Saturday, December 29, 2012

Gravity of Love


"But if you're in the eye of a storm just think of the lonely Dove,
     The experience of survival is the key to the gravity of love."

~ song lyrics by Enigma

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Solstice Greetings!


The true meaning of this date every year symbolizes the death of the old crop cycle in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of a new cycle.  Trees are dormant and the earth rests and regenerates itself until the spark of life returns in February at the time of Imbolc.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Last Day of Autumn


Attention climate change deniers:  Blossoms on a tree on the last day of autumn 2012 in western New York!  Our unusually mild weather this month has totally confused this tree.  The winter storm predicted for tomorrow should put a quick end to the confusion.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Bonaparte's Gull


I love these petite and graceful gulls.  They breed in Canada during the summer and spend the winter in the deep south, the Caribbean, and oddly around the southeastern portions of the Great Lakes.  In winter their black heads turn white with a dark smudge behind the eye.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Icy Stare


This poor Blue Jay went to drink from the unheated bird bath this morning only to find the surface frozen solid.  He stared at his reflection for a while, poked at it a few times and then flew off.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Strange Weather for December


Shelf clouds with thunderheads, 60 degree temperature at dawn and spring peepers singing.  Very strange weather for western New York in December.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Lesser Scaup


One of many waterfowl migrants passing through the area.  This is the peak time for duck migration.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Bald Eagle


This one was quite a distance from me this afternoon but very aware of my presence.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Shortest Days


Amazing post-sunset glow over Lake Erie this evening.  With the sunset time of 5:01 pm, we are heading into the shortest daylight period of the year.

Yellow-rumped Warbler






Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Kinglets


Golden-crowned Kinglet gleaning food from autumn foliage.



A Ruby-crowned Kinglet below.

Snow Squall over Lake Erie