Manchaug Dam

A report has come in that work is being done at the Manchaug Pond dam – brush cutting and the like.

Today – Wildlife Trackers Conference, Leominster

Wondering who or what is walking around your home in the early morning hours? Do you hunt with a rifle, bow, camera or binoculars? This conference could be just what you need to sharpen your skills! November 7—Second Annual Wildlife Trackers Conference, Leominster— A 1-day conference held by Massachusetts Wildlife Trackers will take place on November 7, 2009, at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster. Peter Mirick, Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine editor, who will speak on “Wildlife Trends: A Century of Success in Massachusetts Wildlife Conservation.” The conference will feature presentations on a wide variety of wildlife topics including Ecology and Food Habits of American Mink, Track and Sign Certification, Field Guide to Skulls and Bones, and, Wildlife Habitat and the Importance of Connectivity. Bring a bag lunch and find out how fellow trackers have been using wildlife tracking in their work, share your experiences, and browse exhibits about other tracking-related resources. Registration information and materials are posted at www.masswildlifetrackers.org/index.html. For registration questions and information contact Jane Winn at (413) 442-6815 or jane@thebeatnews.org. Thanks to an MPA member for submitting these great photos taken right here on the shore of Manchaug Pond! By the way, this morning’s temperature is 29 F. …

Eagle on Manchaug Pond

A phone call came in this morning at 8:30 am that the eagle was feeding on something on the large rocks in the channel. As I went across my neighbor’s yard to take a picture, crows caused the eagle to fly. Thanks for the call Jim! A beautiful sight! Here’s the word of the day – Ineffable!

Thursday’s Beauty

Thursday morning the lake was like a mirror. Just after lunch, a flock of Canada geese was seen feeding in the corn feed up on Lackey Road. Before and after their meal, the flock is frequently seen having on Manchaug Pond. Sunshine and late afternoon gray clouds brought a rainbow over the golf course.

Autumn Tadpoles

During our cleanup events, an MPA volunteer and Area Representative on our Board of Directors found this little creature at the Manchaug Pond inlet. More to come ….. Have to go for now

Deer in the Manchaug Watershed

Late yesterday afternoon, the doe and three fawns often seen this spring and summer in Area 3 were grazing on the lawn of the YMCA Camp Blanchard. The young are now about the size of their mother. A bit of lightening up of the photos … Neighbors report up to 7 deers grazing and eating acorns in their yards as well as a buck rubbing his horns on the branches of smaller landscape trees. Across the lake, roadside walkers in the watershed are seen wearing their hunter orange.

Yesterday’s View from Water’s Farm

As the leaves drop, Manchaug Pond is not only visible from the neighboring roadsides and Waters Farm but also from Douglas Road in Sutton (from Whittier’s Farm head south, look left as you start down the hill to Northwest Main St, Douglas.) A close-up of the view from Waters Road, Sutton shows the old causeway which stretches across the channel. I am told by a neighbor that their home was moved many, many years ago from the Douglas side to the Sutton side along this road. A look at the 1831 map of Sutton shows that road.