Still Winter
Yep it’s still winter!!
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Dead Birds Falling From the Sky
I have been looking for more info on the birds that seem to be falling from the sky. If you have not heard about it yet . . . New Year’s Eve a few thousand birds were found dead in central Arkansas. It has been believed that around 4-5 thousand Red-winged Blackbirds had fallen from the sky and died from some kind of trauma. First reports seemed to state it was caused by hail or fireworks. Now another 500 birds have also been found dead along roads in the state of Louisiana only 300 miles south of the Arkansas area. Scientists are now stumped as to what the cause of these birds’ deaths and not even sure if these two instances are related or not. (more…)
First Bird for 2011
My first bird for 2011 was a Black-capped Chicakdee . . . .. followed by Tufted Titmouse!! Happy New Year Everyone!
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Common Ravens
I was enjoying Texas “Common Ravens” flying around last year at this time. Well . . . along with many other lifers being added to my life list! This year back around Allegany State Park there seems to be a ton of Common Ravens flying around and they are almost more dominant than the crows. Yesterday, not far from Camp Allegany a flock of Ravens and Crows were mobbing an adult Bald Eagle sitting in a tree. Apparently the eagles are not fishing the river and reverting to the fields. My guess . . . . the Corvus ended up wining . . . the eagle was not there later in the day. (more…)
Happy Holidays
From everyone at the mon@rch nature blog . . . . I hope everyone has a great Happy Holidays and Outstanding New Year!
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Owl Pellet and Bones on my Car
I drive to work each morning in the dark and the return home in the dark. As a result I seem to miss the animals that are around the house. Sometime i need to rely on animal tracks and signs to figure out what has been around the yard. Last night an owl caughed up some owl pellets . . . . yep all over my car!! Guess that’s what I get for parking under the pine tree!!! Love seeing the brown fur and small mammal bones scattered on the hood and window. I so missed the large owl in my pine tree last night!! Barred Owl or Great-horned Owl?? Would love to know for sure!! (more…)
Lunar Eclipse and Winter Solstice starts Tonight
Tonight (Tuesday) at 2:41am EST a full lunar eclipse will occur and co-insides with our winter solstice. This will be our only Lunar Eclipse for 2010 and happens when the sun, Earth and moon are all perfectly aligned with the Earth in the middle. When the moon passes behind the Earth, the sun’s rays are blocked from striking the moon. This can only occur when the moon is full. Then at 6:31pm on Tuesday officially it is our Winter Solstice and is our shortest day of the year. At that point the days will get longer and spring will come closer! BRING SPRING ON MOTHERNATURE!!
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My Christmas Bird Count 2010
Snow Bunting
Patty and I participated in the Saint Bonaventure Christmas Bird Count for the Cattaraugus County Bird Club in section 3 today as we do every year. Since I have moved over to Chautauqua County . . . . I had the opportunity to show my territory to Lisa who is new to the area and looking for a count spot to do. This probably will not be my last CBC with Catt. Co but this will give me the chance to explore other areas with other counters. Having an area that doesn’t include much water . . . I thought we had a great day with 21 species of birds!
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Banded Junco in the Administration Building
Dark-eyed Junco
You never know when something unexpected will happen. I got a phone call this morning saying “A bird is in the building”!! Down the steps I go . . . . . hmm it’s Junco!! Took about 10 minutes and we got the bird in the corner!! I realized holding it that it had a band on its leg . . . . 2400 series!! I think to myself “I did have bands in that series”. Sure enough it was a bird that I banded back on 11th of December 2005. I never would have expected five years and five days later this bird would end up in my hand again. Guess that is why bird banders band birds . . . . get recaptures that tell us that this girl loves the winter in Allegany State Park!
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Today returning back to the office . . . what did I see? Was that a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the Cherry Tree? Sure has heck . . . first year Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the 14th of December! This is an individual that really needs to take a trip south for a few months and not be hanging out in Allegany State Park!! (more…)
Quaker Brook
It’s not even officially winter and I am ready for the Spring!!!
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Allegany Lakes
This picture of Science Lake during the summer really enforces my . . . . . “I miss summer moments”!!!
For those keeping track . . .
Science Lake – froze over on Tuesday December 7th, 2010
Red House Lake – froze over on Wednesday December 8th 2010
Quaker Lake – froze over on Thursday December 9th 2010
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Welcome Home
Glad to see the good old sun return after it’s week break!!
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Belted Kingfisher
This was another strange Western New York weather that we had this morning. Sunny at the new house but the temperatures were a fridge 2°F. I drove for almost 15 minutes until I reached the Randolph, NY area. Temperatures quickly jumped up to 11°F and this was the start of the lake effect snow dropping!! Snow was falling harder in Allegany State Park and the temperatures were around 17°F!! I spent my drive mostly thinking about the many birds I saw yesterday . . . . . (more…)
Blue Jay in Snow
Blue Jays are hitting our feeders HARD the past week. You would not believe the snow we have received already and I saw my neighbors “Randolph, NY” on the National NBC news last night. Randolph was listed for a “no unnecessary travel alert” and having reported almost 4 feet of snow that had fallen. Honestly . . . I like snow but this is starting to get old!! I just want a break for a few days . . . weeks . . . month!
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Hooded Merganser on RHL
Red House Lake is getting almost frozen over but the few species still found on the lake are about 15 Canada Goose and 3 Hooded Mergansers. We are still being hammered with snow with about 1-2 inches per hour. This has to be very hard on all species of birds in the area.
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Before the snow
This was taken last Friday on Red House Lake just before the dumping
of snow!!!
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Two Feet of Snow Last Night
Just when you realize you probably have too much snow on the ground!! (more…)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
I was shocked when this Red-bellied Woodpecker rolled into the feeders yesterday! Little skittish but still not afraid to take control of those feeds . . . maybe not as bold as the Blue Jays!!
Tree Sparrow
My first Tree Sparrows arrived at the new house just last week and they have already taken hold at the feeders! They are such stunning LBJ’s!!
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Black-capped Chickadee
Chickadee on the clothing line checking out where my feeders are! Nice snowing morning to wake up to a zillion birdies at the feeders!
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Rooster Tail
Whenever water levels are high in Allegany State Park . . . I always make it a point to see how high the Rooster Tail is over on the Quaker Lake Overspill. Many years ago, I had seen the Rooster Tail higher than the lake.
Roger Tory Peterson Institute
I am talking tonight at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute this evening at 7:30!! Tonights talk will be on “Living with Nature” . . . what its like for a naturalist living in a 65,000 acre State Park.
Bufflehead on Red House Lake
Had some Buffleheads out on Red House Lake today here in Allegany State Park. It is great seeing these cute little duckies visiting the park!!
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 