Wild Violets

The leaves and flowers are edible and loaded with vitamins.

Look who's back in town!

First Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year at one of my feeders today.

Gulf Crossing: Story of Spring

A nicely done 55 minute video documentary about birds migrating across the Gulf of Mexico.
The video was made by Jackson Childs of Harvard University.

A Robin's Photo Shoot

This was one very cooperative Robin!

Photogenic too!

House Wren

I checked the yard for returning migrants this afternoon and found that the House Wrens are here!  This upcoming week should be lots of fun because we should see a large influx of different species.

The Feared Hunter

There were no birds or squirrels at the feeders in our yard on this beautiful spring morning.  I knew someone or something must have spooked them.  A short search turned up this culprit perched on a cable attached to the house.

Clear Skies

Clear skies over Lake Erie this evening.

An Evening in Spring

Reflections

Warblers

Silhouettes

Western Tanager

This Western Tanager recently showed up in Western New York State!  Maybe he took a wrong turn or was blown off course by storms in the midwest.  This beautiful vagrant is WAY out of its normal range by well over 1,000 miles.  At least he is eating well. In the photo below he is seen with suet on his beak from a backyard feeder in Irving, New York.

Blanding's Turtle

The Blanding's Turtle is listed on the IUCN Red List as an endangered species.

Defensive Posture

Tree Swallow ready to protect the eggs in its nesting box.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets

Spring Ephemerals

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)  These spring wildflowers live in old growth colonies that may be as much as 300 years old.   

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Happy Earth Day!

"The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity… that’s all there is. That’s the whole economy. That’s where all the economic activity and jobs come from. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world."  ~   Gaylord Nelson

Dusk

Post sunset glow as seen from our backyard this evening.

Wild Turkey Strut

This Tom was strutting his stuff for three hens in the corn field, but none of them seemed to be paying any attention to the poor guy.

Wood Ducks

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Blue-winged Teal

Broad-winged Hawk Migration

Broad-winged Hawk migration is in full swing over extreme Western New York today along the Lake Erie coastline.  Hundreds of hawks including Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Red-Tailed can be seen soaring north on warm southerly wind currents.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-throated Loon

A migrating Red-throated Loon getting some food and rest in the Chadwick Bay Harbor in Dunkirk.

Tree Swallows

Proud new homeowners!

Female Red-breasted Merganser

April Sunset

Nice ending to a rainy spring day!

Great Egret

American Bittern

Mourning Doves

White Crocus

and spring lovers....

Immature Bald Eagle

Another Eagle appeared in our yard this morning.  They usually hunt the birds at the feeders.  However, I threw a chicken carcass out there last night assuming that the Great Horned Owls in the area would take care of it overnight.  What a great surprise this was instead!

Spring Song

Male Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Towhee

The first Towhee of the season makes his appearance.  I have to appreciate seeing them now because when the trees and bushes leaf out, we will hear them singing every day but seldom see them.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

First Warbler of the year in the backyard!

Redpoll Portrait

One last portrait of a Common Redpoll until next winter.  Only a few small groups seem to be passing through the area now.  Some stop by for food and rest at the feeders in our backyard on their journey to the far northern latitudes.

Caspian Terns

The Caspians are back! I spotted three on the beach for the first time this year.

It's Official!

Spring has sprung!

Spring Snow Squalls

A view of spring snow squalls moving across Lake Erie this evening.