Butterflies on my Finger
Common Ringlet
You always need to stay close to nature . . . . have you ever given a try to holding a butterfly on your finger?
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Todays Butterflies
Gray Comma
I had lots of butterflies flying around today. Gray Comma (CHECK), Tiger Swallowtail (CHECK), Juvenal Dusywing (CHECK) . . . . all first of the years today. The Clouded Sulphur, West Virginia White, Eastern Comma and Spring Azure have been seen previously.
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West Virginia White
West Virginia White on finger
Saw my first of the year West Virginia Whites (CHECK) flying around today. I just love these guys!
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Butterflies Courtship and Nest Building
Mourning Cloak
Temperatures reached in the 60’s yesterday with my first butterfly of the year “Mourning Cloak” (CHECK), courtship displays from Red-shouldered Hawks, and American Crows gathering nesting material. True signs that spring has finally arrived.
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Monarch Movement (love this time of the year)
Monarch Butterfly
Allegany State Park had many Monarch butterflies passing through the area today. I counted a good dozen while sitting in the truck today! Many more were observed following the roads moving in a southern direction!
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Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak on my hand!
Sometimes they let me pick them up . . . sometimes they fly away!
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Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Just found a Mourning Cloak who let me pick it up with my finger! I just love seeing Mother Nature up close!
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Allegany Nature Pilgrimage 2009
Old Growth Walk (Photo by Patty)
Last weekend the 51st annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage was held in Allegany State Park. This is my 14th year attending the pilgrimage and my 11th year as a trip leader. The Allegany Nature Pilgrimage was started by Gilbert Burgeson (aka Gib) who traveled to Tennesee to visit their daughter. While in Tennessee he attended the Smokey Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage and said, “Why can’t we have a pilgrimage? Why not at Allegany Park?”! Over the past 51 years the organization still frequently has visitors from all over the United States, Canada and other Countries to attend the Pilgrimage weekend. (more…)
First Monarch of the Year
Monarch
Today along Red House Lake I saw my first Monarch Butterfly (CHECK) for the year! The migration has just started moving through the Western New York area!
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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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Non-birds at Chincoteague
Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is known for its ponies and its migratory birds but having such outstanding habitat on the island, you would expect to find some other hidden treasures!! The first hidden treasure can be easily locate on Chincoteague and called the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel. This squirrel has been recognized as a subspecies of the fox squirrel and is listed on the endangered species list. I found it interesting that the Delmarva name come from where these squirrels had first originated: Delaware, Maryland and Virginia! I think they are adorable little squirrels to me!
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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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Niagara Park Butterfly Conservatory
I visited the Niagara Park Butterfly Conservancy back in 2002 and enjoyed seeing these great butterflies up close. What I remember most was that the building was soo humid that I had a hard time capturing these pictures with my point and shoot camera (the lens kept fogging up). But there were turtles in the ponds and butterflies landing all over people. If you are ever in Niagara Falls Canada . . . . you must visit this amazing place.
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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.
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Happy Valentines Day
Tree Swallows
Happy Valentines Day everyone . . . . This is a day for spending time with your love ones!
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Wolf Run Butterflies
Today I decided to take a walk for butterflies along the Wolf Run area of Allegany State Park. Was only out for about an hour before the rain arrived but did capture a few decent photos to share with everyone!
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Nature Haikus – Summer
Great Spangled Fritillary
By Young Naturalist C
Summer
Butterflies dancing
In the air, sweet with flowers
With vivid colors
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Butterflies at the Birdathon
American Lady
Most people think that birdathons are just for the birds! Well this year team T-bird also kept track of the butterflies that were flying while helping with the Jamestown Audubon fundraiser. We ended up with 15 species of butterflies and I had 2 first of the year butterflies. OK, I guess at this point I have become too much of a lister!!!
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Monarch Butterfly [Poem]
Monarch Butterflies
Regal autumn travelers
robed for mediaeval pageantry
in velvet orange and black
Moving in great procession
on tissue wings
from Canada to Monterey, the Sierra Madre
The North American Continent a court for this lepidoptery
International Migratory Bird Day
Northern Mockingbird
Ya, Ya . . . I am about a week late with this report but it has been a busy few days for me. I have been trying to getting ready for the Allegany State Park Geobash Event that we are having this weekend.
On May 10th 2008 the Cattaraugus County Bird Club headed out for our annual Presque Isle State Park field trip for International Migratory Bird Day. (more…)
Earth Day Findings
Spring Azure from April 2007
I came across a few new species during Earth Day today! The first find was a Double-crested Cormorant (CHECK) swimming in Red House Lake. It’s funny since I almost always first find them over at Quaker Lake . . . . but not this year! We have been working in the same area the past few days and it was nice finding my first Spring Azure (CHECK) fluttering around once the sun got high enough in the sky (yeah to seeing those azure blues)! Then at lunch I saw my first West Virginia White (CHECK) moving down the trail (with only a quick look)! By the end of the day there were multiple Whites flying around and all my co-workers thought I was nuts looking at those white-moth looking butterflies! Hey . . . how often do you get to look at a species of concern up close?
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Summer Insects [videos]
Birdclub meeting this evening and not sure when I will be posting again! (edit: decided not to go at the last second! It’s snowing and the roads are not that good. Looks like a Netflix and catch up with LOST that I missed last night) So, here are a few videos that I would like to share with everyone! So, put your feet up . . . its Friday! (more…)
Where Adult Butterflies Winter
Fallen into the snow!
When temperatures reach – 0°F you don’t expect to find any adult butterflies in your back yard. Ok, here is my story . . . Yesterday I planned on starting a fire in the fireplace to help defray the cost of my gas bill (because temperatures are soo cold). I brought my first load of wood into the house and then returned for my second load! I notice in the white snow something that looked exactly like a butterfly standing up! Naa, it had to be bark right? Nope, with a closer inspection it was an Eastern Comma that fallen out of the woodpile and into the snow! (more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 