Just had the opportunity to meet two great birders from California who were photographing east coast birds here in Allegany State Park. They had just got done photographing a Chestnut-sided Warbler and commenting on the great birds we had! It was nice meeting you guys and hope you come back to Allegany!!!

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Male Cardinal

By: Pat Coate

The very mild winter we just had took the sting out of Monday’s forecast of 8-12 inches of snow. Despite snow falling all day, we actually ended up with just a few inches since the ground and roads were warm enough that a lot of the flakes just melted away.

We had a steady stream of visitors to the feeders, including the pictured male cardinal. Our backyard grackles got the worst of the storm. Snow building up on the hedge where they built their nest finally caused the hedge to topple over and spilt the nest to the ground.
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Stream in 9 Mile Forest

By: Pat Coate – Actually a special guest column this week by friend Kathy H. with an entertaining, well-written account of our recent adventures in the 9 Mile Forest.

“Pat and I began our hike at 2:15 pm. The rain/drizzle had stopped; skies were still heavy with clouds.

We walked in with a “solid” plan (mine): down to the stream as soon as we started to hear it, then follow along crossing springs as we met them staying on the right side of the main stream so that the road was to our right. Having just walked the stream two weekends ago I felt confident to just run in and out without my usual amount of water or my pack with necessities. Just grabbed a pack to hold leeks and a rain jacket and brought along one water.

Pat and I collected some leeks, appreciated the clean water, and took some pics. Wildflowers are just starting to emerge there. Today we saw flowers not quite open: spring beauties, hepatica and yellow violets. As we mosied along I noticed some familiar landmarks.

Wanted to label this ‘Kathy taking a leek’ but wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it! She is rinsing off a freshly dug up bunch of leeks in the stream.

Then we began venturing into different terrain, coming across an old rusted very large (possibly sluice?) pipe. Trying to get bearings we saw a road. Remembered one from hike two weeks ago and a couple roads from past visits. These are really just old overgrown logging roads and though I was reasonably certain the directions of roads I’d been on previously – was not certain which we were on as we had approached from a different direction. We went back to the stream for awhile then back up to the road which seemed to take a lot longer than it should. We eventually came across an old crashed snowmobile and I knew then this was an unfamiliar road and therefore did not know what direction we should go.

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Short-eared Owl

By: Pat Coate

I squeezed in an after work trip to Church Road in Hamlin to see the short-eared owls on a recent business trip to Rochester. There were 5-6 owls variously perched in trees, hunting low over the field, pouncing on prey or landing in the field. Thanks to Jim A. for great directions and the genesee list for posting about the owls.

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Feels like summer with 80 degree temperatures. Birds are very active with the Kestrel vocalizing near the house. I am hoping they will decide to next in the nest box I put up last spring. They were great neighbors last summer!!

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Just heard an Eastern Phoebe singing outside the Administration Building a few min’s ago! WHOOT

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Cross-country ski trail in Allegany State Park

By: Pat Coate

Got out for my first and probably only cross-country skiing jaunt for the winter this past weekend at Allegany State Park. It has truly been the most mild winter (by far) that I can remember since we have lived in this area. It was a beautiful, sunny 20+ degree day. We had gotten 3-4 inches of snow the evening before but, with no base and the Sunday forecast in the 50s, the trails were not groomed. It was a peaceful, relaxing trip with an extended stop to enjoy the overlook along the Christian Hollow Trail.

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You are sure to see American Robin’s flying around Allegany State Park this weekend. They seem to be in large flocks and they are for sure moving through this area currently!! I do love seeing these guys! Spring is near!

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