Birding – BANANAMASHER

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary – Topsfield, MA (December)

Returning to one of my favorite places to photograph birds, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary along the North Shore. This time, with a bit of snow covering the landscape, and the birds a little more plump. Returning to one of my favorite places to photograph birds, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts, the nearly 2,000-acre

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Tags: Birding | Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary | Journal | Mass Audubon | Massachusetts

Posted: December 26, 2025 by Bananamasher

Odiorne Point State Park – Rye, NH

Exploring a former military fort along the Atlantic Coast of New Hampshire. Giant bunkers remain in a wonderful landscape of natural habitats. Searching for remnants of a “Drowned Forest” and birding along several miles of trails. Odiorne Point State Park at 334 acres, varies in terrain from dense woodlands and salt marshes to sandy beaches

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Tags: Birding | Journal | New Hampshire

Posted: September 23, 2025 by Bananamasher

Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary – Princeton, MA (June)

Explore 12 miles of trails at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, featuring several meadows, a glacial boulder, old-growth trees, and beaver ponds. Trails link to nearby Wachusett Mountain and the Midstate Trail. Wachusett Meadow, once a working farm, now features stunning landscapes and rich wildlife across its woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. Historic barns and buildings remain

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Posted: July 1, 2025 by Bananamasher

White Mountain National Forest: Peakbagging Mount Hale, Zealand, and the Twins

Three days and two nights of peakbagging summits and camping in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. The 21-mile trek will bring me by waterfalls, scenic views, one AMC hut, and up and over four 4,000+ foot mountains. This brings my count to 34 of the 48 for the NH48 Challenge. Also gained

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Posted: June 13, 2025 by Bananamasher

Mount Holyoke Range State Park: Seven Sisters Ridge – Holyoke, MA

Spent the day trekking along a short section of the New England Trail called the Seven Sisters Ridge, birding along the summit of Mount Holyoke, and dodging falling millipedes throughout the hike. The 9 miles out-and-back hike followed the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail and the New England Trail. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72, though it’s

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Posted: June 1, 2025 by Bananamasher

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary – Topsfield, MA (May)

The nearly 2,000-acre landscape features drumlins, eskers, forest, meadows, swamps, and wetlands, offering many habitats attracting shore and song birds. Returning to one of Mass Audubon’s largest sanctuaries along the endangered Ipswich River in Topsfield, Massachusetts, it’s one of my favorite local-ish spots, for what I thought would be a quick mid-day stroll. Enjoying the

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Posted: May 28, 2025 by Bananamasher

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary – Topsfield, MA (April)

Another afternoon spent wandering trails to admire some birds. This time, visiting one of Mass Audubon’s largest sanctuaries along the endangered Ipswich River in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The nearly 2,000-acre landscape features drumlins, eskers, forest, meadows, swamps, and wetlands, offering many habitats attracting shore and song birds. While observing a patch of yellow daffodils, I noticed

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Tags: Birding | Journal | Mass Audubon | Massachusetts | Wildlife

Posted: April 25, 2025 by Bananamasher

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – Concord, MA (April)

Spent the afternoon birding in a spot known to be a hotspot for common and more unique feathered and flying vertebrates. Roughly 85% of the refuge consists of freshwater wetlands, attracting migrant and local species of perching songbirds, waterfowl, marsh breeders, and shore birds to the cultivated conservation area. A warm and sunny April day

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Tags: Birding | Journal | Massachusetts | Wildlife

Posted: April 15, 2025 by Bananamasher

Birding: Life List

Birding Intro. Opening paragraph. While I have seen and heard many others, I am only counting birds I have at least taken a decent photograph of. Life List: 48 2025: 48 #48 – Red-Bellied Woodpecker (2025/12/26 – Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary – Topsfield, MA) #47 – Eastern Bluebird (2025/10/20 – Harold Parker State Forest –

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Tags: Birding

Posted: May 13, 2020 by Bananamasher

Tag: Birding