Thanksgiving at Oak Point

A fabulous meal, an Oregon Pinot Noir, Erin's Br. sprouts, pumpkin pie and "Fruit of the Woods" pie, Cheryl's Italian sausage stuffing,  oyster dressing, etc. etc.  and the grandchildren spectacularly well behaved, all combined for a very special Thanksgiving day.

Almost ready

Cheryl and Scott

Erin and Alex

I wonder what Alex just said!
(Scott and Oliver)

Ken carving and Susan

Cheryl, Alex, and Erin

Jackson
(I have a very similar photo of Karl Humm doing the same thing)

Oliver and a bird book

Jackson and an art book

Getting ready for the group portrait

Voila!
Doug, Susan, Alex, Scott, Carter, Cheryl, Erin, Oliver, Ken, Jackson

 AM, Jackson, Olive and I got up and went to Dave's Diner for breakfast while Ken and Erin slept in.  We went over to Marshfield after breakfast in hope of seeing the Screech-owl, observed the knothole empty, waited for 5 minutes, and then first his "ears" popped up, and then he jumped up in full view.  I set up the spotting scope, and both boys were really excited.

Buffleheads at Duxbury Beach

Thanksgiving day, and I drove early AM to Duxbury Beach (the table is set, the turkey is cooking, and the relatives will arrive at noon, so no guilt).
Beautiful sun, cold, about 30, and just a few shots of some Bufflehead, but my first photos of one flying, so worth the trip.

It's great to have these wonderful little ducks around all winter.

Tai Kwan Do, Toppan House

A session of Tai Kwan Do at the Lawrence Y with Jackson and Oliver, a few pictures at Duxbury Beach, and the Toppan house in Newburyport, forerunners of the Tappans, the house form 1695.

Morning (dark, rainy, foggy), not much hope to see much, but Parker River always surprises me.
On a telephone pole, a Red-tail posing for me, and then, on my return to the gate to leave, a real show.  I can't help myself, I will probably be photographing Red-tails for the rest of my life, I love them so.  This is as close as I have ever been to one in the wild.

Here he is, before I've even entered the sanctuary.  About 40 yards away.

and on into the flats.  A flock of Cedar Waxwings immovable in the rain.

Mallard in take-off

Northern Pintail.  How elegant can a duck be?

Even in the bad light, the chocolate stands out.

Green-winged Teal

Returning to the gate, I found him on one of the signs 5 feet off the ground.  I stopped, rolled down my window, and
he just sat there, occasionally peering at me.

Finally taking flight, he flew down the road past me. 

Then he suddenly landed even closer to me! About 10 yards away, he watched briefly, and then
finally had had enough and flew off over the marsh. 

"You lookin' at sumpthin' ?"

"See ya!"