Casamo Cottage Plum Island

06/10/2021

Docks are IN!
Our docks on the Parker River have been deployed and are ready for use. You can now launch at any tide. Just keep in mind that if you see mud at the bottom of the walk in ramp, then launch from the dock. Take advantage of our dock launch ramp and slide easily into the Parker.

06/01/2021

The water trail at Parker River is in! Here's where you can download the water trail and guide:

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Parker_River_Complex/Parker_River/Sections/Publications_Download_Page/Water_Trail_Map_and_Guide_2021.pdf

05/04/2021

No doubt you've seen these birds before. They are pretty common (and their population is not in any jeopardy). Meet the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). These amazingly proficient "anglers" (they eat fish), are related to Frigate Birds and Bo***es. While they may appear dark and unremarkable from afar, according to the Cornell's "All About Birds" web site, "upclose cormorants are quite colorful, with orange/yellow skin on their face and throat, striking aquamarine eyes that sparkly like jewels, and blue inside their mouths..." They are frequently seen standing still, drying out their wings. Perhaps worth a look-see through your binoculars?! Ranger Poole :-)

05/03/2021

Among the warblers you might encounter on the refuge...Black-and-white Warbler.

04/23/2021

In an effort to deliver more “behind-the-scenes” content, we’re bringing you ! Follow along to learn more about the many biological projects we’re conducting on the Refuge. This week, we’re preparing for marsh restoration work, which addresses historic man-made ditches and embankments. These structures hold water on the marsh surface, killing marsh plants. By removing some ditches and embankments, we can drain excess water, allow plants to regrow, and increase overall marsh resilience. We began by installing a series of water loggers to measure water levels before, during, and after restoration. We use the data to assess how restoration affects the movement of water in the marsh and to ensure that we restore tidal flow properly.

Photo: K. Walker/USFWS

04/16/2021

Here is the link to the map: Newburyport – Keeping the Story Alive, Mapping historic stories of Newburyport, MA houses and places, with photos, paintings, videos, old maps, history and anecdotes. Created by The Newburyport Blog, Mary Baker Eaton, editor. map.marybakerart.com or marybakerart

04/16/2021

Whether you are searching for that beachy nirvana or an elusive bird sighting, Newburyport has something to offer you. Fishing, boating, bird-watching, beachgoing, shopping, and seafood will fill up your day.

04/15/2021

https://heatherrinder.com/blog/day-trip-to-plum-island-newburyport

Plum Island is only a few minutes away from Newburyport so you can easily see both in one day or weekend. Here are 10 fun things to do on your day trip to Newburyport and Plum Island!

03/31/2021

03/02/2021

“Sunday Morning” pays a visit to some snowy owls on Plum Island, Massachusetts. Videographer: Michael Clark.Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" Channel HER...

03/02/2021

As Route 1A winds toward the New Hampshire border we make our final stop in Amesbury, along the Merrimack River, at Lowell’s Boat Shop - established on this site in 1793

02/18/2021

NEWBURY — Weeks after a powerful nor’easter ripped a massive U.S. Coast Guard buoy from the Merrimack River and deposited it onto Plum Island Beach, a local excavating company lifted

01/29/2021

I'm calling this one, simply, "The iconography of place..." The boardwalks which convey people to the beach at Parker River NWR are both functional and beautiful...really, at any time of year...and are frequently photographed for their own aesthetic merit!

This is a "stitched panorama," comprised of nine individual vertical captures, woven together in Photoshop.

Nature is simply amazing! Ranger Poole :-)

01/28/2021

The recent blanketing of snow definitely created a more traditional winter "vibe" out there on the refuge on Wednesday morning. The slate-colored sky added real drama!

Nature and wildlife photography is one of six "wildlife-dependent public uses" promoted on national wildlife refuges. Rather than being an obstacle to image-making, winter provides a host of unique opportunities. It really is a function of how you look at it!

Some nature photography-purists are critical of images that include what is referred to as "the hand of man." In this image, that would mean the lobster pots. I take a different view, at least in this instance - the pots, while adding visual interest and a sense of depth, are also a reminder the inextricable link between human beings and nature! (Yes, a philosophical point of view, for sure!)

Have a great day! Ranger Poole :-)

12/30/2020

Please keep these things in mind when viewing snowy owls and other wildlife. Thanks for being respectful and responsible!

Infographic: Give a hoot! How to respect the snowy owl. 1. Observe quietly and KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. If a bird reacts to your presence (looking at you, fidgeting, or changing positions), you are too close. 2. Respect "No Trespassing" signs and sensitive habitats. Do not wander off boardwalks or venture into the dunes or marsh to get a closer look. 3. Do not feed! If wild animals associate humans with food, they will be at greater risk for vehicle strikes and poaching. Help us provide these Arctic visitors with lots of space to rest and hunt! Image of a snowy owl (large white bird) in flight. USFWS

12/08/2020

This is a photograph from the Anne Tuthill Collection 1895, which was taken from about where the water tower is today. Link map.marybakerart.com

Scott Nason was able to give some really interesting information about the early photograph, he also has a copy. “It was taken in 1895 by Karl Castlehun. He owned a pharmacy in market square and was an amateur photographer. Probably taken from about where the water tower is today. The little boy by the fence is his son Frederick (born 1887). They lived at 51 high Street so it was only a short walk to this spot. Many of his ancestors still live in the area. One of the ancestors of Carl Castlehun made some prints from his original glass negatives about 40 or 50 years ago. If you look closely over the rooftops you can see cottages at plum island and the sea beyond.”

11/30/2020

11/30/2020

Unforgettable trips start with Airbnb. Find adventures nearby or in faraway places and access unique homes, experiences, and places around the world.

11/25/2020

This slide show, set to beautiful (royalty-free) music, conveys the "sense of wonder" one can experience while visiting Parker River National Wildlife Refuge...

11/22/2020

Another amazing shot by Dan Graovac.

“And she was lying in the grass....”

11/20/2020

Stunning recent picture of the Snowy Owl by Dan Graovac. Check out his page for many other beautiful shots.

10/04/2020

Looks like another beautiful day in the offing at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Make it a great one! (glasswort pano, stitched from four iPhone 11 exposures) Ranger Poole :-)

09/11/2020

When someone asks you how Plum Island got its name, show them this.

09/09/2020

Tomorrow is the big day!!

We will be open for take out Thursday- Saturday and are looking forward to seeing many missed faces!!

*As we all know, things will be a little different, bare with us as we ease back into things. We will be operating with limited hours and menu items as we navigate this new phase of Mad Martha’s in hopes to get back to what we all love! We know you may not see some of your favorite items, please know we recognize this is upsetting we will constantly be updating our menu to try to please everyone! Thank you so much for understanding and welcome back!!!

Click here to order: http://ordering.chownow.com/order/25132/locations/

09/03/2020

"I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying."
~ John Masefield, 1902.

08/30/2020

Before sunrise, with brilliant Venus visible at the very top of the frame.

07/24/2020

Good Thursday morning to you! Foggy early morning in the refuge. A few of the beach plums beginning to turn...’nuther sign of moving into later summer! Cheers, Ranger Poole. 😀

07/24/2020

07/18/2020

Seagulls drink saltwater but have special glands in their bills to excrete the salt. You will see them shaking their heads to get rid of the brine. If you check a dock where seagulls have been sitting you will see tiny crystals of salt on the wood where they have shaken off the brine. A friend read this in the MBL library and realized if he had only followed Louis Agassiz's dictum on the sign over the door of the library, "Study Nature Not Books" he could have figured it out for himself!

07/11/2020

This is the osprey nest platform near the Bill Forward Pool at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Shot with a point and shoot ultra-zoom camera on July 1...