Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Monday, October 29, 2018

October Sunset


An Ephemeral Life

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.  Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." ~ Lao Tzu


Friday, October 26, 2018

Bonaparte's Gulls Feeding Frenzy

"We like to be out in Nature so much because it has no opinion about us." ~ Friederich Nietzsche


Thursday, October 25, 2018

Sanderling


A Sanderling trickling through western New York late in the Fall shorebird migration season.


Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Lincoln's Sparrow


This Lincoln's Sparrow is on the move late in the migration season and gave me one last look until they come back through again in the Spring.  Most of them breed in Canada and spend the winter in the southern United States and some as far south as Mexico and Central America.  Safe travels little one!


Friday, October 19, 2018

Atlantic Brant



I was lucky enough to see an uncommon visitor along Lake Erie today.  The last time I saw a Brant in Dunkirk was in 2012.



Thursday, October 18, 2018

Rusty Blackbird


The Rusty Blackbird is listed as a species in "steep decline" and they are quickly disappearing.  Scientists don't know exactly why, but it was recently discovered that many are plagued by high mercury contamination, especially in the northeastern section of North America.  This fact and habitat destruction are likely a big part of the problem.



Monday, October 15, 2018

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Pine Siskin

The tiny nomadic Pine Siskins are on their way back from breeding in the far north.  We've had a small flock at the backyard feeders and bird baths for the past week.


Thursday, October 11, 2018

October Sky

Remnants of the outer bands of Hurricane Michael visible at sunset over Lake Erie this evening.


Friday, October 5, 2018

More Shorebird Migration


Another Black-bellied Plover (above) and Greater Yellowlegs (below) pause for a migration break along the Lake Erie shore.



Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

This juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up at our feeders today.  This is late in the season for western New York and I believe the latest we've ever had one in our yard.





Long-tailed Duck