~Sage's Place~

~Ducky Days~

2011-12-28T19:53:00.001-05:00

~Late Autumn at Iroquois NWR~

2011-12-22T13:27:00.000-05:00

American Coots

Canada Geese along Feeder Road

American Coots

~Pied-billed Grebes at Tillman Swamps~

2011-11-03T18:10:00.000-04:00

~Wooly Bear~

2011-10-24T19:57:00.000-04:00

The “wooly bear” is actually the freeze-tolerant final instar caterpillar of the common tiger moth Pyrrharctia isabella.

~Crow attacks nest~

2011-05-15T15:50:00.000-04:00

Red-winged Blackbirds scattered among the reeds along the edge of the marsh, when a crow flies in at attacks a nest, flying away with a baby. Only then did the adult Red-wings take wing and attack the fleeing crow who successfully escaped with its prize.

~Akron Falls State Park~

2011-05-14T17:15:00.000-04:00

Remember the old metal slides that gave you a really fast slide? They're still here!

~Canadian goslings~

2011-05-11T17:34:00.000-04:00

How cute is this? And the wing sprouts are so tiny~

Mama goose mantles her goslings at Tillman Swamp

a pair at Iroquois NWR

and another pair leading their new family to water

~Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron and Red-winged Blackbird~

2011-04-27T18:31:00.000-04:00

at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

~Mama Robin takes a bath while dad guards the nest~

2011-04-26T20:01:00.005-04:00

Daddy Robin stands guard near the nest

while mama takes a quick refreshing bath

and late in the afternoon, there were still just three eggs in the nest

~the Robin's Easter Basket~

2011-04-24T20:47:00.000-04:00

It's been a wet week but at least the nest was out of the elements, tucked in a corner of the balcony. The mud finally set enough so momma Robin could line the nest with grasses.

By 4/23/11 there were two eggs!

and on Easter Day, 4/24/11, a third egg! We don't disturb her to get these shots. She leaves the nest occasionally and we try to catch that few minutes to grab the camera for these shots. Though daddy robins don't usually help with the incubating, we did see him on the nest and momma flew off for a break.

~Robin nest~

2011-04-17T16:50:00.000-04:00

She did a lot of work building up the nest today even though yesterday's mud was still quite wet. As you can see in the above pic, she is now lining the nest. After a few hours work early in the day, she goes back to her regular life in the yard. Weirdly, it is snowing here in Buffalo, though it is mid-April.

~Robins chose a balcony nest site~

2011-04-16T19:54:00.000-04:00

On April 14th, Robins were flying to the balcony with nest building materials. They chose to settle on the top of a wicker bookcase where a few years earlier, I had stuck the top of an old bush which had a nest. The pair of robins decided the small branches would make a nice feature for their new home. Maybe baby robins will hop on the branches to flap their wings before fledging.

Checking out the site for suitability

This is what they accomplished on day 1. According to Cornell, robins will take 5-7 days to complete a nest.

Daddy robin helping

After arranging the twigs and grasses, mommy robin wiggles around until everything is arranged to suit her

Not much was added again til day 3, when the continuous rain made it easier for her to get mud to cement her work in place. She squiggled around to make the nest just perfect. Because of the rain, the nest was still very wet for the rest of the day, but she came back to take a quick look in mid-afternoon.

Sopping wet robin

Yard very soggy as well

The wicker bookcase is situated between the French doors from the living to the balcony and another door leading to a storage closet which is used as a pantry. Once I saw the robins were seriously considering this unlikely spot, I quickly got anything anything out of the closet we might need over the next couple months and gave up any thoughts of the usual balcony garden. I also explained to Cookiecat that the balcony was now off limits to her as well. :)

Camera is set up on a tripod in the living room far enough from the door. Zooming through the double-pane glass will not produce great results, but we can't get closer or it may disturb the birdies.

~Osprey Nest babies~

2011-03-08T20:01:00.000-05:00

This is the first time we've seen the baby Ospreys in this nest at New Pass, Lover's Key, FL. Two babies were seen during this feeding with both parents present. There is always at least one parent in the nest for protection from the crows who were dive-bombing the nest, trying to get a baby! The Osprey parents kept vocalizing while the crows were near but Osprey are not agressive.

~Ospreys and Bald Eagle~

2011-01-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

Mate flies in to help eat that very long fish!

But flew off to get his own fish

Pair of Osprey in their snag penthouse on Pine Island

Bald Eagle feeds at least two eaglets, Pine Island, FL

2011-01-21T12:52:00.000-05:00

Exploring southwestern Florida again this winter, escaping the snow, ice and frigid cold up north.

Here we have rare Wood Storks in our yard plus egrets, herons, anhingas and cormorants to watch. :)

Sone shots from J. Ding Darling Refuge on Sanibel~

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Pied-billed Grebes

Immature heron, maybe Yellow-crowned Night Heron

~Crested Caracara~

2011-01-17T20:09:00.001-05:00

We looked for this bird in the interior of south Florida last winter with just a fleeting glimpse but no photo. Better luck last week while exploring a wildlife management area at Dinner Island Ranch! This is the national bird of Mexico and is only seen in a small area of Florida and Texas.

Southwest of Clewiston in southern Hendry County, Dinner Island’s thirty-four square miles of pastures, sloughs, pine flatwoods and oak hammocks form a vital link to surrounding wetlands that connect the Caloosahatchee River with the Big Cypress Swamp fifty miles to the south. In an area where wild landscapes are rapidly being converted to agriculture and residential and commercial uses, this connection secures habitat vital to the survival of the Florida panther and many other threatened wildlife species.
Roseate spoonbills, Florida sandhill cranes, crested caracaras, wood storks, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys are common sights along the network of graded roads and mowed trails open for wildlife viewing, hunting, cycling, horseback riding and hiking. Dinner Island Ranch WMA

~More Wild Turkeys!

2010-12-19T17:42:00.000-05:00

More turkeys in the yard today, seven, looking hungry as usual. I had nothing to offer so I found a can of Green Giant Niblets and threw some down from the balcony, and even though that wasn't what they were hoping for, they started edging each other away trying to get as much as they could!

~Turkeys in the Tree~

2010-12-17T20:02:00.000-05:00

We've seen turkeys in the yard before and even on the roofs - yes, they do fly! Two of the seven birds flew to the top of a spindly crab apple tree and happily munched on the fruit!

~Copycat Mallards~

2010-11-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

Mallard hen

Mallard drake

Backyard Grackle-fest

Early winter - hay ready

~Seeing November~

2010-11-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

Along the river at Grand Island

Near the waterfront

Migrating Canada Geese at Iroquois NWR

Milkweed in November

~Snowing in the Catskills~

2010-11-09T23:36:00.000-05:00

The first real snow! After a night of high winds we awoke to no power, no heat, no water, so we drove into town for a diner breakfast Snow was falling fast for the rest of the day, covering everything with a white blanket.

I liked the softly layered hues at this spot as we drove by

View from the bedroom,

and the side window

~~~

Update of an earlier pic of this guy when he was still suspended on the web, but it broke during the windstorm and he fell apart. Interesting to see it this way, don't you think?

~~~

The Cookiecat doing what she does best

~Contest Winner~

2010-11-04T05:17:00.000-04:00

My Northern Leopard Frog pic won the Wildlife Gardeners September 2009 Photo of the Month Contest. Pic was taken in September at Tillman Swamp in Clarence, NY.

A lack of subjects to photograph lately has driven me to doing bug macros! This tiny little descicated fly was caught in a web outside the window but the spider is MIA.

Another tiny fly type is on the outside window sill

~Catskills HDRs~

2010-10-29T17:32:00.000-04:00

Enjoying the last of autumn's colorful scenes in the Catskills! The lovely yellows have mostly turned to burnt umber now but different elevations sport varying hues. Some days were very still so I tried some hdrs. Shooting outdoors presents movement problems getting three identical shots but with different exposures.

~Red Admirals on deck today~

2010-10-26T20:17:00.000-04:00

Lots of Red Admirals flying around today so I put out banana slices to hopefully attract them for my camera, but instead got flies and hornets!

Hardly bigger than a sunflower seed was this spider

~Remnants~

2010-10-21T20:19:00.000-04:00

On a drive through the Catskills we came across this site which appears long abandoned. The road back was too rutted for even the SUV. I've been unable to find any info about an estate named Estelina in the area.

~A lot to love in Hunter, NY~

2010-10-18T23:32:00.000-04:00

I fell in love with this lot and would love to build a house there!

~Autumn day at Iroquois NWR~

2010-10-08T22:47:00.001-04:00

Katydid

flea beetle

Red Darner

~Catskil specialty: Pumpkin soup~

2010-10-05T21:22:00.000-04:00

Driving out of the Catskills after two days of heavy rain, water was running down the mountains, flooding the lower elevations and closing roads. One of the best demonstrations of that were these pumpkins floating away, catching on bushes and trees, and occasionally breaking free and rushing singly down the river.

~Autumn Visit to the Catskills~

2010-10-04T21:19:00.000-04:00

We spent a mostly drippy week in the Catskills but the autumn leaves were peaking and even in the rain, the scenes were beautiful.

Clouds descending the mountains to touch the ground

Haines Falls

Haines Falls after a couple days of rain

After two more days of rain, the hairpin-turning road was closed

~Painted turtle crossing the road~

2010-09-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

While visiting Tillman Swamps in Clarence, NY, we spotted this turtle trying to cross the road without getting run over by cars traveling too fast down Tillman Road. We stayed on either side of him till he was safely in the grass and weeds from where he could slide into the water. The day before we had seen a flattened turtle near this spot. :(

Bumps on a log...oh, no, they're turtles on snags!

(Click to see larger)

~Tillman Swamps~

2010-09-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

The photographic fruits of a short stop at Tillman Swamps, in Clarence, NY

~Macrolicious~

2010-09-12T14:52:00.000-04:00

Mini-Gerbera

False dandelion - Hypochaeris radicata

(suunto) the insect in the Jewelweed is a spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), aka the southern corn rootworm - a very common garden pest species.

(suunto) The green bugs are plant bugs (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Miridae)

~A Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar~

2010-08-31T13:34:00.001-04:00

What a face!

Taken on a morning walk around Walton Woods Pond

~Pollinating~

2010-08-30T19:14:00.000-04:00

~My Balcony Spider Adventure~

2010-08-28T20:26:00.001-04:00

Mama house spider on my balcony catches very large prey and appears to suck it out from the bottom while prey appears to scream!

Baby spiders appear as separate from the sac

Above - first egg sac hatching and second sac is new

~Web Album of my House Spider~ as she makes an egg sac, catches prey in her web, eggs from first egg sac start to hatch and are then washed away in a torrential storm, second egg sac hatches.

~Late August Day at Iroquois NWR~

2010-08-27T20:59:00.001-04:00

~Sunbathing turtles~

2010-08-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

Lots of turtles seen sunning themselves in Ellicott Creek near UB

~Beautiful Red-tailed Hawk~

2010-08-25T22:35:00.000-04:00

Driving down Audubon Parkway today, we spotted this beauty atop a light.

~Red-tailed Hawk and Pigeon~

2010-08-05T20:41:00.000-04:00

Driving into the Galleria Mall parking lot we spotted a huge Red-tailed Hawk with a just-caught Pigeon.

~Letchworth Park Flowers~

2010-07-13T23:44:00.000-04:00

Took a refreshing break from the Peregrines and went to Letchworth State Park Sunday afternoon. We wandered around, ate at the delightful Glen Iris Inn and did some photography. Flowers for today's blog, bugs and waterfalls to come!

~Pigeon Love~

2010-07-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

~More of the backyard bunnies~

2010-06-22T13:31:00.000-04:00

My salad-bar garden is on my second-floor balcony so I can enjoy seeing the bunnies romp around the yard!

~Bugs, bugs, bugs~

2010-06-11T20:23:00.001-04:00

I'm having a lot of fun having bugs for camera subjects! The one below was in my jar of sprouts but I let him live and threw away the sprouts. :) If I know the ID, I'll post it.

Hickory tussock moth (Lophocampa caryae)

Distracting background removed

Four-lined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus)

~Field of Poppies~

2010-06-09T17:28:00.000-04:00

There is no sight more beautiful than a field of multi-colored poppies!

~Backyard Bunnies~

2010-06-04T21:36:00.000-04:00

My backyard bunnies

~House Wren on the birdhouse~

2010-05-26T15:02:00.000-04:00

A pair of House Wrens seem to have chosen this little birdhouse, which was put up by a neighbor as decoration to replace a bird feeder which was no longer allowed.

2010-05-24T20:12:00.000-04:00

While enjoying my coffee on the newly planted balcony this morning, I was fascinated watching a young robin in the yard following mama around waiting for food.

~Balcony Gardening~

2010-05-22T20:20:00.000-04:00

Yea! Finally, the weather got out of the forties and we ran to the nurseries and came home loaded!

We chose Lobelia this year for the hanging baskets, two pale blue and one white

Cosmos! I love the delicate greens and dancing pinks and whites

Dahlias - boldly bright oranges and yellows

One of the six terra cotta planters along the edge of the balcony

Salad bar

~More from Montezuma Swamps~

2010-04-29T20:38:00.000-04:00

Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage at Montezuma Swamps

Tree Sparrow

~Ducky day at Montezuma Swamps~

2010-04-28T23:02:00.000-04:00

We visited Montezuma Swamps on a brilliantly sunny day, almost too bright for photography! There were many ducks about and Tree Swallows flying crazily overhead and muskrats working efficiently in the shallow waters.

Nearby Rochester was a postcard of bright spring colors and about a week ahead of Buffalo just beginning to blossom. At the end of the day, we drove to Geneva on Seneca Lake for dinner in the solarium at Belhurst Castle. We decided not to drive back to Buffalo but instead stayed at the castle in beautiful large accommodations overlooking the lake and furnished with a fireplace and jacuzzi. Lucky for us, the room's complimentary toiletries included two toothbrushes and toothpaste! The next morning we enjoyed a leisurely sumptuous brunch before heading home. A splendid weekend!

Canada goose trying to claim the mound from the busy muskrats

Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors

Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes

Ruddy Duck (female w/cheek streak) - Oxyura jamaicensis

Northern Shoveler, male, (large) Anas clypeata

~Signs of Spring in Buffalo~

2010-04-21T21:08:00.001-04:00

Greater Scaups

three drakes following the hen in the Niagara River off Grand Island

Canada goose on her nest at Tillman swamp

Marsh at Iroquois NWR

Buffalo's 300 year old Sycamore tree on Franklin Street

~Spring at Niagara Falls~

2010-04-16T20:27:00.000-04:00

The tourist by the railing gives perspective to the size of Niagara Falls

Imagine the force of that water rushing over the edge!

Looking straight down to see a rainbow below

The rocks eventually loosen and fall

and the ground I stood on so many years ago has long since fallen to the bottom of the gorge.

~Spring is here~

2010-04-12T23:28:00.000-04:00

Canada goose about to take flight

This guy is so huge!

Love the noisy prelude

~Killdeer in spring~

2010-04-07T22:45:00.001-04:00

Killdeer in Western New York

~~~

Niagara Falls

Fog, hail and rain today

~Grain Elevator HDRs~

2010-04-06T12:32:00.000-04:00

Buffalo's grain elevator area
The area's newest pair of Peregrine Falcons
seem to be favoring the site of the first shot as their home.
It's handy for ducks and they have Tifft Nature Preserve across Fuhrmann Blvd

The shot above is not an hdr but does show both pefas,

one flying into the opening and the other landing on the rail below

More Peregrine news on ~Peregrine Place~

Interesting pattern on the side of a barge below the grain elevators

~Views around Buffalo~

2010-03-26T22:38:00.000-04:00

Blowin' in the wind

~Florida Reflections~

2010-03-16T19:48:00.000-04:00

I haven't finished posting my pix from Florida yet so I'll be doing that in between signs of spring in western New York

Six-mile Cypress Slough, Fort Myers, Florida

Anhinga and turtles on a snag

~Gull Heaven~

2010-03-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

Gulls gathering, trying to land on each other while nearby gulls seem oblivious.

~More Jellyfish~

2010-03-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

A few more shots of the jellyfish from different tanks at the Tennessee Aquarium

~West Coast Sea Nettle Jellyfish~

2010-03-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

Recently while in Chattanooga, we visited the fantastic Tennessee Aquarium which has incredible collections of jellyfish. I could watch them for hours! These stinging Sea Nettles are a favorite, as they seem to dance through the water.

~Buffalo Waterfront~

2010-03-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

We just returned from a couple months in south Florida and spent our first day back in Buffalo driving around checking on the Peregrines and continuing out the lakeshore for a bit to enjoy the sunshine. There is really not much snow here! Really! We saw more snow in the southern states!

Kestrel along the lakeshore after the mate flew off

Gull taking off from frozen surface sparkling in the sun

Mergansers

~Last visit to Okaloacoochee for this year~

2010-03-03T18:51:00.000-05:00

~Spotted at Six-Mile Cypress Slough~

2010-02-27T20:08:00.002-05:00

We are fortunate to have some wonderful nature preserves very close to us during this winter sojourn in south Florida.

Turtle enjoying the late afternoon sun

reflections from another angle

more turtles sharing a water snag with an Anhinga

while a couple nearby American Coots enjoy the beautiful day

~Pine Island's Big Birds~

2010-02-25T22:43:00.000-05:00

Today we took a ride to Pine Island, from Matlacha, up to Bokeelia and down to St. James City, to see how the osprey are doing. Pine Island is such a laid back, quaint and funky fishing community! Little shops, galleries and restaurants near the bridge attract a lot of visitors.

Dad taking off for a quick fly-around

before returning to his perch over the huge nest

where mom Osprey takes care of probable eggs or maybe hatchlings

This is another Osprey down the road at St. James City

~Playing with food~

2010-02-24T12:29:00.000-05:00

Bloodshot Eyes

~Very interesting seed pod of a Mahogany Tree~

2010-02-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Mahogany pods stay on the tree during winter then mature, fall off, split apart and sow their seeds in the spring. Trees provide dappled shade, still allowing some sun to light the ground.

Swietenia mahogani

~Fakahatchee Strand Area~

2010-02-21T22:28:00.001-05:00

Approaching Fakahatchee Strand

Click on pic to enlarge and see gator

Reflections

~Wild Boar Mom & Kids~

2010-02-20T22:16:00.000-05:00

There were two wild boar moms with their babies along Daniels Rd.

So cute!

Red-shouldered Hawk

light Florida form

Snake on Fakahatchee Strand trail

Snag awaiting a bird

Keeping an eye on me

~A visit to Lover's Key~

2010-02-15T21:20:00.001-05:00

Between the south end of Fort Myers Beach and the gorgeous Bonita Beach, you'll find the peaceful Lover's Key State Park.

The ground beneath my feet

a brown anole rests on a piece of driftwood

a little nest spotted above me along the path

thorn-covered seed pods opening

on this plant

~Sanibel Birds~

2010-02-11T22:18:00.000-05:00

Anhinga

Great Egret

Osprey

Sandhill Cranes

~Adorable Burrowing Owls~

2010-02-09T23:13:00.001-05:00

So many Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral, especially in the area near the library! These are the smallest of owls and they nest in burrows. I've read that the male is slightly larger and lighter in color.

~Gators galore~

2010-02-09T00:20:00.001-05:00

Alligators everywhere! These were at Okaloacoochee Slough in south Florida, where they are found co-existing with heron, ibis, egret and cattle.

~Florida Natural Areas~

2010-02-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

Some always impressive and interesting Florida habitats

Love the layers here

Grasses and palms hugging each other

Idyllic

Snags and Resurrection Ferns

at Six-mile Cypress Preserve

~Anhingas~

2010-02-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

The local Anhingas always catch my eye as they sit drying their beautiful wings!

This lovely girl was high up in a tree before she flew down to the lake below

This one has a beautiful island

"Hey! Get off my island!"

~A few more shots~

2010-02-01T11:25:00.001-05:00

We've been doing things other than photography the last few days, which had been cloudy and sometimes rainy so here are a few shots from earlier this month.

Sharp-shinned Hawk above and below

Tr-colored Heron at Ding Darling

Mottled Duck

~Birds at Okaloacoochee Slough~

2010-01-27T00:09:00.001-05:00

Directions: from Fort Myers, go southeast, then north, heading toward Lake Okeechobee til you find Okaloacoochee Slough. Along the way, pass orange groves linked one-to-another, and enormous trucks flying by filled to the top with oranges picked by migrant farm workers bussed in and out in old repainted school buses.

Red-shouldered Hawk, light Florida form

Surprisingly, an Osprey

One of many Loggerhead Shrikes

A beautiful Northern Mockingbird

~Before and After~

2010-01-25T16:41:00.005-05:00

A front passed through the area and the weather looked more promising than earlier so we headed for the Lake Okeechobee area. We found "Spirit-of-the-Wild" Wildlife Management Area and spent an hour and a half there, seeing many birds! Then we checked out the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest and decided to come back another day as dusk was near. Okaloacoochee is part of the State Birding Trail. In between the two sites, we spotted these Red-shouldered hawks. The male on the pole and wire flew to the female on a nearby snag for a mating session! It may be January but it's like spring in Florida!

~Random shots~

2010-01-22T18:39:00.002-05:00

These are some random shots from this week

Bromeliad

Bubble-gum Lichen around the tree trunk

Brown Pelican with personality on the Fort Myers Beach Pier

~Osprey pair on Estero Island~

2010-01-21T23:55:00.000-05:00

After having breakfast on the beach, we walked around the point of Estero near Bowditch Park and saw a natural Osprey nest. Almost immediately an one Osprey flew in with moss to line the nest before being joined by the other.

~A Visit to Mote Marine on Longboat Key~

2010-01-20T11:27:00.002-05:00

A perfect day to go up the road to Sarasota, just around 70 degrees, clear and sunny! The aquariums at Mote Marine feature some very interesting marine life and most of these fishies we remember from earlier visits.

Clown fish snuggling up with the anemones

This huge Moray Eel hiding inside his cave, but coming out to interact with his audience

by turning upside-down and looking at you

Stonefish, rockfish, Scorpion fish and Toadfish
to astonish and delight!

Those "Angelina Jolie" lips!

"Look at me! I'm standing!"

~Egret at Bell Tower~

2010-01-16T01:09:00.001-05:00

This cute egret chose Mercedes and Lexus cars to perch on at Bell Tower today~

~Ding Darling NWR~

2010-01-14T22:29:00.001-05:00

Finally a day in the 70s! We thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon at Ding Darling Wildlfe Refuge on Sanibel before going on to a wonderful time at the Bubble Room on Captiva. A beautiful gulf sunset completed our day!

Green Heron

Reddish Egret

White Ibis

Captiva Sunset

~Birds Galore~

2010-01-13T17:03:00.000-05:00

"I know that doesn't mean me!" Osprey, Pine Island

Great Egret, south Fort Myers

Double-crested Cormorant, south Fort Myers

Burrowing Owl, Cape Coral

~Pine Island Osprey~

2010-01-12T21:48:00.000-05:00

The traffic to Sanibel was too heavy so we headed for our newest favorite place, Pine Island, to find our newest favorite raptor, the Osprey. After seeing many pair building nests, courting and mating, I chose this pair to share with you.

Still clutching her fresh catch!

~White Ibis & Glossy Ibis~

2010-01-11T19:51:00.001-05:00

Taking a break from Osprey today! The temperature here went down to 31 degrees last night! Local restaturants we've been to lately do not even have heat! Many people in this area, including us, lost power. This weather is really unusual and is what northern birds, including snowbirds, migrate here to escape.

Glossy Ibis and White Ibis

This Ibis was very accomplished at fishing, catching one after another

I just liked the contrast on this shot

~A very Osprey day~

2010-01-10T22:51:00.000-05:00

The temps here in south Florida were in the 30s last night and the electricity went out this evening for about an hour. Not nearly as bad as the rest of the country but highly unusual for here.

A Double-decker Osprey nest built on the sign for Sanibel!

Waiting for her mate

who quickly flies in to join her

and yet another nest! "Can you hear me now?"

~Osprey mating in a treetop nest~

2010-01-09T16:10:00.000-05:00

Female watching for her mate

Mate flew to the nest and made a perfect landing on her

They proceeded with their mating activity

St James City on Pine Island, Florida

This tree is on the front lawn of a home!

~A winter day in south Florida~

2010-01-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

These neighborhood birds are seen daily while driving around Fort Myers!

male Anhinga

Muscovy duck

White Ibis

immature Ibis

~Ospreys nesting on snag~

2010-01-06T21:42:00.000-05:00

We spotted many snags today while driving around Pine Island, north of Fort Myers, Florida, but this was the best! Two parents flew into the nest with nesting material.

~Birds of southwest Florida~

2010-01-05T18:45:00.000-05:00

Wood Stork

Turkey Vulture and road kill carrion

A second vulture displaced the first on this post

These Turkey Vultures lifted off the ground so gracefully and rose to the tree branches

~Another juvie Red-tail~

2009-12-24T17:33:00.000-05:00

We set out to do a hawk hunt photoshoot and drove down a nearby dead-end road. Immediately we spotted three Red-tail Hawks before we even had the cameras ready! This juvie was perched, looking down for prey and up towards a parent flying overhead. Another parent was perched nearby.

Parent flying overhead

~Backyard Birdies~

2009-12-23T22:34:00.000-05:00

Today's birdies included Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Black-capped chickadees, Juncos, House Sparrows and a male Downy Woodpecker which all quickly dispersed when a pair of Red-tailed hawks appeared at the edge of the tangle of woods!

Some days the House Sparrows show up; some days not

Male Downy Woodpecker

Other days I also see the female Downy plus a Hairy Woodpecker

Male Northern Cardinal above; female below

~Red-tail, striped tail~

2009-12-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

Seen on Millersport Hwy near Cross Point

~WNY December Wildlife Treats~

2009-12-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

Black Squirrel posing for Roger's camera

Our local Great Blue Heron has moved from his favorite pond which is now frozen over

to nearby Ellicott Creek where there are still areas of open water

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks hanging out on Grand Island on a sunny but cold day

~Akron Falls on Ice~

2009-12-18T23:21:00.000-05:00

A short drive from Buffalo is Akron Falls State Park. Temperatures in the area have ranged from the teens to the twenties this week, which makes for interesting scenes at the falls.

~Early winter at Iroquois~

2009-12-10T17:48:00.000-05:00

Scenes from the marshes at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge show the disappearance of color by late November. Ducks and Canada geese still frequent the areas though adding life and interest to the landscape. I love the look of last weeds and reeds reflecting in the water.

~Visitors to the balcony~

2009-12-09T18:01:00.000-05:00

We see Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees and of course the invasive House Sparrows throughout the winter

~Milkweed Pods and Geese~

2009-11-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

Recent sights at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge include lovely spent seed pods and the ever-present Canada Geese.

Milkweed pods and other weeds are always favorite subjects of mine.

Canada geese over the marshes

~November Reflections at Beaver Island~

2009-11-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

Late afternoon...on a clear, mild early winter day,
the sky was so clear and cloudless,
the trees have mostly shed their colorful leaves,
the water had barely a ripple,
I could only try to capture a small part
of the beautiful scene before me

Just the reflection

~November Days~

2009-11-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

The weather this November in western New York has been awesome, sunny and mild, more like an October than the beginning of winter.

Red-tailed Hawk in Snyder NY

Lone Sea gull among a lot of Mallards

Mallard drake