Snowy Owl in Dunkirk, New York
This tremendous photo of a Snowy Owl at Wright Park Beach in Dunkirk, New York was taken this morning by our friend Gale VerHague. She used a basic point and shoot camera showing how easily we can safely photograph these birds from a distance thanks to a good zoom, especially if you have a scope. Giving them space is important so that they can rest during the day and hunt at night – in this case, likely waterfowl on Lake Erie. It is all the more necessary when, as Gale told me, birds like American Crows have honed in on the raptor as they were harassing this individual. Please try to...
Read MoreTundra Swans
Chautauqua Lake provides an excellent feeding ground for a number of migrating ducks, swans and geese throughout the cooler months. Just yesterday, over 200+ Tundra Swans filled Bemus Bay along with numerous Canada Geese and Mallard ducks. These large and beautiful swans captured the attention of several lake-side residents as they belted out their high pitched honks while feeding on the abundant vegetation within the shallows of the lake. As winter progresses more waterfowl will make their way to the Great Lakes and Chautauqua Lake to reach needed food resources after their long trips from...
Read MoreHistoric Western New York Snowfall
The past week has been nothing short of historic in Western New York with crippling and dangerous snowfall beyond what even lifelong residents could have imagined. This lake effect snowfall weather event was the culmination of several factors that allowed Lake Erie’s snow machine to turn on full blast and dump feet of snow in very short periods of time, rivaling some all-time American records. While the final totals need to be examined, assessed and fully vetted, once you pass four, five, six, or seven feet, there is really no number that can do the impact justice. It is a tragedy that...
Read MoreFeeding Fox Sparrow
Twan snapped this snappy shot of a fine Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) feeding in the snow here at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. We have a solid snow cover thanks to the lake effect madness off Erie in the past week, though certainly nothing of the magnitude our neighbors just to our north do. Fox Sparrows are notorious for seeking out feeders during inclement weather. If difficult conditions strike at the right time, especially in the March movement north, you may end up with several or even over a dozen in your yard. Have you had any of them visiting you this...
Read MoreLake effect snow on radar
This heavy band of lake effect snow was ripping off of Lake Erie and belting Buffalo earlier this evening. It has since moved south, remaining mostly just north of Chautauqua County and hitting Erie County into Wyoming County. How much is falling? A midnight update from the National Weather Service said: * AT 1153 PM EST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF 3 TO 4 INCHES PER HOUR…AND VISIBILITY OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS. THIS LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND WAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES WIDE WITH THE...
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