I'm not sure, almost, where to begin.  The whole week leading up to my 70th birthday was such a wonderful time. 
   On Saturday and Monday I spent the day with Scott and Cheryl and Alex and Carter, they wanted me to do some photos of them at Saquish, and at the Mazzoli's and that was a treat. 
   On Thursday, I spent the day with Jackson and Oliver, Ken's children, in Boston going to the U.S.S. constitution, and the destroyer USS Cassin Young.  When I asked Ken if I could join him for dinner, he suggested that I might want to get home early and get a good night's sleep, and then gave me my birthday present, tickets to the US Open Tennis championships in Flushing Meadows at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
    We met at 5AM on Friday, my birthday, and we drove in Ken's new mini Cooper, arriving in plenty of time for breakfast, and the first match with the defending US Open woman's champion, Samantha Stoser, who dispatched her oponent fairly quickly,  Then it was Novak Djokovic, defending US Open champion, destroying his openent.  Then the babe, Maria Sharapova, the one who screams at every swing, also dominating.  And finally the Williams sisters in a great game of doubles, with some absolutely wild volleys. We baked in the heat for 7 hours, but it was a very exciting experience.
    Saturday, we celebrated my birthday, Susan having quickly re-arranged the party because of the last minute trip to NY.  Ken, Erin, Jackson and Oliver came, Scott, Sheryl, Alex and Carter, and sister Barbara and husband Bill Humm.  Great dinner, and the most wonderful surprise from Scott, who had taken 70, count them, 70 brids from my blog, and created a montage of them all in a huge panel, which you see pictured.  What a ferocious amount of work, and what a work of art. 
   And finally, today, Susan, Barbara, Bill and I went down to Plymouth and visited, for the first time, the house that the Mayflower Society uses for it's headquarters.  Wonderful house

   So, a lot more photos than usual, and please be patient, but it was quite a week.  And tomorrow I pack for Tuesday's trip to (gasp) Alaska, to continue the unending celebration of my 70th birthday with my twin.  As my mother would have said, "My stars above!".

Thanks to my good friends, Ann and Jack Ricco, who live about 10 feet away, I had a cup of coffee on thier deck and watched this beautiful juvenal Ruby Throated Hummingbird show off for me.  I love the shot of him (her?) foccusing on a bee.  Thank you Ann and Jack.  The Moth was in the bathroom this AM, and reminds me or origami.

    One of the most beautiful days we've had all summer, with temp in the high 70's, no humidity, and crystal clear air.  The day started with an all male volunteer choir at Old South Curch in S. Weymouth.  When nobody signed up to sing a solo for the ofertory (the choir takes the summer off), I asked for volunteers, and had 20 voices to sing "Daaaah, Ta Ta Ta Dah Dah Dah Dah, God of our fathers whose all mighty hand....." etc.  There was probably 7 or 8 who had never stepped into a choir loft before, and it was very successful.
    Then Susan and I hopped aboard the Harbor Express and went in to the North End, for St. Anthony's feast, ate another great meal at "La Summa" Restaurant, and then cam home to dinner at the Soulia's and a violent game of "Catch Phrase"  with the Soulias, the DeLorenzo's, and the Johnsons. 

     But it was the clarity of the day that produced the pictures of Boston. Be sure and click on the pictueres to enlarge them.

Mass Audubon's Daniel Webster Farm in Marshfield is a wonderful place for a walk and an occasional bird.  This Sat. it was a young Red Tail, with an interesting way of perching, one talon held to his chest.  I hope he wasn't injured. Also found an imature Mockingbird, and a female Mallard, in beautiful color.

On Monday, I drove down to Duxbury, and out to Saquish with the purpose of photographing my grandson Alex, and new grandson Samson Carter, and to my great delight, the beach was covered with migrating birds, all very close and the results are the following, including Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Common Terns

     Further proof of how great it is to live near Boston.   Susan and I took the Harbor Express into Boston to view a very historic occasion, only the second time in 200 years that the U.S.S. Constitution "Old Ironsides" has sailed under her own sails. In celebrating the war of 1812, she was towed into the outer harbor, lowered her sails, and for 20 minutes she sailed completely on her own.  Then she was towed over to Castle Island, and exchanged a 21 gun salute with canon on the island. then back to Charlestown. 
     Then Susan and I went to the North End, where there was a huge festival for the fishermen going on, We ate at La Summa restaurant, and then back on the ferry home.

     What a day.
    

This Wed. I went out to Duxbury Beach, drove down near Saquish, and caught these shots.  Needless to say, the Peregrine was really exciting.  I believe the small plover is a Piping Plover, but I am waiting to hear back from Mass Audubon in Marshfield for s definite id.

The others are Ruddy Turnstones, Black Bellied Plover, Least Tern, and Semipalmated Plover.