Mon@rch's Nature Blog

Latest

Snow Buntings

Flock of Snow Buntings

By: Pat Coate

Our local bird club had a field trip this past weekend literally heading out to the freshly manured fields in the northeast part of the county hoping to see the snow buntings, horned lark and Lapland longspurs that would be drawn to the seeds in the manure. We got two out of three – missing out on the longspur. We had a good sized flock of snow buntings (in the 100s) swirling about, and a dozen or so horned larks. Also a bit of excitement as some in the group spotted a Lesser Black-backed Gull mixed in with Herring and Ring-billed gulls – the Lesser Black-backed was the first recorded sighting of this bird for our county. Another highlight was a Red-tailed hawk abandoning its prey mid-flight as it was mobbed by crows.

Many thanks to Bert for leading this trip – it was a fun day of birding with a nice group of folks (and as a bonus I learned how to play zip and zap). Full species list follows.

Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 22 February 2012 | Categories: iPhone | Tags: Snow Bunting | 1 Comment

Appalachian Trail – Mary’s Rock in Virgina

View from Mary’s Rock, Appalachian Trail

By: Pat Coate

I have a dream to one day (soon) hike the Appalachian Trail (Tom A. are you in?). While visiting my father-in-law in Virginia, my husband and I got a small taste of it by hiking up to Mary’s Rock in Shenandoah National Park. It was beautiful and I do hope to get back sometime. In any case, my journey has started- 4 miles down, only 2,196 or so more to go!

This stretch of the trail must be very well traveled as there was lots of erosion control along it, and just along that short stretch we ran into six other hikers. Only wildlife activity we saw were two soaring turkey vultures.

Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 17 February 2012 | Categories: iPhone | Tags: Appalachian Trail, Mary's Rock | 4 Comments

The Joys of Bird Photography

Tree Sparrow in Flight

By: Pat Coate

One of the many joys of bird photography is the short window of opportunity you often have to get that ‘perfect’ shot. It’s sort of like the unpredictability of trying to get a squirming child to cooperate for the family Christmas shot – but with the added challenge of shooting outdoors and minus the ability to use bribes or silly faces to keep your subject still.

Sometimes you get lucky and happen to capture a decent picture of a bird in flight, like the tree sparrow above. And sometimes you don’t always get a bird’s better side, like the chickadee in the following picture.

Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 9 February 2012 | Categories: iPhone | Tags: sanderling, tree sparrow in flight | 4 Comments

Ground Hogs Day 2012

To all my Blogging friends; I Allegany Tom on the 2nd of February 2012 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 . . . . Punxstawney Phil did see his shadow this morning! He is predicting that there will be “six more weeks of winter”!!

(been doing this since 2006 and 75% wrong but this year I think I have a chance to be right)

Post has been created with my iPhone!

Subscribe to Mon@rch

Posted by mon@rch | 2 February 2012 | Categories: iPhone | 2 Comments

Waterfowl and Eagle Count

Bald Eagle along Allegheny River

By: Pat Coate

January 15th was the annual waterfowl and eagle count for the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Tim, Bert and I covered a section of Cattaraugus County in Western New York. Despite the warmer than average winter, that day started off at -10 degrees but we forged on, adding further evidence to my husband’s theory that birders are an odd lot.

Waterfowl counts were down significantly from prior years. The prevailing thought was that a lot of water to the north (like Lake Erie) was not yet frozen over, so the birds had not yet moved down our way to open water along the Allegheny River. We saw only five species of waterfowl, two bald eagles, and a total of just over 20 species on the day. It was still a fun day and Tim and Bert are excellent birders to spend time with. Full species list follows.
Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 26 January 2012 | Categories: iPhone | 4 Comments

Bear Tracks in the Snow

Bear Tracks, Allegany State Park (NY) January 2012

By: Pat Coate

While hiking in Allegany State Park in early January we came across some bear tracks. In most winters the black bears of the park would be hibernating in their dens during January. But during warm spells like we had been experiencing, the bears may leave their dens to forage for food.

Hibernation* is pretty amazing – the bears don’t eat, drink or excrete. Their body produces food and water from breaking down fat. They don’t lose muscle mass. Their heart rate drops, often to less than 10 beats per minute, and their body temperature stays high due to their thick fur and high level of body fat. If their body temperature does start to fall, a shiver reflex is triggered which warms them up. Bears don’t hibernate to escape the cold, but as a method to cope with food scarcity.

*Technically bears don’t hibernate, it is more like an extended deep sleep from which they may occasionally awaken as evidenced by these tracks.

Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 19 January 2012 | Categories: Allegany State Park | Tags: Black Bear tracks in snow | 6 Comments

More Hiking in Allegany State Park

Conservation Trail, Allegany State Park (NY)

By: Pat Coate

Took advantage of the continued mild winter and got a nice hike in over the weekend along the Conservation and part of the Finger Lakes/North Country Trail in Allegany State Park. The Conservation Trail is a 4+ mile loop that starts behind the Red House Administration Building.

It’s a beautiful trail up the mountain, passing through several evergreen stands providing thick enough cover to provide a snow-free trail. The less protected deciduous tree sections of the trail ranged from snow covered to muddy to sun-dried. There are numerous fallen trees to navigate and it seems the trail has not been cleared for many years, though it is well marked with blue, orange and white blazes (different legs of the trail are different colors).

Birds we heard or saw along the way included chickadee, junco, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, and raven. We also saw numerous animal tracks in the snow that I will post next week – including one surprise for this time of year.

Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 12 January 2012 | Categories: iPhone | 4 Comments

Tufted Titmouse

By: Pat Coate

The tufted titmouse is a somewhat infrequent visitor to our backyard feeder. So when this one stopped by this past fall I was happy to snap a few pictures.

These birds nest in pre-existing tree cavities, having to find ones made by other birds or natural ones as they are not able to create their own. Though I have never seen this, studies have shown that they often line their nests with hair. And it seems as though most any type will do as hair from livestock, raccoons and woodchucks, to mice and even humans has been found in their nests.
Read the rest of this page »

Posted by patacoate | 5 January 2012 | Categories: iPhone | 4 Comments