Category Archives: Cape Cod Blog

Eastern Kingbird At Fort Hill In Eastham On Cape Cod

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?

Pretty Blue-Violet Cow Vetch Wildflowers In Eastham On Cape Cod

I’ve seen so many Cow Vetch wildflowers along the trails in Eastham on Cape Cod. Cow Vetch is a climbing plant with many blue-violet 1/2″ flowers on one side of a long, hairy stem.  These plants grow to 2-3 feet from May to August.

You can see them in the fields and meadows of Cape Cod, as well as along the roadsides.

 

Indian Rock At Fort Hill On Cape Cod

Have you ever see Indian Rock at Fort Hill on Cape Cod?

For thousands of years before the Europeans landed, the Nauset Indians lived beside the marshes of Cape Cod. Among the evidences of their occupation is this grinding rock, one of four such boulders found in the Nauset Bay area.

The Nauset Indians used this rock to grind, polish and sharpen their implements made of stone and animal bones, as well as shape their fish hooks.

It is so cool to see things like this and give tribute to the Nauset Indains who thrived in this area.

 

Great Horned Owl Outside Our Bedroom Window Here On Cape Cod

We awoke this morning at dawn to the Crows squawking outside our bedroom window. I thought it must be the little Red-tailed Hawk nearby. The other morning it was in our birdbath at dawn, splashing away.

I went out on the deck and looked all around in the pine trees for the hawk, but could not find him. And then… I saw these golden eyes looking down at me. Wow!

There was a Great Horned Owl in the tree right outside our bedroom window. How cool is that?!

I ran in and got the binoculars while Phil clicked away with the camera. Unbelievable! I knew there are Great Horned Owls here on Cape Cod, but I had no idea we would ever see one in our backyard!

Such a treat!!

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

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.

queenanneslace

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.