Photo Stories [Wordless Wednesday]
White Admiral
Sometimes a photo can tell a story without using any words. Here is a series of Butterfly photos that I took and doesn’t need a description.
(more…)
Raccoon enjoying rose hips
Raccoon
I took advantage of the Presidents Day holiday to walk around Allegany State Park in search of something to photograph. Chickadees and Juncos were the most commonly found birdies flittering around Red House Lake (but I could not find any Crossbills). Along ASP Rt2, I located this blackish-gray thing up in a shrub and instantly squealed my breaks for a better look!
(more…)
Deer Watching
White-tailed Deer
I was delighted to find some White-tailed Deer lounging around in Allegany State Park today. When I first approached they were feeding in a wet spot in the woods. Anticipating them running away . . . they did the absolute opposite and one at a time laid down in the snow. I happen to be in the right position to capture a few pictures before thanking them and waving good bye. I love sunny days like this!
(more…)
Friday the 13th
Snow covered woods!
Yesterday we had some mixed rain/ice/snow that blanked the area which might have resulted in the crash of Flight 3407! What a tragic event and my heart go out to the families of the victims.
(more…)
Grebe and Crossbill weekend!
Horned Grebe photo from 2007
This warm weekend had me attempting to do a little birding! Was able to find my first of the year Horned Grebe (CHECK) on the Allegheny River while in town yesterday! Many Black Ducks, Mallards and Common Mergansers were also found in the area! (more…)
Groundhogs Day
To all my blogging friends; I Allegany Tom on the 2nd of February 2009 saw my shadow when I woke up this morning. I predict that we will have 6 more weeks of winter!!
(more…)
Allegany State Park Can-Am Dog Sled Race
Today the Canadian-American Dog Sledders had their annual dog sled race here in Allegany State Park, NY. I took this opportunity to capture a few pictures of these great team of dogs working together to reach the finish line.
(more…)
Turkey of a day!
Today I had the opportunity to assist the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) band a dozen Wild Turkeys here in Allegany State Park. This is the final year of their project looking at the harvest and survival rates of the male Turkey in New York State.
That’s me and the Turkey
more birds on sumac [Wordless Wednesday]
Sorry for posting more birds on sumac pictures . . . . “Sumac” seems to be where all the birdies have been over the past few weeks!
(more…)
Chickadee Apples and Sumac
Black-capped Chickadee on Sumac
Had the opportunity to watch a bunch of Chickadees feeding on some Sumac and on an Apple Tree today. They were so cute jumping from branch to branch . . . I am surprised these photos were actually in focus!
(more…)
What Woodpeckers Eat
The woodpecker’s main diet is insects that are heard from under the bark of the tree. They will drill a hole and then use their awfully long tongue for pulling the insects out. The tongue is sticky at the end which is helpful in grasping the insect from the center of the tree. You can think of the woodpecker as a tree doctor removing the insects that could potentially do harm to the tree (that’s how I think of them)!!
(more…)
Missing the Red House Inn
The Red House Inn barn
We don’t seem to miss things until they are completely vanished and all week I have been thinking about the Red House Inn and Barn. Being a photographer, I am more of a visual person and these two buildings were important landmarks that I loved passing when entering Allegany State Park (just off exit 19 on I86). For as often I spent time taking pictures “around” these buildings . . . I rarely took actual pictures of the buildings (which I regret now). (more…)
Winter Shadows
The suns shadows were amazing today!
I intended to work on an in-depth blog post this evening but everything changed as soon as I turned the television on! (more…)
Winter in Allegany
The Administration Building
We are expecting a deep freeze this week here in Allegany and without a doubt the skiers and snowmobilers couldn’t be any happier. Thought this would be a great opportunity to finally post a few of my snowy shots from this November when the hills still had a little color on it.
(more…)
Northern Saw-whet Owls Report for 2008
This year the Allegany State Park (Northern Saw-whet Owl) banding station was open for 15 nights and captured 26 different individuals (not including 1 Barred Owl). We didn’t capture as many owls per day like we did last season but the number of days we could open the station was reduced due to weather conditions. (more…)
I am not in Prison
Allegany State Park, Administration Building
Thanks for the wonderful emails and kind comments from everyone! My favorite was TuNaMeLt asking “Are you in Prison”?? No, I am not in prison, I have no health problems and everything is alright . . . . just ask Jennifer . . . . I am still enjoying life as it should be enjoyed! Actually, I had my first of the year White-winged Crossbills around Red House Lake (CHECK). I wish my camera was close, they seem to be everywhere I looked and allowed me to get within 6 feet of them! Picture of them should be coming soon and maybe I will get a chance to band a few this year???
(more…)
Allegany State Park Firetower
Allegany State Park Firetower
The weather was so beautiful the other day and with the leaves being at their peak this weekend . . . . I decided to try and capture some tree top photos from inside the Allegany State Park Firetower.
(more…)
The Owls Have Arrived
Northern Saw-whet Owl
We caught our first of the year Northern Saw-whet Owl Saturday night! Been a slow start to their movement but I believe that is due to warmer temperatures and the bright moon shining down on the nets. Their numbers should be picking up in a week or two as soon as the moon starts rising later in the evening!
(more…)
The End of Summer
Sunset and Smokey Campfire
Summer has ended and we begin to reflect those many great things we did or didn’t do over the summer. Without a doubt one of the highlights of the summer was backpacking 3 nights along the North Country Trail here in Allegany State Park. Another highlight included the spectacular banding season with an outstanding banding crew!
(more…)
Cooked Frog Legs
Over Cooked Pickerel
When hurricane Ike arrived in the Great Lakes area yesterday, it brought with it some high winds which whipped around tree branches and we had debris flying around everywhere! Yep you guessed it; my power went out about 8:30pm from a fallen tree taking down some power lines. I never got my power back until about 6pm this evening!!! This morning I was part of the crew who worked with the electricians in getting some of the lines back up! After the power was shut off we investigated where the lines had charcoaled the ground . . . . wait a second, we need to investigate this spot closer . . . . . look it’s a zapped Pickerel Frog!!! My guess is that it was electrocuted as it tried jumping away but no matter what happened the poor little froggy didn’t have a chance!!
(more…)
American Impressionism
Bridal Falls by Todd Plough
This weekend I have been helping (artist) Todd Plough with revising his personal web page and it is amazing how a specific objects are able to inspire people in different ways. When I was looking over his paintings jpg’s . . . . I found these two specific paintings that looked extremely familiar to me!! Sure enough they were of one of my favorite places to visit . . . . !
(more…)
Rattlesnake Orchid
Downy Rattlesnake Orchid
Last week I came across this sweet looking Orchid in Allegany State Park and just knew this was something special. Our first investigation made us believe it was the Checkered Rattlesnake Orchid but a few of the leaves on the plant and the flower alignment were off some . . . . just maybe this is a Dwarf Rattlesnake Orchid?? I sent an email to our State Park Botanist.
(more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 