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!
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This weekend Young Naturalist J, his father and I did some backpacking along the North Country Trail here in Allegany State Park. We stayed two nights at this lean-to on the western side of the park and you can tell from the pictures that we had an amazing time.
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What is this looking out of my box?
While out backpacking . . . . I wanted to continue my post with this woodpecker who I found inspecting my Screech Owl box on Friday!! Of course every year the only thing that uses the box is European Starling (which I always need to evict)!! Maybe this will be the year for the Flicker??
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At the Lean-To During our August 2007 Trip
The three amigos are backpacking again along the North Country Trail this weekend. We have not decided if we are doing one night or two nights (will decide Saturday morning)!! I will update everyone with multiple photos once we return (don’t think I will have cellphone service here, so no blog posting while out on the trail this time)
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Ok, I guess I can’t officially call this my first of the year due to seeing one back in February. But, temperatures reached the high of 75°F today (warmest for 2008) and was fun seeing them flying around (also had Mourning Cloaks flying around)! I anticipate the next butterfly species that I will find will be the West Virginia White or maybe a Spring Azure?? Can you believe that they are talking that the temperatures will be reaching 80°F by Saturday??
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Blue-headed Vireo (photo from Oct 2004)
I was working in the same area today and just after noon heard the call! CHECK . . . first for the year Blue-headed Vireo! I went looking for the Louisiana Waterthrush after work today . . . didn’t see them and maybe they will return tomorrow??
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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).
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Tom has the camera again!
Having some satellite internet problems this evening and been with tech support for the past hour! I thought instead of doing anything nature related (because I can’t upload the pictures I took today) that I would just post some cute pictures of my nephews that I took on Sunday. Did I mention how much Hughes Network sucks? They want me to pay my bill on time but when I am getting 24kbps download and 14kbps upload . . . . I have to do speed test for 3 to 4 days because they can do anything for me! Hello . . . I did those speed tests back in February . . . still having the same problems! Dial-up was slow but at least it was reliable! Ok, enough venting and will try my best to catch up on everyone’s sites (if I can get them to load).
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Bonapart’s Gull
Friday evening Marg spend the night at my house and we had some laughs catching up since our last visit. I left extra early on Saturday morning to pick up Young Naturalist J for the 85th annual Eastern Bird Banding Association meeting at Presque Isle State Park. Young Naturalist J was excited to hear that Marg and Richard would be joining us at this conference. He didn’t expect to see many other banding friends of ours and make a few new friends.
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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!!
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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.
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