Snopp Crocker...Pop

We were in the mood for a little drive and a little easy wildlife viewing. To the Amherst end of the Norwottuck trail we go...





The sun was low when we arrived, making for some good silhouettes among the wetland trees, and exposing this Heron's perch.



He saw me trying to focus in on him, and knew the jig was up. He soon lifted off for some more secluded corner of the marsh. The green of the leaves on trees and bushes are finally starting to get a little worn looking, after a long hard summer of drenching rains and high humidity. And the duller, hardened flower colors abundant at this time of year have arrived; setting a subdued stage for autumn's coming burst of colors...





The tropic summer we had was especially kind to wetland areas like this one. Lily pads, weeds and other growth have thoroughly clogged up the shallow waters here. A couple ducks had their work cut out for them as they blazed a trail across the thick green soup...



Berries of all kinds are popping up, and the sweet smells of wild grapes fill the air in certain spots...





Small, bright orange 'Touch-Me-Nots' are easy to pick out of the somber tones of the marsh.



Kelly demonstrates their seed capsules' unusual characteristics...



We still had some time to explore, so we veered off the Norwottuck, and onto the K.C. Trail...





A short ways in, we came across a large slab of concrete, slowly being reclaimed by the green. Some heavily rusted husks of something remained scattered about. I had no clue what could have been here, but Kelly thought it might have had something to do with the nearby train tracks.





And in a minute, the trail crossed over the afore-mentioned tracks...



It was a nice little side trail, with lots of wildlife viewing possibilities. The trail is more immersed in the woods and wetlands than the wide paved Norwottuck trail. We'll have to come back earlier in the day, when the birds and such are more active...



Unexpectedly, the trail abruptly ends in suburban utopia.



Time to turn around.... night had begun to descend, and the Katydids were in full chorus, with ratchety calls much louder than you'd think their small bodies could generate.





Late Summer is in full effect...