Fun in the Woods and Lessons Learned
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.
Short-eared Owls
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.
American Kestrel
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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Eastern Phoebe
Just heard an Eastern Phoebe singing outside the Administration Building a few min’s ago! WHOOT
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Finally some cross-country skiing
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.
American Robin
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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Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone (winter plumage)
By: Pat Coate
While cleaning up some of my files I came across these photos of a Ruddy Turnstone I’d taken in the fall in Myrtle Beach. Though there are occasional sightings of these birds in Western New York during migration, I had never seen one so it was exciting to find this one along the beach.
These shorebirds get their name because they will often search for food by turning over stones to see what delectables may be hiding underneath. They are evidently not picky eaters and will eat pretty much whatever they find under the stones, or under seaweed, sticks and other debris.
Eastern Bluebirds Checking out the Nest Boxs
Was a great morning, saw a pair of Eastern Bluebirds checking out my two boxes at my house this morning. Then coming to work saw another pair looking at boxes here in Allegany State Park. So, was a good day today!
Post has been created with my iPhone!
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Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans has been pushing through the Allegany State Park area over the past week. If you hear them, look up they are flying very high up in the sky.
Post has been created with my iPhone!
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Long-tailed Ducks
Long-tailed Duck (Male, non-breeding plumage)
By: Pat Coate
On a recent trip up to Rochester I made a quick stop at the Charlotte Pier where the Genesee River empties into Lake Ontario. There were two species that I hoped to find – the Snowy Owl that had been reported in the area and a Long-tailed Duck. Didn’t find the Snowy but there were quite a few Long-tailed Ducks – a life bird for me.
They are handsome birds that breed in the Arctic and winter along the northern coasts and on the Great Lakes. A diving duck, this bird spends a lot of time under water and can dive quite deeply, up to 200 feet. The Long-tailed Duck was previously known as Oldsquaw.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 