White-throated Sparrow
By: Pat Coate
The white-throated sparrow is a handsome bird that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with. They tend to be on the early side of migration, so I love the re-awakening of the garden and the milder weather that I have come to associate with them. Each spring they make brief appearances scratching at the dirt and leaf cover in our strawberry patch to unearth sunflower seeds other birds have carelessly tossed to the ground from the feeder above.
Goslings
By: Pat Coate
Been seeing lots of new families coming to our backyard feeder which reminded me that I had a few pictures of newborns/fledglings from earlier this spring to post.
These Canada geese had at least 14 in their brood, usually I see 6-8. Per various sources the average brood size seems to be 4-7.
Moose (adult female)
By: Pat Coate
Found a great new place in Algonquin Park to get my annual “moose fix” – this time by canoe. My husband and I took a two-day canoe trip to Hailstorm Creek, located on the western side of the North Arm of Opeongo Lake in the park. We did the 6-7 mile paddle from access point #11 (there are shuttles to the creek’s mouth available through various outfitters) the first day, then camped at a beautiful point near the creek. The next day we got an early start and headed up the river – didn’t go far when we got our first glimpse of this beautiful moose (I don’t think that is an oxymoron, though they can be gangly looking).
Cedar Lake view
By: Pat Coate
On Day 3 we headed into the West Canada Lakes region, one of the most remote parts of the trail. Despite more climbing and a rougher trail with LOTS of blow-downs to circumvent, it was incredibly scenic and my favorite part of the trail so far.
Silver Lake
By: Pat Coate
My friend Joyce and I decided to take on the 120-mile Northville-Placid (N-P) Trail that runs through the heart of the Adirondacks. We had done a trial backpacking trip a couple weeks ago on the West Rim Trail along Pennsylvania’s “Grand Canyon” to try out our gear and our legs. Making it through that hurdle, we semi-confidently set off last Friday from the Upper Benson trailhead, the N-P trail’s southern terminus (I don’t count the 10 mile road walk into downtown Northville).
Looking down on the PA Grand Canyon and Pine Creek Rail Trail from the West Rim Trail in Colton Point State Park
By: Pat Coate
Just back from a biking/camping trip with my husband on the Pine Creek Rail Trail in North Central Pennsylvania. The Pine Creek trail is an old rail trail that starts in Wellsboro, PA and runs about 60 miles to Jersey Shore, PA. We rode about 30 miles of the trail, from Darling Run to Black Walnut Bottom, camped at Black Walnut Bottom, and then biked back the next day. This part of the trail passes through Leonard Harrison and Colton Point state parks, aka “The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.”
Northern Cardinal
By: Pat Coate
Hope you have a happy and safe July 4th.
Great Egret
By: Pat Coate
Spent the weekend with my sisters in Chincoteague, Virginia visiting the National Wildlife Refuge. Fantastic time with lots of birding (sorry Kathy). There were tons of herons (green, great blue, little blue, tricolored), egrets (snowy, great), ibises (glossy, white) and we saw some interesting behavior among them, described at the end of this post.
Moose (female)
By: Pat Coate
Besides the very entertaining sandhill cranes, there were other nice wildlife sightings on a recent trip to the Muskoka Lakes area of Ontario. I really enjoy seeing the moose in this area and was happy to find a mom with her calf at the back of this bog. They were kind of far for photos but I had fun watching them via binoculars.
Close-up (male)
By: Pat Coate
While visiting my daughter we, along with a zillion school children, enjoyed an afternoon at the Milwaukee Zoo. The free-ranging peafowl (males are peacocks and females peahens) were a source of beauty and amusement throughout the park.
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 