Red House Brook
Allegany State Park before the snow we got today.
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Brown Pelican with Fish
Brown Pelican with fish speared on upper bill
By: Pat Coate
On a trip to Myrtle Beach earlier this year, my friends and I were sitting on the beach catching up and enjoying watching some pelicans and gulls feeding about 80 yards or so out in the ocean. In fact, most days we were treated to the sight of pelicans plummeting head first into the rolling waves in search of prey, and it was a spectacle I had not tired of watching. After a bit, we noticed some unusual behavior as one of the pelicans began flailing around and going through all kinds of unusual contortions. I didn’t have my binoculars with me so took a few shots with the telephoto lens and when I loaded them onto the computer saw what was causing the commotion. Not the greatest pictures, but they show that the pelican had speared a fish on its upper bill and was trying really hard to figure out how to make it dinner!
Hiking in Allegany State Park
Rock formations along the FLT in Allegany State Park
By: Pat Coate
As many of you know, Allegany State Park has some beautiful hiking trails. About 20 miles of trail through the park is also part of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT), and coincides with the Conservation and North Country trails. Recently a combined group of 23 from the Olean Area Hiking Group and the Allegheny Outdoor Club met to hike the portion that begins in the Allegheny National Forest near the Willow Bay Recreation Area on PA Route 346. Starting at an elevation of 1370′, the trail climbs steadily for about 2 miles to an elevation of about 1700′ (elevations from the FLT map). About 1.1 miles in the trail crosses from PA to NY and enters Allegany State Park. The trail is marked with white blazes and part of the trail also has red marks that have been added above and/or below the white blazes. The red marks are new over the past 6 months and it was uncertain who had added these marks. At one point the red marks veer off the main trail and go to the stone structure shown in one of the attached pictures. This shuttle hike, of about 4 miles, veered from the FLT by taking Brown Hollow Road to the Wolf Run area of the park. The section of the trail along Brown Hollow looked down on a babbling brook whose sound was drowned out by the constant sloshing of many feet through the deep carpet of fallen leaves.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
By: Pat Coate
Finally got a couple passable shots of one of my nemesis birds. The red-breasted nuthatches usually just grab a seed from our feeder and then head back into the trees to eat before returning to grab another. This one, however, stayed in a nearby tree allowing a few pictures, though they were in tough lighting. The pictures were taken the end of August.
Birding & Sisters Weekend
Eastern Bluebird along Radnor Lake
By: Pat Coate
Had a really fun sisters’ weekend in Nashville recently. Stayed downtown at Printers Alley, enjoyed the music at Tootsies and some of the other ‘honky-tonk’ venues, ate (twice) at Jack’s BBQ and even ventured out for a line dance or two. Non-birding sister, Kathy, very kindly found a park (Radnor Lake Natural Area and Wildlife Refuge) a few miles south of town where we were able to spend a few hours hiking and birding. Here’s a few shots from the park.
Happy Thanksgiving
Gobble Gobble from everyone here at the Monarchbfly Nature Blog!!
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Tundra Swans on RHL
It was the most beautiful morning here in Allegany State Park with fresh snow on the ground and a handful of Tundra Swans out on Red House Lake.
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Portrait of a Sanderling
Sanderling
By: Pat Coate
The sanderling is a fascinating bird to watch. They seem to have eyes in the back of their heads as they scurry along the shoreline never letting the ocean’s waves catch them off guard. They are rarely still and I just happen to have caught this one preening on the beach. These pictures were taken in October in Mytrle Beach.
Snow Last Night
Woke up to snow on the ground this morning. Trail Camera showed some deer activity.
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Black Bear in the Park today
Going home from work today, I saw a real nice young Black Bear in Allegany State Park. Was the best video that I was able to captured for everyone!
Fall Orange Sulphur
Saw lots of Orange Sulphurs flying around Allegany State Park the past few days! Today temperatures reached 70 degrees F!! Records highs for the area! Going to get cold here in a few days.
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Birdie Blog 2
Tammy, Tina, Pat
By: Pat Coate
The birdie blog is back. I had a wonderful golf get away weekend in Myrtle Beach with the extended NJ gang. We had perfect weather, played gorgeous courses, and three of us were lucky enough (speaking for myself anyway) to score a birdie.
There were lots of other birdies to be found too.
Young Eagle
Saw a beautiful juvenal Bald Eagle fly over my truck this morning. With the snow/fog on the hills and oaks still holding their leaves . . . it was just an outstanding sight.
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First Snow
Had our first snow today with almost 2 inches on the hill tops.
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Northern Saw-whet Owl
Had a great weekend for owl banding. Saturday night we had (JCC) Jamestown Community College at the house to band birds. Also had multiple friends visit to see what birds we would get with N NE winds. Everyone had a wonderful time with 4 birds banded. Sunday night we had some co-workers from the park visit with their families. Another great night with 4 more birds banded.
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Central Park
Bethesda Fountain
By: Pat Coate
A business trip took me to NYC this week so I ventured into Central Park for a couple hours one evening. What an amazing amount of people and activity – joggers, dog walkers, soccer games, tourists, serious bikers, rent-a-bikers, strollers, horse drawn buggies, roller bladers, jugglers, food carts. I learned they mean business about keeping bikes separate from walking/jogging trails as I was threatened with a $500 fine for parking my bike in the wrong spot when I took a picture.
Bird sightings were slim and ordinary but at least there was some bird life amidst all the human activity: robin, blue jay, house sparrow, starling, pigeon, mallard, Canada goose, white-throated sparrow, blue jay, gulls, flicker.
First of season
First Saw-whet of the season!!
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Franklin the Box Turtle
Almost 18 months ago we placed a transmitter on this box turtle to be followed one a week through the hills of Allegany State Park. We will be removing his transmitter this week and no longer be following him!! We got some great data from him and time for him to continue to do what he does best!! This video was from late summer while he was on the move! I will be doing slide programs on this turtle . . . so look for me at your local bird club.
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Wye Marsh (Ontario)
Trumpeter Swan
By: Pat Coate
Recently spent some time in Ontario and visited the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland, not too far from Barrie. They have over 3000 acres of wetlands and forest with miles of hiking trails, which I spent a fun afternoon exploring.
<3
So cute . . . Tess was exploring the grape vines today and having a blast. She loved squishing them and the insides come out! She would laugh so hard!
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Rain Day
I just love this Ameican Lady butterfly picture I captured back in 2003. Looks like rain for the next few days but we are still going to finally put owl nets up getting ready for Owl Banding. Season will be starting first week in October.
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Raccoon
By: Pat Coate
While taking the pooch for a walk this week we came across this raccoon. Though they are abundant in our area I seldom see them. This one seemed to be doing well in its preparation for the coming cold weather as it was quite plump. At one point it slid down several feet and I thought it might fall out of the tree.
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Fly like a bird?
Checking one off the bucket list
By: Pat Coate
For many years I have wanted to try skydiving. On a recent visit with my son I decided it was time – and that it would be a memorable way for us to celebrate our birthdays. So after some research, we decided to go to No Limits Skydiving and hope for the best. Actually, we gave serious consideration to where we went to do this and the reviews on this company were right on target – just like our landings. All the folks working there had a GREAT sense of humor, seemed very safety oriented and delivered on what they promised. Really don’t think we could have had a better first jump experience.
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North Chagrin Reservation (OH)
Wood Duck (male, non-breeding plumage)
By: Pat Coate
On the way back from taking my daughter to school, I made a quick stop at North Chagrin Reservation. North Chagrin is located near Willoughby, Ohio just east of Cleveland and is part of the Cleveland Metroparks system. It is renowned for its wood ducks and I wasn’t disappointed. These pictures were taken at Sunset Pond and Sanctuary Marsh on the west side of the park near the very impressive nature center.
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