Tag Archives: Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography

Eastern Kingbird At Fort Hill In Eastham On Cape Cod

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I saw my first Eastern Kingbird at Fort Hill on Cape Cod the other day! I heard some rustling in the trees and thought it was a Cedar Waxwing. But, out flew this bird which I learned later was an Eastern Kingbird.

Eastern Kingbirds are about 8″ with slate colored wings and back, a white throat and underparts and a black head. Its tail is black with a white terminal band. My bird book says it perches on the  tips of trees near fields which is exactly where I saw it.

Have you ever seen an Eastern Kingbird?

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

Beautiful White Queen Anne’s Lace Wildflowers Blooming All Over Fort Hill In Eastham On Cape Cod

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The meadows at Fort Hill on Cape Cod are abundant with beautiful white Queen Anne’s Lace wildflowers. Last month was pink with Beach Pea wildflowers and all you can see now is Queen Anne’s Lace.

Queen Anne’s Lace reminds me of my Mom who showed me the wildflower when I was a little girl and told me that it got its name because it looked just like a delicate piece of lace.

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Queen Anne’s Lace grows to about 4′ tall. It is a flat, lacy flower with 4″ clusters of tiny white flowers.

One thing I did not know is that it is poisonous and may irritate the skin. It blooms from June to September in fields and roadsides.

 

Cape Cod Beaches, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildlife

Hundreds Of Fiddler Crabs At The Salt Marsh Ponds On Cape Cod

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When the tides get low, you can see Fiddler Crabs swarming the little ponds at the salt marshes on Cape Cod. I was walking home the other day when I saw hundreds of  Fiddler Crabs coming out of their little holes in the salt marsh.

“Fiddler crabs are found along sea beaches and brackish inter-tidal mud flats, lagoons and swamps. Fiddler crabs are most well known for their sexually dimorphic claws; the males’ major claw is much larger than the minor claw while the females’ claws are both the same size.

Like all crabs, fiddler crabs shed their shells as they grow. If they have lost legs or claws during their present growth cycle, a new one will be present when they molt.”

 

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

Purple Climbing Nightshade Wildflower At Fort Hill On Cape Cod

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I was taking a hike at Fort Hill the other evening when I saw this little bit of purple out of the corner of my eye. It was on the side of the trail at Fort Hill and pretty hidden in the climbing vines.

But, I was able to take a photograph of it and then look it up in my wildflower book when I got home. It is a Climbing Nightshade wildflower and very delicate and pretty. Its flowers almost look like the Shooting Star wildflowers that I used to see out in Colorado.

The Climbing Nightshade is a climbing vine with purple shooting star shaped flowers with 5 petals which grow in clusters at the end of long stems. The flowers are just 1/2″ to 1″ and bloom from June to August.

This is my first Climbing Nightshade. Have you ever seen one?

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography

Wonderful Hiking Trails At Fort Hill On The National Seashore On Cape Cod

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It was a picture perfect day for hiking and taking photographs at Fort Hill  in Eastham on the National Seashore on Cape Cod. This was one of the trails that goes right down to Nauset Marsh.

Gorgeous, don’t you think? Look at those clouds!

Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography, Cape Cod Wildflowers

Fort Hill Wildflowers In Eastham On Cape Cod Are Breathtaking!

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The wildflowers at Fort Hill in Eastham on the National Seashore on Cape Cod are breathtaking! Everywhere you turn there are colorful wildflowers.

I went for a walk there a few days ago and the wildflowers were amazing. Today, there are more than 6 varieties of wildflowers that were not out a few days ago. I just happily clicked away!

Don’t miss Fort Hill on the National Seashore if you are on Cape Cod this summer. It is spectacular!

Cape Cod Beaches, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod News, Cape Cod Photography

Handicapped Mat At Coast Guard Beach In Eastham On Cape Cod Is Awesome!

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There is a handicapped mat, almost like a ramp-type mat, at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham on Cape Cod. It is awesome in that people with wheelchairs can get up and down the mat to access the beach.

Today I saw a man in a wheelchair with big rubber tires using the mat to come up from the beach. How wonderful that handicapped people can get to the beach and enjoy it.

What a great invention!

Cape Cod Beaches, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod Photography

White Crest Beach Dunes In Wellfleet On Cape Cod Are Huge

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The dunes at White Crest Beach in Wellfleet on Cape Cod are huge. You can see how little the people who are walking on the beach look from standing on top of the dunes.

Have you ever been to White Crest on Cape Cod? Isn’t it spectacular?

Cape Cod Birding, Cape Cod Blog, Cape Cod Hiking, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod News, Cape Cod Photography

Beautiful Northern Bobwhite At Fort Hill In Eastham On Cape Cod

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We stopped at Fort Hill yesterday hoping to see some butterflies or some new wildflowers and were greeted by the Northern Bobwhite calling his distinct call, “Bob WHITE!”bobwhitesinging

When I was a little girl my Dad, who was a bird lover, taught me many of the different bird calls. When I heard this “Bob WHITE!” I turned to Phil and said, “It’s a Northern Bobwhite. I remember the call from my Dad.” I have not heard it in probably 50 years, nor have I seen a Bobwhite in probably that long.

We stood there as one Northern Bobwhite flew out of the brush, followed by another one. One landed on a nearby tree where we got some good photographs.  He stood on the branch and sang out “Bob WHITE!” for about 20 minutes!

You can see his exquisite colors in the first photograph and him singing away in the second photograph.

We looked up on our bird identification app and Fort Hill is the only place on Cape Cod that anyone has seen a Northern Bobwhite this year!

Such an unbelievable treat!