Turkey Vulture
These guys were everywhere today. (CHECK)
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Eastern Phoebe
Had my first of the year Eastern Phoebe (CHECK) singing today here in Allegany State Park at the Administration Building. Whoot! Hope it doesn’t snow tonight (not good for the Phoebe)!!
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Is it too early for Salamanders?
People keep asking when it was time for the Spotted Salamander Migration. Actually could be most any day now but I think some of our vernal pools still need to thaw. Down in the valleys we could have had some movement last night but wasn’t able to find any evidence that it’s started yet!!
So any day now my friends!! (photo is from my favorite vernal pool here in Allegany State Park today.)
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Great Horned Owls
Great Horned Owl with prey, shot taken at dusk
By: Pat Coate
While in Florida we had the great pleasure of discovering the nest of a pair of Great Horned Owls near my parents’ condo. My parents had been hearing owls in the evenings and had seen owls nesting in the area a few years ago, but weren’t quite sure if and where the nest was this year.
Persistence and binoculars paid off as we found a few feathers up in a split of a live oak tree right across the street. Searching up from the feathers deeper into the crook of the tree led to the tip of not one but two baby owls’ heads.
Early Morning Display
Was one of those mornings . . . I was tired, it was raining and heard more sad news on Japan. I guess the greatest things happen when you least expect them. I walked out of the house and had 4 different American Woodcocks (CHECK) displaying in the yard (at the new house)!! OMG . . . . one took flight and I watch circle above my head up into the rainy sky until I couldn’t see it anymore! It landed where the dog poops and started going “Peent . . . . Peent . . . . Pent”!! If you want to see a video I did on the American Woodcock display, go to my Timberdoodle post back in 2008. (more…)
Killdeer
Yesterday while walking the dog around my new neighborhood . . . had my first of the year Killdeer (CHECK)!
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Florida is the Life
Black Skimmers
By: Pat Coate
We had a great time visiting my parents in Florida for a few days over my husband’s winter break. It was nice to temporarily trade in the heavy coats and boots for the summer wardrobe appropriate for the 70+ degree days (and it was nice to know that the summer wardrobe still fits).
We spent our first afternoon exploring Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge located next to the Kennedy Space Center. It is a birders dream with over 140,000 acres comprising a wide range of habitats including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes and freshwater impoundments. There is a nice visitors center with a friendly staff and miles of wildlife drives and hiking trails. We saw only a small fraction of the refuge including the visitor center, the manatee observation deck and the Bio Lab Road driving trail.
Despite being told by the ranger at the visitor center that birding was slow – between seasons – we saw lots of activity and even picked up several life birds. The life birds were Black Skimmer, Glossy Ibis and Reddish Egret.
Merritt Island NWR must be a truly amazing place during peak seasons and it is an area I would love to get back to some day.
The Brown Creeper
This morning before the wind and rain moved in . . . I had the Brown Creeper was on my pine tree! They have the coolest song!!
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Red-winged Blackbird
My First of the Year Red-winged Blackbird (CHECK) singing at the house (then saw one in the Park)!! Whoot
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Snow Goose
Was amazing!! Had about 25-35 Snow Goose fly over my head this morning!! We don’t see many of thes birds here in Allegany State Park so it’s a treat to find them. These were my first Snow Goose of the year for me (CHECK)!!
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Signs of Spring
Finally we are starting to see our first signs of spring. Snow is melting . . . animals are coming out of the woods . . . and birds are starting to migrate north!! The sun was most beautiful with Dark-eyed Junco’s singing in the background and a first of the year Hooded Mergansers(CHECK) in Red House Brook.
(more…)
Early Morning Frost
Starting to get into Maple Sugaring season with the warmer daytime temperatures and hard frost at nights.
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Eastern Meadowlark
Had my first Eastern Meadowlark of the year today (CHECK) over near Camp Allegany. Guess they are right on schedule!
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Wordless Wednesday [Mallards]
Been seeing many waterfowl moving around!! Love that spring is approaching!!
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Monarch Caterpillar (next to dime)
Photo by Midimatt from Saukville WI
Matt Matt gave permission to post this picture on the blog and is truly an amazing picture. The monarch’s eggs hatch after 4 days and the caterpillar will consume its eggshell after being born. They will then feed on milkweed till it is ready to pupate into its chrysalis stage. Rarely do we get to see the early stages of the monarch butterfly and the dime helps to put its size into perspective! Thanks again Matt and love the photo!
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Scenes from Lake Erie
Snow dunes at Presque Isle
By: Pat Coate
A few random winter shots of Lake Erie while waiting for spring……..
Flying Red Tail
This morning walked outside to almost 8 inches of snow on the ground. Ugg . . then looked up and had a Red-tailed Hawk fly over my head and then over the house!
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Evening Grosbeak
Outstanding Day . . . was out in the field this morning (long story) and what did I think I hear . . . Evening Grosbeaks!!! I pulled my iPhone out and called them closer to ID for sure!!! Sure enough it was 3 females and 2 male Evening Grosbeaks! (CHECK) What a great day when you find these guys while working here in Allegany State Park, NY!!
(Photo was from 2007 when we banded one in my back yard).
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Spring Azure
Expecting a thaw this weekend but we are still over a month away from our first Spring Azures to emerge. I know it will take a while for the multiple feet of snow to finally melt. However, spring is moving closer and I have spring fever happening !!!
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Bonaparte’s Gulls
Bonaparte’s Gull with fish
By: Pat Coate
While recently visiting the Dunkirk Harbor on the eastern edge of Lake Erie, I was able to observe a flock of Bonaparte’s gulls feeding near the docks. There were at least 30 birds flying very near the dock. With good regularity, one would plunge down into the water and come out with a small fish. It would immediately fly away from the flock to try and enjoy its meal in peace. Only once did I observe another gull give chase and successfully make the hunter drop its prize. Neither gull ended up with the fish – clearly making it the true winner.
Pileated Woodpecker
Yesterday had a wonderful opportunity to watch a Pileated Woodpecker work up and down a tree. They are such great birdies! (more…)
Bear Joke
Your Every Day Happenings in Allegany
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Christmas Count Hits the Road
Touch down! (WI)
By: Pat Coate
Inspired by the Audubon Christmas Count, on a recent trip to the Midwest with my daughter we decided to count the number of species of birds we saw while traveling. In keeping with time-honored traditions, we also decided to keep track of the various license plates we saw (trucks don’t count, Canadian provinces do) to see if the count of license plates or bird species would be higher.
Some of the highlights included:
• Bald Eagle in WNY
• Peregrine Falcon flying right down Michigan Ave in Chicago
• Red-tailed hawks all along the way, including many pairs
• Mallard pulling a Bambi on a frozen Milwaukee River
• 100s (if not 1000s) of Canada Geese in fields in IL
• “UGLE PL8” on a car with the new NY license plates
• Number of deer in Eastern IN
• Number of nests you see when there are no leaves on the trees
• Virtual tie on species vs. license plates
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 