Solitary Sandpiper

Peregrine Falcon vs. Belted Kingfisher

These are not the best photos since I took them at a long distance, but they are quite interesting nonetheless.  A juvenile Peregrin Falcon was chasing a Belted Kingfisher late this afternoon over the Dunkirk Harbor.  The Kingfisher would dive under the water to escape the Falcon.   I saw it dive to escape several times, chattering in panic the entire time.

Photo above shows the Kingfisher coming up from under the water as the Falcon ascends after the close call.

From what I witnessed, the Kingfisher was able to escape.  This time...

Semipalmated Plover

These tiny shorebirds weigh less than two ounces and are easy to miss unless you look very hard for them.

Red-tailed Hawk

Olive-sided Flycatcher

This is an uncommon bird that is only seen in Western New York during fall and spring migration.  They breed in the far northern and western boreal forests of North America and return to Panama and parts of western South America for the winter.  They happen to be passing through our area now.

Spotted Sandpiper

Monarch Butterfly

Juvenile Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Marmota Monax

This marmot is more commonly known as a woodchuck, groundhog or whistle-pig.

Sunset Cruise

Cruising through the channel of the Dunkirk Harbor at sunset.

Semipalmated Plover

Cedar Waxwing

Sunrise over the Atlantic

Atlantic Ocean sunrise seen by boat while drifting over the Hudson Canyon.

Wilson's Storm-Petrels

Pelagic Trip from Freeport, New York to the Hudson Canyon East Wall

Ruddy Turnstone

American Lady Butterfly

Smoke from out West

Smoke from the northwestern forest fires is reaching the upper atmosphere of the northeast.  It dulls the sky and makes for some very different views of the sun.

Monarch Butterfly

One of the precious few I've seen this summer.

White-tailed Deer

Momma kept an eye on me from the brush while the fawn was somewhat fearless.

Black Swallowtail

A delicate creature on a thistle.

Waxing Gibbous at 71%

Niagara River Whirlpool

Balloons blow! Don't let them go!

Please people, do not release helium balloons!  They don't make it to heaven to deliver your messages to anyone.  I promise you, they don't!  They become trash and litter and endanger the health and lives of aquatic creatures, wildlife and birds.  Let's be more conscious of our environment and put an end to this nonsense.

Juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak

American Goldfinch

A female American Goldfinch at a bird bath in my garden.

Summer Azure Butterfly

Juvenile Green Heron