Osprey

Osprey have returned to the Lake Erie shore and surrounding areas.

Lake Erie Sunset

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

My first butterfly sighting of the year!

Pine Warblers

Small flocks of Pine Warblers have been migrating through our yard the last few days.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is special to me.   I consider it to be my "trigger bird."   This tiny little creature first captured my attention when I was very young and began my lifelong fascination with all birds.

This bird's ruby crown is only visible when it raises the crest and the ruby feathers pop up.  A tiny wisp of the flattened crown is visible in the photos below.  (Click on images for an expanded view.)

Pied-billed Grebe

The sweet little Pied-billed Grebe has now been listed as a "threatened" species in New York State.

Herring Gull

There continues to be quite a bit of ice cover on the eastern portion of Lake Erie. 

Blue-winged Teal

Red-necked Grebe

Spring Migration Continues...

The last few days of warm weather and southerly winds brought us plenty of new arrivals.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Male Eastern Towhee

Female Eastern Towhee

Brown Creeper

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Feeding Time

Bald Eagle feeding two little ones in the nest.

American Kestrel

She's new in the neighborhood.  I've seen her nearly every day this week and she finally let me take some photos.

Eastern Bluebirds

A pair of Bluebirds checking out a potential nesting site.

Caspian Terns

The Caspian Terns have returned to Lake Erie.  These are the first arrivals I've seen this Spring.

American Crow

"A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life... The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds." ~ John Burroughs (excerpt from Birds and Poets, 1887)

Pectoral Sandpipers

Pectoral Sandpipers are migrating through Western New York now.  These amazing travelers spend the winter in South America and breed on the Arctic tundra in summer.

Downy Woodpecker

A female Downy Woodpecker perched in a red pine tree.

Song Sparrow

Tonight's Sunset

Great Blue Heron