As I return to my blog, after many months away, I wanted to speak about an area I find myself visiting more and more often: the beautiful Quabbin Reservoir. Visits to this vast area fill me with feelings that are truly mixed –my ambivalence showing all too plainly on my face: feelings of awe and wonder as I look around me mixed with sadness and bitterness as I remember its origins (See previous blog entry). I come across ruby-red columbine, delicate ladyslippers, and ferns of every shape and size. Occasionally I am pleasantly surprised by a doe or buck peering at me through the woods. More often I stumble upon newts, turtles, or dragonflies. For better or worse, I have never come face to face with any of the Quabbin’s reported inhabitants: coyotes, bobcats, black bears, beavers , raccoons, moose, and foxes. As of yet, I have not seen any of the Quabbin’s famous bald eagles or red-tailed hawks, though many of my friends have viewed these majestic birds.
The photo above was taken at sunset on a day during which I was introducing my brother and my sister-in-law to the sheer magical beauty of the Quabbin. We were at the Enfield Lookout in Ware, Massachusetts. As gorgeous as the view clearly was, our joy was greatly tempered by the realization that the waters sitting several hundred yard below us covered the remains of the town of Enfield.
The Quabbin Reservoir’s supplies 2.4 million people (most from Boston and over 40 communities in the Boston Region) with 260 million gallons of water a day. All of this water came at great cost to the nearly 3000 citizens of the four towns that were destroyed in order to create this huge reservoir. What remain for the citizens here is a vast wilderness of indescribable peace, solitude, and beauty.
Nikon D90, focal length 70mm, f 5.0, ISO 250
Mitch the times I have caught the eagles is late morning to noon. I have never been in the early morning. I would bring the longest lens you have. If you have a 70-300VR that would be a good choice, especially on the DX camera.
There is a fish hatchery on route 9 in Belchertown. The entrance is not far from the Windsor Dam entrance. You have a good chance of seeing eagles there. They like to hang out in the trees at the end of the hatchery on the other side of the pond. I have seen them there on several occasions. However you will need a long lens to get a decent picture of them.
Thanks so much for the great information, Ken. I am hoping my 18-200 lens (effectively 360mm with digital 1.6 sensor) will do the job! What month/season is best for catching a view of the eagles?
Mitch
Thanks for the info, Ken! I will have to head out there!
Mitch