Saturdays moving birds!
Spring is becoming much more apparent the past few days with the leaves bringing us some green colors on our dull brown hillsides. A thunderstorm pushed through Allegany State Park area in the afternoon and this rain was very much needed after a few weeks with only a few sprinkles. Things are soo dry that my County has posted an open fire ban after many small fires have started across Cattaraugus County. Campers are bummed for not being allowed to burn their firewood but I have been enjoying this weather with many great birds pushing through the area!!
(more…)
Morning Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
I have not posted anything in the past few days! Had another dinner Thursday night and Friday night I was busy with some personal things!! I am up and going birding . . . . hope to have something more interesting to post about tonight! Just an update on the past few days . . . Yellow-throated Warbler (CHECK) was first heard yesterday and Thursday brought us three White-winged Scoters (CHECK) on Red House Lake with a raft of Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Scaup Species, and a female merganser species (maybe Red-breasted Merganser). Can’t wait to see what I come across today!
(more…)
Birding around the Lean-to
Dark-eyed Junco
We could only found 17 species of birds around the lean-to during our three days of backpacking on the North County Trail. But, do note that they were great birds to watch as our entertainment while at camp. Dark-eyed Juncos and American Robins were the most visual of all the birds we saw. The Juncos appeared to have nest building near the water spring and was protecting a territory!
(more…)
My Nature Update
Common Loon
There are many great birds moving through the Western New York area right now. Loons seem to be arriving on a daily basis and we had a very large flock of Buffleheads on Red House Lake today. Other new birds into the area today included 10 or so Bonapart’s Gulls and one Field Sparrow (CHECK).
(more…)
Feathery Friday
Mourning Doves in the grass!
I woke up with Common Flicker’s (CHECK) out in the yard this morning! Yesterday I had my first Pine Warbler (CHECK) and on Wednesday had my first Winter Wren (CHECK) for 2008!! I didn’t get any pictures of the Warbler and Wren since I was working . . . . but I was still ecstatic for their return into the area. I just love this time of the year because you just never know what you will see next!!
(more…)
Sunny Sunday
Osprey with nesting material!
I enjoyed today’s Sunny Sunday with temperatures reaching above 60°F. I finally opened my windows for the first time and let the kitties get some outside smells. At the entrance of Allegany State Park, I observed the Osprey pair doing some nest building. The male would go down into the grass and bring back a talon full of grass/sticks. I knew it was the male because I also watched them do a little copulation before gathering some of the nesting material!
(more…)
Little Movement Tonight
Spotted Salamander along the road!
I had some movement of amphibians along the roads here in Allegany State Park tonight. I ended up going home before seeing any huge numbers of Salamanders migrating to the vernal pools and doing their yearly ritual.
(more…)
Annual Waterfowl Fieldtrip
Sleeping Bufflehead
Today the Cattaraugus County Bird Club had their Annual Waterfowl Fieldtrip along the Allegheny River and Conewango Wetland Area. We had a wonderful birding day with 53 species of birds and we survived glacial like temperatures!
(more…)
Fox Sparrows Arrived
Fox Sparrow photo from November 2007
I had my first Fox Sparrow at my bird feeder this evening (CHECK, first for 2008). I just knew it was only a matter of time until these amazing red/gray birds made their arrival into the area. I didn’t get a photo of them since it was cloudy/snowing and its was getting close to sunset! I expect to see them more of these Fox Sparrow over the next few weeks.
Saturday Birding
Tundra Swan and Canada Goose
Mike and I went out to do some Saturday Birding over at Swamp Road in Randolph today. We were not disappointed with an outstanding array of waterfowl, which included: Tundra Swans, Canada Goose, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Redhead Ducks, Bufflehead, Northern Pintails, Scaup species, Common Golden-eye, Ring-necked Duck and American Wigeon. Highlights of the day included a Red-bellied Woodpecker (CHECK), American Coot (CHECK) and Rough-legged Hawk (CHECK). All of which were first for 2008’s for me!
Mid March Waterfowl
Hooded Merganser
This morning I headed out with Mike D to find some mid March waterfowl that are moving through the area. Actually, it was more of a trip to enjoy nature and get a few birds checked off my year list. We ended up locating 39 species of birds and 8 of which were my first for 2008!
(more…)
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
After this weekend’s big snowstorm that hit us, there is nothing like finding a burst of yellow to brighten our day. Obviously you can tell from my photos that I located my first Eastern Meadowlarks for 2008 (CHECK). Because of the fresh snow on the ground, these two birds were found along the road in areas that had been dug up by the snowplow. They were very skittish and any time a vehicle would pass. . . . they would spook and fly away. I just parked my vehicle on the side of the road and let the meadowlarks come to me (which they did).
(more…)
Tundra Like Weather
Mourning Dove waiting for the Ice Storm
They are predicting a 1/2 inch of ice by morning and we are already starting to see some mixed perception coming down. If we do get the predicted ice storm . . . expect my power and phone lines to be out (with no internet)! Ugg, lets hope the weather man is wrong! ! Today I heard some very familiar trumpet like calls “klooo . . . kwooo . . .” and I knew it was only a matter of time till these guys started pushing through the area (my first for 2008 – CHECK)!
After Work Walk
American Crow
We had the most beautiful day today with temperatures reaching 60°F and melting most of the soft fluffy snow that I was hiking in yesterday. I couldn’t resist walking around Red House Lake after work and enjoying some fresh warm spring air. It’s too bad that they are predicting freezing rain tomorrow and more snow by dusk. These teasers are still needed weather breaks with spring only 17 days away.
(more…)
Bird Banding News!
Female Brown-headed Cowbird
My friend Jen from “A Passion for Nature” solved her banded bird mystery yesterday! If you are interested in learning about about her amazing “find” . . . . please visit her post!! Don’t you love science?
(more…)
Redheads
Redhead
The Redhead is another locally common winter visitor along the Great Lakes but inland where I am located . . . . once again they are not as common. Whenever Redheads are located in my county they are typically during the peak waterfowl season (Mid-late March) with only one or two individuals being found. I was very delighted finding them swimming with the Canvasbacks and Scaup species last Wednesday which are reported as being frequently found diving together. I didn’t see that many Redheads but there were enough to capture a few photos for me to do another species profile. (more…)
Canvasback
Canvasback
The canvasback is a local migrant who breed mainly in western North American. They can be quite numerous in there wintering waters but inland where I am located . . . . they are not as common. As a result you can understand how pleased I was to see these guys on Lake Erie last Wednesday. They are typically very skittish but there were a few who let me get close before swimming away. (more…)
Movement of Northern Saw-whet Owls
Northern Saw-whet Owl and the moon!
I am soo excited; I don’t know where to start. . . . ! Have you ever wondered where the bird you are looking at has been or where they are going? Previously I have discussed some interesting banding recoveries where I recorded two different Black-capped Chickadees who moved 3350 feet from their breeding territory to where they had been wintering (these were my own recaptured birds). I have also discussed on numerous occasions some exciting banding nights where I recaptured some foreign recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owls that had been previously banded by another bander. I am proud to announce that “today” I received a report that another bird bander recaptured one of my Northern Saw-whet Owl last fall (the first time this has ever happened to me, yah!!)!!
(more…)
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. We are also participating in the Mid-winter Bald Eagle Survey, where we are locating Eagles wintering along the Allegheny River. The results of these two surveys will help determine the long-term monitoring of waterfowl and Eagle populations within New York State during the winter months.
Canada Goose with a cold wake up call.
An Interesting Office Visitor
Have you ever been inside Wal-mart or Home Depot with birds flying around the store?? I feel sorry for those birdies and I find myself wondering who’s job it is to get them back outside safely?? Well, you know who gets the call whenever something is flying around the offices in the Administration Building!! I have rescued Chimney Swifts who accidentally fell down the chimney because someone forgot to close the damper. I am the one who saves the Little Brown Bats who accidentally finds there way inside whenever someone leaves a doors or window open due to hot temperatures during the summer. I have even rescued things like a Luna Moths (stuck between the storm windows), Hummingbirds, Meadow Jumping Mouse, Flying Squirrels, Ring-necked Snakes, and a ton of Chipmunks!! But I am rarely called upon during the winter months for unexpected critters that find there way into the offices (well, unless they are mice)!
Today’s Black-capped Chickadee.
Birds – 2007 Checklist
Red-necked Grebe that was rescued.
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Birds are my last species in this series that I have been keeping track of within Western New York State, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I have also taken the birds and split them up between non-passerines (88) and passerines (111). This was one of my best “bird” years with many great species and 6 lifers (5 of which were at Cape Cod)! Although, it would have been nice to have gotten one more species to make it exactly 200 for 2007! Maybe I can break that 200 barrier in 2008 and do a little traveling (which is how so many are able to get their numbers up)?? (more…)
My Irruption Northern Saw-whet Owl Year
First Northern Saw-whet Owl of the Season.
This year the Allegany State Park (Northern Saw-whet Owl) banding station was open for 28 nights and captured 83 different individuals with 90 total NSWO captures. We did not capture the hundreds of owls like the big migration sites but this stations numbers this season was significantly better than my previous three years of banding combined. The last two weeks in November resulted in very bad weather conditions (lake effect, strong winds and rain) which considerably reduced the number of net hours that the station typically operates. (more…)
Nature Haikus – Geese
By Young Naturalist C
Geese
In a v-shaped form
honk, honking into the sky
Long into the night
(more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 