HCT News
Dragons and Damsels at Sand Pond Woodlands
On the Dragons and Damsels Field Class with Peter Trull on Tuesday, participants spotted a nice selection of odonate species, including large numbers of ruby meadowhawk dragonflies darting about. Please enjoy photos of the adventure below, courtesy of HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham.
Budding Ornithologists Build Bird Nests at Coy’s Brook Woodlands
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins Photos courtesy of Ms. Andrea and HCT Explorer Caregivers Ecosystem Explorers joined me at the 28-acre Coy’s Brook Woodlands this morning. With its towering oaks, pitch pines, beech trees, red maples, and Atlantic white cedars creating a canopy of shade, it was the perfect place for our…
Red River Beach Birding
Shorebird Field Class participants enjoyed a beautiful morning bird watching stroll at Red River Beach. They spotted 27 species, including five species of herons, and enjoyed amazing up-close observations of tern behavior, including 1-2 day-old least tern chicks. Pease enjoy the photos of the adventure below courtesy of HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham.
HCT and Monomoy High School partner to create SAIL SHORE to SHORE
Reflections by HCT walk leader, naturalist, and Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide Andrea Higgins. Photos courtesy of SAIL and SHORE staff and parents. I was joined by Monomoy High School’s SAIL and SHORE Summer Program on this steamy summer morning at Sylvan Gardens in Chatham. Staff and students met under bright blue skies with abundant sunshine…
Your Wild Neighbors: Trail Cam Discoveries
Who are our wild neighbors? Well, HCT Intern Matt Hamilton along with HCT staff Halley Steinmetz and Connor O’Brien have been gathering trail cam footage from your local conservation lands since the winter to find out. A variety of wildlife has been discovered including otters, racoons, birds, rabbits, and more. Enjoy the following video compilations…
Dragons and Damsels Field Class
Participants spotted a variety of odonate species while exploring Sand Pond Woodlands with naturalist Peter Trull on their Dragons and Damsels Field Class. The group learned all about these primitive insects including their natural history and how to identify them based on characteristic field marks. Please enjoy the photos below courtesy of Steve Furlong.
Ecosystem Explorers Discover Dragonflies at Muddy Creek Headwaters Preserve
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins Photos courtesy of HCT Volunteer Photographer Gerry Beetham What a wonderful morning to kick off the first Ecosystem Explorer Adventure of 2023 at the 17-acre Muddy Creek Headwaters Preserve. We timed our outing perfectly on this silver Cape Cod day with temperatures in the high 60’s, dodging…
July 10th Red River Beach Birding Adventure
Naturalist Peter Trull led the first Red River Beach Shorebird Field Class of the season on Monday and was joined by a great group of birding enthusiasts. They saw 22 species and enjoyed up-close observations while learning about bird identification and behavior. Please enjoy the photos of their adventure below, courtesy of HCT volunteer photographer…
Cape Cod Shipwrecks and Storms Photos
On Saturday, July 8th, historian Don Wilding taught an enthusiastic group about the rich history of the Outer Cape shoreline including harrowing shipwrecks and the major storms that have shaped and shifted the beaches over the centuries. Please enjoy the photos of the adventure below, courtesy of HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham.
Hikin’ for Lichens in Hawksnest
While hiking the scenic Olivers Pond trail in Hawksnest State Park, naturalist Tom Walker taught participants all about lichens, including how to identify different species and the biology of these fascinating symbiotic organisms. Please enjoy the photos of the adventure below, courtesy of HCT volunteer photographer Gerry Beetham.
Protecting A Hidden Gem: Six Ponds Resource Management Initiative
Harwich holds many beautiful and well-known spots, and also what has long been a hidden gem. The Six Ponds Special District is the largest and most ecologically significant assemblage of undeveloped land and pond shore remaining on Cape Cod. To protect this area, Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) is launching a community-based planning effort to deepen…
June 30th Horseshoe Crab Walk
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins Photos courtesy of HCT Volunteer Photographer Gerry Beetham Participants gathered at 5pm on the last day of June at Jackknife Cove under the bluest skies with abundant sunshine and toasty temperatures. Our stunning backdrop featured Muddy Creek, the glistening bay, ospreys soaring high above the beach, and…