Killdeer
Yesterday while walking the dog around my new neighborhood . . . had my first of the year Killdeer (CHECK)!
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The Brown Creeper
This morning before the wind and rain moved in . . . I had the Brown Creeper was on my pine tree! They have the coolest song!!
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Red-winged Blackbird
My First of the Year Red-winged Blackbird (CHECK) singing at the house (then saw one in the Park)!! Whoot
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Snow Goose
Was amazing!! Had about 25-35 Snow Goose fly over my head this morning!! We don’t see many of thes birds here in Allegany State Park so it’s a treat to find them. These were my first Snow Goose of the year for me (CHECK)!!
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Signs of Spring
Finally we are starting to see our first signs of spring. Snow is melting . . . animals are coming out of the woods . . . and birds are starting to migrate north!! The sun was most beautiful with Dark-eyed Junco’s singing in the background and a first of the year Hooded Mergansers(CHECK) in Red House Brook.
(more…)
Early Morning Frost
Starting to get into Maple Sugaring season with the warmer daytime temperatures and hard frost at nights.
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Eastern Meadowlark
Had my first Eastern Meadowlark of the year today (CHECK) over near Camp Allegany. Guess they are right on schedule!
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Wordless Wednesday [Mallards]
Been seeing many waterfowl moving around!! Love that spring is approaching!!
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Monarch Caterpillar (next to dime)
Photo by Midimatt from Saukville WI
Matt Matt gave permission to post this picture on the blog and is truly an amazing picture. The monarch’s eggs hatch after 4 days and the caterpillar will consume its eggshell after being born. They will then feed on milkweed till it is ready to pupate into its chrysalis stage. Rarely do we get to see the early stages of the monarch butterfly and the dime helps to put its size into perspective! Thanks again Matt and love the photo!
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Flying Red Tail
This morning walked outside to almost 8 inches of snow on the ground. Ugg . . then looked up and had a Red-tailed Hawk fly over my head and then over the house!
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The CROSSLEY ID GUIDE [Book Review]
I was surprised this week with a copy of the new “The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds” sitting at my door step. I remember when Sibley came out with his new guide and everyone thought “it’s too big and it could never replace the Peterson’s guide”!! Instantly we find ourselves buying not one but multiple copies (one for the house, car, office, banding bag . . . etc.). Could the same thing happen with this guide?? My first impression of the Crossley ID Guide is WOW and I know for sure it will be used in my library but I have doubt it will replace Sibley or any of my iPhone apps. It is a “BIG” guide and probably why they are not calling it a Field Guide!! To the right birder, it is possible The Crossley ID Guide will be grabbed for help before the more traditional “painted” guides but it is defiantly a picture reference guide more than our traditional “Field Guides”.
Evening Grosbeak
Outstanding Day . . . was out in the field this morning (long story) and what did I think I hear . . . Evening Grosbeaks!!! I pulled my iPhone out and called them closer to ID for sure!!! Sure enough it was 3 females and 2 male Evening Grosbeaks! (CHECK) What a great day when you find these guys while working here in Allegany State Park, NY!!
(Photo was from 2007 when we banded one in my back yard).
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Spring Azure
Expecting a thaw this weekend but we are still over a month away from our first Spring Azures to emerge. I know it will take a while for the multiple feet of snow to finally melt. However, spring is moving closer and I have spring fever happening !!!
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Pileated Woodpecker
Yesterday had a wonderful opportunity to watch a Pileated Woodpecker work up and down a tree. They are such great birdies! (more…)
Bear Joke
Your Every Day Happenings in Allegany
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Ladybug
Pure Cuteness . . . . Love this bug!!
(photo by her mom Amanda P.)
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White-tailed Deer
Saw three White-tailed Deer behind my barn this morning while heading to work. They are very skittish around the house and was nice being able to get a good look at them. (more…)
Red-spotted Purple
Ok, kinda another Wordless Wednesday! Just love the purple in this that I wanted to include this also!
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Western New York Record Cold Temperatures Today
Checked the temperature at the house this morning and it was -7° F. We are talking COLDNESS!! The National Weather Service Weather Station here in Allegany State Park reported a -18° F and now we are talking FREEZING temperatures!! I can’t help but worry about the Eastern Box Turtle (Franklin) that we have been following for the past 6 months. He went underground into his hibernaculum on the 1st of October and we don’t anticipate him coming out of the ground till late April or early May.
Rough Winter
It has been a rough winter for our wild friends this year. This weekend they are predicting negative 7 degrees Fahrenheit. This would be a good time to make sure your feeders are full with sunflowers . . . and you can be watching the birds while your inside warm.
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Wordless Wednesday
I have bird songs in my head today . . . . Prairie Warbler is the song I can’t stop hearing!
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FOSSILS
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History announced the loan from the New York State Museum of a 13,000-year-old Columbian Mammoth fossil discovered in 1934 in Randolph, New York.
The fossilized 4-foot curved tusks and a life-size replica cast of the Randolph Mammoth skull with tusks will be part of the Institute’s FOSSILS! exhibit that will open January 22, 2011 at the Institute on Curtis Street in Jamestown.
"The Randolph Mammoth specimen is a treasure for teaching about the biology, evolution, and history of life in New York State. We’re excited about having it exhibited at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, near where the specimen was discovered over 75 years ago," said Dr. Robert S. Feranec, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the New York State Museum.
"In addition to the Randolph Mammoth, more than a dozen specimens for ‘FOSSILS!’ will be loaned by Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, guaranteeing that it will be an exceptional exhibit of ancient life," Jim Berry, president of the Institute explained.
"Life-size casts of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops skulls, a fossilized nest of five dinosaur eggs, a giant Jurassic fish, Silurian sea scorpions and a giant Ice-Age beaver will be some of the outstanding specimens on display at RTPI from Mercyhurst," Berry added. Mercyhurst is home to the Sincak Collection of fossils, an extensive assemblage of exacting casts and actual specimens of famous fossils from around the world.
"The State Museum and Mercyhurst College are extending themselves to share their collection with Western New Yorkers and we’re grateful," Berry noted, explaining that Mercyhurst Paleontology Curator Scott McKenzie, along with students, will help install the exhibit and participate in programming and training.
Berry said that although the fossil specimens are loaned free of charge, the Institute is seeking financial sponsors to help with exhibition shipping, construction of special display cases, and educational materials.
[Taken from RTPI Press Release rtpi.org This is a big event for local nature enthusiast and I strongly suggest to everyone to take the time to visit this outstanding exhibit over at the Peterson Institute. ]
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 