Wild Turkey in the corn field
I wanted to give the “Wildlife Wednesday” thing a try since Young Naturalist J started using it over on his blog. High five to his family for coming up with the great idea. Yesterday I located a huge flock of turkey along the side of the road while heading out to photograph the nesting Eagles. The Turkey were just clucking along and probably one of the largest flocks I have seen this year! Happy Wildlife Wednesday everyone!
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American Bison
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An adult Bald Eagle on the Nest
I got a phone call from a birding friend that one of our Bald Eagle pairs started sitting on her nest last week. After work I jumped into my truck and headed over to see if I could find the nest again. The nest looked a little different from the last time I saw it because a windstorm damaged it last fall. After spending the winter rebuilding/repairing, the pair finally was able to get their eggs laid. Young should hatch in just over a month and the young will be fledging from the nest by mid July. I just love this time of the year.
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Photo by Marg (thanks Marg)
Nature Haiku
Mockingbird at night
would disturb the universe
and sing forever
Eastern Meadowlark
After this weekend’s big snowstorm that hit us, there is nothing like finding a burst of yellow to brighten our day. Obviously you can tell from my photos that I located my first Eastern Meadowlarks for 2008 (CHECK). Because of the fresh snow on the ground, these two birds were found along the road in areas that had been dug up by the snowplow. They were very skittish and any time a vehicle would pass. . . . they would spook and fly away. I just parked my vehicle on the side of the road and let the meadowlarks come to me (which they did).
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An Ovenbird photo from 2006
It was only a matter of time till one of the Young Naturalist team members would fledge the nest and started their own Nature Blog!! The first to fledge was Young Naturalist J who is now doing “The Ovenbird”!!! Last summer I started getting him involved with this site and we have been working on learning code, ect… Then after I was falling behind with my birdQUIZ blog. . . . he decided to help out and get the blog back on track (which he did). With the excitement of many of our birds returning this summer and with him getting his new camera for Christmas . . . he was ready to start sharing “his” nature adventures with everyone!
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Black-capped Chickadee waiting for seeds
We are getting another 8-12 inches of snow this weekend!! Our local weatherman isn’t calling this a blizzard but I think it feels like a blizzard (with whiteout conditions)! Poor bird feeder birds were anxiously waiting for me to fill my feeders this morning (while I slept in)! Chickadee’s were saying to me “Chick-a-dee dee deee . . . those SEEDS NOW BUDDY!!”
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Pileated Woodpecker
Yesterday I came across this enormous black and white woodpecker with a conspicuous bright red crest, while it was working on excavating a huge hole. Actually, I found this bird not far from my mother’s house and was amazed that it allowed me to pull my vehicle right next to it . . . . and it wasn’t spooked!! This Pileated Woodpecker has very little red on its forehead and was lacking the red on the malar region making it a female. Looking at the first photo up close . . . you will notice her brown coloring contrasting with its black wing feathers, which can sometimes be difficult to reliably age the bird (believing that the faded brown feathers were her Juvenal feathers). But, seeing the gray/tan eye coloring (Adults have bright red eyes) will confirm that this woodpecker is a second year bird (meaning she was born during the summer of 2007).
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Common Merganser
I took the day off from work today for an eye appointment that was scheduled and it was such a beautiful day with temperatures reaching around 40°F. Along the Allegheny River, I located a few Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Canada Goose, and Woodducks (CHECK – my first for 2008). I also found a very cooperative Pileated Woodpecker but I will save those pictures (and video) for tomorrow’s post.
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Looking at a Wood Frog up close!
I have been teased recently with Nina’s special evening and Tom’s spring is coming posts talking about the big “amphibian/salamander night”! Many might remember my big migration night from last year on the 27 March 2007 and you just never know when the “big night” will happen this spring . . . . well, until maybe a night or two before the big event. I was looking back on my previous dates and they ranged from the 13th of March up to the 7th of April. What I am looking for is the weather to be very warm during the day and a rainy night to happen . . . . and then you will be seeing me standing out in the rain just waiting for the amphibian migration with camera in hand !! Read the rest of this page »
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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