New Neo-tropical Migrants
Northern Parula
Neo-tropical migrants were moving through the area last night in record numbers! This morning I saw on the list serv many more warbler “first of the year” sightings for April than I can ever remember reading! I figured this was an opportunity to report some of my recent first of the years to all my blogging friends!!
(more…)
Ripley Hawk Watch Visit
Birdwatchers at Ripley Hawk Watch
I joined the Cattaraugus County Bird Club today for the field trip to Ripley Hawk Watch in Ripley, NY! You know that it was the wrong day to visit when you show up and they say “Should have been here yesterday, we had over 7,000 birds pass over”! Yep, not the best day but did get a few species fly overhead! Most everything were bird specks . . . . . you know just dots in the sky!
(more…)
Nature Haiku – Dandelions
By Young Naturalist C
Dandelions
Bright dandelions
With time, turn to silken fluff
Little children’s friend
(more…)
Happy Earth Day
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Pat Coate
I hope everyone has a great Happy Earth Day . . . . Year . . . . Life! Remember Earth Day isn’t just one day of the year. . . . . it is how you should live every day! (more…)
April BOS Count 2009
Woodducks
Sunday was the annual April BOS Count and I truly enjoyed the most beautiful spring day looking for all these birdies! I ended up with 54 species and 441 different individuals observed within the Allegany State Park’s area of Section 24. What was even more exciting was the nine first of the year birds that I located.
(more…)
Mid April Arrivals
Green Heron
My morning started with me flushing a Green Heron (CHECK) off from a beaver pond in France Brook as it flew up into a dead snag! I had thought for a second it could have been a Bittern but was only a Green Heron!
(more…)
Ring-billed Gull Courtship
Ring-billed Gulls
Birdies are in love this time of the year and showing many different courtships and displays! . . . . at times I think its contagious!
(more…)
American Woodcock Display [Video]
The Cattaraugus County Bird Club
Today the Cattaraugus County Bird Club had a field trip to watch the display of the American Woodcock in Allegany State Park. We started a little after dinner searching for spring migrants but the main purpose of the trip was to find the American Woodcock.
(more…)
At Lake Erie (Wordless Wednesday)
Double Crested Cormorants
Took these photos with Young Naturalist J yesterday at Lake Erie State Park.
(more…)
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
I took advantage of this sunny day to do some bird watching with Young Naturalist J since he is off from school this week. I told him that my target species was the Caspian Tern and after being on the road for about 15 minutes . . . . we found this group of Caspian Tern (CHECK)! This was a year bird for both of us and YN-J had also capture a few other first of the year birds throughout the day! He’s growing up everyone . . . I think soon that I will have to start calling him “Teen Naturalist J”! I had a wonderful day with him leading me around to all the birding hotspots in his neck of the woods! Cheers . . . we found the Caspian Terns!
(more…)
Nature Haiku [Nine Loons]
Common Loons on Red House Lake
By Young Naturalist C, Young Naturalist E and Adele
Nine Loons
Nine Loons on the Lake
Fishing for their favorite food
Ooo da loo da loo
(more…)
HAPPY EASTER
Easter Bunny
Happy Easter my blogging friends . . . . I sure hope the Easter Bunny has a chance to visits everyone!!
(more…)
Pre-Easter Birding
Common Snipe on a telephone pole
This morning I went out to do some birding and enjoyed finding the birdies most everywhere!
(more…)
Random Chincoteague Photos
Red-breasted Merganser
I promise these are my last Chincoteague photos!
(more…)
Nature Haikus – Flowers
By Young Naturalist C
Flowers
Blooming everywhere
Beautifully sweet smelling
Where the green grass grows
(more…)
Non-birds at Chincoteague
Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is known for its ponies and its migratory birds but having such outstanding habitat on the island, you would expect to find some other hidden treasures!! The first hidden treasure can be easily locate on Chincoteague and called the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel. This squirrel has been recognized as a subspecies of the fox squirrel and is listed on the endangered species list. I found it interesting that the Delmarva name come from where these squirrels had first originated: Delaware, Maryland and Virginia! I think they are adorable little squirrels to me!
(more…)
Greater Snow Goose at Chincoteague
Greater Snow Goose in flight
Chincoteague Refuge was originally established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds (with an emphasis on conserving Greater Snow Goose), today it provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds, as well as other species of wildlife and plants. (Taken from the Chincoteague brochure)
(more…)
Ponies at Chincoteague [Video]
Chincoteague Ponies
Who doesn’t visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and not want to see the Chincoteague Ponies? I assume this is every little girls dream to see these horses Ponies!! I have never read any of the Misty books but they sure have impacted many people’s lives when they were kids. I feel that I must have missed something after visiting this amazing place!
(more…)
My Birds at Chincoteague
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Below is the list of birds that I observed at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge last weekend. I ended up with 70 different species, 23 first of the year (FOY) birds and 7 Lifers.
(more…)
Greater Yellowlegs at Chincoteague
Greater Yellowlegs!
These Greater Yellowlegs had truly put on a show for me while visiting Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge last weekend. I had many opportunities for photographing them and these were my favorites!
(more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 