Happy July 4th from Glorious Good Harbor Beach!
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Category Archives: Essex County
Snapshots from St. Peter’s Mass and Sunday Morning Procession
A joy to film and photograph our beautiful community. Viva San Pietro!
NEW VIDEO: MAX ALLEN Greasy Pole Saturday Champion 2025
The winning walk!
MAX ALLEN Your 2025 Greasy Pole Saturday Champion!
Congratulations to Max Allen! Max also won last year’s Friday night competition. He is the third generation in his family to win the flag, following in the footsteps of his uncle and grandfather.
Buona Festa! – A Most Joyous St. Peter’s Fiesta Opening Night
Viva San Pitero!
Beginning at St. Peter’s Club, the Procession winds up and around the Legion Hall, ending at St. Peter’s Square. The effigy is is placed oh so gently on the stage where it will stay until Sunday morning’s procession through the City.
All Are Welcome to the Beautiful Saint Peter’s Fiesta Novena
Come one, come all!
With love and gratitude to the Novena Ladies who each year tirelessly organize the Novena, decorate the Legion Hall and altar in a unique and beautiful way, lead the attendees in prayer and song, and nightly serve refreshments. Viva San Pietro.
Left to right: Grace Cusumano, Nina Groppo, Anne Sanfillippo, Joanne Auello, Jean Linquata, Caryn Ryder, Faye Quinlan
The 2025 St. Peter’s Fiesta Novena continues every night through Tuesday. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday the Novena begins at 7:00pm. Tuesday is the very special conclusion. The Novena begins at 6:30, followed by the Mass, followed by the Saint Peter procession to Beach Court.
Crazy Hat Lady sisters Robyn and Amy, sans hats. I wonder what wonderfully imaginative designs they will add to the hats this year!
WOW! So Much Great Stuff Happening at Cedar Rock Gardens!
Elise at Cedar Rock Gardens says, It’s Not Too Late to Plant — and HAVE WE GOT A SALE FOR YOU!
Rainy weekends and a chilly spring couldn’t stop us—and now it’s officially go-time in the garden.
It is not too late to plant – We have a sale for you and Lettuce!
Come Visit Us for a sale this week!— Bring a Box or Tray to shop.
To help you get growing and keep growing, we’re offering 30% off all seedlings in the nursery starting on Wednesday, June 18th until Sunday, June 22nd. Yes, all of them. As a little bonus, every purchase comes with a free lettuce plant, because you deserve something green, crunchy, and satisfying after this soggy spring.
Our business hours:
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Closed
Wednesday – 8 am to 4 pm
Thursday – 8 am to 5 pm
Friday – 8 am to 4 pm
Saturday – 8 am to 4 pm
Sunday – 9 am to 3 pm
Hello friends,
We know—this spring’s been a journey. Between the endless rainy weekends and a chill that just wouldn’t quit, it felt like summer might never show up. I was totally ahead of myself predicting a warm spring – so much for that! Now that the weather is finally good enough for tender edible crops to grow lets keep a close eye on pests and critters. The soil is finally warm, the skies are (mostly) clearing, and the gardens are ready to GROW.
If you’ve been waiting to plant, now is your moment.
It is not too late to get your veggie garden going! In fact, it’s a great time to plant seedlings—especially for all those warm-weather crops that will flourish this time of year.
And for all you clever succession planters, leafy greens like lettuce, kale, chard, and herbs are ready for another round. Keep those salads coming well into summer. Direct Seed bush and pole beans now along with radish, hakurei, baby bok choy, greens and arugula.
We’d love to see your faces back at the nursery. The nursery is bursting with life, lots of bastil, squash, cutting flowers, tomatoes and peppers!
Catch Us at the Gloucester Farmers Market!
Every Wednesday from 2:30–6:30pm, you’ll find us at The Backyard Growcery at Burnhams field. Starting this week!!
We’ll have fresh-picked produce from our fields and plenty of hardy seedlings to fill your garden gaps.
Come say hi, grab a bunch of something delicious, and let us hook you up with a lettuce pun or two (we can’t help ourselves).
🌈 Happy Pride Month 🌈
At Cedar Rock Gardens, we believe that love is good, communities, just like gardens, are better with a wild mix of colors and personalities, and every person deserves to grow and thrive exactly as they want to be. We stand proudly with our queer community—not just this month, but always.
Here’s to vibrant veggies, inclusive spaces, and the joy of growing something beautiful together. 💚💜💛
From the Field: June Journal
Why are we closed on Mondays and Tuesday?? First, it is to have a full day to spend with our small children and keep the work/life balance in tact during this especially busy time of year. We are a small business and we are a couple running a farm, a family, a crew and a life outside of work. We are on 7 days a week all day keeping thousands of plants and a couple small humans alive and in order to navigate this livelihood we chose to be closed to the public 2 days a week. Second because, as stated above, we are farming greenhouse and field crops all year and we need all hands on deck a few days a week to plant, weed, prune, harvest wash and pack – for those of you who have asked.
We’ve officially changed our greenhouses over from seedling production and packed all 12,000 square feet of our greenhouses with summer crop stars: tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, basil, cucumbers, ginger, sweet potatoes and so many other warm-loving goodies.
Out in the fields, lettuce and greens are growing along beautifully. Bush beans are just about to get seeded, and both summer and winter squash are just about to go in the ground—and we are just about ready to tuck in our potatoes on July 2nd, right on schedule.
Why July 2nd? Because we’ve got beef with the Colorado potato beetle. These striped little tank-like pests emerge early in the season and love nothing more than feasting on tender potato foliage. By delaying planting until July, we dodge their peak egg-laying window—and still get a strong fall harvest without the beetle drama. Take that, nature’s tiny bulldozers.
Here are a few things I find myself repeating a lot at the nursery so I though I may share them here and hopefully give someone a tidbit that may help!
Pest Patrol + Growing Tips
Squash + Cucumber Success:
Use lightweight row cover early on to protect seedlings from bugs and cool nights. Remove the cover when the plants flower so they can be pollinated!
Mulch around the base with straw to deter squash bugs – or try the tip below from a neighbor!
Keep leaves dry by morning watering so they dry out over the day to discourage powdery mildew.
Harvest often and remove damaged or wilted fruit to keep plants productive.
And here’s a gem from our neighbor Newt: He cuts drinking straws into 3-inch segments, snips them open, and wraps them around the stems of his young cucurbits. It’s a surprisingly brilliant way to stop cutworms from snipping plants at the soil line—and may just discourage squash vine borers too. We raise a hoe to you, Newt.
Tomato TLC:
Prune lower leaves to improve airflow and reduce disease risk.
Mulch to retain moisture and prevent soil splash-up.
Tomatoes love heat—give them full sun and space to breathe.
Feed every couple weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer once they start fruiting.
Water consistently to prevent blossom end rot.
Pepper Wisdom:
Peppers want warmth—plant them in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot.
They’re slow to start but reward patience. Mulch them in, water evenly, and don’t overdo nitrogen (it’ll grow leaves, not fruit).
We won’t sugarcoat it: the political scene right now? A real mess. Between the corporate greenwashing, book bans, and folks who think “climate change” is just a suggestion—it’s enough to make you want to throw your phone into the compost pile.
But here’s the thing: planting seeds, supporting small farms, feeding your neighbors, and standing up for inclusion and sustainability? That’s hopeful. That’s powerful.
So let’s plant more. Grow more. Share more. Support with our dollars, our forks, and our hearts.
With muddy hands and a hope for sunshine,
— Elise and the Cedar Rock Gardens crew
Tunnel of Love
With temperatures expected to hit 90 later in the week I thought I had better take a few snapshots of the roses blooming around our front porch; they’ll fade rapidly once the heat kicks in.
The white rose with the single flowers that climbs up to the second floor bedroom window is Darlow’s Enigma. I love this rose for its highly scented blossoms and for its vigor but the stalks became so huge it collapsed in last months nor’easter. It’s made for a wonderful tunnel. A bit out of control, I’ll have to trim Darlow’s way back after it blooms but it sure has been fun having a rose embowered tunnel, albeit briefly.
We planted only the most highly fragrant roses I could locate and currently the sweet scent of roses is permeating our entire home. Happy June!
This is the Only Monarch We are Interested In!
Thank you Michele Del for sharing your beautiful block print, and thank you to Michelle B for sharing the photo!
No Kings Cape Ann!
Tremendous Turnout for No Kings Cape Ann!
People from all around Cape Ann attended the No Kings march. I have yet to confirm, but heard there were upwards of 3,000 marchers. Passersby in vehicles were showing their full support as well. From youth to grannies, Cape Ann showed up for democratic values. The message is clear, It’s Up To Us!
Above photo courtesy Michelle Barton
NO KINGS Gloucester Day of Defiance
This event will be a walk from Stage Fort Park down to the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial. It will run from noon to 2pm. Gloucester residents with a 2025 beach parking sticker can park for free at the park, and parking is free on Stacy Blvd, but car pooling is encouraged as turn out is expected to be strong. In addition to the No Kings Theme, participants are encouraged to bring their American flags, as it is OUR flag and not the property of any political party.
There will be speakers at the memorial, including founder of CAI, Paul Saint-Amand, and Gloucester’s Mayor Verga, who will speak at 1:30. A local choir will lead us in “Can you hear the people sing?”, among other protest songs, as we make our way down from a Stage Fort Park to the Memorial.
Sign up or just come!
Plover Lovers Update!
Dear PiPl Friends,
I am behind in providing updates and I apologize for that. Frankly, with the scale of all that is so very dark currently taking place in our country, I struggle with focusing on what is positive and good in the world of wildlife. Fortunately for them they know none of this. Happy news to share is that our Good Harbor Beach Plovers are recovered from the very late season nor’easter and are back on track with nesting activities. Not only Gloucester Plovers, but Plovers all around the region are regaining their bearings after the catastrophic loss of nests and habitat.
Plovers will re-nest (in other words, lay another clutch of eggs) as much as 3 to 4 times and in some extreme cases, have been known to re-nest 7 times. We always hope the first clutch is successful for several reasons. The earlier in the season the chicks hatch, the earlier they will fledge and be off the beaches. It is also very taxing on the female to lay additional eggs. Conservation biologists are very protective of breeding pairs, in a way even more so than chicks, because pairs that are known to breed are the birds that will carry on the species.
Wonderful news for our documentary The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay, which has been accepted to the New Hope Film Festival, a truly stellar festival founded by a gentleman Doug Whipple, with the intention of highlighting independent filmmakers. New Hope sounds like a fun boho arts community and I am looking forward to attending this festival. The dates are August 15-24th and as we get closer to the event, I’ll let you know more.
Rockport Middle Schoolers Cora and Juniper reached out to me for information about Piping Plovers for a project they were working on for their civics class. Don’t you love that Plovers are part of a civics discussion! I was delighted to help the girls with their project. They did an absolutely fantastic job and with permission, I am sharing the storyboard they put together for their presentation. Many thanks to Juniper and Cora for their interest in Plover conservation. I have been inspired by the two of them to create a shorter program for middle school kids as an hour long film presentation is suitable for high school, but the class periods are shorter in middle school from what I have learned.
My friend Jane in Nova Scotia shares an amazing ‘Plover Resiliency’ photo – the Plovers in her community are nesting at the TOP of the breakwater. The pair have found a tiny bit of grass and sand amidst the rocks. In case you were wondering, as was I, she reports that the tide never goes that high.
And my new Plover friend, Rhonda, in Ocean City, New Jersey, shares that their chicks have hatched and are doing well. Like Good Harbor Beach, the beach where their Plovers are nesting is also a highly trafficked location and has been consistently voted New Jersey’s most popular beach. Rhonda organized a screening of POMB with a virtual QandA at the Ocean City Public Library and the audience was so engaged. It was an utter joy to present to this very enthusiastic crowd. You can read more about the screening here: Ocean City Has Some Good Things to Say About The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay
That’s all the Plover news for now. Happy Sunday!
xxKim
Apple Filming at Widow’s Bay Island Today (aka Good Harbor Beach!)
Widow’s Bay Island – it sure sounds like a spooky and foreboding place!
Parked at the Good Harbor Beach lot is an assemblage of vintage cars as Apple TV + sets the stage for a new series, titled Widow’s Bay. Filming is planned to begin today. The series is starring one of our favorite actors, Matthew Rhys. While at my daughter’s in LA, we binged watched Perry Mason and it was truly gripping, with a stellar performance by Rhys.
“Matthew Rhys is heading to The Bay State and Pine Tree State for his next show! The Welsh actor is set to star in the new Apple TV+ series, ‘Widow’s Bay,’ which will begin filming in Massachusetts and Maine in May 2025. Katie Dippold will serve as the showrunner, with Hiro Murai directing the series. There has been no revelation about the rest of the cast so far.
‘Widow’s Bay’ takes place on a secluded New England island shrouded in mystery and plagued by an ominous curse — at least, that’s what its deeply superstitious residents believe. At the center of it all is Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), a pragmatic and no-nonsense single father who remains steadfast in his refusal to entertain such notions. Determined to transform the island into a sought-after destination, he envisions it as the next Nantucket. However, his unwavering ambition clashes with the townspeople’s persistent fears, forcing him to navigate the delicate balance between progress and the long-held superstitions threatening to hold Widow’s Bay in their grip.”
Common Eider Crèche
The ducklings just kept coming and coming! Moms, aunties, grandmoms, and sisters raise Common Eider ducklings in large communal nurseries called crèches. This crèche of Common Eiders was feeding at Good Harbor Beach on the abundant seaweed brought in by the recent nor’easter.
Common Eider male, duckling, and female
Hilary Frye, Extraordinary Duckling Rescuer! The Common Eider ducklings in the photos above are a pair that Hilary Frye and I rescued several years back. With soooo many ducklings in a crèche, it’s easy for ducklings to become separated from their family. But, as I learned from Hilary, the adults aren’t too fussy about taking in a few more!
Good Harbor Beach Smoke Dusted Sunrise
Hazy sunrise due I think to the Canadian wildfires out west
Azure Blue Butterfly in the Garden!
Good morning sweet Spring Azure! Look for these tiny one-inch wide wingspan butterflies drinking nectar from the flowers of crabapple, Common Milkweed, blackberry, dandelion, violet and many more spring bloomers.
The female deposits her eggs on a variety of woody shrubs and trees including dogwood (native Cornus florida, not the non-native Korean Kousa), viburnum, blueberry, sumac, and cherry. In our garden, the females mostly oviposit eggs around the pale pink buds of our native Meadowsweet (Spirea alba var. latifolia). 
Why Can’t I Fly My Drone Over Good Harbor Beach?
Fairly frequently when coming onto Good Harbor Beach to check on the Plovers, we find the birds off their nests and in utter panic. I have learned over time that there is only one reason why the birds along the one mile stretch of beach are frightened enough to leave their nests, in unison. Sure enough, in a moment or two, you hear the drone’s whirring motor first and then observe as it passes over the protected areas of the beach. Usually not one go around, but the operators make repeated passes over the birds. Whether zooming at top speed or hovering, the Plovers are terrified by these modern day avian predator-like cameras.
It is illegal and considered harassment under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to operate a drone over breeding areas. People are either unaware, feign ignorance, or even worse, are aware and simply don’t care. Countless times we have come onto our shifts to find all the birds in the area in complete meltdown mode. The birds think the drone is a predator that has come to eat their eggs, chicks, or themselves. There are even instances where a bird has flown after the drone and becomes injured. Today a man told me he was fully licensed to fly his drone over Good Harbor Beach. Drone operators need to understand that state, federal, and local ordinances supersede any licensing permit (see below for Good Harbor Beach regulations regarding drones).
There is accumulating evidence that the mere presence of drones causes direct harm to birds, not just during breeding season. The unfamiliarity and noise interrupts courtship, mating, and feeding. Entire tern and heron colonies have been abandoned due to drone disturbances.
Plover in crouched position, frightened by overhead drone, and off her nest
This past spring there was a political rally at Good Harbor Beach. We thought it tremendous that people were gathering in support of their views and the birds had absolutely no problem with the steady stream of people entering the beach from all directions. However, the representative’s organizers began preparing a sign that could be read only from an aerial pov, which meant they intended to fly a drone over the beach. We asked the organizers to please not fly the drone but they ignored our pleas and told us the drone was only going to fly over the water and the drone would only be on the beach for a few minutes. Of course we knew that would not be the case and sure enough the drone flew repeatedly over the dunes, disturbing every bird along the entire length of the beach. After fifteen minutes of sounding their alarm calls, all the birds on the beach flew off in unison. The drone was documented flying low over the beach for 45 minutes. Clearly, a beach with nesting birds is not the place to hold a rally if a drone is part of the equation, particularly when there are other locations as easily accessed.
Over millennia, nesting birds evolved with the constant threat of avian predators, including hawks, falcons, crows, gulls, and eagles. They have not adapted to understand that a drone is not a predator, no matter how much the drone operator protests that the birds are unbothered by the drone and have become used to its presence.
It is imperative for the safety of the birds that they have a healthy fear of drones. The last thing we want are nestlings thinking that hovering airborne shapes are nothing to be afraid of.
In our collective experiences monitoring the Plovers, we come across unethical behavior not only on the part of drone operators but also by fellow wildlife enthusiasts. We have seen photographers mashed up against the symbolically roped off areas, despite massively long telephoto lens, parking themselves for hours on end, and also following the birds relentlessly up and down the beach, despite the bird’s clear signals it is trying to get away and/or tend to its chicks. Early on in the pursuit of my dream to document wildlife, I was part of crowds that photographed owls. Observing how sensitive are owls, I no longer film owls in known locations. If I come across an owl or rare bird when out filming, I take a few photos and footage and go on my way. Crowds and hovering persons are also the reason why I no longer post specific locales and keep location information general.
To ethically document wildlife requires thought and is also a tremendous responsibility. We can all do our part to protect the beautiful creatures in our midst by being mindful and sensing their boundaries, especially, especially during the time of year when they are breeding.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I hope your question is answered, and why. Please share this post. Thank you 🙂
Nesting birds that are negatively impacted by drone operators include, but are not limited to, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, Little Blue Herons, and Piping Plovers
City of Gloucester Good Harbor Beach Regulations for Model Airplanes, Radio Controlled Aircraft, Drones
Good Harbor Beach Parking Lot
1. Permitted to fly only when beach parking lot is not in operation (no attendant on duty).
2. Restricted to times when pedestrian and vehicle traffic are at a minimum.
3. Not permitted before 8:30am.
4. Shall fly over the parking lot and marsh areas, not the road or beach.
5. Noise levels will be restricted to an acceptable level (non-flow thru, expansion chamber mufflers only).
6. Pilots shall fly in a safe and responsible manner at all times.
7. Pilots will be responsible and liable for their actions.
8. Pilots will abide by regulations in effect and maintain a safe environment.
9. Pilots will be considerate of wetlands and wildlife.
Featuring Sweet Warblers and The Bird Collision Prevention Alliance
Dear PiPl Friends,
This lovely little Yellowthroat accompanied me on a recent early morning walk, or rather, we were both headed in the same direction. The warbler foraged all along the way, snatching insects as he darted from branch to branch before descending to the ground, where he found a rotting log rife with bugs.
His official name is Common Yellowthroat, but I don’t see anything common about the striking feather pattern of this petite bandited warbler.
According to Cornell, Common Yellowthroats are “resident to long-distance migrant. Most populations migrate; some go short distances and others journey all the way from northern Canada to Central America. Some populations in the southern United States and Mexico stay in place year-round.”
Speaking of bird migration, I met in person a new friend this week, Jane Alexander. Not exactly a new friend as Jane and I have been corresponding for many months over email. She stopped by with her son, Tony Sherin, on their road trip northward. What a joy to meet this extraordinary woman and her son. Jane is not only a gifted actress of stage and screen, but a passionate conservationist. And she has been an ardent social activist her entire adult life (The Great White Hope, Testament, Eleanor and Franklin). Her son is a documentary filmmaker and editor (and also a fellow Fujifilm camera lover) so we had lots and lots to talk about. The time flew by and was much much too short.
Jane has been watching over Piping Plovers at her summer home for decades. She very kindly donated to our documentary The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay and I am so grateful for her generosity and for her true love of these valiant little birds. Amongst many of her projects, Jane has been involved in launching the Bird Collisions Prevention Alliance. Their brand new website is up and running with the tagline: More than 1 billion birds die in collisions with glass every year. The time to act is now! The website includes the reasons as to why birds hit glass, guidelines on solutions on how to help, and a call to action. Please visit the website to learn more more about how we can prevent a billion birds perishing every year.
Note the difference between the female and male Common Yellowthroat
Gloucester Massachusetts and Terrasini Sicily Officially Became Sister Cities Today!
Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, at 4pm, Mayor Greg Verga and Mayor Giosuè Maniaci signed certificates naming Gloucester and Terrasini official Sister, or Twin, Cities. This is a wonderful opportunity to exchange cultural traditions and customs, connect future generations to their heritage, and travel to mutually welcoming communities. Mayor Giosuè Maniaci was admiring of the beauty of Gloucester and the Terrasini community plans to build a memorial similar to our fisherman’s statue, commemorating the lives of fishermen who have been lost at sea.
Nina Francis, Julia Verga, Sefatia Romeo Theken, Giuseppe Cracchiolo, Mayor Greg Verga, Mayor Giosuè Maniaci
Seeing the joy on the participants faces was heartwarming and is a reminder of the blessed and centuries old American tradition of welcoming immigrants to her shores. To know that first, second, and many generations to come, will always be welcome to their country of origin is equally as heartwarming.
Mayor Giosuè Maniac thanking Giuseppe Cracchiolo
Earlier in the week Mayor Giosuè Maniaci was honored with a lovely dinner of fresh off the boat Gloucester seafood and a presentation by Gloucester Fishermen’a Wives president Angela Sanfillipo. The following photos are courtesy of Marianne Pacquette.
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Glossy Ibis Catches a Frog!
I was amazed to watch a Glossy Ibis capture a large Bullfrog and had just assumed they were foraging on insects and other small invertebrates when probing about in fields. Subsequently I have learned that they eat a remarkable variety of food including leeches, earthworms, marine worms, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, many species of beetles, soldierflies, crabs, shrimp, crayfish, mollusks, snails, fish, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, snakes, lizards, and grains such as rice and sorghum.
Happy Mom’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Aunties, Grandmoms, Sisters, Friends, and Dads who are Mom’s, too. Thank you for being you <3 Wishing you joy and happiness on this sunniest of Mother’s Day. xoKim
Our Good Harbor Beach footless Super Mom
One of ten clutches of eggs that Super Mom has laid at GHB since she and her mate first arrived in 2016.
In 2021, Super Mom’s right foot became very tightly wound with seaweed and fishing line. The following year, she returned to Good Harbor Beach footless. Yet despite that, her handicap does not prevent her from doing all the usual things Plovers do daily.
Piping Plovers, and many species of shorebirds, have a foot tamping technique, where they rapidly shake their feet in the sand to stir up invertebrates. Also called foot trembling, the action brings invertebrates to the surface where the Plover sees and catches the prey. Watch how Super Mom expertly forages for tiny mollusks and in this case, appears not hindered by her missing foot. Not all is great for our footless Mom, though. Occasionally I see her legs become very tired and she does a series of spazzy movements across the sand, as though she is having some sort of leg cramping going on.
The first clip is in slow motion so that you can see the technique; the second clip is in real time.
Darling Dunlins
We see Dunlins in late summer and fall as the birds are heading south for the winter. They often travel in great flocks however, last October, a singleton was migrating along with an American Golden Plover and the two spent a few days at Brace Cove.
They are rather plain looking in feathers shaded sandy gray and taupe.
Dunlin in October
What a treat to see a northward bound Dunlin that is transitioning to its striking breeding plumage. I almost didn’t recognize the fellow in his fancier feathers!
Dunlin at Eastern Point in mid-April 
Dunlin range map
Love is in the Air
There are currently so many creatures migrating through our region that it is challenging to keep up with all. In addition to the beautiful northward migrating shorebirds and songbirds, our resident wildlife are setting up house, and also mating like crazy! On Friday I took the entire day off to film and was delighted that in the span of an hour, a pair of Killdeers mated several times, and at every Osprey nest that I like to check in on, pairs were mating, also repeatedly!
Great Egret with it’s distinctive green eye feathers, only seen during mating season
Killdeers mating
Male Osprey swooping in to mate
Male and female White-tailed Deer. Look closely and you can see the male’s budding antlers.
Mom and Dad PiPl mating
Plover nest scrapes
Female Red-winged Blackbird building her nest in the reeds.
Male Red-winged Blackbird
Hoppy Easter Shopping at Alexandra’s Bread!
Looking for sweet touches to add to a child’s Easter basket or lovely and unique spring-themed home goods? Hop on over to Alexandra’s Bread! The bakery is stocked with all their usual yummy breads and cookies along with a rainbow assortment of linens, bags, vintage kitchen items, books, prints, a Red Sox lunchbox, and so much more!
Alexandra’s Bread is located at 265 Main Street, Gloucester.
Happy Easter!
The beautiful daffodil triptych, photographed through the window at Alexandra’s, was created by Alexandra’s sister and Cape Ann artist Mary Rhinelander. The image is much more vibrant when seen not through glass. See more of Mary’s exquisite works at Alexandra’s.
King Eider Mussel Diver!
The grand, and rarely seen on Cape Ann, King Eider, has been spotted for several weeks foraging in Essex alongside a raft of Common Eiders. It was too windy for my camera to capture a beautiful still close-up, but here you can see him diving for mussels at Conomo Point. The more typically seen male Common Eider, behind the King Eider in the footage, is also foraging for mussels. Amazingly, eiders swallow mussels whole! They have super strong gizzards that can digest the mussels, shell and all.