Happy Half New Year!

It's hard to believe that 2014 is half over.

Incoming Storm

Storm coming into the area over Lake Erie this evening.

Ovenbird

The Ovenbird is a noisy little wood warbler that loves to stay in the darkest part of the forest.  It makes a domed nest with leaves that looks like a little outdoor oven.  It has a pretty orange crown that is slightly visible in the photo below.

Grasshopper Sparrow

I always love finding these secretive little birds that are considered endangered in New York State.

Water Colors

The colors reflected on the surface of Lake Erie stole the show from the sky this evening.

Red Lilies

Summer Sunset

Baltimore Oriole

Can you spot the Oriole's hanging nest in the photo below?

Click on the photo for an expanded view.

Blue Dasher

Swamp Sparrow

Swarm of Skippers

A swarm of Least Skippers puddling in moist soil for salts and minerals. 

Photos taken at the Canadaway Creek WMA in Arkwright, New York.

Approaching Thunderstorm

Muted sunset over Lake Erie before an approaching thunderstorm this evening.

Wood Duck

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Tonight's Sunset

Viceroy Butterfly

The Viceroy is often mistaken for a Monarch but is has a different wing pattern and is smaller in size.

Blackburnian Warbler

Another beautiful warbler that migrates all the way from South America to breed in our northern forests.  No other warbler found here has an orange throat.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

The beautiful Black-throated Blue Warbler breeds in our thick northern woods during the summer and spends the winter in the Caribbean.  It lives in the best of both worlds!

Eastern Newt

This Eastern Newt is in the red eft terrestrial phase of its life.

Wild Roses

The wild roses on our property always open in early to mid-June.  They are right on schedule.

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~ Lao Tzu

Veery

The Veery is easily my favorite songbird.  If you're not familiar with their call, click here to listen.

Indigo Buntings

Tiger Swallowtail

Canada Geese

Wild Turkey

These photos were taken in poor light and through glass, but this big Tom was right outside our living room window yesterday and again this morning.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Tonight's Sunset

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Found two of these uncommon little gems today.

American Redstart

Photo above appears to be immature male and below is an adult male that wouldn't look in my direction.