Blue Jay Feathers
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Signs of an Accipiter [Wordless Wednesday]
Redheads
Redhead
The Redhead is another locally common winter visitor along the Great Lakes but inland where I am located . . . . once again they are not as common. Whenever Redheads are located in my county they are typically during the peak waterfowl season (Mid-late March) with only one or two individuals being found. I was very delighted finding them swimming with the Canvasbacks and Scaup species last Wednesday which are reported as being frequently found diving together. I didn’t see that many Redheads but there were enough to capture a few photos for me to do another species profile. Read the rest of this page »
Canvasback
Canvasback
The canvasback is a local migrant who breed mainly in western North American. They can be quite numerous in there wintering waters but inland where I am located . . . . they are not as common. As a result you can understand how pleased I was to see these guys on Lake Erie last Wednesday. They are typically very skittish but there were a few who let me get close before swimming away. Read the rest of this page »
This Weeks Bird Updates
Scaup Pair (Greater-Lesser I have no clue)
This was such a wonderful bird week that I needed to catch everyone up with my first for 2008 finds! With spring being only a month away . . . it was very apparent that birds are starting to work there way through the area.
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Yes . . . A Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
This week Young Naturalist J was off from school (winter break) and once I learned the crew would be out trying to band Short-eared Owls . . . I just knew we had to go. Weather was a little iffy but the great banding team did a wonderful job getting everything set up! Read the rest of this page »
Red Tailed Hawk [Poem]
Red tailed Hawk
Her shrill “kee-er-r-r” startles the air
The raptor soars above Allegany State Park
Her span of wings
floats on warm push of thermal column
Her fanned-out tail glows from the solar cauldron
The God-hawk radiates over the Cosmos
By: Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr ©
Movement of Northern Saw-whet Owls
Northern Saw-whet Owl and the moon!
I am soo excited; I don’t know where to start. . . . ! Have you ever wondered where the bird you are looking at has been or where they are going? Previously I have discussed some interesting banding recoveries where I recorded two different Black-capped Chickadees who moved 3350 feet from their breeding territory to where they had been wintering (these were my own recaptured birds). I have also discussed on numerous occasions some exciting banding nights where I recaptured some foreign recaptured Northern Saw-whet Owls that had been previously banded by another bander. I am proud to announce that “today” I received a report that another bird bander recaptured one of my Northern Saw-whet Owl last fall (the first time this has ever happened to me, yah!!)!!
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Sunbathing Phoebe
It has been a while since I have posted any Phoebe pictures! Yesterday with perfect lighting . . . I just wanted to photograph everything I saw (including my cats)! Lazy was a little camera shy and hid once I pulled my camera out! Phoebe just didn’t want me blocking the sun!! Read the rest of this page »
Sunny Nature Hike
White-breasted Nuthatch
I enjoyed a wonderful sunny nature hike in Allegany State Park today. It was wonderful seeing people hiking, ice fishing, sledding, cross-country skiing and even those that were out on snowmobiles. Even more pleasant was seeing many of those enjoying nature with their children and pulling the kids away from the computer games for a few hours.
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 