Don’t Move Firewood [Videos]
You might ask “why is this nature blogger nagging everyone about firewood”? Back in December the state passed a new regulation on the movement of firewood and I am afraid that this new rule will be ignored or forgotten by the next person who enjoys their campfire! I am now doing my part in helping everyone understand why it is dangerous to move firewood long distances!! (more…)
Singing Junco
Snowbirds
What does spring mean to you??? . . . . when do you consider it the first day of spring??? Allegany Tom says “six more weeks of winter” . . . . threecollie brings up a good point “You know we will always have six more weeks up here”! Very true my friend! Another good friend of mine believes that Groundhogs Day should be the first day of spring . . . . why?? . . . it is when you start to notice the birds behaving differently!
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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!!
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Blue Jays at my feeders!
Blue Jay Smiling for the Camera
This year the Blue Jays appear to be a little too abundant at my feeders and it never seemed to be that way previously. I think my kitties don’t mind the stunning blue colors flashing past the window since I always find them chattering among themselves. Hmm maybe they are cussing the Blue Jays out saying “stop being so greedy”?? Greedy . . . that is an understatement and not only do they grab all the seeds but on occasion you find them stashing the seeds in different hiding places!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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)!!
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Annual Skiing Day
Today was our annual skiing/snowboarding day where many of the Young Naturalist, their parents and I got together for a fun day over at the Holimont Ski Resort in Ellicottville, NY. It was such a wonderful day and had some good laughs. After skiing/snowboarding we followed the tradition of eating pizza over at the Depot Restaurant. Hmm Pizza!
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2009 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. In years past we had participate in the Mid-winter Bald Eagle Survey, where we would help locate Eagles wintering along the Allegheny River (while also looking for waterfowl) . . . . But for some reason these dates did not overlap as they had previously. The results of this survey will help determine the long-term monitoring of waterfowl within New York State during the winter months.
Common Goldeneye in the Snow (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.
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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!
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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!!
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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.
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Little Wood Turtle
Wood Turtle
Today I found a tiny wood turtle along one of the paths that I was walking here in Allegany State Park. Wasn’t the smallest Wood Turtle that I have ever found but it is unusual to find little ones like this!! Of course I had to take a few pictures of it!
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Purple Coral Fungus
Purple Coral Fungus
You ever see Purple Coral Fungus before? Typically they are white . . . sometimes orange or yellow but seeing a purple one threw me back some!!
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 