Daffodil Buds
Here we can see some daffodil buds fighting their way through the earth, emerging from the leaf litter despite the snow still present around them. More snow may end up coming down on our early flowers in the next couple of weeks. What is popping up in your yard at this point in the spring? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreDragonflies emerging!
The Western New York dragonfly and damselfly populations really exploded this Memorial Day weekend during a lovely stretch of sun and 70 or 80 degree days. I found them to be emerging just about everywhere I went with suitable habitat. We certainly have plenty of water after the several inches of rain we received in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region in the last couple of weeks which will make it all the better for a productive season ahead. I already mentioned the Dot-tailed Whitefaces emerging in multiple locations. A couple more species I wanted to highlight are the Beaverpond Baskettail...
Read MoreSix-Spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) by Sean Graesser
I went for a walk in the Sourlands today which is a large track of contiguous forest right by my home in New Jersey. It was very much early spring with many early wildflowers just peaking through the leaf litter. Tyler Christensen spotted this Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) while we were looking around. I immediately thought well that’ll be a good subject, now how to capture something so fast. Well as you can see I was successful, to the amazement of Tyler who thought I would be unsuccessful.
Read MoreCommon Green Darner (Anax junius) by Twan Leenders
I was fully counting on seeing several new birds I had not come across yet in Western New York this year during yesterday’s Buffalo Ornithological Society spring bird count (and I did – what a great day to be outside it was!) However, I was very surprised to see no fewer than six Common Green Darners (Anax junius). These guys are migratory dragonflies and are usually among the first species to show, arriving on the same weather systems that bring avian migrants. The 2014 dragonfly and damselfly crop will start to emerge from their aquatic habitats in a few weeks. Can’t...
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