> Just an update on the Box Turtle that I have been following here in Allegany State Park. Franklin has moved into a new area that I have never seen him at before and he has been in this area for the past 3 weeks. I anticipate him heading back up on the hill again in the very near future prepairing himself for going underground for winter.
Post has been created with my iPhone!
    Subscribe to Mon@rch |
All Rights Reserved ©2006-2011 |
Where’s my mother (and my tail)
By: Pat Coate
I came across this youngster in Allegany State Park the end of June. Never did see an adult bird and I hope things worked out okay for it. I believe it is a juvenile Baltimore Oriole.
Read the rest of this page »
Mizzy Lake Trail – Muskrat
By: Pat Coate
While in the Muskoka region of Ontario, several of us spent a day up in Algonquin Provincial Park doing some hiking or, more accurately, partaking in my annual search for moose. Struck out on the moose (tracks and droppings don’t really count), but we enjoyed a sunrise hike along the Mizzy Lake trail and then a couple of other trails off of Highway 60.
Read the rest of this page »
Red-headed Woodpecker
By: Pat Coate
On my way home from a work trip to Rochester I stopped by Conesus Inlet to see if I could find the Red-headed Woodpeckers that were reported there over the weekend. I was lucky enough to get a couple of brief sightings and a couple pictures for ID. This is a new bird for me and it was quite striking.
Read the rest of this page »
By: Pat Coate
I have been doing a little traveling and here are some quick pictures from Muskoka Lakes area in Ontario, Canada. Been some nice wildlife sightings including pine marten, bear, turkey, deer; and lots of birds too.
It has been a year and Franklin the Box Turtle is still wondering around his territory here in Allegany State Park. Not giving out too many details but for the past few months he’s been feeding on strawberries, blueberries and honeysuckle berries out in a field. Last week with the high heat he was right next to a seep that still had cold water flowing out of it. I was a little conserned with the 90+ degree weather and the no rain for the past month. His weight had gone down 18 grams but after spending some valuable time at the spring . . . . His weight went back up 12 more grams and now wondering through the woods (right around where he was last year).
Post has been created with my iPhone!
| Subscribe to Mon@rch |
All Rights Reserved ©2006-2011 |
Noah getting ready to release an American Goldfinch (photo by Noah’s dad)
By: Pat Coate
There was a nice group of folks keeping Tom company at his bird banding site this past weekend. Some of the visitors included Grant and his dad and grandfather who traveled all the way from Ohio to check things out after hearing Tom speak at the Chautauqua Institute. And Noah and Sammy came with their parents to see the birds and to help release them. Despite the heat, it was a very ‘birdy’ morning with lots of activity in the nets as well as the area around the site.
Read the rest of this page »
Up, up and away
By: Pat Coate
Hope Tom doesn’t mind a different kind of flying object this week. My daughter and I took in the Wellsville Balloon Festival on Sunday morning (6am launch!) and what a spectacle it was. Thirty-one gaily colored balloons took flight over a 45 minute time span enlivening the Allegheny foothills with their brilliant colors.
Read the rest of this page »
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (juvenile)
By: Pat Coate
Enjoyed spending a recent Saturday morning at Tom’s bird banding station in Allegany State Park. It is always fun to be able to see the birds so closely – and to really examine the features that often only seem to exist in field guides!
This second year yellow-bellied sapsucker was a bit unusual because it has not started showing any red on its head (or throat if it is male).
Tom’s bird banding is part of the Institute of Bird Population’s MAPS program. MAPS stands for Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship. Analysis of the data Tom and other bird-banders collect “provides critical information relating to the ecology, conservation, and management of North American landbird populations, and the factors responsible for changes in their populations.” (Source: http://www.birdpop.org/maps.htm).
Read the rest of this page »
House Finch (male) with fledgling
By: Pat Coate
Like the crows, the neighborhood house finches successfully raised two babies. Over the past couple of weeks they have been regulars at our backyard feeder. The parents will come to the sunflower seed tube feeder, load up and fly up to the eager young ones waiting in the maple tree branches above. Their arrival sets off an enthusiastic begging and ‘me first’ frenzy as the young ones jostle for position and first dibs.
Welcome to the mon@rch nature blog and I hope you join us in some of our nature adventures through the Allegany State Park area!
I am a naturalist, field biologist and nature photographer from the Western New York area. I have started exploring nature writing through this blog and it truly has been fun sharing my numerous adventures with everyone. Thanks to the many other authors that help me with my post and they will be sharing some of their nature explorations.
I have always had a latent interest in birds and photography and have been lucky enough to find time to explore these interests over the last few years. I am very thankful to the Cattaraugus County Bird Club for getting me started, sharing their wealth of knowledge and for their wonderful programs. And many thanks to Tom for letting me share some of my adventures and photos on the Monarch Nature Blog.
Thank you for taking the time visiting and commenting on this blog.
Wordpress Blogs - Calevphoto - Nature Woman - A Passion for Nature BFK Photography - Natureal Notes 3 - Dragonfly Eye
Blogger Blogs Kenn and Kim Kaufman - Julie Zickefoose - Bill of the Birds - Stokes Birding Blog - David Sibley - Mary's View - Susan Gets Native - Nature Knitter - Body, Soul, and Spirit - KGMom Mumblings - Brownstone Birding Blog - Dharma Bums - Wrenaissance Reflections - A Spattering - Q’s Corner - Red Tin Heart - Joan's Nature Journal - Looking Up - Northview Diary - Nestled in Singing Woods - Ohio Nature Blog - Greenbow - Rondeau Ric - Sngcanary
Other Blogs Wildcast - 10,000 birds - Ladybug’s Leaf - Birdfreak Birding Blog - Fairweather Zealot - Zen Birdfeeder - Nature Shutterbug - DC Birder - Oceanic Wilderness
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 