B – Birds
Baltimore Oriole
Loved finding some first of the year B-birds over the past few days! About 10 minutes after posting my previous post on Sunday . . . . I had my first of the year Blackburnian Warbler (CHECK) who was singing up in the Hemlocks! They seem a little early but after looking at last years first of the year, it was ironically also on April 26th!!
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New Neo-tropical Migrants
Northern Parula
Neo-tropical migrants were moving through the area last night in record numbers! This morning I saw on the list serv many more warbler “first of the year” sightings for April than I can ever remember reading! I figured this was an opportunity to report some of my recent first of the years to all my blogging friends!!
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April BOS Count 2009
Woodducks
Sunday was the annual April BOS Count and I truly enjoyed the most beautiful spring day looking for all these birdies! I ended up with 54 species and 441 different individuals observed within the Allegany State Park’s area of Section 24. What was even more exciting was the nine first of the year birds that I located.
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Mid April Arrivals
Green Heron
My morning started with me flushing a Green Heron (CHECK) off from a beaver pond in France Brook as it flew up into a dead snag! I had thought for a second it could have been a Bittern but was only a Green Heron!
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American Woodcock Display [Video]
The Cattaraugus County Bird Club
Today the Cattaraugus County Bird Club had a field trip to watch the display of the American Woodcock in Allegany State Park. We started a little after dinner searching for spring migrants but the main purpose of the trip was to find the American Woodcock.
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Nature Haiku [Nine Loons]
Common Loons on Red House Lake
By Young Naturalist C, Young Naturalist E and Adele
Nine Loons
Nine Loons on the Lake
Fishing for their favorite food
Ooo da loo da loo
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Pre-Easter Birding
Common Snipe on a telephone pole
This morning I went out to do some birding and enjoyed finding the birdies most everywhere!
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More Spring Arrivers
Eastern Phoebe
Since returning from Chincoteague Island, the birds have been quickly following me northward into the Western New York area. Yesterday while assisting with the stocking of Trout along some of the Steams, I finally heard my first of the year Winter Wren (CHECK) who was singing its beautiful complex song. Later in the evening I observed the American Kestrel (CHECK first of the year) as it was wagging its tail at me! Finally this morning I got my first of the year Eastern Phoebe (CHECK) was proudly yelling fee-bee . . . . fee-bee around the office! (((SMILE))) I just love this time of the year! (more…)
Stocking the Creeks
Brook Trout
April 1st is the first day of the Trout season here in New York State and this is the day that everyone is excited to catch their first Trout of the season! I was lucky enough to help the DEC on the 31st March with stocking of Brown Trout and Brook Trout along the streams in Allegany State Park!
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Nature Haikus – Salamanders
Spotted Salamander
By Young Naturalist C, Young Naturalist E and Adele
Salamanders
Slick salamanders
Roaming in the wet, wild woods
Looking for their love
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The Osprey have returned
Osprey photo from 2008
Sometime this morning our first Osprey for 2009 (CHECK) finally arrived. I have been looking for these guys along the Allegheny River for days and so excited that they finally arrived.
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Searching For [Wordless Wednesday]
Mourning Cloak
These are a few things that I have not seen yet and I am still searching for . . . . but is only a matter of time till they appear!
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Salamander Migration 2009
Wednesday night was about the Salamanders with the blue-black body and distinct overlaid rows of yellow spots along its sides, back and tail. Its scientific name is Ambystoma maculatum and since “maculatum” means spotted . . . . . we call these guys the “Spotted Salamander”. But predicting the movement from their wintering holes to their breeding pools can be sometimes is a little tricky.
Smiling Spotted Salamander
Streams and Creeks
The main waterfall at Bridal Falls
Just a few random steam and creek photos that I have taken over the years from the Allegany State Park area!
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Snapping Turtle walking on the Ice
Yes that is a Snapping Turtle on the Ice
You always need to be ready to expect the unexpected and last Friday was one of those days. I have seen Amphibians climbing over the ice and snow to get to their vernal pools (which should be happening soon) . . . . but I never thought about Reptiles enjoying winter sports!!! Friday I found this Snapping Turtle ice skating across Red House Lake in Allegany State Park and so I asked this turtle, “Dude . . . . what are you thinking?”
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Balls of Fuzz
Muskrat
It was such a beautiful day out today with warmer sun-rays striking my face! I enjoyed a spectacular walk around Red House Lake and it seemed like the Chipmunks were dancing around their holes saying hello!! This was my first of the year Eastern Chipmunk for me (CHECK) . . . . about time they wake up!
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Woolly Bear
Wooly Bear
Yesterday I had found my first of the year Woolly Bear (CHECK) in the grass! These fuzzy caterpillars are regularly seen during the fall and spring before becoming an ugly moth . . . . Many know the woolly bear for the superstition of forecasting the severity of the coming winter by the amount of black on the caterpillar’s body. Hmmm does this guy reflect your winter?
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Hungry White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Over the winter the White-tailed Deer have been feeding on seeds, pine needles and other leafy buds that they have encountered. Now that the snow is slowly melting, we are finding the deer more visible and spending a great deal to time feeding on the grasses that are being exposed again. I have noticed over the past few days they have allowed me the opportunity approach closer than I can normally get without spooking them. I figured these pictures of these deer eating would be perfect for a night that I am out enjoying the most perfect Friday Night Dinner! (more…)
First Bat of the Year
Big Brown Bat
Temperatures have been in the 40’s°F over the past few days and I am sure that all critters have been enjoying the melting snow. Today I had a report from a friend that they saw their first Chipmunk and many others reported skunks being seen (or smelled) around their homes! I noticed that many of us humans have also been celebrating these wonderful signs of spring and that is exactly what happened with Adele, Young Naturalist C, Young Naturalist E and myself this evening! While dodging perfectly packed snowballs flying through the air . . . . . . . we looked up into the sky and Adele yelled “BAT”!! OMG . . . we only saw it for two passes but that was a Big Brown Bat flying around the lights! (CHECK) my first Big Brown Bat for 2009!
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Following Mammal Tracks in the Snow
Mouse tracks and Queen Ann’s Lace!
This time of the year I find my blogging opportunities are a bit more limited than during the summer months and I am looking down more than up into the tree tops! This weekend with the fresh snow on the ground, I never anticipate the many opportunities to find some exciting animal prints!
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 