Sunset Vortex

A most unusual sunset reflection on Lake Erie this evening.

Palm Warblers

Eastern or Yellow Palm Warbler (S. p. hypochrysea) which is a rarity in this area of Western New York.  

Yellow Warbler

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have returned to our yard for the first time this year.  They spend the winter in the tropics of Central and South America.  Welcome back guys!

Spotted Sandpiper

Common Terns

A pair of Common Terns in a bonding ritual.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Yellow Warbler

Tussilago farfara

This early spring wildflower is more commonly known as Coltsfoot.  

Trees are Poems

"Trees are poems the Earth writes upon the sky, we fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness."  ~  Kahlil Gibran

Bonaparte's Gulls

Bonaparte's Gulls in breeding plumage flying over some of the remaining chunks of ice left on Lake Erie.  The gulls are headed to their far northern breeding areas of isolated taiga forests in Canada and Alaska.

Northern Waterthrush

The Waterthrush is not a thrush at all but a member of the warbler family.

Savannah Sparrow

Black-throated Green Warbler

I found a small flock of Black-throated Green Warblers high in the canopy of some hemlock trees.  Their song sounds like "zoo zee, zoo zoo zee."  These are males in their striking breeding plumage.

Spring Ephemerals

Spring Beauties

Trout Lily

Yellow Violets

Fire and Ice

Tonight's sunset (above) and the post-sunset glow (below).

Porcupine

A harmless little herbivore, as long as you don't get too close.

Spring Fog

Today's thoughts for Earth Day...

"Most scientists know what needs to be done to save our earth.  But the politicians don't listen to them.  They will listen to popular pressure; the people got to supply that."  ~  Pete Seeger

Green Heron

"We could have saved the Earth, but we were too damned cheap!"  ~  Kurt Vonnegut

Osprey

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