Montezuma NWR

Since my short Summer break was winding down, I decided to take last Monday and go birding at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and it's surrounding area. It was a nice day, and I saw quite a few birds.

Yellowlegs were the bird of the day. I spent a good deal of time looking at them because the staff at the visitor's center informed me that a Wilson's Phalarope had been seen the day before. They are quite similar in size and color, so every yellowlegs got a good look, and as many as possible got photographed.



At the end fo the day, and after reviewing lots of photos of yellowlegs, alas, no phalarope.

This grass is common here in central New York, mostly in damp areas. I think it is beautiful with it's purple seeds. I just wish I knew what it was...this stand is just outside the visitor's center. [update: it is phragmites, or the Common Reed, and is an invasive species in North America.]



Rose Mallow next to one of the pools.



Several immature Pied-billed Grebes were actively feeding.



I enjoyed watching a Great Blue Heron trying to figure out how to gulp down a fish that was a bit big for him....

















Gulp!



Maybe a drink will help.





Great Egrets were present in abundance.



Tundra Swan



And finishing with something completely different, a Downy Woodpecker I saw near the Audubon Visitor's Center.

Onieda Lake

I am blessed to live within a stone's throw of Onieda Lake, the largest lake wholly within the borders of New York State. Yesterday being a beautiful day of partial clouds and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees all day, I spent most of the morning sitting in my backyard watching birds at my feeder and the neighboring woods. After lunch, I decided to see what I could see at Onieda Shores County Park and a fishing access where Interstate 81 crosses the western end of the lake.

At Onieda Shores I found several Caspian Terns, along with Black Ducks, both of which were firsts in the state for me.



Near the Arrowhead Shelter, there were several Ruby Meadowhawks around a stagnant pond. Very inquisitive, I had several come and land on my shirt as I walked around.



A Pearl Crescent landed at my feet, so I felt obliged to take its portrait.



Over at the fishing area, a mother Mallard was napping with some of her offspring.



An Eastern Pondhawk feasting on an unfortunate damselfly.



Spotted Sandpipers were feeding along the shore.



Despite the 10-15 mile per hour wind, I managed a decent shot of an Eastern Forktail (female).



Overall, a gorgeous day.

Niagara Falls

Living in Central New York, it is pretty well obligatory to make a pilgrimage to Niagara Falls to see the western four Great Lakes making there way down the 167' drop toward Lake Ontario. So, this past Saturday, off we went.

Well-known as a gull hotspot in the winter, in the summer, Niagara hosts an enormous number of Ring-billed Gulls. They were the only type of gull I saw all day.



Amidst all the gulls, I was able to spy a Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the rocks in the Niagara River.



Having the batteries give out in my camera, and the spares back at the car, I had to hike back to get them. On my return, I came across a Song Sparrow kind enough to pose as reward for my troubles.



He was also singing, as his name would imply.



There were Canada Geese as well.