Leap Day
Eastern Cottontail
This Eastern Cottontail can be found looking for grasses and clovers out in some pasture or shrubby habitat. This cute little guy has long ears, reddish/brown hair and a small white fluffy tail. So, when I think of something leaping . . . I think of the Eastern Cottontail!! Once every 4 years there are 29 days in February instead of 28 days and that extra day is called a leap day (which is this Friday). I would like to think this extra “LEAP” day is more about our hair friend than having spring arriving one day later than normal! (more…)
Redheads
Redhead
The Redhead is another locally common winter visitor along the Great Lakes but inland where I am located . . . . once again they are not as common. Whenever Redheads are located in my county they are typically during the peak waterfowl season (Mid-late March) with only one or two individuals being found. I was very delighted finding them swimming with the Canvasbacks and Scaup species last Wednesday which are reported as being frequently found diving together. I didn’t see that many Redheads but there were enough to capture a few photos for me to do another species profile. (more…)
Yes . . . A Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
This week Young Naturalist J was off from school (winter break) and once I learned the crew would be out trying to band Short-eared Owls . . . I just knew we had to go. Weather was a little iffy but the great banding team did a wonderful job getting everything set up! (more…)
Sunny Nature Hike
White-breasted Nuthatch
I enjoyed a wonderful sunny nature hike in Allegany State Park today. It was wonderful seeing people hiking, ice fishing, sledding, cross-country skiing and even those that were out on snowmobiles. Even more pleasant was seeing many of those enjoying nature with their children and pulling the kids away from the computer games for a few hours.
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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…)
The Banding [part 2]
Short-eared Owls amazing face pattern
Yesterday’s post was about the excitement of catching these two Short-eared Owls . . . Today I will be writing about the banding process, transmitter and releasing the owls (and a few cool photos). (more…)
Second Try! [Part 1]
Short-eared Owl in flight
I have learned that if you first don’t succeed . . . . try, try again!! Yesterday Jennifer from A Passion for Nature and I decided to head up to Buffalo for another attempt at Short-eared Owl banding with State Biologist Chuck Rosenburg from the Department of Environmental Conservation. You might remember my last trip a few weeks ago with many great views and two “almost” catches!!! Although seeing these amazing birds flying around is fun . . . our primary mission was watching them being banded. The question is: will we catch something?? (more…)
Brown Creeper [Poem]
Brown Creeper
with long claws
stiff bracing tail
spirals up oak
curved slender bill
probes for beetles
Suddenly, the Sharp-shin
The small bird is no where
The accipiter has passed
A piece of bark is on the move again
By: Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr © (more…)
Opossum [video]
Daylight Opossum playing possum
Today I found an Opossum foraging for food along the roadside. Typically I find them during night time hours, so I used this opportunity to try and capture a little video of this ugly guy! I approached very slowly and because it was soo focused on gathering food . . . it did not notice me for about 5 or so minutes. I observed it feeding on something in the grass but couldn’t tell exactly what it was (assuming some kind of grub). I made a little noise to get its attention and then it suddenly played possum! I took a few photos and after backing off some, it came back to life. It showed me its teeth and then decided to run away! The Opossum was still observed foraging in the same field when I returned 15 minutes later to point him out to someone. (more…)
Short-eared Owl [video]
Short-eared Owl on Telephone Pole
Yesterday evening I was invited to join a State Biologist from the Department of Environmental Conservation in banding some Short-eared Owls up in the Buffalo, NY area. If you know me . . . . I couldn’t resist this opportunity to seeing such an amazing bird up close. I decided to take a half day from work and drive the 2 hours up north for these marvelous birds! Chuck and his team had already finished setting everything up and was about to starting to test the equipment (sunset was approaching fast). Just as he felt that everything was ready . . . . the most beautiful Short-eared Owl suddenly appeared from behind us as if it was a flying ghost!! I never saw so many people scatter to there vehicles as I did then!! (more…)
Forest Junk
An old bus in the woods.
These photos were taken this fall over on the Red House side of Allegany State Park. They are off trial on the edge of the forest and an old field. Last time I saw this bus was probably 10 years ago when it was still standing upright (I have a slide of it then here somewhere . . . ).
Do you ever photograph forest junk?
Winter Blues
Today was not the best day to be out birding and I found myself taking some winter pictures along Red House Creek. Since temperatures have been reaching near 0°F this past week (and will continue to be for the next week) . . . . I have found myself with some “winter blues” and desiring the return to the spring/summer temperatures. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to reflect how one particular spot can look almost 6 months later when temperatures were near 90°F. (more…)
Photographing the Earth, one millimeter at a time . . .
Vatican Museum in Rome by CalevPhoto
Many start blogging to easily share there daily activities with family (but more than your family find your blog and you start talking more about nature)!! Others use there blog to talk about olden days when we were kids!! Like turning 8 years old and visiting my Aunt and Uncles campsite here in Allegany State Park. Joe (my cousin) and I would spend numerous hours playing in the stream trying to catch the largest crayfish. Darn those Raccoons . . . . they must have recognized the camper because they could always find our best hiding spots (when keeping the Crayfish overnight)! I still don’t understand why my Aunt and Uncle wouldn’t let us keep them inside the camper? (more…)
Murmuration of Starlings
A Murmuration of Starlings
What is a Murmuration of Starlings? It really isn’t much except being a fancy way to describing a group of European Starlings that you might find together. The Encarta Dictionary says; mur•mu•ra•tion (noun) 1. murmuring – an act or sound of murmuring 2. starlings collectively – a flock of starlings! Many other critters have different names for describing there group gatherings. . . . here are a few my favorite examples; “a cloud of gnats”, “a walk of snipe” and “a band of gorillas”!! I wonder if the gorillas have hippy gorillas or monkeys who follow them from gig to gig?? (more…)
Annual Waterfowl Survey
Today a few of us from the Cattaraugus County Bird Club participated in the NYS DEC / NYSOA annual waterfowl survey. Each January a quarter of a million ducks across New York State are counted by bird clubs, state officials and your average birder. We are also participating in the Mid-winter Bald Eagle Survey, where we are locating Eagles wintering along the Allegheny River. The results of these two surveys will help determine the long-term monitoring of waterfowl and Eagle populations within New York State during the winter months.
Canada Goose with a cold wake up call.
An Interesting Office Visitor
Have you ever been inside Wal-mart or Home Depot with birds flying around the store?? I feel sorry for those birdies and I find myself wondering who’s job it is to get them back outside safely?? Well, you know who gets the call whenever something is flying around the offices in the Administration Building!! I have rescued Chimney Swifts who accidentally fell down the chimney because someone forgot to close the damper. I am the one who saves the Little Brown Bats who accidentally finds there way inside whenever someone leaves a doors or window open due to hot temperatures during the summer. I have even rescued things like a Luna Moths (stuck between the storm windows), Hummingbirds, Meadow Jumping Mouse, Flying Squirrels, Ring-necked Snakes, and a ton of Chipmunks!! But I am rarely called upon during the winter months for unexpected critters that find there way into the offices (well, unless they are mice)!
Today’s Black-capped Chickadee.
Before the Snow Melted!
White-tailed Deer about to run from me.
This weekend the Deer were feeding on bright green grass which was peaking through the snow! The Raccoons were breaking through the thin ice and fishing for things along the streams edge ! Birds have slowed down at the bird feeders and are now finding seeds elsewhere!! Well, after record high temperatures (60°F) today . . . . the snow has significantly melted away and now they have even more opportunities to find food! Can you believe its mid January with such warm temperatures? Expect even more warmer temperatures tomorrow!! (more…)
Winter Berry
Winter Berry
Jen did a wonderful Colors of Winter post, which encouraged me to get out and find some color before the snow started falling! I did not find as much color as Jennifer did but I was happy to get out to find something!!
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Birds – 2007 Checklist
Red-necked Grebe that was rescued.
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Birds are my last species in this series that I have been keeping track of within Western New York State, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I have also taken the birds and split them up between non-passerines (88) and passerines (111). This was one of my best “bird” years with many great species and 6 lifers (5 of which were at Cape Cod)! Although, it would have been nice to have gotten one more species to make it exactly 200 for 2007! Maybe I can break that 200 barrier in 2008 and do a little traveling (which is how so many are able to get their numbers up)?? (more…)
Mammals – 2007 Checklist
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Mammals (28) are the next family in my series of species that I have kept track of within Western New York State.
Red Squirrel
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 