My Nature Update
Common Loon
There are many great birds moving through the Western New York area right now. Loons seem to be arriving on a daily basis and we had a very large flock of Buffleheads on Red House Lake today. Other new birds into the area today included 10 or so Bonapart’s Gulls and one Field Sparrow (CHECK).
Common Merganser
Yesterday while looking for some early Blue-headed Vireo’s and Louisiana Waterthrush (which I didn’t find), I come across my first for 2008 Chipping Sparrow (CHECK) along France Brook Road. I was in aww listening to the spring peepers, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows and Eastern Phoebe who couldn’t have been any more vocal! It was almost hard to hear the Red-shouldered Hawk flying overhead!!
Hooded Merganser
I observed my first Cabbage White (CHECK) in Salamanca and Green Darner (CHECK) in the Allegany State Park today!! I anticipate many more new species (birds, butterflies, flowers) to be arriving here this week with temperatures reaching the 70’s. Don’t you love this time of the year??
Green Darner (photo from Aug 2006)
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Great pictures Mon@rch. I haven’t seen a dragonfly yet. I think they must have been drowned by all the rain here. Maybe thursday or the weekend I can get out to see if any have emerged. I am quite anxious to see some now that i have seen your picture. Q’s Corner is showing butterflies too. I am way behind.
15 April 2008 at 8:29 pm
@ Lisa, thanks and actually this is a migrant dragonfly!
15 April 2008 at 8:35 pm
Yes, I do love this time of year because nearly every day I see new bird species for 2008.
15 April 2008 at 8:42 pm
The weather this week is so beautiful I can hardly bear to be indoors working. I appreciate your updates because they help me know what is coming here in a few days.
15 April 2008 at 10:24 pm
The common merganser looks oddly contorted in the second photograph.
I saw my first Cabbage While just a day or two ago. I haven’t picked up on the dragonflies yet.
15 April 2008 at 10:39 pm
I love this time of year! And I love loons, especially at night. At our family cabin in Maine, I love to lie in bed and listen to them laughing and calling late at night. It’s such a weird and haunting sound…
15 April 2008 at 11:02 pm
I wish I could spot a loon. Fantastic photos of the birds in flight! This is the greatest time of year. We are all so excited to see all leaves, flowers and birds return.
16 April 2008 at 12:45 am
I just love that photo of the Common Merganser in flight.
16 April 2008 at 4:41 am
What a great shot of the Merganser in flight Tom! Yes, indeed… this time of year is simply magical.
16 April 2008 at 6:45 am
I haven’t seen any dragonflies yet! I thought I may have seen a Cabbage White but it was pretty far away-so could have been a leaf-lol
Love that Merganser shot! the pose
16 April 2008 at 8:15 am
I love that photo of the green darner!!
I may have to bug you again to use it as a reference photo.
Love hearing about your check list and yes love this time of year.
16 April 2008 at 8:54 am
I haven’t seen dragonflies either yet. I do love spring–my favorite time of year. April 1 should be the official New Year’s Day!
16 April 2008 at 9:30 am
Bring on summer baby! Great pictures illustrating the many wonders of spring!
16 April 2008 at 12:47 pm
Great photos – I’ve never seen a Hooded Merganser in flight. I’m looking forward to the Bonaparte’s Gulls here. They’re IMO the prettiest common’ish gull in our region.
16 April 2008 at 12:53 pm
Green darners, already? Very cool – hopefully I’ll get to see some this weekend.
16 April 2008 at 12:56 pm
Ohhh, awesome finds, Tom!! I totally love this time of year!! CHECK!
16 April 2008 at 6:29 pm
I have to say that spring is by far my favorite season. I have been enjoying finding all the little wildflower leaves and am just counting the days till everything opens up!
16 April 2008 at 7:31 pm
@ Samuel – Thanks and isn’t it great seeing new birds!
@ Ruth – It is very beautiful!
@ John – Thanks and maybe because I was shooting at a strange angle! I have only see the one species!
@ Rondi – Thanks and you should see the shot of the loon that I captured today! I only wish I could hear them all summer long!
@ Linda – We had some down at PISP last weekend! Thanks and things are picking up this week!
@ Beth – Thanks
@ Jayne – Thanks
@ Marg – I am now looking for the West Virginia White Butterfly! Maybe you saw one of them (they look like the cabbage white)
@ Toni – Thanks and not a problem! I think you are set up to seeing it larger! I do have a few other shots of this dragonfly!
@ Joan – Thanks is our fiscal year!
@ Owlman – Thanks and started to feel like summer today!
@ Adam – Thanks and great seeing these guys!
@ Marty – I hope you do find some! Maybe some other species!
@ Pam – Thanks and it is great for sure!
@ Jeremy – It is for sure! I saw some spring beauties today!
16 April 2008 at 8:23 pm
I saw my first bufflehead ever this afternoon on our way home from work….swimming on a storm sewer runoff pond near a large shopping complex. Dear old Mr. Johnson even pulled the car off the road so I could stand out in the rain to get a better look at the duck.
I’m making a concentrated effort this spring to get out and find more migrating waterfowl and shorebirds!
17 April 2008 at 6:26 pm
Yup, this time of year is grand. Great pix, Tom.
19 April 2008 at 4:10 am