Fall Foliage Report
This week the leaves started to really look like fall here in allegany state park. I would anticipate that more leaves will start changing and dropping with our colder nights that we have been having. I recorded a low temp last night of 33.1 F which is the coldest so far this fall. The 7th of October will be a full moon which will make the temperature drop with a few nights of frost. This September has almost been the rainiest September that has been ever recorded (so, yes I am still mowing the lawn).
This has been a report from Mon@rch your Fall Foliage Reporter for allegany state park, NY.
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Fun Day With the Kids
Took a half a day off of work today to head over to the Elementary School to do a banding demo for 43 kids (2nd and 3rd graders). Here are some photos from the wonderful day. The 4 birds that I was able to capture were Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird and Gray-cheeked Thrush.
They just loved this kind of hands on experience!
Not Expected
Not much to say (after the grouse encounter) but I wanted to share this photo of the Shadow Darner that I was able to capture in flight. I was chasing around some warblers (never did get any good photos) and found this dragonfly teasing me! Going back in time, I have been spending a great deal of time trying to capture any dragonfly in flight (without any luck). Here, I took two quick shots and just went back to chasing those warblers. Once I got home, I never expected to find this in the camera!
Grouse Displaying
I have never seen so many grouse as I have just before the start of Grouse season. While getting out of my truck for a closer photo, this grouse started to display.
Suddenly the male Ruffed Grouse took off and stopped my heart from whizzing past my head. Now all relaxed, I started to walk towards the tree (saw a feather on the ground and wanted a closer look) and then my heart stopped again! There was a female behind the tree which I didn’t realize was there. What a wonderful life I have.
Basement Vistor
One of the Park Naturalist brought this little critter to my office and notified me that he had just caught it in the basement. For a short time we were identifying this as something else until PG (who was babysitting it) said “its brownie” pointing to its picture in the field guide! After going through all the keys and reading up on it – she was correct that this little mouse was a Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius.
Some interesting details that we learned about brownie was that it should have much longer hind legs than its front legs, its tail is twice as long as the body and fur has an interesting yellowish brown (almost red highlights) to it. This mouse does resemble the Woodland Jumping Mouse but doesn’t have the white tipped tail like the woodland species has. Some other interesting facts that we learned is that its first jump is about 2-3 feet and then follow with smaller hops (which made it hard for the Naturalist to capture – I would have loved to watch the capture). I really found interesting is that this species will go into hibernation from late October to Mid May (for over a ½ year). Just remember that these mice are food to the many other animals that we love to photograph! It’s a mammal that we rarely see being that they are most active at night and sleeping most of the year. After observing this little mouse in the office we released it over on the other side of the lake with hopes to making many more baby mice.
The Day of Exploring New Territory
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
This was a wonderful day today! Weather was perfect and I was given many photograph opportunities. I was invited to join two inspirational biologists in search of some fall wildflowers in an area of the park that I have never explored before. Here I would like to include a few other photos from our hike trip up into the woods.
These two flowers (Zigzag Goldenrod and Crooked-stem Aster) were located along the forest edge. They both have that Zig n Zag feel to them and its ironic that they were growing together. The Zigzag Goldenrod was a wildflower that I never took the time to identify until this trip.
This Magnolia Warbler was showing off its yellow coloring which let me get a quick photo or two before disappearing into the shrubs. There were a few Magnolia’s flying around but most of them were high up into the canopy. Some Common Yellowthroats, Chickadees and a Thrush species was in the same area with the Magnolia.
While leaving, we came across this Green Heron in the wet grass while searching for some shorebirds. Was wonderful it would pop its tuft up and get a grasshopper or two. We were lucky to have watched it for about 4 minutes before disappearing into the grass.
Nodding Ladies’ Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes cernua)
While checking out the other wildflowers – we happened to come across these Nodding Ladies’ Tresses Orchid Spiranthes cernua!! They are such interesting looking Orchids with the flowers spinning around in spirals. The pictures tell it all!
Young Woodturtle Found
Found a very tiny Wood Turtle Clemmys insculpta along the Horse Trail here in Allegany State Park. No one in the group had seen this species this small before. Its measurements was 110mm by 80mm which is very tiny (check this photo Adult Woodturtle to see the typical size that I see them). Also, this turtle had an older cracked shell incident which we are guessing was caused by a horse stepping on it (shape and size). It is probably a few years of age and appeared to have survived the accident with the cracked shell (starting to grow together). But, this turtle did have paralyzed hind legs and would drag it with its front legs!
Closed Gentian
Here is Closed Gentian which the purple or blue flower is commonly found here in AlleganyState Park in the woods or wet meadows.
This flower is unique that there is a white form of this plant. An interesting fact which we learned about Closed Gentian is that the only insect which can successfully pollinate this flower is the bumblebee (Flora of Michigan). We are double checking to make sure this isn’t a different species but its leaning towards being the white form of Closed Gentian.
Some time between rain showers
September is appearing to be the month of rain! I took the opportunity to get out and take some pictures between the rain showers.
This Winter Wren was hanging out around the Bova area where I was looking for some snakes. What was interesting about this bird was the way it would pop up (look for an insect) and then dart back into the shrubs. Few seconds later it would come back (eat its insect) then dart back into the shrubs! Between all that I was able to get a few photos!
This Bull Frog was located while hiking down ASP Rt. 2. I typically encounter a splash or see a quick movement when walking along any wet area. Rarely do I encounter or visually get a good look at these squishy little critters. But, today was an exception. I happen to encounter it just before the big jump and started to move slowly. With a blink of an eye it disappeared into the water but just after a few clicks of the camera.
Snapping Turtles are sometimes encountered along the roadside in the spring laying their eggs. In September you’re more than likely to find them along the waters edge looking for food. This snapper was spending most of its time with its head underwater moving very slowly. It seemed to peak its head out of the water, check me out and continue what it was doing.
Friday the Monarch Emerged
Friday morning the office had another Monarch Butterfly born. This individual was taken care of by PG who the one holding this butterfly in the hand. She also hatched another butterfly over the weekend!! This has been such a wonderful Monarch year!!
Visit to Jamestown Audubon
Today I visited Jamestown Audubon for their exhibit grand opening. The day was truly joyful and I was able to visit with many friends. Before the Audubon opened, I took a walk around the big pond and this is what I saw.
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warblers are always fun to find. Not my best shot in the world but this bird just wouldn’t come out of the pines for a clear picture! I think part of my problem was that I tried to get the right angle and while hand holding the 400mm – I just couldn’t hold it still enough for the sharp image! I learn with each picture that I take! You can see some of the chestnut brown streaks on this birds head with the photo on the right! Not the best photos in the world but was happy to have photographed it!!
Deer More Interested in Apples than Me
These White Trailed Deer let me walk right up to them and take their picture! I do get to see the deer feeding on these apples quite often but these really did not care that I was there.
Helping an Injured Monarch
One of the guys from the 3rd floor brought down an injured Monarch which they found along the road!! It would fly a short distance but sat on the desk for most of the day! We let it go over the weekend.
Movement of some Northern Ring-necked Snakes
Was an interesting day today! Heading back to work from my lunch break – I located a Northern Ring-necked Snake in the middle of the road. Took a few pictures and then let it go! What was so interesting was that another one of these young Ring-necked Snakes were found inside the administration building. It obviously was a different individual by the amount of orange ring around its neck and the first one looked like it was going to shed soon. Just can’t figure out where these snakes are coming from??
I did let both of them go in the direction towards the picnic area.
Dogwood Berries is good source of food!
I have been seeing many birds recently feeding on the Dogwood Berries along the bike path here in Red House!! Here are some of the birds that I observed:
Red Eyed Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warbler (note its banded and probably one of my birds)
Lots of fruit in the forest for both birds and other wildlife! Do keep your eyes open!!
Labor Day Bird and Turtle
While visiting Quaker – I found this Double-crested Cormorant hanging out in the lake at Friends Boat Launch.
STARWARS under the stars!
Labor Day Weekend was a wet one and we tried to figure out what additional fun things to do! After I made a quick visit home, we had our own movie theater set up at the campsite. STARWARS was soo much fun to watch under the stars and was a first time we had done anything like this before! We saw many campers checking out the movie as they pass by the campsite! I just love how in tune all the kids are while the adults are trying to stay close to the fire and stay warm.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
