Damage Assessment - June 2, 2011

Tree trimming crews in to help remove tress so power can be restored and roads traveled.

Planes flipped over by the winds

Top half of a house missing

house completely leveled

one house gone, one standing

I had a real privilege today.  Devastating tornadoes ripped through western MA yesterday killing 4 people, injured many others and destroying peoples homes.  Power was out to around 40,000 customers at the peak of the event.  I got to go up in the helicopter to help assess the damage to the power system.  Our crews are doing an amazing job restoring power as quickly as they can safely work.

It really saddened me to the devastation to people's homes.  The Red Cross is collecting donations if you are moved by any of these images.  They are a great way to help!
Cheri

Whites Pond, Concord - May 29th

We just can't seem to get enough of this place!  Today we found the pilated wood pecker's nest.  They have 2 hungry babies and we enjoyed the hourly feedings!  Also saw a green heron on the hunt as well as the snake.  Some of the herons are looking like they might leave the nest soon.  The cacophony of the frog chorus was going on full volume and the light was gorgeous!

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

Whites Pond, Concord - May 28th part 2

Whites Pond

Feeding young very quickly!

look at my legs!  Yummy!

Ribbit

Heron with their young

Blue Bird

Muskrat

Starling with a snack for her young

The best days nearly always come in half days.  This one was no exception.  After a very successful owl hunt, we came home to work out where "Whites Pond" was located.  We got a fix, packed some more gear and a lunch and headed out.  We found it, got one of the 3 parking spaces and walked in.  We weren't there 3 minutes and the heavens opened.  Luckily John had the foresight to bring an umbrella.

We weren't daunted though.  We came back a few hours later to sunshine and had a marvelous hunt!  Here are a few of the images.

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

Mt. Auburn Cemetary - May 28, 2011

Having Sharon here was so much fun!!  Not only did we have a great time together, but she gave us lots of great tips on where to go bird watching.  Mt Auburn Cemetery is a favorite and its 4 miles from our house!

Turns out that a family of great horn owls is living there and the young fledged a few weeks ago.  We were lucky enough to see them!  Some of these images were shot with the better beamer (a Fresnel lens designed for 300 mm + lens).

Enjoy!
John and Cheri

Banding at Manomet - May 27, 2011

What a real treat!  Sharon came to visit and was able to take us to Manomet research center for a morning of bird banding.  Very few people get to enjoy catching and banding birds, but we 3 did!  Sharon spent 10 years volunteering at the banding center and when she is in town she is invited to come and help.

Here are a few shots from the day!

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

Charleston April 30, 2011

Hey Everyone-

It's been a long, dry spell between blogs.  Life in the US is now consumed with working, skiing, and just plain old living.  Last weekend was more like the life we loved in the UK.  We hoped a plane Friday after work and headed to Charleston, SC for a gathering of the Warren Clan!  

John's parents, John and Millie, were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.  John's first cousin Ann was celebrating her 60th birthday.  Joe, Ann's older brother, and his wife Sandy decided to plan a surprise party for Ann and that started all the planning! 

On Saturday morning we and John's sister hosted a surprise brunch for their parents at Middleton Place.  It is a majestic old plantation.  Surprisingly, during the civil war era, John's great, great, great grand daddy held the deed on the place.  Charleston is a small place!

After brunch we all walked around the plantation grounds.  It was especially great to hang out with our nieces and nephew!  Morgan got Cheri's camera and Betsy captured Uncle John's camera.  Off we went on an adventure!  Morgan, my artist, got some super images.  The alligator you see above is hers!!  Isn't it fantastic?!

That evening it was time for the 2nd surprise of the day.  Ann's party was held at their church and 90 people were there to wish her well!

We had a blast seeing everyone.

Hope you are all well!

Cheri & John

Cheri goes bumping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPzc3F4om4

Another fine day on West Glade!

Enjoy!

Cheri

John goes to Switzerland - February 2011

Well - even though we lived in London for 2 years, we never made it to ski in the Alps.  John had a work trip to France and the meeting was on a Friday.  He brought his skis and managed to spend Saturday at Engleberg Switzerland!  It was the first place he ever skied on Europe and he had a wonderful opportunity to revisit the place after all these years!

Enjoy!

John & Cheri