Ladybug
Pure Cuteness . . . . Love this bug!!
(photo by her mom Amanda P.)
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Red-throated Loon
Red-throated Loon (juvenile)
By: Pat Coate
I was passing through the Buffalo area on MLK day and made a stop at the Dunkirk harbor. There were plenty of birds around including this juvenile red-throated loon – a new bird for me. He spent the whole 20 minutes or so that I was there actively preening.
There are only occasional reports of red-throated loons in our area, so I was very happy to have come across it.
White-tailed Deer
Saw three White-tailed Deer behind my barn this morning while heading to work. They are very skittish around the house and was nice being able to get a good look at them. (more…)
Red-spotted Purple
Ok, kinda another Wordless Wednesday! Just love the purple in this that I wanted to include this also!
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Western New York Record Cold Temperatures Today
Checked the temperature at the house this morning and it was -7° F. We are talking COLDNESS!! The National Weather Service Weather Station here in Allegany State Park reported a -18° F and now we are talking FREEZING temperatures!! I can’t help but worry about the Eastern Box Turtle (Franklin) that we have been following for the past 6 months. He went underground into his hibernaculum on the 1st of October and we don’t anticipate him coming out of the ground till late April or early May.
Rough Winter
It has been a rough winter for our wild friends this year. This weekend they are predicting negative 7 degrees Fahrenheit. This would be a good time to make sure your feeders are full with sunflowers . . . and you can be watching the birds while your inside warm.
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Say what?
Road sign on I-94
By: Pat Coate
I’ve made a couple trips to Milwaukee recently and couldn’t help but notice this sign in southeastern Wisconsin along I-94. The highway department had to have fun making this one. On my last trip, curiosity got the best of me and I decided the 10 mile side trip to check out Bong Recreation Area was a must. Turns out it is a very interesting place:
Wordless Wednesday
I have bird songs in my head today . . . . Prairie Warbler is the song I can’t stop hearing!
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FOSSILS
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History announced the loan from the New York State Museum of a 13,000-year-old Columbian Mammoth fossil discovered in 1934 in Randolph, New York.
The fossilized 4-foot curved tusks and a life-size replica cast of the Randolph Mammoth skull with tusks will be part of the Institute’s FOSSILS! exhibit that will open January 22, 2011 at the Institute on Curtis Street in Jamestown.
"The Randolph Mammoth specimen is a treasure for teaching about the biology, evolution, and history of life in New York State. We’re excited about having it exhibited at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, near where the specimen was discovered over 75 years ago," said Dr. Robert S. Feranec, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the New York State Museum.
"In addition to the Randolph Mammoth, more than a dozen specimens for ‘FOSSILS!’ will be loaned by Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, guaranteeing that it will be an exceptional exhibit of ancient life," Jim Berry, president of the Institute explained.
"Life-size casts of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops skulls, a fossilized nest of five dinosaur eggs, a giant Jurassic fish, Silurian sea scorpions and a giant Ice-Age beaver will be some of the outstanding specimens on display at RTPI from Mercyhurst," Berry added. Mercyhurst is home to the Sincak Collection of fossils, an extensive assemblage of exacting casts and actual specimens of famous fossils from around the world.
"The State Museum and Mercyhurst College are extending themselves to share their collection with Western New Yorkers and we’re grateful," Berry noted, explaining that Mercyhurst Paleontology Curator Scott McKenzie, along with students, will help install the exhibit and participate in programming and training.
Berry said that although the fossil specimens are loaned free of charge, the Institute is seeking financial sponsors to help with exhibition shipping, construction of special display cases, and educational materials.
[Taken from RTPI Press Release rtpi.org This is a big event for local nature enthusiast and I strongly suggest to everyone to take the time to visit this outstanding exhibit over at the Peterson Institute. ]
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Lunch Time
Red-tailed Hawk with prey
By: Pat Coate
I’ve been having fun going through files of pictures I took over the summer and fall that I hadn’t had time to do much with yet. The end of August I went to the ‘Photographer’s Dream Day” at Letchworth State Park (actually the dam site). On my way home I came across this hawk while exploring some of the back roads.
He was chowing down on what appeared to be a mouse or mole, of which he made short work, and allowed me to snap off a few pictures. I believe it is a red-tailed hawk.
Still Winter
Yep it’s still winter!!
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Barnacle Goose
Barnacle Goose
By: Pat Coate
Cleaning out the files a bit and came across these pictures from October. We saw these geese down at the Duke Gardens in Durham, NC while visiting. I had never seen this species before and finally got around to pulling out the field guide for the ID. Much smaller and stouter than a typical Canada goose, the barnacle goose is native to Greenland. Vagrants are occasionally reported, though these birds were captive.
Dead Birds Falling From the Sky
I have been looking for more info on the birds that seem to be falling from the sky. If you have not heard about it yet . . . New Year’s Eve a few thousand birds were found dead in central Arkansas. It has been believed that around 4-5 thousand Red-winged Blackbirds had fallen from the sky and died from some kind of trauma. First reports seemed to state it was caused by hail or fireworks. Now another 500 birds have also been found dead along roads in the state of Louisiana only 300 miles south of the Arkansas area. Scientists are now stumped as to what the cause of these birds’ deaths and not even sure if these two instances are related or not. (more…)
First Bird for 2011
My first bird for 2011 was a Black-capped Chicakdee . . . .. followed by Tufted Titmouse!! Happy New Year Everyone!
(more…)
Common Ravens
I was enjoying Texas “Common Ravens” flying around last year at this time. Well . . . along with many other lifers being added to my life list! This year back around Allegany State Park there seems to be a ton of Common Ravens flying around and they are almost more dominant than the crows. Yesterday, not far from Camp Allegany a flock of Ravens and Crows were mobbing an adult Bald Eagle sitting in a tree. Apparently the eagles are not fishing the river and reverting to the fields. My guess . . . . the Corvus ended up wining . . . the eagle was not there later in the day. (more…)
Christmas Birding
White-throated Sparrow
By: Pat Coate
While visiting my sister in Delaware over the holidays, my niece, husband, father and I went for a short birding outing. We got about 20 species with a few more added at my parents’ house and had some good looks at many of the birds. Maddie, my niece, is getting quite good at identifying many species. Her dad is feeding her new interest by feeding the birds in their backyard where she has been diligently observing the hungry visitors. However, I think her highlight was sliding across a frozen pond we discovered at one of the parks.
Previously taken pictures of some of the birds we saw are shown here.
Happy Holidays
From everyone at the mon@rch nature blog . . . . I hope everyone has a great Happy Holidays and Outstanding New Year!
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Christmas Bird Count Too
Red-tailed Hawks
By: Pat Coate
Like Tom, I participated in the Audubon Christmas Count last weekend. I tagged along with Tim, Madeline and Bill to cover Section 2. We also had 21 species, if you count the goldfinches that came to my home feeder. Madeline spotted this pair of red-tailed hawks. Our finds:
Blue Jay, Cardinal, House Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Crow, Raven,
Wild Turkey, Blue Bird, Red-tailed Hawk, Chickadee, Junco, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Starling, American Goldfinch
Owl Pellet and Bones on my Car
I drive to work each morning in the dark and the return home in the dark. As a result I seem to miss the animals that are around the house. Sometime i need to rely on animal tracks and signs to figure out what has been around the yard. Last night an owl caughed up some owl pellets . . . . yep all over my car!! Guess that’s what I get for parking under the pine tree!!! Love seeing the brown fur and small mammal bones scattered on the hood and window. I so missed the large owl in my pine tree last night!! Barred Owl or Great-horned Owl?? Would love to know for sure!! (more…)
Lunar Eclipse and Winter Solstice starts Tonight
Tonight (Tuesday) at 2:41am EST a full lunar eclipse will occur and co-insides with our winter solstice. This will be our only Lunar Eclipse for 2010 and happens when the sun, Earth and moon are all perfectly aligned with the Earth in the middle. When the moon passes behind the Earth, the sun’s rays are blocked from striking the moon. This can only occur when the moon is full. Then at 6:31pm on Tuesday officially it is our Winter Solstice and is our shortest day of the year. At that point the days will get longer and spring will come closer! BRING SPRING ON MOTHERNATURE!!
(more…)
Floods in Western NY
Constitution Rd, Allegany
By: Pat Coate
These shots are from earlier in December when our area was hit with heavy rains and frozen grounds. The Allegheny River spilled over its banks and crested about 16 feet above normal. Significant flooding occurred in the towns of Allegany and Portville.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Today returning back to the office . . . what did I see? Was that a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the Cherry Tree? Sure has heck . . . first year Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the 14th of December! This is an individual that really needs to take a trip south for a few months and not be hanging out in Allegany State Park!! (more…)
Quaker Brook
It’s not even officially winter and I am ready for the Spring!!!
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