Groundhog (Marmota monax)
It is about to turn into a very chilly weekend for us in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region after a week of warm temperatures and a lot of sun. This Groundhog (Marmota monax), or whatever else you prefer to call the rodent among its many names, has to be in a hurry to eat all it can now. The species is always highlighted when they come out of hibernation to “predict” the end of the winter and early spring seasons. However, if you watch them in autumn you will see a lot of activity out of the increasingly fatter individuals as they prepare to hibernate. A good “night” to...
Read MoreAvian migration and high pressures – September 28, 2014
Did you enjoy the summer-like weather across the Northeast this weekend? At this time of year if it feels that gorgeous and benefits warm weather lovers it denies the birds a cooperative migratory flight. This radar grab from a few minutes ago shows very light migration across much of New England and the upper Mid-Atlantic thanks to a few weak areas of high pressure giving us this warmth and mostly calm or light southerly winds. One high is centered over Lake Michigan, another between Iowa and Missouri and a third in Virginia, with all three causing the only decent avian movement to be found...
Read MoreFall hawk watching is on!
Labor Day and the beginning of September are often seen as the beginning of the fall season despite the fact the autumnal equinox is not until weeks later (September 23 this year). However, many of our birds agree with this assessment as well. You can find migrant passerines beginning to disperse and even some moving south in July. Shorebirds can be found on the way to wintering quarters in terrific numbers in “fall” migration in the middle of what we think of as a hot summer day. Raptors including many species of hawks, accipiters, falcons, eagles, vultures and more start to...
Read MoreLate August front and nocturnal migrants
Let’s play find the front! Here’s a radar grab from a few minutes ago that shows a front draped across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, as seen with accompanying showers and thunderstorms, and nocturnal migrant birds launching off behind it across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas and so on. The strong southerly flow ahead of the front makes for poor flight conditions and although the winds behind it are only mostly calm that means it’s good enough to get on the move. As we enter September I’ll be watching the weather like a hawk for both these nocturnal...
Read MoreEight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata)
This is another sort of sighting from my Connecticut yard archives, the Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata). The diurnal moth species is conspicuous in appearance and looks more like what we think of as a butterfly. This individual, resting on the side of the porch, flew off after a few photos and did not let me get close. And let me tell you, they are fast!
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