“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” — Diane Arbus

Random photos of the week.

Sunday, 03/10/2024: Posted photo — Trees.

Looking up at trees. This was an attempt a symmetrical subject. These are two of the sugar maples on my property that are being tapped by my neighbor. I like the way the trees are almost silhouetted against the sky.

Monday, 03/11/2024: Posted photo — Bat House.

The bat populations have decreased significantly over the last few years. Bat houses can be very useful in providing secure roost sites for bats. Bats provide several benefits to humans and the environment. Bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. Bats that eat insects are called “insectivorous.” They feast on insects each night, eating about 50 pounds of insects each night.

This bat house is at one of the trailheads on Wachusett Mountain. I took advantage of the later daylight by doing a longer hikes this week starting in the daylight and reaching the summit at sunset.

Tuesday, 03/12/2024: Posted photo — Sunset.

My Monday night group reached the summit for sunset for the first time this year. We almost made it back to the trailhead without our headlamps. We were about a half hour short. On the way up to the summit, I wanted to take a longer trail. When the group reached the trail junction at which I was going to turn, it was 10 minutes to sunset, so I took the more directed route to the summit.

Wednesday, 03/13/2024: Posted photo — Mount Monadnock.

Mount Monadnock from the summit of Mount Wachusett. It is always good to see Grand Monadnock on a clear day. There have been many days this year in which I have hiked to the summit during the day and not seeing her due to rain and low cloud cover.

Thursday, 03/14/2024: Posted photo — Orion.

Happy pi Day to all!

This photo was taken with the long exposure night setting on my cellphone. My cell phone as an astrophotography setting and I am attempting to figure it out. What I am attempting to do is manually change to that setting. So far, no luck. I need to rely on the phone changing the setting on its own.

Orion, in astronomy, major constellation lying at about 5 hours 30 minutes right ascension and 0° declination, named for the Greek mythological hunter. Orion is one of the most conspicuous constellations and contains many bright stars. Orion can be easily identified by the three stars of its belt.

Friday, 03/15/2024: Post photo — Waypoint.

This is a waypoint from a hike. I was out verifying the coordinates in my GPS match the coordinates I calculated for this orienteering course using Google Earth and a map that I know is incorrect by scale. There were a couple of locations that I did not have the GPS coordinates for the next waypoint so I had to take out my map and compass to get to the next waypoint.

Saturday, 03/16/2024: Post photo — Stone Wall.

Throughout New England there are stone walls in the woods. How did they get there? At one time most of the land was clear cut for farming and the farmers used the field stone on their property to outline the property lines. This stone wall is in the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area where I went out hiking today to start my third verification hike of waypoints.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.