Pine Siskin

Pied-billed Grebe

Also known as a "hell diver" for the way it dives underwater to feed on fish, insects, crayfish and amphibians. The Pied-billed Grebe is listed as a "threatened" species in New York State.

Field Sparrows

Carolina Chickadee

Almost identical in appearance to the Black-capped Chickadee of the north but they have a very different song.

Eastern Meadowlark

Palm Warblers

Northbound Palm Warblers seen in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Snowdrops in Bloom

And the snow has finally turned to rain...

April Snow Showers

Trumpeter Swan

Northern Harrier

Blue-winged Teal

The Blue-winged Teal spends the winter in a range from the southeastern part of the United States to as far south as Venezuela and Brazil.  It's good to see them back.

Killdeer

Much happier looking than the one pictured in the snow last Saturday!

Merlin

Great Egret

The first returning Great Egret that I've seen this Spring.

Eurasian Wigeon

A Eurasian Wigeon was in the area this past weekend and I was able to get a photo of it.  It was a very distant shot and not the best quality, but good enough for a positive ID.  This adult male bird most likely originated from Siberia or Iceland.  (He is the duck with the rufous head, buff colored forehead and peach breast in the center right of the photo.)  A truly rare sighting in Western New York or anywhere in North America!

Farewell to March

Sunset on the last day of March in a vineyard flooded by snow melt.

Spring Thaw

Horned Grebe

Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Killdeer

Not looking very happy with fresh snow on the ground.

Spring Snow

Great Blue Heron weathering a spring snowfall...

as Tundra Swans migrate through the sky overhead.

American Wigeon

Hairy Woodpecker

Distinctly different from the smaller, more common Downy Woodpecker when you note the much longer beak.

Equinox Sunset

On this most auspicious day of the Vernal Equinox, a Solar Eclipse and a New Moon...

The season of life and light is here.  Happy Spring!

Sandhill Crane

An uncommon visitor migrating through the area.

Spring Migration is on!

An American Pipit on the way to its breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra.  We see them in western New York only during the spring and fall migration seasons.

Eastern Bluebird

Horned Lark

Female above and male below.

Full Worm Moon

Long-tailed Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Niagara Falls State Park

Trees frosted by the mist from Niagara Falls looked spectacular today against a clear blue sky.

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker eating berries from staghorn sumac which is an exotic looking small tree that is a member of the cashew family.  The berries from this noble plant sustain the lives of many birds and wild animals in late winter.

White-winged Scoters

White-winged Scoters are ocean ducks that can be found on the Great Lakes and Niagara River in winter and during migration season.

Bald Eagles

Bald Eagles fishing in the Dunkirk Harbor during a heavy snowfall.

Dark-eyed Junco

Trying to stay warm on our heated doormat.  It was -10° F when this photo was taken. 

Sundog

Song Sparrow

In a few more weeks, this little one will be singing its heart out!

Winter Woods at Sunset

The Full Snow Moon

Tonight's full Snow Moon made a brief appearance through thickening clouds.

Imbolc

It is now the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  New life is stirring as Great Horned Owls lay and begin to incubate their eggs.  Sap begins running in the depths of maple trees. Baby lambs are born.  Hours of daylight are getting noticeably longer in the northern hemisphere. The life force in hardy winter plants becomes aware of itself. The great wheel of the year has reached Imbolc!