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, turtles, Westfield, wildlife | posted in animals, chipmunk, Easthampton, geese, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, turtles, Westfield, wildlife

December 30, 2023

2023 Rewind Part 1 – Wildlife

By New England Nomad

Date Of Post: December 30, 2023

Locations: All over New England

Summary: I often take photographs throughout the region but do not post the photos on WordPress. Attached are some photos I took during my travels this year.

What a year! I’m sure many of us are both sad and glad the year is over. Since I’ve been doing this photography thing, I look at the new year as a chance to reset, reevaluate my progress and see in what areas I can improve. I also look at it as a way to set goals for the upcoming year and see how far I have come. I think it’s important to highlight the accomplishments as well as areas to improve.

I was going to include all of the photos and stories I have from this year in one post. But, as I was going through my photos, I realized I have a lot to share and many photos I want to show! So, I decided to break up my posts in different parts. This particular post will show my wildlife photos from the year. I hope to not post more than 3 or 4! I hope I don’t bore you all with these posts!

One of my favorite places to visit in New England is the Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. There are a variety of birds there (particularly during the warmer seasons before some of them migrate). However, a good amount of birds do stay all year long. These are some of the birds I photographed there this year.

I photographed this female Cardinal in December. People often ask how I get photos of birds. Easy. Go to where the food is. I tend to go to trees that still have berries on them. Also, people tend to feed the birds at this sanctuary (more on this later). And, although I never do some people do. So, I know some of the feeding areas at the sanctuary.

These are a few other birds I found looking for food or materials for nesting.

I also encountered something I hadn’t seen before: a Red wing Blackbird feeding a juvenile Red wing blackbird.

Some of the birds found their food more easily. As mentioned before, some people do feed the birds at the sanctuary. By hand. I love how they show the seed or feed before they fly away.

Other birds find their food the old fashioned way. This red tail hawk (affectionately nicknamed Jasper by the staff at the sanctuary) found his own meal during one of my visits.

I see Jasper there frequently whenever I visit the sanctuary.

But, there are many other birds at the sanctuary I was able to photograph such as these Blue jays, Yellow Throated Sparrows and Belted Kingfisher among others.

There were also deer and, of course during the warmer months, frogs and turtles aplenty at the sanctuary this year. I wish I had my settings correct for the second photo of the deer pictured below. It caught me by surprise as it was right near the entrance when I got there. But, as a photographer, you must always be prepared.

Some of the frogs were more stealthy than others.

The turtles were easier to photograph as they just like to lie out in the sun and don’t care if you see them or not. I love how this painted turtle just stretched out and basked in the sun. I do that too sometimes!

But, my personal favorites to photograph at this sanctuary are swans, herons, egrets and even a Barred Owl. They’re all such beautiful, graceful birds.

It’s easy to see why this sanctuary is my favorite place to visit and I usually make at least one visit a month to this gem.

But, I also like to visit other parks such as Cutler Park in Needham, MA, Wickham Park in Manchester, CT, Stanley Park in Westfield, MA as well as other parks in the New England area.

I photographed this wood duck in western MA. It was my first, and to date, only time I have been able to photograph one. He or she just flew and landed in the river as I was kneeling and, no pun intended, ducking while I waited for some activity. It flew away seconds after I started clicking when it heard the camera clicking.

I spotted this turtle as he or she came out from the grass at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA.

And, of course, there were chipmunks and squirrels galore during the warmer seasons. I always try to catch them in unusual poses or get them to look at the camera, or when their eyes are closed. This photo below may look like the critter is asleep. It was just lucky timing that he or she was blinking.

I don’t usually photograph gray squirrels as they are very common and, in my opinion, not overly appealing. But, I found this squirrel to be interesting and the fact he or she was beginning to build his or her nest in August sparked my curiosity. So, I did some research after I took this photo.

While most nest building for squirrels takes place during the fall, squirrels do begin nest building in June and July. This is done by mothers to teach their spring born young how to build nests.

Rabbits are particularly difficult to photograph. While squirrels and chipmunks will often get that “deer (or chipmunk) in the headlights stare” at you, rabbits will often flee at the first sight or sound of movement.

My next part will deal with some of the sunrise, full moon and nature shots from 2023! Thank you as always for reading and best wishes for the upcoming year!

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19 Comments | tags: Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, wildlife | posted in Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, wildlife

December 22, 2017

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Newington, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: September 23, 2017

Location: Arboretum Drive West, Newington, New Hampshire

Hours: open daily, dawn to dusk

Cost: Free

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, some trails have boardwalks and are not too steep or difficult

Parking: There are about 40 parking spaces in the main parking area (people do park on the side of the road when the spaces fill up)

Website: Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Trail Map: Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge Trail Map

Trail Size/Difficulty: 1,000 acres, easy to moderate trails

Highlights: easy trails, scenic views, boardwalks, wildlife

Tips:

mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy are a common issue at the refuge
bald eagles, especially during the winter, are a common sight there

One of the more overlooked parks in New Hampshire, Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is home to a variety of wildlife, pretty flowers (when in bloom) and scenic views.

Great Bay has a boardwalk with an overlook at the main trail at the parking area.

Across from the main parking area is a fenced off area that was once used to be used as a weapons storage area for the nearby Pease Air Force Base.

The trails at Great Bay are fairly easy with a few very moderate inclines.

There is a bridge along the trail as well as an overlook with a view of the bay.

When I went to visit there were still lots of flowers in bloom.

There were lots of chipmunks and squirrels scurrying around gathering acorns for the upcoming winter. I saw this little critter while I was walking along the boardwalk. If you look closely, you can see what looks like a cut or injury to his or her head just above his or her left eye. It is a sign of how unyielding and harsh nature can be. But, it is also a sign of how resilient and hardy animals are regardless of their size. I have to admit I wanted to take this little fella home and nurse the chipmunk back to health. But, as you can see from the photo, wildlife has a way of healing and surviving.

Chipmunks aren’t the only animals at the refuge. There are birds, turkeys and turtles as well as other types of wildlife and insects there.

The one downside of Great Bay, for me at least, is that dogs are not allowed there. However, I did see some evidence of them and I do think they visit from time to time, although I did not see any during my visit.

Leave a comment | tags: birds, chipmunks, New England, new hampshire, Newington, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, turkeys, turtles | posted in Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, New England, new hampshire, Newington, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, wildlife

December 3, 2016

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (Sharon, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: November 13, 2016

Location: 293 Moose Hill Parkway, Sharon, MA (about 45 minutes south of Boston)

Cost: Members & Sharon Residents: Free
Nonmembers:
$4 Adults
$3 Children (2-12)
$3 Seniors (65+)

Size: 1,951 acres

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm
Sat & Sun, 10 am-4 pm

Trails
Spring & Summer, 7am–7pm
Fall & Winter, 8 am-5 pm

Parking: There are about 60 parking spots in the lot

Handicapped Acessible: Some trails at the entrance may be flat enough to be considered handicapped accessible. But, for the most part no.

Dog Friendly: No, Mass Audubon trails are not dog friendly

Highlights: miles of trails, observation lookout, wildlife, nature center, acticities throughout the year, fire tower (inaccessible during my visit)

Web Site: Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trail Map: Trail Map

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA, may not have moose but it has everything else that makes a sanctuary the perfect place for a weekend hike. Pretty flowers and trees, scenic views and wildlife are plentiful at Moose Hill.

The nature center at Moose Hill was decorated for the autumn season with pumpkins and a quilted figure.

The trails at Moose Hill are, for the most part, easy with some modest inclines, except for the trail up to the fire tower. There is also a boardwalk over a red swamp area and some other boardwalks that are a nice touch.

The trail to the fire tower is challenging but it’s not too difficult. It’s a short incline up to the tower. Unfortunately, it appears to be off limits. Usually, signs and barriers don’t stop me but I draw the line at barbed wire. It’s too bad because the views must be amazing.

Instead of the fire tower, there is a great overlook at the Bluff Overlook on, oddly enough, the Bluff Trail. Most of the trees have shed their leaves but yyou could still see some pretty colors out there. I especially liked the branches in the first photoon the left hand side of the group of photos.

It is easy to find beautiful areas to photograph in Moose Hill all year round. Ideally, foliage season would probably be the best time to visit. I just missed the peak foliage season but it still looked beautiful. The shapes of the trees and the way the rocks form borders in the different sections of the park make for great photo opportunities. It really doesn’t take a lot of effort or talent to find the beauty of the sanctuary.

There is also a beekeeping harvest hive and a real hive located near the harvest hive. Both looked inactive. A bench sat precariously near the now destrcuted hive. “Be At Peace” is engraved on the backing of the bench. Good advice.

I was a little disappointed by the lack of visible wildlife during my visit. I got there early (between 7 and 7:30) but I still didn’t see any of the larger wildlife that is known to be there such as deer, foxes and coyotes. I did see these little critters, though.

chipmunk, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 11-13-16

red squirrel, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 11-13-16

And this owl.

Fooled ya!

But, this owl is an actual part of the sanctuary. It’s part of the “unnatural trail.” The unnatural trail is a family friendly trail that is geared more for children. The trail is about a quarter of a mile that has objects that you normally don’t find on a trail (like shovels and shoes for instance). The children are then asked to identify the randomly placed objects and answer questions about what was on the ttrail.

There is also the Billings Barn (the white building) and a maple sugar shack which campers use to make sugar from the sugar maple trees. During maple sugar harves season, the campers and people at the sanctuary leave buckets attached to the trees to harvest the maple sugar from the trees.

6 Comments | tags: Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, wildlife | posted in Massachusetts, nature, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, trails, trees, Uncategorized, wildlife

September 10, 2016

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Tolland, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 20, 2016

Location: New Boston Rd. (Route 57) Tolland, MA

Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours and day

Parking: There is not a designated parking lot or parking area. You have to pull over to the side of the road on Route 57.

Cost: There is no fee but donations are appreciated

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Size: We took the 1.6 mile Brook nd Charlotte trail loops

Dog Friendly: Technically, no, MA Audubon does not allow dogs on their trails. But, I suspect people do bring their dogs.

Highlights: brook, secluded, trails are not very steep, short and easy trail

Lowlights: trails are a little hard to follow (look for the blue and yellow marked trees), lack of visible wildlife, hard to find especially if you don’t have a passenger to help you look for it

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

Richardson Brook is not the easiest trail to find. In fact, it took a few turnarounds and nifty parking to find a safe place to park and enter the trail.

The trail for Richardson Brook is pretty easy. The only catch is looking for the marked trees to follow since the trail is not clearly defined all the time and it can get a little confusing, even with the markings on the trees to follow. It could be very easy to get lost. Visions of Camp Crystal Lake flashed before my eyes a few times.

The big payoff is the brook which was not running very hard during my visit. But it was still very pretty.

We saw some little critters and colorful mushrooms along the way.

Water bugs, frogs, salamanders and baby salamanders were abundant, even if they did try to camouflage themselves.

Although we did not see many birds we did hear them and we did see evidence of other animals. I am also convinced that if you were determined to find other wildlife you wouldn’t be disappointed. If you had a lot of time to spend and you went off trail you could definitely find bigger wildlife. Just look out for Jason!

The video below of Richardson Brook really captures the beauty of the trail.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

6 Comments | tags: brook, frogs, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, salamanders, trees, wildlife | posted in Massachusetts, nature, New England, photographs, photography, photos, salamanders, Uncategorized, wildlife

September 5, 2016

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Natick, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 13, 2016

Location: 280 Eliot Street Natick, MA

Hours: Tues-Fri, 9 am-5 pm
Sat, Sun, & Mon holidays, 10 am-5 pm
Closed Mondays

Trails:
Tues-Sun, & Mon holidays, dawn to dusk
Closed Mondays

Cost:

(MA Audubon) Members: Free
Nonmembers:
$5 Adults
$4 Children (2-12)
$4 Seniors (65+)

Parking: There are about 50 0r so parking spaces in the parking lot

Trail Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Size: 9 miles of trails

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 to 3 hours

Highlights: abundant wildlife, clearly defined trails, lookouts and bridges, several pond areas

Lowlights: One of the ponds (Little Farm Pond) is only accessible via motor vehicle and is not accessible from the sanctuary, according to one of the staff workers at the sanctuary

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Web Site

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

From the moment I drove into the parking lot for Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (a MASS Audubon sanctuary), I could tell it was going to be a special place. The pretty trees and stocks of grass reminded me of some rural, country farm.

The 10 trails at Broadmoor are fairly easy to negotiate (the Charles River Loop is probably the most challenging). There are a few trails that cross over ponds and marsh land.

Overall, the trails are easy with a few moderately difficult trails such as The Charles River Loop. The trail on the Charles River Loop is somewhat narrow in some places and it can be hard to follow the trail (look for the yellow and blue marked trees).

There was a lot of activity, such as turtles, in the ponds. Can you spot the turtles in this photo? There are three.

What if I get closer?

How about now?

Broadmoor is teeming with wildlife. I found these critters during my hike.

There is also a lookout area where you can sit and look out upon the pond where I found this heron hiding.

There is a lot to see at Broadmoor. There are lots of turtles, butterflies, birds and evidence of other wildlife.

I found this beautiful swan as I was walking along the park.

All that swimming and looking for food can make you tired. So, she decided to take a nap.

There are also beautiful views of the park. The flowers, plants and trees make for a beautiful backdrop.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect visitors of all ages (I even saw some visitors in strollers). It can be buggy but, as lucky would have it, that won’t be a problem for much longer in New England as fall descends upon us.

Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (Topsfield, MA)

Borderland State Park (North Easton, MA)

9 Comments | tags: birds, butterfly, ducks, flowers, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, sanctuary, trees | posted in birds, massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, swan, Uncategorized, wildlife

August 31, 2016

World’s End (Hingham, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 28, 2016

Location: 250 Martin’s Lane, Hingham, MA

Hours: open everyday, 8:00 a.m. until sunset

Cost: $6 for adults, annual memberships which include free admission are available for $47

Size: 4.5 miles of continuous trails, 251 acres

Parking: there are three parking areas with roughly 20 spots each. When I left at 1:00 p.m. the lot was full and there was a line of about half a dozen cars waiting to get into the park.

Time To Allot For Visit: 2 hours

Dog Friendly: Yes

Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Highlights: scenic views of the Boston skyline and surrounding area, wildlife, occasionally they display exhibits at the park, benches to sit along the trail, pretty trees and flowers, perfect for walkers, joggers, runners, cyclists and even horseback riders and anowshoeing during the winter

Lowlights: limited parking (if you follow the reservation Twitter they post alerts when the lot is full)

Website: World’s End

World’s End Trail Map

I “misunderestimated” World’s End. I figured it would be an “easy” quick jaunt (I usually save my easier treks for Sundays). So, I slipped on my Chuck Taylor All-Stars and figured I would be home in a few hours. Not the best choice of footwear in retrospect. The trails can be rocky (particularly if you go off trail) and deceivingly steep in some areas.

There are a lot of side trails and it’s easy to get confused and cover the same area twice (or more) which can add quite a bit of time to your journey. In fact, for a while, I thought World’s End would never end. It’s a good idea to take a map of the trails with you. But, the trails are clearly marked and easy to negotiate with some slight inclines.

Undoubtedly, the main attraction for many visitors at World’s End are the views of the Boston skyline. World’s End affords several views of the skyline and surrounding areas. From the shoreline views to the views atop the highest point on the top of one of the many views of the rolling, hilly trails, the views are majestic.

World’s End is teeming with wildlife, particularly birds. They’re very good at camouflaging themselves so you might have to squint to see a few of them.

But, the real gem of my visit was this deer I spotted on my way to Rocky Neck, one of the more secluded areas. We stood mere feet away from each other staring, until she finally took off.

There are not just an abundant of bird life in the water. Being a picture perfect summer day with low humidity and a slight breeze and calm waters, it was ideal for many of the boaters, paddlers and other seafaring folks.

This boater wanted some privacy, apparently.

World’s End has many other charming features such as this huge rock and an elevated viewing area for bird watching.

Of course, sometimes the more simpler things can be the prettiest features of the park. These flowers, tress and views off the water caught my eye.

Some people took advantage of the shore to skim some stones.

If there is one photo that sums up a trip to World’s End it is this photograph of a hammock with a bicycle next to it. World’s End is the perfect place to lie out in a hammock with only the sounds of nature to keep you occupied and maybe a good book or your Itunes collection.

There is also an art exhibit on display until Oct. 31, 2017. The display was created by Jeppe Hein, an artist based out of Copenhagen and Berlin. He is known worldwide for his interactive exhibits. The exhibit is called, “A New End”. According to the website for the exhibit, Hein wants to invite visitors to reflect and to transform how we view a familiar place like World’s End.

There were dogs-a-plenty at World’s End during my visit. World’s End is a great place for dogs to play around in since there are many open, grassy areas and, of course, water to frolic around in.

Casey is a happy, 8 year old English Pointer mix. He is a rescue.

Gus is a 2 year old Ridgeback mix. He was very excited to be at the park!

Tande is an 8 month old Portuguese Water Dog. If Tande looks familiar, you may have seen a similarly looking dog on the news. The President also has the same breed of dog. Tande came all the way from the Odysea Portuguese Water Dogs breeder in Colorado.

One of my easiest subjects to photograph ever, Bella is a gentle 7 year old Shetland Sheepdog.

I also saw a variety of other dogs playing in the water and running around.

viewsofanemergencyrn was kind enough to nominate me for the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you! I usually don’t post about these awards but I figured I would play along since she was so nice to mention me and I wanted to acknowledge her. She is a sweet, strong person and a survivor (read her post to see what I mean).

So, the rues are I have to mention 7 random things about me.

I didn’t take up photography seriously until last year
I love dogs and all animals (big surprise there) but they also seem to love me – the key is to not show fear and be confident and friendly around them (they can sense fear)
I am a pescatarian (I only eat seafood and do not eat meat, primarily)
People often say I bear a strong resemblance to Donnie Wahlberg (but I can’t sing like him)
Although I love dogs, I don’t have one (I have a cat instead)
Until my work schedule got too busy, I had been an active literacy tutor at my local library
I run (and/or walk) 3 miles (at least) a day everyday

The rules say to nominate other bloggers to participate. But, I’m going to skip that part. In my experience, people have usually already posted a blog like this in the past and don’t want to do it again, or they don’t participate or they seem to be too busy. But, thank you, once again for the mention, viewsofanemergencyrn! I do appreciate you and I look forward to reading more of your posts. You all should also!

Similar Places I have Visited In New England:

Webb Memorial State Park (Weymouth, MA)

Blue Hills Reservation (Milton, MA)

14 Comments | tags: attractions, birds, boats, deer, dogs, flowers, Hiking, Hingham, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trees, water | posted in birds, Hingham, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, skyline, Uncategorized, water, wildlife

August 11, 2016

Dorrs Pond (Manchester, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: August 7, 2016

Location: Dorrs Pond is part of Livingston Park which is located at 244 Hookset Rd, Manchester, NH (off Daniel Webster Highway)

Hours: Open 24 hours (use your best judgment if you go at nighttime)

Cost: Free

Parking: There are about 70 or so parking spots by Dorrs Pond. There is also additional parking by the play area and field by Livingston Park.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Size: 1.2 mile loop with some short side trails.

Time To Allot For Visit: 1 or 2 hours

Fun For One: Yes

Highlights: abundant wildlife, popular trails for runner, cyclists and walkers, pretty views, very well maintained, benches for sitting, skating on the pond during the winter

Lowlights: short loop (only 1.2 mile) so many runners have to complete the loop several times to get a good workout, some side trails end abruptly at parking lots or just stop without going anywhere

Once an artificial pond to serve the people of Manchester, Dorrs Pond now serves a scenic retreat for cyclists, runners, nature lovers and dogs.

“hidden gem” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. But, the photos below will show how this description is apt for Dorrs Pond. In fact, I, and many people I talked to about it, had never been to this pond or ever even heard about before I went there.

One of the great things about Dorrs Pond is it is not a particularly difficult trail. The trails are Dorrs Pond are pretty level with a few small inclines

The views at Dorrs Pond are beautiful. Vivid greens and a variety of green, purple and other vibrant colors dot the landscape.

One of the best parts of Dorrs Pond is the wildlife. There is a variety of birds, amphibians and other animals at the pond.

I also found this interesting shelter. Unfortunately, no one was home.

During the winter, skating is allowed on the pond. Also, there is a play area, playing field, restrooms and pool for children (and some adults) in addition to Dorrs Pond at Livingston Park.

Doors Pond is a great place to bring your dog. The trail is not too long and the inclines are not very steep. And it was a perfect day for taking your pooch out for a stroll. I saw lots of dogs at Dorrs Pond. Here are a few of the cute dogs at the park Sunday:

Katie, a 9 month old German Shepherd.

Finley, a Cavachon who will be 2 in September

Reagan, a 4 month old Golden Retriever

and Jackson, a 2 year old Basenji Greyhound.

Please follow me on Facebook: New England Nomad

Similar Places In New England I Have Visited:

Ames Nowell State Park

Cutler Park

11 Comments | tags: attractions, birds, bridges, chipmunks, dogs, Dorrs Pond, ducks, frogs, Nature, New England, new hampshire, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, scenic, turtles, views, water | posted in animals, birds, bridges, dogs, ducks, nature, New England, new hampshire, park, pets, photographs, photography, photos, plants, pond, scenic, trails, trees, Uncategorized, wildlife

July 10, 2016

Robinson State Park (Feeding Hills, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Visited: July 3 & 4, 2016

Location: 428 North St, Feeding Hills (Agawam), MA

Cost: $8 for MA vehicle, $10 for non-MA vehicle

Parking: There are about 50 parking spots in the park itself at various designated parking areas. There are also several entrances besides the actual entrance to the park where you can park for free but there are gates at these entrances and you have to walk rather than drive to the beach and fields in the park.

Time To Allot For Visit: 3 to 4 hours to hike the entire park

Size of the park: 800 acres, 5 miles of frontage on the Westfield River

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: walking trails, stream, beach, picnic area, fields, lots of wildlife, great for bikers, joggers, walkers and dogs

Known for its abundant wildlife, long paved trail and scenic views of the Westfield River, Robinson State Park is one of my favorite parks to visit. I love the paved, winding trail and abundant wildlife. I have jogged the main trail hundreds, if not thousands, of times. The wide paved trail is wide enough to accommodate joggers, bikers, walkers and even vehicles (cars are allowed on the main paved trail during the summer months only).

About a mile or a little more than a mile from the main entrance there is a small beach next to a grassy area for people to relax and sun themselves. If you’re lucky, you may even see a tadpole.

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One thing to keep in mind is there are a lot of bugs in the area. Since it is located by a stream of water, bugs and mosquitoes are a real problem, especially during the summer months. So, either cover up or use bug spray if you plan on hiking the various trails. Another downside to the park, if you want to call it that, is that some trails just seem to end…right in people’s backyards. This happened on two of the side trails I ventured on. No biggie. You just turn around and come back the way you came. But it can be anticlimactic and annoying (for the homeowner as much as it would be for you).

The Westfield River runs along the paved trail giving off some pretty views. There are some side trails you can use to get a better view.

There is a pond just down the trail from the beach. I heard lots of frogs, toads and other wildlife in the pond but they are pretty well hidden.

Robinson Park is also teeming with wildlife. In fact, Westfield, one of the cities the park borders, is known for its black squirrels. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any during my visit or at least none that I could photograph. But, there were plenty of other animals visible at the park the days I visited.

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There is also a pond and a variety of trees, plants, flowers and berries along the trails.

The trails are well defined and there are a number of bridges at the park.

Because it has such a wide main trail and lots of area to roam, Robinson Park is a great place to walk your dog and I ran into quite a few cute dogs during my visits.

Oliver is an 11 year old Collie and Chow mix.

Josie is a 9 year old Cocker Spaniel.

And Bruno is a 2 year old Shepherd and Lab mix rescue.

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19 Comments | tags: attractions, beach, birds, dogs, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, scenic, trees, water, wildlife | posted in animals, family friendly, Massachusetts, nature, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, wildlife

June 9, 2016

Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary (Easthampton, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: June 1, 2016

Location: 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA

Hours:

Trails & Restrooms:
Daily, dawn to dusk

Visitor Center
Mon-Thurs, 9 am – noon
Fri, 9 am – 3:30 pm
Sat, 9 am – noon
Sunday seasonally

Cost:

Members: Free
Nonmembers:
$4 Adults
$3 Children (2-12)
$3 Seniors (65+)

A year long pass for new members cost me $32 for a “family” pass which includes two named adults living in the same household and their children or grandchildren under the age of 18 to free admission. It usually costs $65. The levels of passes can range from an individual ($48) to patron ($500). Check their website or call them for more details.

Parking: Parking was abundant. There were some events for children going on when I went and there was room for everyone to park there.

Dog Friendly: No pets are allowed. So leave Fido at home!

Highlights: miles of trails, observation tower, lots of wildlife, great blue heron rookery, camps, programs, classes and activities (particularly for children), friendly and helpful staff

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

Located about 20 minutes north of Springfield, MA and just over an hour and a half west of Boston, MA, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is teeming with a variety of wildlife. Some of the wildlife you see may surprise you.

I had never been so close to a deer, at least not in the wild. I was close enough to almost pat her. It was almost unreal to be so close to such a beautiful animal and not scare her off.

According to the staff member I spoke to about this doe, this particular doe was not an original resident of the sanctuary. But, due to over development of the area and other factors, she has found her way to the sanctuary.

The 5 mile loop is well marked (remember the yellow path leads back to the visitor center). There is an observation tower on the main trail (to the right of the trail). It was pretty shaky but it gave some great views.

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On the walkway to the tower, I made a friend. This immature redtail hawk is another animal that wasn’t originally at the sanctuary. But, he or she has made a home there and the bird didn’t seem to shy until I got too close when he or she flew off onto a tree branch.

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful park. Even if you’re not into photography, birding or looking for wildlife you would still enjoy a scenic hike on the trails.

There are two markers on a pole next to the observation tower displaying the levels of two of the big floods in the area (the floods of 1936 and 1984).

I was a little disappointed too not see any turtles, frogs or other critters. But, I saw and heard lots of chipmunks. Either the last chipmunk in the right hand corner is very long or I should have changed my photo settings. I thought it looked funny so I kept it!

Audubon sanctuaries are always a safe bet for a fun time at a clean and well maintained park with a lot of wildlife and Arcadia was no different.

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12 Comments | tags: birds, deer, doe, hawk, Hiking, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, trees, water | posted in birds, hawk, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, wildlife

New England Nomad

Category Archives: wildlife

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Dorrs Pond (Manchester, NH)

Robinson State Park (Feeding Hills, MA)

Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary (Easthampton, MA)

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