Nature Sighting

Local vernal pool activity on March 16, 2026 during one of our warmer rainy spring nights. Check out more info from Mass Audubon on these special critters and vernal pools at https://www.massaudubon.org/…/reptiles…/vernal-pools Photos by Bill & Diane Duane

Burgess Pond at Stony Conservation Land Photo taken February 3, 2026 by Gerry Dibello after recent snowstorms. Pristine Burges Pond, a clear water pond of approximately 25 acres and is surrounded by a network of trails including a 1.75-mile pond loop trail. Burgess Pond is described as a kettle-hole bog which are acidic dwarf shrub…

Noted this critter near main post Office in Westford. from INaturalist: Prionoxystus robiniae, the carpenterworm moth or locust borer, is a moth of the family Cossidae.[1] It was first described by Peck in 1818 and it is found in southern Canada and most of the United States. Female (left) and male (right) Caterpillar The wingspan…

Local vernal pool activity on March 21, 2025 during one of our warmer rainy spring nights. Check out more info from Mass Audubon on these special critters and vernal pools at https://www.massaudubon.org/…/reptiles…/vernal-pools Photos by Diane Duane  

A pair of Bald Eagles seen near the corner of Forge Village Road and Town Farm Road in Westford on Jan 9, 2025. Photo by Pete and Ethan Ewing.

Marsh Marigold noted at Emmet Conservation Land May 11, 2024 during the trust annual Bird Walk. Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) is notable for its bright yellow spring bloom and its high tolerance for shade. The glossy, deep green leaves look good all season long, and the early bloom can give wet spots and pondsides a…

Here are some recent photos from two vernal pool locations near us that saw some activity on a few rainy early March nights (3/6/24 & 3/8/24) . Temps were a bit chilly at 41 degrees. Vernal Pools Small seasonal pools found throughout Massachusetts that fill up with water for part of the year, but don’t…

Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) The Eastern Milk Snake has a mottled grey, brown, and reddish body. This non-venomous snake is often confused for a rattlesnake, but it lacks the rattle, keeled scales, and cat-like pupils. It is found in fields, woodlands, rocky hillsides, and wetland edges and primarily eats small mammals (from Mass Audubon…

Late winter/early spring is the time to look out for activity near your local vernal pool on the first rainy, warm nights of spring.  Here are some photos from areas near a few Westford & Littleton vernal pools late March 2023 Any day now, when we get a big soaking rain with a nighttime temperature…

Virgin’s-bower (Clematis virginiana) growing at Grey Fox Conservation land, photo taken on 9/24/22, near the banks of Stony Brook in Westford. According to Native Plant Trust’s Go Botany, this beautiful native is the most common clematis in New England. The Cherokee made an infusion of virgin’s-bower with milkweed (Asclepias) to treat backache, as well as…

7/2/22 – From trust President Dave Ebiston: Picture taken with an IPhone which was enlarged , he lives under my shed and mows my lawn for me. Per Mass Audubon, Massachusetts is home to two species of wild rabbit—the native New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and the non-native Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). The latter was introduced…

Late winter/early spring is the time to look out for activity near your local vernal pool on the first rainy, warm nights of spring.   Here are some photos from areas near a few Westford vernal pools from Saturday, MARCH 12th Any day now, when we get a big soaking rain with a nighttime temperature…