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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Winter Beaver [Wordless Wednesday]
American Beaver
It has been a while since I have done a Wordless Wednesday . . . figured why not upload some Beavers swimming around in the frigid ice cold water! I think we all are ready for spring to arrive!
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more new birds and butterflies
Red Squirrel wondering what birds I am seeing!
I love waking up to my morning alarm clock again and I was extra excited hearing a Woodthrush (CHECK) singing along with my buzzing hummingbirds!! Not bad hearing two great birds before getting out of bed in the morning!! Later in the day I saw my first of the year Indigo Bunting (CHECK) singing up in a tree and didn’t expect in finding the Meadow Fritillary (CHECK), Juvenal Duskywing (CHECK) and American Lady (CHECK) who were also flying roadside! Yeah . . . . to the butterflies!
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Jamestown Audubon Photo Club
The Beaver Pond on France Brook
Today a few members from the Jamestown Audubon Photo Club took a field trip to Allegany State Park for some photographic opportunities!! I took the group to one of my favorite Beaver pond along the France Brook Area and as you can tell the group had a wonderful time with many great pictures.
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Raccoon ready for Spring [video]
Cute as heck Raccoon
This morning at precisely 1:48 A.M. EDT, the Sun crossed directly over the Earth’s equator and became the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox. This equinox is a great time for looking for animals because the ground is thawing and critters are out searching for food.
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Wildlife Wednesday [Exciting Find]
I always seem to say “I had an amazing day yesterday” but this time I really had “an amazing day yesterday”!!! I was traveling through Allegany State Park and noticed an unusual dark fuzzy thing crossing the road (around 9am in the morning)! This mammal was something that very few have had an opportunity to see and for a second I couldn’t believe my eyes . . . could it have been?? Yes – it was!! ! I know they are in this area of the state and during the summer nights, I regularly hear them vocalizing around the house!! But, I couldn’t believe I was seeing one crossing the road!! Obviously I am still in an Awww!! I quickly started pulling my camera from my backpack and hoped to capture its picture. This furry thing moved so swiftly into the woods and by the time I had my camera ready to capture this moment . . . . the critter was gone! I was left with only a memory in my mind!! (more…)
Muskrat [Video]
Muskrat smiling for the camera
Yesterday while looking for some Waterfowl . . . we came across this very cooperative Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) who put a show on for us. We watched it dive underwater, grab some vegetation from under the ice and come back up to chew all of the best parts of the plant. We could have watched this cute little guy all day long! These over-sized rodents get their name from some scent glands they have for marking its territory with a strong musky odor! Lucky we didn’t get to smell that odor today but did get some cool photos of the muskrat!
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Raccoon Hike
Prints walking towards the sunset!
After work, Grace (aka Ninehtotoo5) and myself headed out to the France Brook area of Allegany State Park to enjoy a hike along the Snowmobile Trail. We quickly saw the Raven’s doing their courtship display and then heard the Red-shouldered Hawks screaming (CHECK) as if they showed up on cue. The truth is that we were after capturing a photo of this Buteo . . . which never really happened!! But we did capture some adorable Raccoon pictures.
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Buffalo [Wordless Wednesday]
American Bison
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Enjoying my Day in the Snow
Stonefly (Plecoptera species)
I spent the afternoon hiking along the snowmobile trail here in Allegany State Park today. Birds were quite along the trail but I did come across a few Kinglets and Chickadees. The only insect that I could locate were multiple Stoneflies visible along the fresh snow that came down last night. Stoneflies are also known as Plecoptera and the nymphs live in streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the adults are known to emerge during the winter months and I was not surprised to find these Plecoptera wondering around.
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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…)
Groundhogs Day
To all my Blogging friends; I Allegany Tom on the 2nd of February 2008 did not see my shadow when I woke up this morning. I predict that spring will come early this year!! I just love this holidays and on a side note . . . . Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow this morning! He is predicting that there will be “six more weeks of winter”! (more…)
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…)
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
What a Chipmunk?
Eastern Chipmunk (older photo)
I would have never predicted that on December 26 an Eastern Chipmunk would be running around with morning temperatures of 19°F. My Chipmunk friend should be in its torpor state, where he will reduce his body temperature and taking a longer than normal nap! Eastern Chipmunks are not true hibernators and have been known to come out of their burrow when temperatures get warm (note warm!). I wonder if this is a sign that my reddish-brown (with white/black stripes) chippy friend knows that temperatures will be getting warmer than normal this month?? I sure hope he found some seeds on his quick adventure into our icy/snowy wonderland!! (more…)
Opossum-clause
After doing the last of my Christmas shopping this evening . . . . I approach some red reflective eyes from my headlamps. I quickly jumped out of my vehicle and anticipated capturing a few pictures of the Opossum . . . . but it ended up disappeared into the dogwoods. Could this white bearded . . . . sausage toed . . . . jolly guy be Saint Nicholas helper checking to see who has been naughty and who has been nice?
Opossum from the Winter of 2006 .
Nature Haikus – Road Kill
Opossum that wasn’t roadkill.
By Young Naturalist C
Road Kill
Blood is everywhere
Unlucky small animal
Torn into pieces (more…)
Black Squirrel
Black Squirrel at Young Naturalist J‘s House
This Black Squirrel is really a black phase of the Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Typically we find these guys in the gray/redish phase but on occasion we find the black phase running around. There has been a black phase pair around the 4 corners of Red House Lake for many years now but I have never been able to get a decent photo of them. 😦 (more…)
15 minute drive and . . . .
Ruffed Grouse (from 7 January 2007 )
I made a quick trip over to Quaker to do a few “work” related things and you would never guess how many critters that I encountered!! I first came across something that looked like a duck in the middle of the road. Quickly remembering that grebe rescue from last winter . . . . I soon realized that it was just a bold Ruffed Grouse. It had put its crest up, turned its head looking at me from one side to another! By the time I pulled my point-and-shoot camera out, got the camera started, zoomed in and began framing . . . . the grouse flew away! I continued down the road sad that I didn’t get the picture but still happy to have seen it . . . . (more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 